I am a criminal defence lawyer in Winnipeg. I provide legal advice to clients, negotiate with crown attorneys and advocate for my clients in court. From first court appearances, to guilty pleas and sentencing hearings, to trials, it is rare that two days are ever the same. I love the challenges of thinking quickly and creatively to be persuasive. I enjoy the connection I have with clients and colleagues as well as the business/entrepreneurial side that I get to focus on because I work at a private firm. Advertising and business development are things I turned out to really enjoy and I have spent countless hours working on and adding content to my website. Some of challenges I face include ethical issues that arise almost daily and ensuring that I am providing the best legal services for my clients.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

I wanted to be a lawyer while I was in junior high school. I attended the Mini University program at the University of Winnipeg and took a criminology course. I thought it was very interesting and that my somewhat argumentative nature and quick thinking would help me become a great lawyer. 

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed?

When I first arrived at the University of Manitoba, I knew I wanted to pursue a law degree and my focus did not waver. In law school, I toyed with the idea of working in corporate/commercial law. However, my personality suited better to courtroom work so I ultimately focused on criminal law.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in law?

First, you have to be prepared to take on a significant amount of student debt that you will slowly pay off over the early years of your career. Second, a law degree is not a licence to print money. There are many lawyers who are unsuccessful. I think it is important that you enjoy the day to day work because otherwise you will not be motivated to work hard. Third, lawyers are respected and having a law degree can open a lot of doors, especially in politics. Finally, there are many different areas of law that fit many different personality types. Not everyone is going to be a courtroom lawyer and not everyone is going to love researching issues in estate law.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Searching for jobs as a lawyer can be difficult. My best advice is to connect with former classmates and talk to them about opportunities that they may know of. If you know lawyers that have been practicing for a few years, talk to them and see what they recommend.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Most people do not associate the word fun with lawyer. I suppose a fun fact is that as a lawyer you will find an almost immediate dislike of all lawyer jokes and that most new people that you meet are incredibly keen to tell you the most recent one they heard. If someone starts talking about what to do with a lawyer buried up to his neck in sand, it is probably best to just walk away.

Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD) is an Aboriginal-led, charitable organization serving the urban Aboriginal community of Winnipeg. It offers a number of services including literacy, education, post-secondary training and employment counselling. We provide personal and academic supports to assist clients with the opportunity for growth, development and success. I am the director of employment services for CAHRD and lead a team of twelve employment counsellors and support staff who provide dedicated career advice, coaching and recruitment services to Winnipeg’s urban Aboriginal population. What is unique about our organization is that all the supports our clients need are under one roof. The thing I find most rewarding about my job is helping the Aboriginal community find employment, education or training.

What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

CAHRD understands that the Aboriginal community faces different challenges than the non-Aboriginal community. It recognizes and understands that our community faces multiple barriers such as a lack of education and training, affordable housing, and social supports such as daycare. Despite these challenges, we work as a team to help those who walk through our doors achieve their short and long term goals.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

I am from The Pas, Manitoba and I was raised by my grandparents, Flora and Malcolm Crane, who taught me the value of education. In 1999, my high school hosted a career fair. I was drawn to the University of Manitoba booth and spoke with recruiters who informed about the different program offerings. It was then that I knew that I was going to attend this school. Ten years later, I moved to Winnipeg to attend university. It was the hardest but most rewarding goal I had accomplished up until that point. After completing my degree, I first came to CAHRD as a client and a position for an employment counsellor came available. I applied with the help of my counsellor and got the job. Five months later, I was asked to apply for the director of employment services position. I am amazed with all that I have accomplished in such a short amount of time and owe my success to my positive attitude and education. I’m so thankful for all the support I had along the way from my family, friends and CAHRD.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed? 

No, but I always knew I wanted to help my Aboriginal community. While attending university, I actually changed my major three times before I decided on sociology. Once I choose my major, everything fell into place. It was very stressful at times and was hard to juggle everything at once, but I knew that getting an education was something I really wanted. I am so thankful for the career path that I have chosen and where I am right now.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in sociology?

My advice to students interested in pursuing a degree in sociology is to never give up, stay focused and ask for help when you don’t understand something. Be organized, take lots of notes and use your quizzes to prep for exams, they do help a lot. 

