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Employee Career Development Resources

McMaster University supports and empowers employees with strategies to achieve personal and professional potential.

Internal Career Development Resources


Career Framework

Career Framework provides information on the current career opportunities at McMaster and useful resources to help guide you in navigating your career journey. Feel free to use any of the resources available on this website to help you understand and decide on the right career for you.

My Career

This online career planning resource will help you assess your current career situation, discover who you are, decide what you want, and map out the best path for your future. This resource is available to all employees of the University.

Career Coaching

Individual career coaching is available to employees (and their dependents) who are eligible for McMaster benefits through the terms and conditions of their appointment. Telus Health, McMaster’s Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) will connect you to a career coaching professional.

If you need to check for eligibility please contact Human Resources.

Individual Coaching for Strategic Leaders in Administration and Academia

Are you interested in developing and advancing your leadership capabilities? Leadership coaching focuses on individual objectives to help build a stronger leadership presence, strengthen your influence and coaching, help you navigate difficult conversations to name a few. For more information about leadership coaching contact Melanie Garaffa, Associate Director Talent, Equity and Development, Human Resources Services by calling ext. 28660 or emailing garaffa@mcmaster.ca.

Coach Approach Resources for Managers

A “coach approach” is an essential management skill that focuses on developing and optimizing employee abilities and talents to achieve their best. It may be used for individual employees as well as teams. The “coach approach” management style is curious, collaborative and supportive. Explore the various resources to help yourself develop a “coach approach” style.

Leader Key Person Advice and Coaching

Managers, supervisors, and expert leaders have access to a Homewood Health senior level clinician for immediate just-in-time consultation and coaching should a situation arise in the workplace that could benefit from professional input. This service is available to employees who are eligible for McMaster benefits through the terms and conditions of their appointment.

Career Development Sessions

Human Resources Services hosts a menu of career development sessions for employees to build skills and strategies in career planning, resume writing, preparing for job interviewing and more. Please check the Human Resources Events web page for future offerings. For more information contact Melanie Garaffa, Associate Director Talent, Equity and Development, Human Resources Services at ext. 28660 or garaffa@mcmaster.ca.

Learning and Development

At McMaster, we believe in the ongoing cultivation of human potential, leveraging the diverse talents of our employees, and recognizing that everyone is a leader in their own role. We encourage you to explore, review and engage in a variety of learning and development opportunities for leaders at all levels of the organization.

LinkedIn Learning

Active McMaster students, faculty and staff have free, unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning, a self-service training site with over 11,000 online video tutorials covering business, career planning, resume building and job interviewing, personal skill development, creative and technology topics. Courses are available 24/7.

External Career Development Resources


Employment Hamilton

This is a free service (funded by federal and provincial governments) that provides assistance with resumes, interviewing, job search coaching and offers a wide range of resources available online and in-person.

Careers by Design

This is a fee based service providing career counselling and coaching, job search and marketing materials coaching. The service is available in various locations either in person or by Zoom.

CareerJoy Hamilton

This is a fee based service that provides a wide range of services including job search coaching, changing careers, leadership coaching, resume and interview assistance in Hamilton and locations in southern Ontario.

Career Compass Canada

This is a fee based service providing Career Transition, Executive Coaching, Team Building and Search. The team of experts works with clients in both the private and public sectors in locations.