Career planning during the first year of university might seem premature, but at McMaster Engineering, it’s viewed as an ideal time to start cultivating a career development mindset.
“Each student’s career journey is unique, and understanding how their professional experiences fit into the larger picture of who they are, where they’re headed and how they will navigate their path is essential,” says Stephanie Harper, Associate Director in the Centre for Career Growth and Experience (the Centre). This philosophy is at the heart of the Centre’s vision and inspired the creation of a mandatory career development course for undergraduates that launched in September 2024.
Each student’s career journey is unique, and understanding how their professional experiences fit into the larger picture of who they are, where they’re headed and how they will navigate their path is essential.
The course, Introduction to Career Planning and Employment, is an online, asynchronous, degree-required course for all undergraduate engineering students. It consists of seven comprehensive modules, covering topics such as career planning fundamentals, strategies for sourcing jobs and other skill-based experiences, building a personal brand, developing professional relationships/networks, preparing for interviews and navigating offers of employment
“The philosophy is about equipping all students with career preparation and employment success knowledge, skills and experiences,” says Harper. “Students are navigating career opportunities and decisions all the time, whether they realize it or not, and because of this, career development programming has meaningful impact when embedded as part of the overarching student experience.”
“The Introduction to Career Planning and Employment course was a very useful resource,” says Inodh Nanayakkara, a first year Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences student. “I learned essential professional skills like personal branding and networking. The content is foundational, so I often go back and revisit my key learnings even after having completed the course.”
Employers’ praise for Mac Eng co-op students
Employers echo the sentiment that McMaster Engineering co-op students are better prepared to kick-off their career journey and make meaningful contributions as co-op students.
“At our information sessions and job fairs, McMaster students consistently showcase their classroom knowledge, campus involvement and community engagement, making a significant impression on recruiters, says a representative from Bruce Power. “Our co-op program has successfully integrated numerous McMaster Engineering students into our business, and in May 2025, we are excited to welcome 20 students from McMaster, marking our highest number of recruits from any institution.”
A rep from Crozier, a leading engineering consulting firm, says: “McMaster’s Engineering students are enthusiastic in their pursuit of opportunities and show a willingness to learn about industry related engineering activities. Mac students often ask engaging questions and return from co-op experiences with knowledge and experiences that make them leading candidates for opportunities after graduation.”
Manraj Singh, a Talent Acquisition Specialist at PepsiCo, also shared how invaluable having McMaster Engineer students on their team was, saying: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with McMaster Engineering co-op students, and they consistently impress with their professionalism and preparedness. From the interview process to their work performance, they demonstrate a strong ability to adapt, collaborate, and tackle complex challenges. McMaster students stand out for their problem-solving skills, attention to detail and eagerness to learn, making them valuable assets to any team.”
I’ve had the pleasure of working with McMaster Engineering co-op students, and they consistently impress with their professionalism and preparedness.
Completion of the Introduction to Career Planning and Employment course equips students with a core set of career planning principles, skill development and experience building strategies and professional development tools. The contents of the course become a toolkit for students to use in their first year and throughout their academic journey as they engage in all types of experiences that will inevitably support and inform their career decisions. For students participating in the co-op program, this course also acts as a prerequisite for access to the co-op job board where 78% of co-op students find and secure co-op employment.
Graduate students also benefit from a degree-required career planning course that is delivered as a virtual synchronous offering in both fall and winter term. These career planning courses were designed in alignment with the Centre’s recently developed career curriculum which includes five core areas of practice and is grounded in experiential learning models and career theory. The rollout of the Introduction to Career Planning and Employment course for undergraduate students and the enhancements made to the equivalent graduate level course represent the first phase of the Centre’s programming and services evolution.
About the Centre
McMaster Engineering hosts the second largest engineering co-op program in Ontario with 93 per cent of its undergraduate students enrolled in co-op, supported by the Centre’s connections with hundreds of leading employers.
In addition to hosting the co-op program, the Centre provides a comprehensive and integrated suite of offerings including student engagement and co-curricular programming that is delivered in alignment with career development theory and practice. Students have access to 1:1 appointments for career support and job search, workshops and networking events for building professional skills and industry connections, and mentorship and guidance for delivering successful clubs and teams initiatives.
Learn more about the Centre for Career Growth and Experience
