How Polytechnic Education Gives Graduates a Career Edge

Building future opportunities is a top motivator when it comes to choosing post-secondary education, but not all programs are built equally. When it comes to preparing for a dynamic, thriving career, students increasingly want hands-on learning experiences that let them hit the ground running. In one recent survey, more than 3,000 students reported that two top outcomes they hope to achieve from their programs are gaining knowledge in a subject area they’re passionate about and building the specific skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers. For Humdan Yarkhan, a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Human Resources Management program, choosing the right program set him up in ways he never dreamed possible.

Turning knowledge into action

“When I walked into Seneca in 2005, I still did not have a clear vision of my career path, even though I had just completed my undergraduate degree. After researching several options online, I was attracted to what Seneca had to offer: a program where I would have the opportunity to learn in the classroom and then apply what I learned into the workplace through a co-op placement,” says Yarkhan, who now works as the director of labour and employee relations at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre—where he first got his foot in the door during that co-op. "My Seneca experience gave me clarity on my career path, and also the tools I would use throughout my career to continue to grow, develop and advance professionally.” Yarkhan credits Seneca’s unique educational mix for a learning experience that delivered “beyond what I expected."

"During my undergraduate education, before I came to Seneca, I was entirely in a classroom where we learned about course material in an academic and theoretical setting, without seeing that same knowledge applied in the actual workplace. I found it hard to learn strictly from textbooks and lectures," he says. "At Seneca, I also spent eight months in an academic classroom setting," explains Yarkhan. "But there were two fundamental differences. The first was that my Seneca professors were from the industry and delivered course material with examples from their career experience that were recent and relevant. The second difference was the four-month co-op program, which gave me the opportunity to see and experience the knowledge and concepts we discussed in the classroom. I wasn’t just memorizing knowledge from a textbook, I was seeing that knowledge in action."

Tools for success

Yarkhan isn’t the only graduate who says attending Seneca Polytechnic put them on the fast track to success. Eighty-four per cent of Polytechnic graduates are employed within the first six months of completing their programs. And like Yarkhan, graduates say that’s because their education gave them the precise tools they needed to connect with opportunities that were exciting and offered a high potential for growth. “It seems like such a simple thing after doing it so many times now, but I truly appreciate the cover letter and resumé-writing workshops at Seneca,” says Andrea Enriquez-Henriquez, who completed Seneca’s Clinical Research program. I gained valuable tips that I have carried with me into today.”

From one-on-one practice interviews to networking assignments, Enriquez-Henriquez says her time at Seneca gave her a foundation of specialized knowledge in her field and taught her everything she needed to do to break through. “As part of our work-integrated learning curriculum, we had to complete an assignment on networking. I remember being anxious about reaching out to people on LinkedIn, but pleasantly surprised by the number who responded and were willing to give up their time to speak to me as a student,” she says. In other words, every aspect of learning at Seneca is transformational. “I only spent eight months at Seneca as a student,” Yarkhan says. “But those eight months will always serve as the most critical part of the story of my career.”

To learn more about the 300+ program options available at Seneca Polytechnic, click here.