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

For non-Aboriginal students, there are a number of places you can go for assistance with your job search. Go to Career Services for help with your cover letters, resume and interview skills. Learn to network when you are job searching, post on social media and look at job websites. If you are Aboriginal, come to CAHRD and register with employment services. We are located at 304-181 Higgins Avenue. You can also call us at (204) 989-7117.

I am a researcher/curator at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. I conduct in-depth human rights research to inform the content development of museum exhibitions. It is very rewarding to see my research come to life through exhibits and to see visitors reacting and understanding human rights issues. There are many challenges involved in displaying and telling human rights stories, including working with communities that have been subjected to major rights violations. A large part of my work is to critically evaluate these considerations.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

While studying the University of Manitoba, I had the opportunity to present at an international workshop on Indigenous rights in North America and meet other academics working in the same area. This really helped me to connect with the people who were working in the areas in which I wanted to work. I also had the opportunity to work as a research assistant during both my undergraduate degree and during my graduate program. This provided me with the skills and experience for my research assistant position at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed?

I have always enjoyed doing research and was drawn to human rights and social justice issues, but I never imagined that it would lead to a position in a museum. Research and community engagement is what I wanted to do in my career, however now I am able to publish and present my research and use it to create unique museum exhibitions.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in sociology?

Sociology is such a broad discipline that can be applicable in so many careers. Critical thinking and research skills are very transferable; I was surprised to discover how useful theses skills have been for different types of jobs and how they help me to understand social issues.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Winnipeg is a small city and therefore has great opportunities for networking. If you find someone working in the field you would like to be in, ask them out for a coffee and find out how they got there. Don’t feel limited in what you can do and be open to using your skills in an unconventional way. Seize opportunities while you’re in school to work on special research projects or attend and present at conferences. 

Tell us a fun fact about your career path. 

I wrote my entire thesis while working full time as a research assistant at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and while this was a particular challenge, it demonstrates the need to be adaptable and willingness to be open to opportunity when it knocks!

I am a career consultant at the University of Manitoba. I work with students to help them discover their dream career and help them to achieve their goals once a pathway is clear. My job involves working with students one-on-one, delivering workshops to groups, planning events, and coming up with resources that can be used by students. The most challenging part of this position is staying current amongst constant changes and maintaining a strong knowledge of career information. I need to know about educational programs all over the world, new careers, local businesses, and the best techniques to allow someone to confide in me and to work towards uncovering a student’s passions. I love learning and reading, so this, while challenging, is also something I enjoy quite a bit. The most rewarding part of my job is getting to know a student very well – working closely with them, getting to know what is important to them and eventually seeing them succeed and reach their goals. There is nothing more rewarding than helping students discover their plans for their future. It always makes me happy to get an email from a student saying they got their dream job! 

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

Throughout my degree, I got involved on campus and in the community. I knew that I wanted a career helping people, so I found volunteer and work positions that gave me experience working with others. Through these experiences, I was able to discover plenty of things about myself that helped to shape my career pathway. This gave me insight into the things I wanted to do and avoid in a career. I volunteered with Peers: Students Helping Students for three years, which showed me my passion for supporting students. It also helped me to get my work-study position at Career Services, where I began learning about career development and discovering that I loved everything about this profession.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed? 

I chose to do a psychology degree with the plan of becoming a clinical psychologist. At the time, I thought this was the only way I could help people the way I wanted to. The further I got in my degree, the more it reaffirmed my desire to work with people as well as my interest in social science. What changed, though, was that I slowly began to discover that there was a whole world of amazing careers helping others that I could take on with my undergraduate degree. 

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in psychology?

The most important advice I have is to seek out experience above and beyond your academics. My psychology degree helped me to strengthen my writing skills, develop my presentation abilities, and gave me a critical eye when evaluating research and psychometric tools. Since my goal was to work with people, I also made sure I supplemented my education with experience in the community. This gave me even more skills that I could put on my resumé and it also connected me with people who would eventually help me to get the job I have today.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Develop connections with people in the organizations you want to work with and take advantage of the network you’ve already made. Be aware of all of the amazing skills you have from your psychology degree and don’t be shy in showing them off in your application. Be creative in where you look for work and try to stay hopeful. It took me well over three months to find a job after I graduated –this is typical for anyone looking for work, with all kinds of backgrounds. It was a lot of work to find my first job, but after the countless hours of searching and applying it was the most amazing feeling in the world and made it worth it. Keep your chin up and start early!

