If the activity is provided, then what Why do you believe the activity will lead What evidence do you
nce do you have that this activity will lead to this result (data from your own or other
Activities & Resources
should be the result?
- Mandatory, assigned If mandatory mentorships and
mentorships. Meetings occur in networking opportunites are provided to
person or virtually (via soon-to-be graduates and business
Telephone, Skype, FaceTime, partners, then 1) program
etc.) with the intention of administration can ensure
scheduling bi-weekly meetings communication between participants; 2)
during the first 90 days then participants will develop connections
monthly for the remainder of and competencies (like
the year. knowledge/expertise,
motivation/coaching); 3) increase
- Networking with program awareness of local talent and
administration and staff, employment opportunities, as well as
graduates who have completed perceptions of Kingston economy and
the program (or also refered to Queen's community; and 4) share
as program ambassadors), local experiences with others within own
employers (business partners). networks.
As a result, enrolment will increase,
perceptions of Queen's graduates and
Kingston economy will improve, and
employment, retention and local
businesses will grow.
- Experiential learning If experiential learning opportunities
opportunity for soon-to-be (i.e., to see and experience the hands-on
graduates. One year, full-time,features) are provided to Arts and
paid contract. Science students, then they will be able
to 1) apply academic knowledge in a
- Companies that find a practical context; 2) adapt to real-world
candidate through the program conditions and acculurate to the values
are reimbursed for 4 months of and norms of the profession; and 3) gain
the gross salary to a maximum relevant work experience earlier, which
of $4,000 per month. compliments and gives context to
academic pursuits practice industry-
specific 4) develop transferable and self-
management skills.
If funding is available to local companies
to hire a new graduate, then they will
gain a fresh perspective, retain local
talent, and grow business.
As a result, enrolment will increase,
perceptions of Queen's graduates and
Kingston economy will improve, and
employment, retention and local
businesses will grow.
- Career service offers free If career-related resources and
supports, including resume and workshops are provided, then students
cover letter writing sessions, can develop their skills for entering the
interviewing skills workshops, job market and increase their liklihood of
and 1-on-1 coaching. landing a job (successful candidate in the
program and/or after the program).
Marketing and advertising, If marketing and advertising materials
including information sessions, are distributed to the target audiences,
testimonials from program then awareness of the program and
participants (recent graduates enrolment/participation will increase.
& employers), news articles, Queen's and the local businesses who
advertisments in community participate also increase their profiles.
magazines, and community
partnership methods and their
reach to target audiences.
to the result?
- Mentorships and networking provides
recent graduates with an opportunity to
acquire knowledge, gain advice, receive
feedback, and get support navigating
career pathways. All of which guide young
professionals through the academic-to-
professional which can contribute to early
career outcomes (i.e., landing a job
sooner).
- For mentors, they receive a similar
opportunity for learning and skill
development in areas such as improving
leadership skills, broaden professional
networks, demonstrate expertise, share
information and experience, act as a
resource, deliver constructive and honest
feedback.
Apprenticeship or internships bridge
academia and work and smooth the
transition, by placing students in situations
where they interact with coworkers and
superiors in a work setting, complementing
lessons from the classroom with practical
real-world situations and resulting in
knowledge, skill, and career development
Young professionals come with new
approaches and fresh outlooks that when
integrated with local businesses can
contribute to economic development in
the community and support innovation.
Fostering connections between Queen's
and the community, changes the way in
which participants perceive the
communities as separate identities. Recent
graduates gain knowledge of local
employment opportunities, and local
businesses experience first-hand how
Queen's graduates can contribute to their
companies (i.e., the see benefits of
recruiting
Instead of local talent.)
preparing resumes, cover letters
and interview questions in the moments
leading up to a job application or
interview, career services and supports can
help develop these necessary job-seeking
strategies earlier. Gaining knowledge of
how to devise a good resume and cover
letter can help students secure an
interview, and interviewing skills can help
make their first impression memorable
with hiring managers. Moreover, the the 1-
on-1 coaching can help students with
specific target areas and acquire valuable
feedback for improvement. This can
increase their chances of securing
employment.
The greater number that see advertising
and marketing materials prior to the start
of the program will become aware of its
existence and benefits, which can in turn,
increase the amount of people who are
interested in participating.
programs, public literature, etc.)
Increasing self-awareness and understanding of how to contribute in the workforce, including the
development higher levels of communication competency. According to Reinsch and Gardner
(2014), communication is correlated to career growth. Mentorships and networking are a way of
practicing communication skills. Mentorships and networking also facilitate relationship-building or
experiences that foster growth and developmental support.
Research has shown that mentored individuals have greater career satisifcation and job
commitment. Mentoring, for example, has been shown to result in more career satisfaction and
commitment, more job satisfaction, more organizational commitment, more promotions, higher
compensation, and higher performance evaluations when comparing mentored with nonmentored
individuals.
Through mentorships and networking, program administrators are able to gather information
related to what is being done to ensure the success of new hires, as well as to document lessons
learned and best practices. Data collection can take the form of notetaking during meetings or
reflections. Following up after completion of the program can provide insight into early career
outcomes as well as potential benefits to local companies. Participants and business partners can
share information about their experiences (including benefits) within their networks to increase
awareness and enrolment. Data informs areas for improvement or successes that can be built on,
and how activities are reaching program intentions and short-term outcomes.
Pre and post-program surveys to capture the (change in) perceptions of graduates and employers
with respect to mentorship and networking experience and how they have contributed to their
success or growth. Additionally, the surveys can provide insight into the effectiveness and quality of
mentorships for participants (i.e., did they increase knowledge, foster connections and
communication, and facilitate
Traditional classroom learning opportunities), the percentage
standardized education of program
and allowed participants
it to be streamlinedwho
and
delivered to the masses. In doing so, this socio-economic change compromised experiential
learning; student's did not receive the benefits of hands-on, in the field training such as
preparation for the future and practical application of academics.
Research indicates that experiential learning opportunities, including internships and
apprenticeships contribute to an increase of job offers that occur more quickly and greater
employability. For instance, Kingston EcDev (a partner in the program's administration) hired a
graduate of Queen's University and a participant in the QCA:K's as Events & Communications
Assistant.
Employment averages for graduating students are approximately 30%. Averages increase to 60%
when they have held an internship (Coco, 2000).
Previous survey polled students and young alumni on their perceptions of the city and interest in
local post-graduate employment (City of Kingston 2019).
Kingston EcDev continues to host Contact Centre Roundtables to help identify challenges and
cooperative areas to collaborate to support the recruitment and retention of talent in the
community (City of Kingston 2019).
Pre and post-program surveys capture participants' perceptions and experiences in the internship,
specifically informing effectiveness and quality of the program. For instance, did graduates gain
practical knowledge and employers gain fresh outlooks/approaches from their hired local talent?
The number of resources distributed (e.g., worksheets), and number of participants who attended
workshops or 1-on-1 sessions.
The percentage of graduates who found them effective for securing employment.
The number of interviews or job offers received after implementation of new learnings.
Pre-program survey can capture perceptions on career skills; for example, the employer's
impression of the candidates resume and interview and offer feedback and how candidates
perceived their performance. It can also provide insight into
Number of materials and resources distributed within Queen's and Kingston community.
The percentage of employers who gained awareness of the program through these marketing
resources or community partnerships.
Pre- and post-program survey to establish a baseline of how effectively the advertising is reaching
target population and increasing enrollment. Post-program survey will benefit future marketing
materials.