Doc: Career Hub Indigenous Identity Page_Final_Khyati_Kierra_Aug30_2024.docx
...
“Working for an Indigenous organization can be a great way to build a network of Indigenous and equity-minded people and to gain valuable experience and skills which can help you in your search for a stable long-term career. Even if your future jobs take you out of Indigenous-focused spaces, remember to still make time to be with community and connecting with your support systems!”
– Leith Bulford
| Info |
|---|
Note: Every person’s identity comprises multiple social factors and experiences, creating unique experiences of discrimination and privilege. These identities can impact our access to resources and inform how we interact with the corporate hiring system. Indigenous students’ experiences can vary greatly, whether they live on a reserve, have family on one, are diasporic or are status or non-status, to name a few examples. |
When navigating this content, a self-compassionate and intersectional approach may help make meaningful and intentional connections that will help you thrive. Every aspect of applying for jobs should empower you in a way that centres your needs as an Indigenous student. Corporate and educational structures are different and not necessarily compatible with Indigenous community structures. It’s important to know that there may be a learning curve while navigating these systems. The resources are shared here to support you in your job search and may not cover all that you need.
If you have suggestions for this guide or would like support navigating it further in another format, please get in touch with us by email or phone and we will try our best to add the resources that you need. Alternatively, you can book an appointment to discuss this guide further with a
...
career advisor in person or virtually.
| Panel | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
Reflection |
When beginning your work search, a good place to start is taking time to reflect on what you are looking for in a job opportunity. Consider the issues that impact your community or are important to you. What organizations are you familiar with that do work in these areas and might interest you? What is it about those spaces that you are drawn to?
...
How you navigate the intersections of your identity within the context of work is a personal choice. Visit the Applying for jobs and creating job application documents section for more resources about disclosing identity. Whether you choose to outwardly self-identify as Indigenous or not, the following questions may be helpful to consider when beginning your job search:
Expand the following content for more information.
| Expand | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
Consider whether working in your community is important and whether you’d like to work within an Indigenous organization. Consider why you might choose one company over another. For example, what are their mission, vision, and values? What benefits and compensation do they offer? What is their workplace culture? |
...
| Info |
|---|
Note: We recognize that some of the above considerations are privileges that some students may not have as part of their job search. If you feel that you have been discriminated against for your Indigenous identity—or any other aspect of your identity—there are supports available to you. Students in Coco-op have the have the option to contact their co-op advisor. More information on this is available here. If you are a regular (non-co-op) student participating in the EDGE certificate program and facing harassment as part of a work or community experience, you can contact co-op.accessibility@uwaterloo.ca for support. More information about options and considerations for who to connect with can be found in the Safety safety and your rights at work section of CareerHub. |
...
| Panel | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
Applying for jobs and creatingjobapplication documents |
Looking for jobs, developing a better understanding of an industry or connecting with someone for networking can feel daunting. It takes significant effort, and it is important to find the resources and mentors who will empower you in your job search. Among some of the most important things to ask yourself are the questions around disclosing your identity, the job or organization’s alignment with your personal values and needs, and support systems that you can reach out to. Here are some helpful tips and resources that may help you make this decision.
Topic | Ask Yourselfyourself | Possible Approachapproach |
|---|---|---|
Disclosing Indigenous Identity | What if I am asked to share my identity in an industry or organization that is not culturally sensitive? | There is no expectation for you to answer this question. Share only when/if you're comfortable. You can also decline. Add as much and as little of being Indigenous as you want. Both are valid forms of presenting yourself. We understand that these are not easy decisions. The Association for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon has a set of excellent resources. You may find the following resources on self-identifying useful: |
Your Values and Needs | Does the job description, industry and geographical location align with my values, needs, skills, and the impact I want to make on the world? | Choose an industry and organization where you see a value and needs alignment. This may help you flourish in your chosen career. |
Support Systems | Do I have the support to prepare my job application documents in a way that leverages my lived experience, academic strengths and prior work or volunteer experience? | For University of Waterloo students, the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre | ShatitsirĂłtha' (WISC) is a great place to start. It is a safe space designed to encourage well-being. Searching and applying for jobs, finding a Work-integrated Learning (WIL) placement and building your career all require grounding, and we hope that you start from a place of strength. You can also contact Elder Myeengun Henry. He collaborates with the Office of Indigenous Relations and with the Faculty of Health community and identifies and contributes to building reciprocal and respectful relationships with Indigenous individuals and communities. Outside of the University of Waterloo, you can reach out to one of the organizations listed under our job boards section on this page, an Indigenous student support center or an Indigenous-focused employment center to seek support. |
...
