| CAREERS FOR GRADUATES |
There are many different career options available for Sociology graduates. Below is a sample of types of positions that Sociology graduates have gone on to.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.
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Government:
- Public Policy Analyst*
- Economic Development Officer*
- Community Affairs Officer
- Urban/Regional Planner
- Legislative Aide
- Equal Opportunity Specialist
- Foreign Service Officer
- Immigration Officer*
- Human Rights Officer
- Personnel Co-ordinator
- Politician*
- Census Officer
- Statistician
- Activist*
Research
- Survey Researcher
- Social Research Specialist
- Market Research Analyst*
- Consumer Researcher
- Data Analyst
- Demographer/Population Analyst
- Systems Analyst
- Criminology Researcher
- Environmental Analyst/Planner
Corrections/Law:
- Corrections Officer
- Criminology Assistant
- Police Officer*
- Criminal Investigator
- Juvenile Court worker
- Probation Officer*
- Rehabilitation Counselor*
- Criminal Lawyer
Teaching/Education:
- Teacher
- Professor
- Admissions/College Officer
- Academic Advisor
- School counselor*
- Public Health Educator
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Community Affairs/Health:
- Employment Counselor
- Homeless/Housing worker
- Public Health/Hospital Administrator
- Child Development Technician
- Public Administration Assistant
- Social Assistance Advocate
- Addictions Counselor*
- Rural Health Outreach Worker
- Fundraiser
- Social Worker*
- Community Worker*
- Child and Youth Worker *
- Marriage and Family Therapist*
Business/Communications:
- Advertising Executive
- Project Manager
- Sales Representative*
- Business Analyst
- Real Estate Agent
- Journalist
- Public Relations Officer
- Actuary
- Insurance Agent*
- Human Resources Specialist*
- Labour Relations Officer
- Administrative Assistant
- Quality Control Manager
- Computer Analyst
- Publishing Officer
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| Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Cdn. electronic career guide available in the Centre |
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WHO EMPLOYS SOCIOLOGY GRADUATES?
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- Government Departments
- Municipalities
- Policy Organizations
- United Nations
- Research Groups
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- International Agencies
- Business/Market Research Firms
- Universities and Colleges
- Non-profit agencies
- Newspapers
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SKILLS DEVELOPED BY SOCIOLOGY MAJORS
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| Communication: |
- Develop and write reasoned reports; non-verbal communication of data using graphs, tables, diagrams; good listening, clarifying, and responding skills in interpersonal/verbal communication.
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| Research: |
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| Technical: |
- Knowledge/understanding/application of sociological theories on human social interaction, social problems, public policy etc; use of statistical software packages
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| Problem Solving: |
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| Organizational: |
- Compile and organize facts and information; planning and time management; work with deadlines; work independently; work in teams/small groups
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Some content adapted from: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/sociology/anthsoc/market.htm |
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| SAMPLE JOB LISTINGS FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS/RECENT GRADUATES |
Below is a sample of the types of positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre for graduating students or recent graduates. To access full-time opportunities (for up to two years after graduation), you must first attend an orientation. Drop by or call us at 905-828-5451 for more information.
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HR Assistant/Statistician - UofT Human Resources |
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Coordinator (Admin & Peer Support) -
UofT Women’s Centre |
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Research Analyst -
Ministry of Energy |
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Market Research Telephone Interviewer -
KAROM Group of Companies |
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Business Development Representative -
BMO Nesbitt Burns |
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Research Coordinator -
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation |
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Program Administrator -
Wellspring Cancer Foundation |
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Information & Education Officer -
Legislative Assembly of Ontario |
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Junior Facilitator -
Behavior Institute |
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Policy Analyst -
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities |
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Client Care Representative -
FGI |
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Research Project Coordinator - African Community Services of Peel |
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Environmental Educator - Toronto and Region Conservation Authority |
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Employment Resource Coordinator -
St. Stephen’s Employment & Training Centre |
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Customer Service Representative -
TD Canada Trust |
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Program Coordinator -
The Hospital for Sick Children |
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Outreach Assistant -
Share the Warmth |
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Alumni Profiles
UTM Alumni Profile:
Sonya Burnett
2002 Sociology Graduate
Sonya Burnett is a reporter with Rogers Television in York Region... [more]
UTM Alumni Profile: Joyce Tang
1985 Sociology Graduate
Joyce Tang is an Associate Professor and Deputy Chair of the Sociology Department at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY)... [more]
UTM Alumni Profile: Cathy Annetta
2000 Sociology Graduate
Cathy Annetta currently works as the Volunteer Resources Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society... [more]
UTM Alumni Profile:
Rosa Bertucci-Dunn
1994 Sociology Graduate
Rosa Bertucci-Dunn works as a marketing specialist for Ecolab...
