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
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.
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?
You may wish to find work that offers a holistic balance across all parts of your life, and that aligns with personal values and beliefs. Additionally, working at an organization that prioritizes cultural diversity can support creating a safe and welcoming workplace where your Indigenous identity is respected and appreciated.
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:
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 Co-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 and your rights at work section of CareerHub.
How can I build a network to support me in my work search?
Consider the following questions:
Who already exists in my network that I feel safe to connect with?
Are there Indigenous professionals or role models in my field I can reach out to for guidance and support? How might I best connect with them?
What other supports can I access to support me in my work search (cultural organizations, career centres, professional organizations, etc.)? Note that a list of job boards can be found further down in this page.
What does it feel like to navigate LinkedIn in a way that feels authentic to who I am? What do I want to share about my identity in this digital space?
Applying for jobs and creating job application 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 Yourself | Possible Approach |
|---|---|---|
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.
When building your résumé, consider your strengths and experiences and how they relate to the job description. Some job descriptions will state explicitly that they are looking to recruit Indigenous learners and others will not. In either case, all the skills acquired in all contexts of your prior work, volunteer and lived experiences are invaluable in workplaces. The difference is that it might be easier to translate your experiences while embracing your identity for a job that values your Indigenous identity. For other job postings, you may have to build some context for yourself and your employers. It might even feel a little uncomfortable when you are telling others about the wonderful skills you have.
Here are some sample questions you could ask yourself to get you thinking about your strengths and experiences. We have suggested some transferable skills associated with some of these experiences that employers value:
Type of experience | Questions to ask yourself | Transferable Skills Used (examples that could be used in a resume) | Value of skills in Resume |
|---|---|---|---|
Assisting an Elder in the community | What skills did I use while assisting? |
| Each one of these skills has value in the workplace. Make sure to let your employer know the work you did and the skills you have and how you used them in that work. Below is a generic statement and it can be personalized further by adding specifics of the task. A bullet point in your résumé could look like this: Communicated respectfully with supervisor/Elder to understand their needs to complete a task efficiently (this example includes your Indigenous connection. Feel free to keep it or remove it per your situation.) |
Pow wow volunteer | What skills did I use while volunteering? |
| All these are aspects of community care and excellent customer service. All these skills also have a lot of value in the workplace. A bullet point in your résumé could look like this: Created a plan to help various people find their way to the pow wow venue to ensure that they use their time effectively to enjoy events. (This example includes your Indigenous connection. Feel free to keep it or remove it per your situation) |
Work done in community/with a group of people | How did I get the work done with others? |
| All these qualities of working in a team, collaborating and applying principles of diversity, inclusion and respect can make all the difference in working together. A bullet point in your résumé could look like this: Adapted and learned about cultural differences to work collaboratively and delivered high-quality work in a team (This example does not include your Indigenous connection). |
More tips