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Before my current position, I spent a year working in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Residence, which supports middle and high school students striving to be professional dancers. It was an amazing job where I got to have a lot of independence and responsibility. I was able to use so many of the skills I developed through my education and experiences as I supported students, managed staff and ensured the residence ran smoothly. My psychology degree was a huge help to me in this position. One of my major projects was to write a new discipline policy, which I diligently wrote in the same way I wrote countless papers in my undergrad, using academic research to back the policy I recommended.

I am currently employed as a behaviour analyst and psychological assessor at St. Amant. I find it very rewarding to be a part of the process to help connect young adults and adults with services that will support them throughout their lives. I also enjoy when families achieve the “aha” moment when they realize the effectiveness of the behavioral supports. The greatest challenge is with helping families get through an extinction burst so that they can get to a point where things get better.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

As an undergraduate student I volunteered in a research laboratory that allowed me to apply what I was learning. This helped me to figure out what I did and did not want to do in my career.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed?

This is what I expected to be doing and I am very happy with my job.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in psychology?

If you are interested in psychology, talk with to your professors and offer to volunteer in their labs. This will give you some hands-on experience and put you in touch with other students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. These students can help you understand what your experience will be like.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Start with your professors to see if they have a paid research position. Doing a practicum will put you in contact with prospective employers. Join different psychological associations such as Manitoba Psychological Society or Manitoba Association for Behaviour Analysis to access job postings on their website. When searching for jobs online, use broad categories rather than just specific diagnoses. Also, make use of social media sites such as LinkedIn.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

As a part of my job I organize different events to celebrate psychology month in February. This provides the general public an opportunity to learn what behaviour analysts do.

I currently work as a rehabilitation counsellor where I assess clients prior to their involvement in treatment. What I find most rewarding is the continuous strength and resiliency I observe in every client. There is always going to be obstacles in every work place and one lesson that I have learned is the ability to be mindful. It is important to be mindful of the self when you are in a profession such as counselling. 

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

There have been many contributing factors that have brought me to where I am today. Firstly, I was a member of the University of Manitoba Bison soccer team for five years throughout my education which helped me to build “soft skills”. Secondly, I received an internship through World University Service of Canada where I went overseas to work at one of the local Universities in Vietnam. This experience provided me with a cultural component and diverse set of lenses. Additionally, I went through an intensive training program to volunteer as a Sexual Assault Crisis Counsellor for two years. This experience opened up many doors and allowed me to apply my formal education in a practical setting.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed? 

As a first year student, I never saw myself in my current career path. I initially wanted to study physical therapy; however, I really enjoyed my courses related to psychology. I got involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities where I realized that I had found my niche. 

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in psychology?

Ask yourself why you are interested in this line of work in the first place. Go out and seek opportunities through volunteering to get an idea of what it may look like for you in the future. Immerse yourself in as many experiences as possible because this is a profession of continuous development. There is so much to learn and explore, and if you have a real passion for this type of work you will excel. 

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there in the job market. Apply for jobs even if you don’t think you will get them. When going to interviews, use it as a way to gain exposure and a sense of what potential employers are looking for. Volunteering and working part-time while in school will definitely help you to advance after graduation. Additionally, in order to gain more responsibility and opportunity you might consider accepting a rural job position. Work experience is crucial post-graduation, so take advantage of any chance you get.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

I am a young individual in a position that most people wait their whole lives to obtain. If you put in the extra effort outside of your studies you will be rewarded.

I am the owner of a specialty coffee shop in the heart of Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District which opened in 2011. Fast forward 5 years––I extended the insights and experiences I learned through operating Parlour Coffee to help open a second café, Little Sister Coffee Maker, and begin operating a wholesale roasting operation called Dogwood Coffee Canada Ltd. I am in charge of general oversight of these businesses and take on special projects to push them forward but also to help carve a unique niche.

