In today’s competitive job market, Backpack to Briefcase (or b2B, for short) career panels, networking events and mentorship meals are designed to give attendees insight and guidance on how to navigate possible career paths following graduation. The 2014-2015 academic year saw a successful b2B series, with 1,503 students attending an event to connect with 359 alumni panelists and mentors.
Since its inception in 2008, b2B has grown to represent 39 units in the Faculty of Arts & Science, from Astronomy to Gender Studies, to Mathematics and Philosophy. Whether it’s a quick chat at a networking reception or an extended conversation over dinner, the events provide vital access to industry contacts in a casual, low-pressure environment.
At a recent mentorship dinner for the Department of Earth Sciences, Professor Ed Spooner highlighted one of the main benefits of the b2B program: connecting employers with a pool of potential employees.
“Students get a good idea of what is real, what might work for them, and how they can progress. More specifically, a student recently met an alumnus at an Earth Sciences b2B event, and nine months later, the alumnus contacted the student, and after a successful interview, she has been working in her new position since January.”
Spooner continued, “In general, the alumni I’ve spoken to have always enjoyed these events, and it gives them a sense of value, both in terms of their ability to give back to students, and in terms of the benefit that they receive from meeting talented students. For alumni who meet and hire students as a result of b2B, outcomes are mutually positive: a student gets a job, and an employer gets the immediate tangible benefit of a great employee.”
During a b2B career panel presented by the Department of English in March, students had the chance to hear from a diverse set of U of T alumni who completed their undergraduate degrees in English: Diana Arjas, President of Poise Communications; Alix McDonald, Series Producer for Cineflix; and Philip Enright, Deputy Director of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
For Enright, b2B represents an opportunity for professionals to impart advice and tips.
“[Students] are getting theoretical advice and they’re reading and writing essays, or if they’re in the sciences they’re doing labs,” he said. “Sometimes they want to speak to someone who has a career and can help them figure out where their degree will take them.”
A typical b2B career panel and networking session consists of a moderated discussion, where panelists highlight key steps that they took following graduation to enter their respective industries. Students then have the opportunity to ask specific questions and network in a casual setting.
Alicia Xu, a first-year student who intends to pursue her BA in English, says that for her, b2B is a look into the future.
“Talking to someone who has the same degree as you and is successful in their field is inspirational,” she said. “It helps to relieve anxiety and it’s an example of what’s possible with [an English] degree. The networking part is important too. It’s a good way to get a sense of what employers are looking for in future employees.”
In addition to the immediate benefits that b2B offers for students, the program also makes students eligible to receive a notation on their Co-Curricular Record that links the competencies gained from their experiences outside the classroom to skills that potential employers look for.
In early May, Arts & Science students will have the opportunity to further develop their network of professional contacts and prepare for life after graduation at the annual Next Steps Conference. This intensive two-day conference enables students to further explore career pathways, practice networking skills with alumni guests, and speak with potential employers and mentors.