First Steps into Real Life: A Guide

A breakdown of resources for upper-year and graduating students.

Yesterday at 8 a.m., I turned off my alarm and rolled out of bed right into my first class. It was the peak of the pandemic, so I was taking all my courses on my laptop from my tiny bedroom back home. 

Except that wasn’t yesterday. That was three years ago. 

Today, I find myself commuting two hours three times a week to attend my classes at UTSC, knowing that it will all be done in two semesters and that, like three years ago, I still have no clue where the future is taking me. 

It is common to find articles and support systems aimed at first-year students at this time of the year. A year ago, I released my first article at The Underground with tips for those of us who were just starting university. 

But what about those of us taking our last steps on campus? Transitioning from high school to university is tough, but what about figuring out what comes next? 

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As a student in my (hopefully) last year of studies, I often wonder where I will be next year. What career path am I going to take? How to find a good job? How to meet people in the industry? Is my resume good enough? Should I go to grad school instead? How do I extend my stay in Canada if that’s what I choose? 

I believe that circumstances change, and it is nearly impossible to predict or plan exactly what our lives will turn out to be. So, here are some resources that I hope will also help you in navigating these turbulent times. 

Career Planning

I have met very few people who entered university with one career path in mind and ended up following that exact path throughout their academic lives and beyond. 

It is very common and completely okay to change your mind about what you want to do in your future, and most degrees offer various career options that you can follow. 

Even though we are at the end of our studies, don’t panic if (like me) you still haven’t figured out what you want to do from now on. Despite what we are taught to think, this decision will not follow or haunt us for the rest of our lives; there’s plenty of time to make a change and still be successful and happy. 

But if you would like some help in building a new career path after university, UTSC has some great resources to support you. 

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The Program Pathways page offers an overview of skills acquired with each program and what career or further education options are available for those programs. This is a beneficial source, especially if you wish to explore alternative careers relating to your degree but don’t know where to start. 

If you are ready to begin your career but need help navigating the job market and securing a position, the Academic Advising and Career Centre (AACC) offers plenty of resources for job hunting. 

You can consult their page on writing resumes and cover letters for general guidelines and recommendations. Besides offering the basics, they also provide links to resources on personal branding, how to consult your digital footprint, tips on improving your LinkedIn page, and more. You can also book an appointment with their career advisors to get support and feedback on your resume and cover letter writing.

If job interviews make you nervous, the AACC also offers tips and resources to help you get through it. In addition to offering very valuable advice, you also have the option of booking a mock interview to prepare for these crucial moments and get feedback on how to improve your interviewing skills.  

Notably, the AACC also offers online workshops on job navigation,  discussing networking, job search, LinkedIn profile building, and more. If you have a few minutes between your studies, it could definitely be helpful to attend them and start thinking about these topics for the future.  

Graduate school application support

Applying to further education might require research, time, financial planning, and a lot of work. If you are planning or considering a Master’s degree, law school, medical school, or any other postgraduate studies, the university also has resources to support you through this challenging process.

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On the AACC further education page, you can find information and resources on the topic. They might help you determine if you should consider further education, what type of further education to pursue, how to choose a program, how to apply, and more. 

They also offer you support in doing admission interviews for grad school, which could be a bit different from a regular job interview. 

Immigration services 

For international students, graduation also comes with immigration and bureaucracy questions. 

If you are anxious about deciding where to go after graduation or how to secure your stay in Canada, the university also offers support measures and immigration services. 

International students have the option of staying in Canada for up to three years after graduation with a postgraduate work permit (PGWP). You can consult the International Student Centre (ISC) to check if you are eligible, how, and when to apply. 

Dealing with immigration services is often a challenge that involves a lot of time and bureaucracy. For this reason, they offer information on what documents are needed, how long it might take, costs, tips, and more. You can also always book an appointment with the immigration advisors at the ISC, who are certified advisors who can offer their assistance throughout the whole process. 

If you wish to work in Canada, you will also need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which gives you access to government programs and benefits and is necessary when filing your income taxes. The ISC also offers support when applying for this document.

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Additional resources and tips 

These are only a few of the available resources within the university that tackle some of the concerns and questions of upper-year and graduating students. However, there are plenty of other resources that could be very helpful for the last steps of your undergraduate journey. 

A personal tip from me would be to research. I found most of these resources by doing a quick and simple search on Google and university platforms. I am certain that there are many other resources on—and—off-campus to support us, and it only takes research and planning to take advantage of them. 

University takes a lot of time and effort, but especially at this moment, it is important to find some time to research and look for support or even just reflect on the future. Don’t leave this for after graduation! 

At the same time, make sure you enjoy your last moments as an undergraduate student. Participate in campus events, study, party, find new friends, and hang out with the ones you made through your university journey. 

Although this moment can be nerve-racking and bittersweet, be mindful that there isn’t a set path to success and that it is also important to enjoy the little moments in the present. In a few months, we will wake up, roll out of bed, get ready for work, and miss the excitement and uncertainty of these fleeting university moments. 

All in all, I wish you good luck with your last year(s) and future endeavors!