At the level of graduate studies, it is normal to feel alone and isolated from time to time. This feeling is partly due to the shift in circumstances from what we were used to as undergraduates. Multiple factors play a role in contributing to the feeling of isolation. The recommended solution on how to prevent this feeling of isolation is to build your social network! The key is to continue to build it as you prepare to move from one semester to the next. Here are 3 suggestions on how to break isolation that will help you not feel so alone throughout your graduate studies. Read more

Machine translation or MT systems have become increasingly easy to use and more well-integrated into other applications. Thinking about whether, when, why, and how to use MT are part of what we term “MT literacy”. It basically comes down to being an informed and critical user of this technology, rather than being someone who just copies, pastes and clicks. Here are some things that you should know about using free online MT systems. Read more

Every year, GradProSkills hires a team of graduate student employees. We look for applicants that meet the position requirements and demonstrate an appreciation of our program goals. However, meeting the requirements listed in the job posting, does not necessarily mean you will get the interview. Following the application process and properly communicating your skills in your submission are critical to demonstrating you are a candidate worthy of serious consideration. This blog highlights some pitfalls to avoid in your job application. Read more

With summer in full swing, we tend to explore Montreal a lot more, and in doing so, surround ourselves with more French. Embrace it! Spend some of your free time this summer working to improve your French conversation skills with the following resources available to you both on and off campus. Read more

A good interview is a two-way exchange of information. Not only are you showcasing your best skills and strengths for the role, but you are equally getting to know if you like the employer and manager. Today’s post shares tips on how to improve your interview skills, a summary of our workshop with Graduate Career Advisor, Bob Menard. Read more

If you are doing research, there is a very good chance that at some point in graduate school, you will need to develop an academic poster. A poster exhibition event is a popular communication method used in academia. It allows you to visually communicate your work to a wide audience, ranging from specialists in your field to the general public. We’re here to share with you some trusty tips to keep in mind when you let your creativity meet your research, and design your academic poster. Read more

LinkedIn has become a widely-used platform for representing your professional experiences and a way to network within your respective field. it is important to note that of the various sections of your LinkedIn profile that are part of the platform’s search algorithm, there are four that you should put most consideration into, for a professional advantage. Paying extra attention to these four sections of your LinkedIn profile can help you increase your professional exposure and be seen by the right people. Read more

In an interview with Chukwuka Okafor, GradProSkills Workshop Assistant and Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering student, Chukwuka shares his experience as a graduate employee in the GradProSkills Team. Find out what skills he developed in taking on such a role, and why you might want to join next years’ team. We are recruiting our 2019/20 team between March 27 and April 15, 2019. Read more

As grad students, a lot of emphasis is put on developing our research skills and the competencies that come with it: academic writing and synthesizing academic information. We forget to develop the skills needed for the job search process that comes after our studies. In our recent workshop with Kristel Kabigting, Career Advisor with Concordia’s Career and Planning Services (CAPS), she shared with us a few must-know job search strategies. Read more

I was trained as a physicist: the kind that does experiments in the lab and is often expected to be there on the weekends and always be in a state of hard work. But as I gained more experience in grad school and met more graduate students and professors at Concordia, it became clearer to me that there is much more to being a successful scientist. Looking to my personal scientist heroes and heroines, I noticed two characteristics they possess in common: they keep up-to-date with their field of study and have good oral and written communications skills. My undergraduate training failed to emphasize these skills enough, which is why I am stressing the importance of developing these in grad school. Read more