Set SMART Goals for Yourself!

As a Western student, you’ll enjoy access to some of Canada’s most extensive and sophisticated career planning services, available as soon as you arrive on campus. It’s never too soon to begin thinking about your future career prospects, and it’s important to remember that many skills valued by employers can be developed through campus and community involvement, travel, volunteer and leadership experiences. Here are a few of the ways Western can help you prepare yourself for the future! As early as first year, you can:

• Explore interesting campus activities – volunteer!
• Learn about experiential and service learning opportunities
• Take a career assessment- what are your interests, skills, personality and values?
• Talk with a career counselor
• Update your resume and prepare for summer jobs
• Attend career events
• Visit WesternCareerCentral.ca for jobs, events and resources

Internships provide practical experience to students seeking relevant knowledge and skills required to enter a particular career field. Work terms can be local, national or international, depending on the program. Western internships can last anywhere from 12-16 months, benefitting both students and employers. Internship students are regarded as regular employees taking on responsibilities far beyond the typical duties assigned to 4-month co-op or summer students. In addition to invaluable hands-on work experience, many Internships are paid (for example, last year, the average salary for an Engineering student participating in a one-year Internship was over $40,000).

Set SMART goals for yourself. Goal setting is a necessary part of turning your dream into reality. Most goals require hard work and sacrifice. As all successful medical school students know, for example, there is a tremendous cost in terms of effort, time, and money in order to gain admission into a highly competitive program.

Specific – state your goals clearly
Measurable – how will you know when you reach your goal?
Attainable – understand the commitment required
Realistic – you must believe your goal can be accomplished
Timely – establish dates and deadlines