Student FAQs
Accessible Career Transitions
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ACT works with students with disabilities at Carleton. Our pool of job search candidates includes current students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, some of whom are also active participants in Carleton’s official Co-op program.
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The ACT intake meeting allows you to discuss your:
- Interest in taking part in the Accessible Career Transitions (ACT) Program
- Academic program
- Previous employment history
- Skills, abilities, interests, and strengths
- Current academic accommodations
- Anticipated workplace accommodations
- Career goals
The intake meeting also allows you to meet a member of the ACT staff team, and to familiarize yourself with the supports that are available to you through ACT.
The intake is not a formal interview; it is intended to be a relaxed conversation about the ACT Program and about your skills and interests. The intake meeting usually takes about 50 minutes.
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After the intake, follow the next steps listed in the ACT Intake Recap and Next Steps email you received. You will be directed to the Intake Resources and Next Steps Module on the ACT to Employ Resource Hub on Brightspace.
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The short answer to this question is no. The decision to disclose the specifics of your disability to an employer is entirely up to you. As an ACT participant, you understand that ACT to Employ employer partners will know that you have a disability and that you may require accommodations; however, specifics about your disability will not be disclosed without your consent.
Check out the Disclosure and Accommodations Modules on the ACT to Employ Resource Hub on Brightspace for more details about disclosure and accommodations.
The ACT team encourages students to maintain open communication about their accommodation needs with employers. If you would like assistance facilitating a conversation with your employer about your specific needs, please contact the ACT to Employ Student Counsellor – that’s what we are here for!
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No, you do not have to register with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) to take part in ACT. However, registering with the PMC is a great way for students with disabilities at Carleton to connect with a community of supportive folks (such as a Disabilities Coordinator) who can assist you with your academic journey at Carleton.
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No. ACT does not consider your CGPA or course load in determining eligibility for the program.
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Students are encouraged to visit Career Services (401 Tory Building) to have your resume reviewed. Drop-In appointments are available 1:00-4:00pm, Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays).
Career Coaches and Consultants can review your resume, conduct mock interviews, and help you explore what you can do with your degree. Click this link to be directed to the Career Services website.
You may access Career Services’ Job Search Support website at any time for education and resources regarding job postings, job search, networking, and resumes.
Registered and active Co-op participants are to seek assistance related to their Co-op job search and work term from their Co-op Student Advisor. Please click here for a list of Co-op Student Advisors and their contact information.
ACT to Employ Placement Program
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There are 4 ways to obtain employment through ACT to Employ:
- Access and apply to job postings on the ACT to Employ job board, the On-campus job board, or the Career Services job board through mySuccess (via Carleton 360).
- Inform the ACT to Employ Student Counsellor of a department or campus service you are interested in working with. In this case, the ACT team will endeavor to reach out to the department or campus service on your behalf and discuss the possibility of creating a placement for you.
- Obtain an external employment opportunity and connect with ACT to Employ for support. We are happy to support you with setting up accommodations or providing education around accessibility and inclusive hiring practices.
- Let your ACT Advisor/Counsellor know you are interested in government opportunities to be considered for government employment opportunities with ACT support.
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The ACT to Employ Team cannot guarantee student placements. We will work diligently to place ACT to Employ students in valuable experiential learning opportunities.
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ACT to Employ offers different types of jobs. Positions are available both on-campus and off-campus with our community employer partners.
Some examples of on-campus ACT to Employ employers are:
- Student Experience Office
- Carleton Library
- Campus Card Office
- From Intention to Action (FITA)
- Campus Safety
- Registrar’s Office
- Research-related roles
- Department-specific roles
- Equity and Inclusive Communities
- Accessibility Institute
- Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities
And many, many more!
Our community employer partners are those outside of the Carleton community, and include private, non-profit, and Government partners.
We are able to support placements with community employers, such as assisting with accommodations and disclosure, creating an inclusive workspace, training for employers and supervisors, etc.
Questions about the number of hours per week may be directed to the ACT to Employ Student Counsellor.
Registered and active Co-op participants are eligible to explore full-time employment opportunities that fall within their work/study pattern.
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The ACT to Employ program is listed in the Treasury Board database of approved co-op programs, making the hiring of ACT to Employ students a bit easier for government hiring managers. To be hired by a government department this way, a student must first be registered with ACT.
While ACT to Employ is not an official “co-op” program (because Carleton does have an official co-op program, with whom ACT works closely), ACT to Employ falls under the definition of a co-op program for the purposes of government hiring.
The Treasury Board and PSC agreed that because the ACT to Employ program supports students with disabilities in finding work opportunities, it aligns with the Government’s mandate to hire more persons with disabilities.
The ACT Team can help with your job search, resume review, interview skills, related to your search for a government role.