Career Compass: Geography

Year 1 - 30 credit hours

Course requirements:
6 credit hours from GEOG 1280, GEOG 1290 and/or GEOG 1700

To do this year:

1. Know the requirements for your degree. Meet with a academic advisor in the Riddell faculty to help you plan your program.
2. If you need academic support, visit the Academic Learning Centre for workshops or to meet with a learning skills instructor.

Year 2 - 60 credit hours

Course requirements:

Honours or advanced: 6 credit hours from GEOG 2520, GEOG 2640 and/or GEOG 2870, 12 credit hours GEOG at the 2000/3000 level

General: 12 credit hours GEOG at the 2000 level

To do this year:

1. Should you follow a 3-or 4-year plan? Meet with a Riddell advisor and career consultant to map out your options.
2. Consider taking a minor and choose courses that will open opportunities.

Year 3 - 90 credit hours

Course requirements:

Honours or advanced: GEOG 3730 and 3 credit hours from ENVR 2810, WOMN 3000, ANTH 3930. Refer to academic calendar for course requirements.

Honours: 18 credit hours GEOG at the 2000/3000 level

Advanced: 6 credit hours GEOG at 3000 level

General: 12 credit hours GEOG at the 3000/4000 level 

To do this year:

1. Meet with a Riddell advisor for honours or advanced program approval.
2. Confirm eligibility to graduate with an academic advisor and declare intent to graduate in Aurora (3-year option).

Year 4 - 120 credit hours

Course requirements:
Honours: GEOG 4660, plus 18 credit hours GEOG at the 4000 level

Advanced: 12 credit hours GEOG at the 4000 level, 6 additional credit hours GEOG at the 2000 level or above

To do this year:

1. Meet with a Riddell advisor for honours or advanced program approval.
2. Confirm eligibility to graduate with an academic advisor and declare intent to graduate in Aurora.

Year 1 - 30 credit hours

Start planning your career:

1. Meet with a career consultant to generate career ideas based on your interests, values, personality and skills.
2. Research occupations that match your skills and interests.
3. Set up a UM Connect account to view job postings and register for workshops and events.
4. Set up your Experience Record, an official record of university-approved activities.

Year 2 - 60 credit hours

Make professional connections:

1. Join the Career Mentor Program to learn from professionals.
2. Attend career fairs to connect with employers.
3. Become a Student affiliate with the Canadian Association of Geographers.
4. Develop professional connections with professors by applying for an Undergraduate Research Award.

Market your skills: Develop your resumé and cover letter and refine your interview skills.

Year 3 - 90 credit hours

Investigate your career options:

1. Look at sample job postings to ensure you have the qualifications upon graduation.
2. Develop employability and essential skills sought by employers.
3. Create a LinkedIn profile to network with professionals.

Consider continuing your studies: Check out the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Extended Education or other professional programs.

Year 4 - 120 credit hours

Start job search 9 months in advance: Contact Career Services to refine your job search and self-marketing strategies. You can visit the office up to 6 months after graduation.

If you are continuing on to a professional program or graduate school: Finalize your application materials and required tests. Use the awards database to search for funding and awards to help finance your continuing education. Contact your department to find out how their awards deadlines are advertised.

Year 1 - 30 credit hours

Link experiences to your career interests. Options include:

1. Student groups including Environment and Geography Students Association, UMEARTH and Students for Sustainability.
2. Volunteer for UM Orientation events to help welcome new students to campus while gaining experience..
3. Student work opportunities including Work-Study, STEP Services or Federal Student Work Experience Program.
4. Experiential education opportunities such as UM Community Volunteers and the Student Leadership Development Program.

Year 2 - 60 credit hours

Explore student research opportunities: Apply for an Undergraduate Research Award and inquire about research assistant positions.

Gain practical experience by volunteering: Check out the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Canadian Red Cross and Parks Canada.

Obtain certificates employers may require, including: Become a Clayton H. Riddell Faculty Student Ambassador.

Earn while you learn: Consider applying to the Co-operative Education program once you have completed 60 credit hours to work for places such as the Storm Prediction Centre.

Year 3 - 90 credit hours

Check out student job opportunities with: Canadian Border Services Agency, City of Winnipeg, Lower Fort Garry and Riel House.

Search for job opportunities online: Check out ECO CANADA, GeographyJobs.ca or the Canadian Heritage Information Network.

Use your networks and connections: Inquire about unadvertised job openings (the "hidden job market").

Year 4 - 120 credit hours

Ensure you have references in place: Ask your professor for a reference or a letter of recommendation if you're applying for graduate school.

