Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast

On this episode, we are speaking with Julie Claveau, a UVic physics and astronomy graduate who manages Earth Observation satellite programs and previously worked as Canada’s deputy mission manager for the James Webb Telescope. She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and is a blogger, a Youtuber, an avid World of Warcraft gamer, a violist, a dancer, a baker, a gardener and a mom of thr...

On this month's episode, we’re digging into a question that can seem a bit scary—what happens if you want to change your career path?  Luckily, we’re joined by Kerry Vaughan, who is UVic’s career educator for alumni. She speaks to us about: what happens if your career looks and feels different than you were hoping how common it is to make a major change how UVic Career Services can help you plan y...

On this month's episode, we're speaking with mechanical engineering alumni Graeme Gordon, who ditched the oil and gas industry to transform his passion for Magic: The Gathering trading cards into a thriving business. He is the founder of TCG Machines, which produces automatic trading card sorting machines for commercial use. In the past four years, Graeme’s business has grown into a multi-million-...

On today’s episode, we're tackling a pretty common question—what the heck can you do with your degree?  Whether you’re considering what program to pursue or are about to graduate with a degree, it can be hard to know what’s next. We’re joined by Joy Andrews, one of UVic’s amazing career educators, who will walk us through: how to identify your passion and your strengths how to find the right emplo...

On our season 3 kick-off episode, we speak with Fiona Wong, a UVic Law graduate with a passion for labour and employment law. She has served as President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, helped produce an award-winning law documentary called “But I Look Like a Lawyer”, and launched a podcast featuring Asian-Canadian lawyers. During her time at UVic, Fiona founded the First Generation N...

Don’t want to commit to just one career path? Being flexible can lead you on some amazing adventures.   On today’s episode, Katy and Emma speak with Mark Leiren-Young who was UVic's second ever double major, in Theatre and Creative Writing and who currently works as a UVic professor in the Writing department, among many other roles.   We chat with Mark about: Working in creative fields as diverse...

Wondering if you should come back to school for a graduate degree? It’s a big question, but we’re here to help.   This week, Katy and Emma connect with Allison Benner, the associate director of UVic’s Career Services team to talk about: What kind of research to do  Whether it’s worth the time and money The reality of today’s economy and the job market Resources from this episode Accessing career s...

Have a business idea? Not sure how to get it off the ground?   In this episode, Emma and Kate speak with Ashley and Robert Roulston, co-founders of Industrial Plankton, a company that makes equipment to grow live algae cultures that are used to stabilize the aquaculture food chain. Fourteen years into their business, they share tips on: How to form a partnership that combines different degrees and...

Learn what self-disclosure means in the workplace.

How the heck do you gain experience related to your degree if you don’t have a job?    For a lot of us, we might be up to our eyeballs in schoolwork, or we’re taking care of family members, or maybe we’re already working just to pay for life—we might not be in the position to take part in co-op or pursue a job in our area of study.   In this episode, Katy and Emma chat with some of UVic’s career e...

What you study is just a starting point: the possibilities are endless when it comes to what you can do with your UVic degree.    Emma and Katy chat with Matt Heywood, a UVic mechanical engineering graduate who is the founder of Heywood Academies, a local tutoring company that supports students in math, science and engineering.    Join us as we talk with Matt about:  Trying out a wide range of car...

How can you use AI as you search for work? What should you look out for and how can you leverage these tools?   Katy and Emma chat with career educator Karae White about how to best use generative AI and machine learning to search for work, write résumés and cover letters, prepare for interviews and more.    Resources from this episode Accessing career support The UVic Co-op Program Using AI in yo...

On the first episode of season 2, hosts Katy and Emma speak with Jayesh Vekariya, a UVic MBA graduate who is the CEO and one of the founders of Joni , a Victoria-based company that produces organic, sustainable menstrual products.   Jayesh is also one of UVic’s 2024 Emerging Alumni.   Join us as we talk with Jayesh about:  how growing up in Gujurat, India inspired him to launch a business that tac...

How can you avoid burnout by practicing self-care at work?    Katy and Emma chat with career educator Darcie Gabruck about recognizing signs of burnout, setting boundaries in the workplace, setting up strategies for sustainable self-care, and addressing and healing from burnout when it happens.    Resources from this episode ·      UVic Student Wellness ·      UVic Career Services ·      UVic Mult...

What can you do with a degree in… history?    Katy and Emma chat with guest Natasha Thambirajah about how a history and political science degree led to a career in digital health public policy.    Natasha Thambirajah is a third-generation public servant and has worked for the Province of BC since 2006. Over the past 15 years, she has led nationally recognized examples of transformative, citizen-ce...

How can you practice self-advocacy at work?    Katy and Emma talk with career educator and international student advisor Amy Chen about self-identification during the job search and application process, your rights and responsibilities in the workplace, and how you can advocate for yourself on the job.    Resources from this episode:    ·      Disability Alliance BC: Disclosing Your Disability Gui...

What can you do with a degree in… commerce and entrepreneurship?   Katy and Emma connect with guest Kat Craats about her career as a marketing professional in the adventure tourism industry, plus her freelance photography business!    Kat Craats is a photographer, outdoor enthusiast and adrenaline-junkie living in Squamish, BC. UVic’s BCom program inspired her love of marketing, setting her on the...