...
Documents – Résumé and Cover Letters
In this section, we cover elements of preparing resumes and cover letters. More support with these topics is available in CareerHub and through Centre for Career Development appointments and workshops.
Tips for your résumé
A résumé is typically a one-to-two-page document that tells a potential employer what you can do, who you are and what you know. This could include information about your past volunteer and work experience, your education, interests, hobbies and skills you possess that would allow you to succeed at the job. There’s no one way to create a résumé. Ultimately the goal is to provide enough information to allow the employer to evaluate your qualifications and to convince the employer to invite you for an interview. There are more resources on the purpose of a résumé and what employers are looking for on CareerHub.
...
A cover letter is a one-page document that is often sent along with your résumé when applying for a job. It should describe your interest in the role or company and how your skills and experiences align with the job requirements. Like crafting a résumé for jobs that center your identity vs that don’t, a cover letter is an opportunity to tell your career story.
Show your impact through story telling storytelling
For jobs that celebrate and include Indigenous identities, we encourage you to weave your cultural heritage into the professional narrative of why there is a value alignment with the work, and why it is that you are a great fit for a role.
For all jobs, use storytelling methods to engage your employer by focusing on how your talents, skills, and experiences could help you achieve all responsibilities for the role.
Ask yourself if your Indigenous identity can bring strength in a role and in what ways?
...
responsibilities for the role.
Ask yourself if your Indigenous identity can bring strength in a role and in what ways?
Find more support with application documents or check out appointments and workshops.
| Panel | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
Interviewing |
Job interviews can be daunting and nerve-wracking for many. Most corporate jobs are only beginning to understand Indigenous ways of being and are still more accepting of Eurocentric ideas of politeness, communication, and ways of being. Something to keep in mind is that the employer may not fully understand Indigenous ways unless people are interviewing you in an Indigenous organization. Considering these systemic challenges, some folks choose to code-switch/mask in their work environment.
...
| Info |
|---|
If you are a regular student participating in the EDGE certificate program and facing harassment as part of a work or community experience, you can contact co-op.accessibility@uwaterloo.ca for support. |
| Info |
More information about options and considerations for who to connect with can be found in the Safety and your rights at work section of CareerHubca for support. |
Where it is safe and appropriate, opting to self-identify as Indigenous in an interview can be an opportunity to emphasize how your identity and background can be an asset to the team. Consider how you can highlight your unique perspective—that could be through community engagement, cultural awareness and sensitivity or resilience and strength just to name a few! What other strengths do you think about when considering your Indigenous identity?
...
While prioritizing the community is important, it's also essential to recognize individual contributions within an interview to demonstrate to an employer the attributes you can bring forward to the role. Are there specific skills you learned or tasks you were responsible for within a project? Practicing interview answers out loud with a trusted friend or connecting with a Career Advisorcareer advisor are great ways to further develop interview skills to help you feel prepared.
| Panel | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
Job Resources: |
- The Grand River Employment and Training (GREAT) job board is an Indigenous non-profit organization providing employment and training support to Six Nations band members regardless of their residency, job seekers and employers across Ontario.
- Indigenous Careers is a part of the Indigenous Works, an Indigenous-led organization governed by a board of directors (Indigenous-majority governance), set of resources that connects First Nations, Inuit and MĂ©tis with inclusive employers across Canada.
- Government of Canada’s portal for jobs for Indigenous People is dedicated to seeking First Nations people, Inuit and Métis with all levels of education and experience to help build a more inclusive and representative public service.
- Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training – job board is part of the The Miziwe Biik Employment Resource Centre (ERC) and offers regularly updated job postings and resume and cover letter support for Indigenous people in various career stages.
...
...
| Panel | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
References |
...