Q: Briefly describe your current position and responsibilities, including challenges/rewards. How did you go about your job search upon graduating -- what strategies were most successful and why do you think you were hired?
I work at Oakville Galleries part-time where I take on various responsibilities. I gallery attend during our exhibitions, where I provide vistors with insight and discussion about the works and artists. I also work with the education team to plan art workshops that I lead at the Oakville Public Library through out the year. I also have my own artist practice.
Q: List the key positions you have held since graduation, and any post-graduate degrees/diplomas you earned after graduation. If applicable, list any other ways you are involved in your profession or in your community (member of a professional association, involved as a leadership volunteer, etc).
I volunteer for various art events and classes. I recently assisted for a portfolio workshop class for students applying for art-streamed highschools and I am currently preparing an informational seminar for the Oakville Youth Council in preparing for post-secondary education applications in the arts.
Q: What personal characteristics/skills are most important for success in your job/field?
Self-motivation, organization, communication, social skills, ambition, articulation, enthusiasm, in the know, constant learning...the list goes on.
Q: During your university career did any key experiences assist you in making your career choices? If yes, how so? (Internships? Extern Program? Volunteering? Student clubs? Summer job? Mentorship?)
Yes, the first volunteer opportunity that I ever initiated led me to an upward spiral and towards the light of what I am doing and working towards now. I decided that I wanted to volunteer as a TA for a Photography class in summer-school.
Here I noticed a volunteer opportunity on the board in the classroom which I interviewed and qualified for. Before I knew it, I was being referred to other opportunities.
Q: What have been the keys to your success? What advice would you give to students who wish to pursue a similar career path? If you had the chance to plan your studies and your career path again, what would you do differently (if anything)?
VOLUNTEER, keep as involved and as enthusiastic as you can be - this opens the doors to other opportunities - you're networking and you don't even know it. The only thing that I would do differently is that I would have started my involvement in my first year, rather than in my third.