Assess your resumé: Identify any gaps in experience and fill them through volunteering, work placements or internships such as the Post-Secondary Recruitment Program.

Cultural experiences offer valuable exposure and learning opportunities that help us engage with and appreciate the diversity in our communities and future workplaces. Learn more about Indigenous and International communities at the University of Manitoba.

Year 1 - 30 credit hours

Engage in intercultural experiences: Visit the International Centre website to learn more about volunteer opportunities for UM students. Engage in Indigenous cultural learning by attending Indigenous events on campus.

Indigenous Student Programming: If you’re an Indigenous Student, explore supports and programs at the Indigenous Student Centre.  

Interested in studying abroad to gain intercultural experiences and skills employers want? Visit the student exchange programs website and book an appointment with the student mobility coordinator to learn more. Also learn about a full year abroad experience through McCall MacBain International Fellowships.

Year 2 - 60 credit hours

Applying for an international exchange program?  Students apply almost one year in advance of their exchange. Book an appointment with the student mobility coordinator on the exchange programs website to start the process.

Participate in cultural learning opportunities on campus: Participate in Indigenous learning opportunities such as Fireside Chats, Tea with Auntie, Indigenous Studies Colloquium, and other events within your faculty. Your active and respectful participation is welcome at Indigenous ceremonies on campus. Please note that some ceremonies are confidential spaces; feel free to ask about cultural protocols. 

Join a student community: There are many student groups at UM, including those that represent a wide variety of cultures and communities - the UM Indigenous Students’ Association (UMISA), UM International Students' Organization, and many more!  

Looking to learn a language? Visit the Language Centre for a variety of resources and join the Language Exchange program or Language Partner Volunteer Program.

Year 3 - 90 credit hours

Develop global career skills and expand intercultural learning: Participate in the Intercultural Leaders program to enhance cultural awareness and develop intercultural skills for a variety of settings, both in and out of the classroom. Participate in 8 sessions with topics on leadership, self-awareness, intercultural competency, communication, conflict resolution and more.  

Volunteer at the International Centre’s Welcome Mentors program and/or Graduation Pow Wow.

Engage locally: Learn more about the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba and your responsibility as a Treaty partner. Enroll in Community Engaged Learning programs; Indigenous students may wish to explore programs such as Land and Water: Land-Based Education. 

Year 4 - 120 credit hours

Expand your knowledge on Indigenous culture and protocols, including developing your own Territory Acknowledgement. Explore resources provided by Canada's National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and take part in the educational programming offered during Truth and Reconciliation Week!

Industries such as agriculture, community development, conservation and water stewardship, education, government and utilities would value a geography degree in combination with the employability skills that are highly sought after by employers. These include:*

• Oral & written communication
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Digital literacy
• Numeracy & data use
• Continuous learning

*Information has been adapted from Employability Skills 2000⁺ and Workplace Education Manitoba – Essential Skills.

Details of that report can be found here.

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

I am president and chief executive officer of Ottawa Tourism, which is the destination marketing organization for Canada’s capital. We are a team of 34 sales and marketing professionals tasked with promoting visitation to Ottawa. As a relatively new president and CEO, every day is a learning opportunity. I enjoy the challenge of balancing the needs of numerous stakeholders. The most rewarding aspect of this position is that our team is actively and measurably contributing to economic development in our community, and it is achieved through strong alignment with our partners.

What experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

I was fortunate to have worked with bosses that allowed me to have experiences and involvement outside the day-to-day responsibilities of my job. I regularly volunteered for projects, for community related initiatives and for involvement in business and industry groups.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current career? What stayed the same and/or changed?

The short answer is no, I did not see myself in this type of position, especially at the beginning of my academic career. I learned quickly that I was much better off pursuing academic courses in which I had a personal interest. Through the rest of my undergraduate degree in human geography and then my master’s program in geography, a career in transportation became a clear path for me. I pursued that path for over 15 years with the University of Manitoba Transport Institute, the Winnipeg Airports Authority and the Ottawa International Airport Authority.

Throughout my career, I became more and more involved in the tourism sector (as it is closely related to the aviation sector). In 2015, I left the airport world and joined an aviation, transportation and tourism consulting firm, which gave me new experiences and deepened my involvement in tourism. When this position with Ottawa Tourism became available, I knew I had to go for it and I have now made the transition from aviation to tourism.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in human geography?

Go in with your eyes open for new opportunities, new experiences and new people that will help guide your career decisions. Any early career success I had was assisted by the connections I made in my academic career.

What job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

It is never too early to start developing a network. Take every chance you get to interact with people who are already working in your field.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Travel and transportation is in my blood. My father and both of my grandfathers worked in the transportation industry.