The most rewarding experience of operating my own business is creating and fostering new relationships. The greatest challenge within this profession is maintaining a particular level of quality and attention to detail that I am personally proud of whilst meeting the needs and expectations of clients.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

The experience that introduced me to the idea of opening a café with a particular sense of identity was a studio trip in the final year of my undergraduate studies. I believe that the environmental design program helped foster a passion for thoughtful details and practices. Through this lens, I was able to re-approach my entrepreneurial habits.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed? 

I definitely did not see myself being in the coffee business while I was a student––I didn’t even drink coffee until my final year. I thing that changed for me was that I wanted to see my ideas and plans realized rather immediately versus sitting on paper for some time. One thing that didn’t change was my enjoyment of planning and executing minor details.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in Environmental Design?

I would suggest throwing yourself completely into your studies and being open to the outcome. I was never set on having a particular career, but I was interested in soaking in as much information and experience as possible. Also, I would highly discourage ever pulling an “all-nighter”. I always slept, at least a few hours, every night and my studies never suffered.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

If you don’t see the job you want, make your own work. Self starters always win.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

I got Samuel L Jackson’s autograph. Other than that, I basically changed careers a few months after receiving the Rado Design Award for the Best New Protoype at IDS11 in Toronto while working for EQ3.

I am presently a senior occupational health and safety specialist with the provincial government. My job entails crafting occupational health and safety legislation and supporting the health and safety of workers in the province in various other ways. Prior to working for the provincial government, I worked in a similar capacity in the private sector to protect the health and safety of workers as well as the environment. Being able to see how my work improves the quality of life of workers and by extension their families and the broader community is by its very nature rewarding. I find developing public policy challenging (in a positive way) because there are many competing needs and many perspectives on what things should be done by government. It feels great finding solutions that meet everyone’s needs.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

While I was an undergraduate chemistry student, I obtained a part-time job with a hazardous waste management firm. This job had a number of inherent health and safety hazards and my ‘exposure’ to chemicals is what led me to gain a keen interest in chemical health and safety.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed? 

When I graduated with my undergraduate degree in chemistry, I didn’t feel that I was quite ready to leave the academic world. I turned to the University calendar and discovered the certificate program in occupational health and safety, which I completed. During my studies in occupational health and safety, I discovered the specialty of industrial hygiene of which chemical health and safety is a subset. I discovered that chemists, when provided with some additional training, can make excellent industrial hygienists and set this as my career goal. In the years following graduation, I worked as an industrial hygienist, safety and environmental coordinator in the private sector and actively focused on my professional development. The provincial government then hired me as their senior industrial hygienist, which for me was a dream come true. Along my professional path I became a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and through the professional chemists association, I obtained my Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) designation. After working in the public sector for some time, my interest in public administration grew and I began expanding my education in this field, which I had not predicted pursuing when I was an undergraduate student.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in chemistry?

It is helpful to recognize is that chemistry is broadly considered to be the ‘central science.’ From a practical perspective, this means that people who earn a chemistry degree can follow many different career paths. Careers can range from analytical, pharmaceutical or paint chemists to environmental or occupational health and safety professionals, to name a few.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Before searching for a job, consider your career path – what you want to do in the future. You might not get there in your first job, so pursue jobs that help you gain experience towards where you want to end up. When you do get a job, do your very best as it is the reputation you earn, the experience you gain and the service you provide that will help propel you forward.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

When I was still a junior in my career, I managed to make my way to attend an international industrial hygiene conference. This was years before I obtained my professional certification in the field. While at the conference, I attend a ‘fun run’ that was associated with the conference. Those who signed up for the fun run were put on a bus to be taken to and from the run location. Sitting next to me on the bus was a seasoned industrial hygienist who had an immense level of wisdom and technical expertise. This kind and amazing gentleman took me under his wings by mentoring me for many years until I myself reached senior professional status. As we lived in different countries and email hadn’t become a thing yet, we communicated mostly by telephone. As the saying goes, when the student is ready the teacher will appear. I am forever grateful for the kind generosity of my mentor.