Your Program Blueprint for Career Connection success

Learn about the career-related aspects of UNB's various academic programs and how to gain relevant experience as you prepare to make a significant difference in the world. The Career Connections Program Blueprint helps you understand the types of skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to pursuing your personal interests and career goals. The Program Blueprint also helps connect academic studies to future career pathways.

Please keep in mind that the Program Blueprint is an overview of opportunities, and does provide not comprehensive information. You should always consult with your academic advisor(s) when making academic choices. Also consult with our career experts to engage in career related exploration and planning.

Using the Program Blueprint

To give you the most help we can in choosing an academic program that meets your goals and interests, we have developed this Program Blueprint for both campuses. Campus-specific highlights are included, but please note that not all degree programs included detailed information regarding career connections.

This Program Blueprint can be used by

  • future students (high school, transfer, adult learners)
  • current students exploring educational and co-curricular opportunities for their degree, and
  • students thinking about switching programs.

The Program Blueprint can be used as a guide to connect with co-curricular opportunities, volunteer experiences, experiential learning, and other engaging activities to help you gain the knowledge, skills, and experience that support academic career and future employability.

Program Specs

Every academic program at UNB has certain degree requirements that must be fulfilled. You can learn about these requirements from your Faculty and by consulting with your academic advisor. Meet with your academic advisor(s) when exploring program options, changing courses, experiencing personal or academic difficulty, and when exploring career pathways.

Find your academic advisor(s) using the Advisor Contact Directory in Fredericton (go.unb.ca/advisors-fr) or the Academic Advising Website in Saint John.

Please note that not all advisors are comfortable or equipped to discuss career options, and may refer you to a Career or Employment Advisor.

Engage in your education and gain relevant experience

Gaining relevant career experience is an important aspect of university. Career-related skills and knowledge can be learned in the classroom and from course instructors--but this isn't always enough. In an increasingly complex world, students have increasingly complex expectations to gain more skills and experience. The best way to gain these is by engaging proactively in your education and UNB student experience.

What is "relevant experience"?

Relevant experience includes degree-specific expectations and requirements. It also includes transferable or soft skills. A transferable skill is one that can be used in multiple domains of study and work, such as people skills and critical thinking. Important skills to gain as a student that will support your future career path include

  • communication skills - reading, writing, conducting meetings, teamwork, presentations, interviews, email and social media, etc.
  • people skills - effective communication, teamwork and collaboration, leadership, empathy or emotional intelligence, etc.
  • personal skills - priority management, time management and scheduling, organization, motivation and focus, self-development, etc.
  • problem-solving skills - analytical/critical thinking, problem-solving/trouble-shooting, identifying new and creative solutions, etc.

Some relevant experience will vary across academic programs and career pathways. Some academic and career pathways will require some additional skills or knowledge as an integral component of study (e.g. Education practicum, Nursing practicum, Psychology clinical training, Science disciplines requiring lab safety training, etc.).

How do you "engage in your education"?

You can engage in your education to gain this experience in many ways. Some examples include

Expand your horizons

In additional to growing your human capital (skills, knowledge, and experience), you should be growing your cultural capital. There are many opportunities to expand your personal and cultural horizons, such as

Prepare for life after graduation

Preparing for life after graduation has become increasingly important for career success after academic studies. There are many ways to prepare for one of the biggest steps in your life: starting your career. This sections includes some suggestions

UNB offers students a variety of resources that are available throughout your studies--because preparing for life after graduation isn't something you do only in your final term of your degree. Get engaged in your education to get started preparing early!

Opportunities include