Career Compass: Sociology/Criminology

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

I am a researcher/curator at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. I conduct in-depth human rights research to inform the content development of museum exhibitions. It is very rewarding to see my research come to life through exhibits and to see visitors reacting and understanding human rights issues. There are many challenges involved in displaying and telling human rights stories, including working with communities that have been subjected to major rights violations. A large part of my work is to critically evaluate these considerations.

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

While studying the University of Manitoba, I had the opportunity to present at an international workshop on Indigenous rights in North America and meet other academics working in the same area. This really helped me to connect with the people who were working in the areas in which I wanted to work. I also had the opportunity to work as a research assistant during both my undergraduate degree and during my graduate program. This provided me with the skills and experience for my research assistant position at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

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

I have always enjoyed doing research and was drawn to human rights and social justice issues, but I never imagined that it would lead to a position in a museum. Research and community engagement is what I wanted to do in my career, however now I am able to publish and present my research and use it to create unique museum exhibitions.

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

Sociology is such a broad discipline that can be applicable in so many careers. Critical thinking and research skills are very transferable; I was surprised to discover how useful theses skills have been for different types of jobs and how they help me to understand social issues.

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

Winnipeg is a small city and therefore has great opportunities for networking. If you find someone working in the field you would like to be in, ask them out for a coffee and find out how they got there. Don’t feel limited in what you can do and be open to using your skills in an unconventional way. Seize opportunities while you’re in school to work on special research projects or attend and present at conferences.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

I wrote my entire thesis while working full time as a research assistant at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and while this was a particular challenge, it demonstrates the need to be adaptable and willingness to be open to opportunity when it knocks!

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding?

Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD) is an Aboriginal-led, charitable organization serving the urban Aboriginal community of Winnipeg. It offers a number of services including literacy, education, post-secondary training and employment counselling. We provide personal and academic supports to assist clients with the opportunity for growth, development and success. I am the director of employment services for CAHRD and lead a team of twelve employment counsellors and support staff who provide dedicated career advice, coaching and recruitment services to Winnipeg’s urban Aboriginal population. What is unique about our organization is that all the supports our clients need are under one roof. The thing I find most rewarding about my job is helping the Aboriginal community find employment, education or training.

What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

CAHRD understands that the Aboriginal community faces different challenges than the non-Aboriginal community. It recognizes and understands that our community faces multiple barriers such as a lack of education and training, affordable housing, and social supports such as daycare. Despite these challenges, we work as a team to help those who walk through our doors achieve their short and long term goals.

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

I am from The Pas, Manitoba and I was raised by my grandparents, Flora and Malcolm Crane, who taught me the value of education. In 1999, my high school hosted a career fair. I was drawn to the University of Manitoba booth and spoke with recruiters who informed about the different program offerings. It was then that I knew that I was going to attend this school. Ten years later, I moved to Winnipeg to attend university. It was the hardest but most rewarding goal I had accomplished up until that point. After completing my degree, I first came to CAHRD as a client and a position for an employment counsellor came available. I applied with the help of my counsellor and got the job. Five months later, I was asked to apply for the director of employment services position. I am amazed with all that I have accomplished in such a short amount of time and owe my success to my positive attitude and education. I’m so thankful for all the support I had along the way from my family, friends and CAHRD.

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

No, but I always knew I wanted to help my Aboriginal community. While attending university, I actually changed my major three times before I decided on sociology. Once I choose my major, everything fell into place. It was very stressful at times and was hard to juggle everything at once, but I knew that getting an education was something I really wanted. I am so thankful for the career path that I have chosen and where I am right now.

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

My advice to students interested in pursuing a degree in sociology is to never give up, stay focused and ask for help when you don’t understand something. Be organized, take lots of notes and use your quizzes to prep for exams, they do help a lot.

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

For non-Aboriginal students, there are a number of places you can go for assistance with your job search. Go to Career Services for help with your cover letters, resume and interview skills. Learn to network when you are job searching, post on social media and look at job websites. If you are Aboriginal, come to CAHRD and register with employment services. We are located at 304-181 Higgins Avenue. You can also call us at (204) 989-7117.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

If I had not chosen my career path I would not have met my partner Emil. We now have a beautiful three year old daughter named Nova and a son due in April who we have named Leo. I feel very blessed and thankful and would not change single thing.

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

I am a criminal defence lawyer in Winnipeg. I provide legal advice to clients, negotiate with crown attorneys and advocate for my clients in court. From first court appearances, to guilty pleas and sentencing hearings, to trials, it is rare that two days are ever the same. I love the challenges of thinking quickly and creatively to be persuasive. I enjoy the connection I have with clients and colleagues as well as the business/entrepreneurial side that I get to focus on because I work at a private firm. Advertising and business development are things I turned out to really enjoy and I have spent countless hours working on and adding content to my website. Some of challenges I face include ethical issues that arise almost daily and ensuring that I am providing the best legal services for my clients.

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

I wanted to be a lawyer while I was in junior high school. I attended the Mini University program at the University of Winnipeg and took a criminology course. I thought it was very interesting and that my somewhat argumentative nature and quick thinking would help me become a great lawyer.

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

When I first arrived at the University of Manitoba, I knew I wanted to pursue a law degree and my focus did not waver. In law school, I toyed with the idea of working in corporate/commercial law. However, my personality suited better to courtroom work so I ultimately focused on criminal law.

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

First, you have to be prepared to take on a significant amount of student debt that you will slowly pay off over the early years of your career. Second, a law degree is not a licence to print money. There are many lawyers who are unsuccessful. I think it is important that you enjoy the day to day work because otherwise you will not be motivated to work hard. Third, lawyers are respected and having a law degree can open a lot of doors, especially in politics. Finally, there are many different areas of law that fit many different personality types. Not everyone is going to be a courtroom lawyer and not everyone is going to love researching issues in estate law.

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

Searching for jobs as a lawyer can be difficult. My best advice is to connect with former classmates and talk to them about opportunities that they may know of. If you know lawyers that have been practicing for a few years, talk to them and see what they recommend.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Most people do not associate the word fun with lawyer. I suppose a fun fact is that as a lawyer you will find an almost immediate dislike of all lawyer jokes and that most new people that you meet are incredibly keen to tell you the most recent one they heard. If someone starts talking about what to do with a lawyer buried up to his neck in sand, it is probably best to just walk away.