Lakehead Celebrates Grand Opening of Career Zone

On January 29, 2020, Lakehead University held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the new Career Zone.

 Located beneath the bookstore in the lower level of University Centre, the Career Zone occupies a space that has long been empty. It was once a variety store, offering everything from toothbrushes to snacks and a Canada Post outlet. Lakehead University President, Dr. Moira McPherson, recalled fondly that it was one of her go-to places as a young faculty member: “I can remember being really disappointed when they shut the junction, and fast forward to here, today, 2020, and I cannot think of a better revitalization of this space than what we have here.”

The Career Zone will offer career exploration services including resume support, interview preparation and networking opportunities. Lakehead University’s Provost and Vice-President, Dr. David Barnett, remarked: “It’s a great way to bring us full circle, from bringing our students in on day one to helping them take that next step into their career.” 

Students visiting the Career Zone will have access to unique services and tools such as the Strong Interest Inventory, an online quiz that helps students gain a sense of their career interests or Interview Prep, a tool that allows students to record responses to interview questions and receive a rating on how they appear on screen. Additionally, the Career Zone offers resume review services with trained peer reviewers, connections to career experiences through cooperative education and opportunities to actually meet with potential employers in the space. 

Dr. McPherson said in her address: “I can tell you from deep inside my soul that everything about our strategic plan starts with our commitment to our students… every single decision that we make is grounded by what we’re trying to do for our students… and that commitment includes enhancing career services for all of our students to ensure a seamless transition from their program, their degree, the courses that they’re taking into a really successful career and into the workforce.”

Lakehead University Alumnus, Michael Nitz, also addressed the crowd, speaking of his hope for the Career Zone: “I really firmly, strongly believe that the students and the graduates of this institution are going to be integral to the future of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario and really retaining the talent not only of students who live in Thunder Bay and decide to come to their own institution, but those who come from across Ontario, across Canada, and across the world to Lakehead University, we have to do a better job at connecting with them and making them see that this is the best place in the world for them to start their career.” 

Connecting students with local career opportunities is not the sole purpose of the Career Zone, which also offers support for students looking to begin their careers outside of Thunder Bay. Sarah Lewis, Director of Student Services, told The Argus: “We realize that Lakehead students, some are really interested in staying in this community, others are interested in venturing forth to other places and we think that all of those goals are good and we want to support students to find the job that they want.”

More than two years in the making, Lewis told The Argus about her vision for the Career Zone down the road, saying: “I really hope that students feel like it’s a space that they can visit, where they can connect with employers, and really get that foothold into the job market so that they can take everything they’ve learned at Lakehead and then apply that in their career. We want students to be working in areas that are relevant to them, that they care about, and using their university education for their career.” 

Lewis encourages students to “drop in, check out the calendar, see what there might be for you to spark some interest, and as you’re getting ready for that important job application, just come in and see us -- get that second opinion on your resume, try out some of the interview prep tools, and it will really put you in a better position to be competitive for your dream job.”