Welcome to Academic Advising &
Career Development in Residence!
Our campus partners from Academic and Career Development will be coming to residence weekly to provide direct access to Academic & Career Advising and a workshop series aimed at helping your Develop Your Career Journey, all without having to leave the residence community.
Academic and Career Advisor – Sam Larsen
“I’ve been with UBC since 2012 – first as an undergraduate student in Vancouver studying International Relations and African Studies and then transitioning to working on the Okanagan campus in 2016 with Student Housing while completing a Masters of Education. As an Academic & Career Advisor, I get to put my passion for student experience to work! I am grateful that my work allows me to support student goals and help navigate the many pathways of university. I love our campus community and would be excited to meet with you to take on the hurdles of degree planning, utilizing academic and career resources, as well as accessing the many services on our campus so that you can make the most of your time with us. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and come by to see me in Nechako – I can’t wait to meet you!”
How I can help you
Each week I will be in Nechako 251, ready to help you! You can drop by to talk to me about:
- Discussing and explaining academic requirements for university programs and course planning
- Interpreting academic policies and procedures
- Exploring program options and developing a personal program plan
- Providing referrals to appropriate departments and services, as needed
- Checking graduation requirements
- Supporting academic and career goal setting
Academic & Career Advising Schedule, Term 1
Nechako 251 (across from the Student Housing Front Desk)
| Day | Hours | Service Description |
| Wednesdays, starting September 6 | 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Drop-In Advising
Stop by to talk to Sam about your academic plan, your questions about navigating your degree and academic policies as well as learn about valuable campus resources. |
Career Development Specialist – Luke Penner
I am in my second year with the University of British Columbia – Okanagan as a Career Development Specialist. I have graduate degrees from the University of Manitoba, Canadian Sport Institute, and San Diego State University, and I somehow made them all relate to basketball! As a Career Development Specialist, I have a great opportunity to support students as they design their own career journeys. Whether it is resumes, cover letters, job search, relationship building, or something in between, I love hearing others stories and coaching them through the process. I look forward to meeting you in Nechako where we will go through a series on “Developing your Career Journey.” Feel free to join for one session or all of them! You have all the answers, I just help you find them!
How I can help you:
Throughout the Term, I will be in Nechako 221 (the Gathering Room), ready to deliver a workshop where we get to learn from each other.
Developing Your Career Journey Workshop Schedule, Term 1
| Day | Hours | Workshop Description | |||
| Wed. Sept. 27 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Career Bash
Come learn about how the Career Development team can support you through your university journey and beyond. (And, there will be prizes!) |
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| Wed. Oct. 4 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Gamify Your Career
Want to consider some career paths you haven’t thought about yet? Join us for a chance to explore your career! |
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| Wed. Oct. 11 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | LinkedIn for Students
Elevate your LinkedIn profile to get the most out of your virtual network. |
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| Wed. Oct. 18 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Building Industry Connections
Learn how to find common ground with industry experts, and develop mutually beneficial professional relationships. |
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| Wed. Oct. 25 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Job Search Strategies
Explore ways to search for jobs as you finish your undergraduate degree. |
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| Wed. Nov. 1 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Market Your Experiences
Stand out to employers with a well-written resume and cover letter package. This session will help your market your experiences and convey your story effectively. |
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| Wed. Nov. 8 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Informational Interviews Learn how to conduct informational interviews that allow you to explore career options and cultivate meaningful relationships with industry experts. |
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| Wed. Nov. 22 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Interview Preparation
Know what to expect and how to best present yourself for an interview, whether in a virtual or in-person environment. |
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| Wed. Nov. 29 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Marketing Your International Experience
Learn ways to market your experience abroad, whether you went on an exchange or you moved to Kelowna for school. |
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| Wed. Dec. 6 | 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Using ChatGPT to Help your Career Journey Learn how effectively use ChatGPT and other AI softwares to enhance your career journey without relying on it to get a job. |