Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
As you have undoubtedly heard in news reports, we are in unprecedented times, and we thank you for your patience as we work to determine answers for all questions.
Due to the rapidly evolving situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Career Services has moved to primarily remote operations beginning March 18th. Services and student appointments remain available via telephone and online.
Please see below for service updates and further details regarding Co-op and work term support.
Please click here to get MRU's latest updated information regarding this situation.
Please click here for more information on the Government of Canada's support for students and recent graduates impacted by COVID-19.
1. Is Career Services open?
Career Services currently remains open. However, all contact and appointments with your Work Term, Co-op, or Career Development Coordinator will be conducted via email, phone, or alternate online formats (ie. Google Meet or Google Hangouts).
2. Can someone still help me with my resume and/or cover letter?
Yes. To have your resume/cover letter critiqued follow these instructions.
3. Can someone help with figuring out a career direction?
Yes. You can request a phone call or a Google Hangouts appointment with a Career Development coordinator. Please click on this link to access our booking system.
4. Are students able to conduct interviews remotely considering Career Services offices are closed?
Yes. Most employers should be equipped to conduct an interview over the phone or via videolink. Additionally, you have access to Google Hangouts Meet for phone or video connection through your MRU Google account.
5. I have an appointment booked with a Career Development Coordinator. How will it be conducted?
Career Development Coordinators will contact students directly (via telephone or email) to notify them that their booked appointment will be restricted to telephone or online forms of communication. A Career Development coordinator will then contact students directly at the time of their appointment.
6. In the past, I had a resume critiqued, and received resume tip sheets. Can I do this again? Do you also critique cover letters?
We have 20+ free tip sheets covering a variety of topics online. Additionally, you can book a virtual appointment with a Career Development Coordinator.
7. Is your job board still open for students?
Yes. Whether you are a current student looking for work experience or summer employment or a graduate looking for work, our job board is still open and active as it has always been.
8. Have you transferred your services into an online format?
Yes, you can request a phone call or a Google Hangouts appointment with a Career Development Coordinator. Please click on this link to access our booking system.
9. I have a phone interview in 3 days and I have questions/concerns.
If you have any questions you can request a phone call or a Google Hangouts appointment with a Career Development Coordinator. Please click on this link to access our booking system.
We understand that you have many questions and concerns regarding current and upcoming work terms, as well as future work opportunities. Please refer to our Q&A’s as we attempt to answer some of your most pressing questions, however, if you have a specific question that is not covered below, please contact either your Work Experience or Co-op directly, or connect with the Career Services office at studentjobs@mtroyal.ca
Additionally, CEWIL Canada has published a Student Tips for Working at home tip sheet with helpful information on how to make the best of your remote work situation.
1. Is Career Services open?
Career Services currently remains open. However, all contact and appointments with your Work Term or Co-op Coordinator will be conducted via email, phone, or alternate online formats (ie. Google Meet or Google Hangouts).
2. I am currently on a work or Co-op term and would like to work remotely during this time.
Please follow the guidelines provided by your employer regarding working remotely. Any software and technical requirements required to work remotely should be discussed with your employer.
3. I am currently on a work or Co-op term and not feeling well.
If you are ill, and/or are required to self-isolate, please notify your employer, work experience, Co-op Coordinator and/or faculty academic advisor directly. For the most up to date information regarding COVID-19 and the MRU campus, please visit mru.ca/COVID19.
4. Am I still required to submit work term forms and assignments as my employer is having me work from home? I’m on a work term this semester.
To the extent you’re able to do this electronically, yes - adhere to your regular submission schedule as best you can. Should you have challenges or barriers, contact your Work Experience Coordinator via telephone or email.
5. I am currently on a Work Experience or Co-op term outside of Alberta.
If you are currently working outside of Alberta, please follow the guidelines of the local health services authority and keep your work experience, Co-op coordinator, and/or faculty academic advisor updated on your status.
6. I am currently on a Work Experience or Co-op term and have been notified by my employer that I am being laid off.
In the event you are laid off, please contact your work experience, Co-op coordinator and/or faculty academic advisor directly. They will work with you to determine the next steps to meet the program requirements.
7. I am in the process of seeking a Work Experience or Co-op term for Spring/Summer 2020. Will I still be able to secure a position?
Career Services will continue to work with employers and community partners who have offered or are going to offer a student placement for the upcoming Spring/Summer term and recommend they consider the following alternatives to cancelling the upcoming opportunity:
- Allow students to work remotely if their organization can support this practice
- Consider moving the start date of the work term to June 1, 2020, to allow for time to pass and a more fulsome assessment of the Canadian landscape regarding COVID-19
- Conduct interviews via telephone or alternate online forms of communication
8. If I don’t secure a work experience or Co-op position for Spring/Summer 2020, how does that impact my academic requirements?
