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Terry Gitersos – Terry Gitersos has a plan… and a host of naysayers

I have learned first-hand how important it is for those facing post-PhD transitions, or those mired in long-term unemployment, to lean on their friends and family.  My own predicament has been eased by a gaggle of wonderful folks who have offered sympathetic ears, sound advice, laughter, and distractions.  I would be a whimpering mess without […]

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Terry Gitersos – Falling off the wagon: Terry Gitersos revisits academia

I had hoped that the first blog I wrote for HEQCO would serve as a public, irreversible break from academia.  I was of the mindset back then that my dream of finding an academic position was a virtual impossibility, and I resolved to pursue non-academic employment exclusively and with all my energy.  Well, after eight […]

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Terry Gitersos – Foot in door: Terry Gitersos travels “informational interview” route

One challenge I have encountered in my application process is determining precisely what positions to shoot for. Suffering from post-dissertation burnout and desiring a clean break from my academic career, I was adamant when I kicked off my job search that I did not want to work in a field related to my area of […]

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Terry Gitersos – Reinventing Terry Gitersos: Is it back to class?

Entering my sixth month of post-PhD unemployment, I can state pretty emphatically that employers aren’t buying the package that I am attempting to sell.  This is the crux of the problem that I have been grappling with for months now: How can I reinvent myself in a way that will make an employer want to […]

Faculty Experiences with and Perceptions of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in the Ontario Postsecondary Sector

Research Summary: Faculty who are involved in WIL more likely to support its growth Work-integrated learning (WIL) – or co-operative education, internships, work placements and apprenticeships – is becoming more widespread in today’s colleges and universities as a way to better integrate learning and work.  Faculty with WIL experience say that even more of it […]

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Terry Gitersos – What Terry Gitersos wishes he’d known before he became Dr. Gitersos

I was raised in a family that prioritized education.  My parents stressed the value and importance of both formal and informal learning from when I was in diapers, and instilled in me the notion that a university education was the key to my future social and economic wellbeing.  I eagerly accepted this education-centric worldview and […]

Educational Attainments and Labour Market Outcomes of the Children of Immigrants in Ontario

Research Summary: For some children of immigrants, educational success doesn’t translate to employment success The children of immigrants represent an increasing segment of the Canadian labour force. Yet while most tend to have higher university attainment rates than children of Canadian-born parents, some, particularly visible minority men, have higher unemployment rates and lower earnings, according […]

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Postsecondary education: Pipe dream or prerequisite? Ask a plumber.

One of the most ubiquitous and powerful arguments made by advocates of greater investment in higher education is that a postsecondary education is instrumental to economic success, for both the individual and the public.  The public and governments appear to have accepted that 70-80 per cent of future jobs will require some postsecondary credential and […]

Employment Experience of Ontario’s Postsecondary Graduates with Learning Disabilities

Research Summary: Postsecondary graduates with learning disabilities get satisfying jobs but reluctant to disclose their disability Most Ontario college and university graduates with learning disabilities are finding jobs and are generally satisfied with their current place of employment. But while many say their disability affected their on-the-job performance, they chose not to disclose of it […]