[more]
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| HOW TO GET EXPERIENCE |
| Start early by seeking relevant summer, part-time and volunteer opportunities that will help you gain experience and develop the skills that employers want. Below is a sample of the types of temporary positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre. To access the summer, part-time, temporary and volunteer postings, register with the Career Centre Online. |
| Volunteer |
On-Campus - volunteer, courses & part-time |
- Editor, UofT Medium
- Campaign Volunteer, UofT Environmental Resource Network
- Conference & Special Events Co-ordinator, Innovolve
- Hospice Volunteer Visitor, Circle of Care
- Crisis Line Counsellor, Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel
- Good Beginnings Volunteer, VON Canada
- Volunteer, Humber River Regional Hospital
- Volunteer, Geneva Centre for Autism
- Research Assistant, Danson Medical
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| Work Study |
Research Opportunity Program (ROP) |
Work-study positions are posted online with the Career Centre in early September of each year. Previous postings have included:
- Research Assistant, Data Analyst, Database Consultant, Census Analyst, Report Writer; UTM/ UofT Department of Sociology
- Environment Health Policy Research & Liaison; UTM Environment
- Student Opinion Surveyor; UTM Student Affairs
- Public Relations Assistant; UTM Office of Advancement
- Special Projects Co-ordinator, UofT Family Care Office
- LGBTQ Resource Assistant, UofT Student Affairs
- Research Assistant; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Institute for Antisocial Behaviour
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- The Research Opportunity Program (ROP) The ROP allows students to earn a course credit while participating in research with a faculty member. Project titles from 2008 – 2009 include: Race and Gender Stereotypes in Canadian Television Advertising; and Food at the Centre of Social Planning: Linking Agricultural and Environmental Policies.
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| Extern Job Shadowing Program |
Extern is a career exploration program that offers you the opportunity to meet with people working in your preferred career area for placements of 1-5 days.
Samples of previous Extern placements include:
- In-take Social Worker, Children’s Aid Society
- Program Specialist, Ontario Pay Equity Commission
- Manager, Artist Relations, EMI Canada
- Guidance Counsellor, Turner Fenton Secondary School
- Wedding Coordinator, The Wedding Planners
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Professional Associations:
Each industry has affiliated associations. There are many benefits of becoming a member of an association, such as stating your affiliation on your resume. In addition to your experiences and the completion of your university degree, a student membership in an association is one way to get an edge in the job market. It also furthers your knowledge of a particular field.
- Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association
http://www.csaa.ca
- American Sociological Association
$32 student membership.
www.asanet.org
Includes resources such as a forum and newsletter; membership includes a subscription to one of their publications and allows students to attend annual meetings
- Association for Humanist Sociology
www.altrue.net/site/humanist
This association is based on a sociology that emphasizes equality, peace, social justice, and real human need. Student membership is available and includes a subscription to the journal Humanity and Society
- International Sociological Association
www.isa-sociology.org
Lists fellowships, grants, and prizes and holds a worldwide Junior Sociologists Competition. Publications include International Sociology and Current Sociology
- Ontario College Of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
www.ocswssw.org/index.asp
The college is responsible for regulating the practice of social workers and social service workers under provincial legislation called the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998(the Act).
- American Society of Criminology – Division on Critical Criminology
http://www.critcrim.org/
Job Search, Internships and Work Abroad Links :
- Charity Village
http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/main.asp
Online directory including information on nonprofit organizations and job postings.
- Government of Canada on Jobs, Workers, and Training
http://www.jobsetc.ca
Website includes information and job listings for employment in the federal, provincial, and municipal government.
- Ontario Internship Program
http://www.internship.gov.on.ca
Two-year internships in a variety of business areas, including Policy Development, Communications, Human Resources, Project Management, and more.
- International Youth Internship , Saint Mary’s University
www.stmarys.ca/administration/international/youth.html
Sectors include: Children’s rights, education, Gender issues, legal aid, and disability issues, etc.
- Help the Aged Internship , Help the Aged Canada
ww.helptheaged.ca/employment.htm
Part of the CIDA International Youth Internship Program; offers internships in gerontology/social work in Ghana, Dominica, and Belize
- CIDA International Youth Internship Program
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/internships
Website listing the various organizations involved with CIDA and the work
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| RESOURCES |
| Career Centre Library Resources: |
Related Web Links: |
- Career Cruising, a Canadian Electronic Career Guide
- Great Jobs for Sociology Majors
- Careers for Culture Lovers & Other Artsy Types
- The Blue Book: Directory of Community Services in Metropolitan Toronto
- Career Information Binders/Bins
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| Library Videos & Panel Packages: |
Additional Websites : |
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- U of T’s Department of Sociology Links
Includes links to associations, councils, and societies, and sites regarding qualitative and quantitative research
- University of Ottawa Sociology Resources
An extensive list of links to associations, dictionaries/glossaries, e-texts, government info, stats and data, and other sociology related sites
- SocioWeb
Lists online resources for sociology, including links to Internet Indexes and Guides, Journals and ‘Zines, Sociological Theory, Sociology in Action, and International University Departments
- Statistics Canada
Surveys, economic indicators, community profiles, Canadian census information, and the Daily (releases of current Canadian studies)
- WWW Virtual Library – Sociology
An extensive gathering of links on databases and archives, international sociology programs, software for quantitative and qualitative analysis, and discussion forums
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| The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca |
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What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check out our Events calendar for upcoming career related events.
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 Back to Careers By Major Search Page |
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