Career Services will work directly with individual faculties to limit the impact on students whose mandatory work-term are affected by COVID-19. If you are contacted directly by an employer regarding the cancellation of a position, hiring freeze, etc., please inform your work experience/Co-op Coordinator directly. They will work with you to determine the next steps to meet the program requirements.
9. I was in the process of securing an international work experience or Co-op term. Will that still be happening?
All international work terms/Co-op placements have been cancelled until further notice. Students who have paid for their travel or received grants will be contacted by the International Education office with next steps.
The Government of Canada has issued changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program to help businesses and young Canadians affected by COVID-19! Read how these changes will help employers adapt to the realities of COVID-19 and support MRU students as they begin to look for summer employment.
As things are changing rapidly in these uncertain times, we are committed to maintaining our services and keeping you up to date and supported in your campus recruitment needs.
To help answer your questions, we’ve created a Q&A section on our website where information will be updated as situations evolve. For all other questions and/or concerns, please contact your work experience/co-op coordinator directly via email.
For any program-specific or additional questions, please feel free to continue communicating directly with your current Career Services Coordinator contact or reach out to us at studentjobs@mtroyal.ca.
NEW funding programs or changes to existing programs have developed due to COVID-19 impacts. Please see the Funding Sources page for more info!
For additional tips please review these helpful CEWIL Canada's resource guides on how to onboard and supervise students remotely.
1. Is Career Services open?
Career Services currently remains open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, all contact and appointments with Work Term, Co-op, or Career Development coordinators will be conducted via email, phone, or alternate online formats (ie. Google Meet or Google Hangouts).
2. I currently have a student employed on a work term or co-op and need to make changes to their working environment.
For employers who are currently supervising a student work term or co-op, Career Services will continue to provide support to employers and students in developing solutions to workplace changes as they occur. If there have been any changes to your student’s work term or co-op arrangements, location or hours, please contact your Co-op/Work Experience Coordinator as soon as possible via email.
3. Should I be encouraging my currently employed student on a work term or co-op to work from home?
We recommend that employers consider allowing students to work from home, if the organization can support this practice, as an alternative to terminating a work term prior to the originally determined end date. Please communicate directly with your student to confirm the work plan, communications, and software and technical requirements required to work remotely. All work term documentation and Student Work Term Evaluations will be submitted electronically.
4. I was in the process of hiring a student for a work term or co-op for the Spring/Summer season, but I am not sure if that can continue.
Career Services recommends that employers and community partners who have offered, or are going to offer, a student a placement for the upcoming Spring/Summer term consider the following alternatives to cancelling the upcoming opportunity:
- Allow the student to work remotely if your organization can support this practice. Consider moving the start date of the work term to June 1, 2020, to allow for a more fulsome assessment of the Canadian landscape regarding COVID-19. Conduct interviews via telephone or online forms of communication (i.e. email, video, etc)
5. Can I submit a job posting for the MRU job board during this time?
Yes. Our campus job boards remain active and we are posting positions daily, monitoring current student work terms, and facilitating future employment opportunities for students and graduates. Please continue to communicate with us in the same way as you have done in the past, as we are responding regularly to all voicemail and email messages.
We understand that you have many questions and concerns regarding current and upcoming work terms, as well as future work opportunities. Please refer to our Q&A’s as we attempt to answer some of your most pressing questions, however, if you have a specific question that is not covered below, please contact either your Work Experience, Co-op, or Career Development Coordinator directly, or connect with the Career Services office at studentjobs@mtroyal.ca.
1. I am looking for someone to talk to my students. Are you able to do this now?
Yes. We are delivering virtual presentations using Google Hangout Meet and would be happy to talk to you about what you were looking for and when you would like the presentation to be delivered.
Support Work-Integrated Learning through the Career Services Stipend
Career Services is pleased to offer a new option to support our students through a tax-deductible donation to the Career Services Work-Integrated Learning Stipend. Students who successfully complete an unpaid Co-op or mandatory work term related to one of these academic programs may be eligible to receive $1,000 support through this fund.
Consider donating to make an immediate and direct impact on students facing financial barriers to their studies and work placement. Whether hiring a student or contributing to the Stipend, your support is greatly appreciated and makes a difference in helping students achieve transformative learning.
To donate now: https://mru.akaraisin.com/ui/helpstudents
For more information, please contact: