Myth:  CaPS is a placement service.
Reality: Our mission is to inspire McGill students in the exploration of their career options and to increase their employability through the development of lifelong career management skills by:

Myth: CaPS can only help with CVs and job postings.
Reality: CaPS helps students with all aspects of career development/exploration and job search. See here for a list of some of the many reasons why students come to see us.

Myth:  CaPS is only useful for students in their final year of study.
Reality: While first year students may not be thinking of a ‘career’ just yet, over the next four years they will probably be looking for a summer or part-time job and/or an internship, and considering different future paths.  We strongly recommend that students begin their career exploration and planning early, and make full use of the resources available at CaPS. Our Guide To Planning Your Future [.pdf] provides a great overview.

Myth: A university education and a high GPA is all it takes to land a good job.
Reality: Employers look at more than grades and a university education when making hiring decisions; they consider the whole package, including transferable skills and career-related experience gained from part-time and summer jobs, volunteering and extra-curricular activities.

Myth: Majoring in an “impractical” field will severely limit future career options.
Reality: While some degrees/majors are specifically career-oriented (i.e. Accounting, Engineering), most majors – particularly those in Arts and Sciences – allow students to develop a broad range of skills that can transfer to many different types of careers. When choosing a major, we recommend that the student’s interest and abilities in the field carry the most weight, as students who are enthusiastic and eager to attend their classes are more likely to do well and to communicate their interest and excitement to potential employers and/or admissions committees.

Myth: Graduate school is the best route to greater career opportunities.
Reality: Graduate school is a positive option for some students, but it is by no means the only route to a “good” job and to success in life and work. While some careers (i.e. Professor, Psychologist) absolutely require graduate-level training, there are myriad options open to those with a Bachelor’s degree. In many fields, experience is often prized more highly than a particular diploma.  The vast majority of the jobs currently in high demand in Québec do not require graduate training.

Myth: Very few students get a job through Career Services.
Reality: Many students get jobs indirectly through CaPS by being introduced to new ideas, options and resources, by establishing contacts at career fairs and events and through on-campus interviews.