Indigenous Student Employment Readiness Program (ISERP)

Are you thinking about your future career? Do you feel ready for what comes next? Career Services is offering the Indigenous Student Employment Readiness Program (ISERP) which is an Indigenous-grounded program that uses Indigenous ways of knowing and learning to help you to be better prepared to enter the world of work. 

The ISERP program, generously supported by Scotiabank's ScotiaRise program, provides a culturally grounded, strengths-based approach to supporting students as they identify, develop and articulate employment-related skills. Each student attends a 33-hour program spanning the fall, winter, or spring term and will receive a $500 honorarium for their participation.  

When is it being offered?  
 
ISERP is offered weekly from 12:30pm-3:00pm. Fall Sessions run Oct - Nov, Winter Sessions run Jan - March and Spring Sessions run May - June.

What will I learn?  
 
In ISERP, we will focus on:   

• Self-reflection exercises that identify your strengths  
• Building community  
• A deeper understanding of our own and each other's strengths  
• Building your career readiness   
• Ability to communicate your personal and cultural strengths as skills employers are looking for  
• How to be effective in your job search process  
• Creating persuasive resumes and cover letters   
• Practicing your interview skills  
• Learning financial literacy
• Land-based and cultural learning opportunities 

What are the perks? 

ISERP will include many benefits & advantages to students who participate in the programs (such as, but not limited to):

• A $500 honorarium upon completion of the program  
• Refreshments at every session   
• Confidence in your own career development journey  
• Opportunities for networking with variety of Indigenous organizations and USask alumni within Saskatchewan and beyond   
• Transportation to and from land-based activities   
• Opportunity to develop relationships  
• Understanding and navigating campus services

The program is open to all undergraduate Indigenous students.

The University is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support academic opportunities for Indigenous students. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous students provide to strengthen these relationships. Only Indigenous candidates will be considered for this program.

Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin |tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship with documentation is a condition of acceptance for this program.

Please visit: https://indigenous.usask.ca/indigenous-initiatives/deybwewin-taapwaywin-tapwewin.php to proceed through the verification system. If you have any questions or require additional information about deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin please contact: indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca.

Participant Testimonials

Third Year Student, Education (2024) 

“ISERP has given me a new appreciation for ME, and I’ve felt nothing but validated about my Indigenous student perspective that acknowledges the huge gap most colleges have in providing us cultural training. The sharing circle was a vulnerable place and I am thankful I got to express some of my real feelings with people, I also felt a lot more connected to everybody in ISERP and overall the university I guess!".

Second Year Student, Education (2024) 

Prior to the program I was uncertain about how I might fair in the world of job searching. However, Tristyn made me feel that I had more than enough skills already and helped me develop my ability to be professional and confidence to where I think I’m capable of getting any job I want. I really appreciated doing this process with other Indigenous people as itmade the environment far more comfortable and relaxed.”

Second Year Student, Resource Science (2024) 

"Getting together in a group to hear other peoples perspectives and learning from one another and reflecting on what we can improve individually and getting know that everyone grows at different paces
so that pressure is relieved and understand that alot of people go through the same thing so anxiety is relieved as well and hearing stories of growth and learning from other’s experiences, the cultural aspect made me feel very connected to the content and made me feel heard, important, and valued. The cultural aspect helped me realize that there’s a lot to learn from my culture and I don’t have to abandon
that to integrate myself in the workforce before i took this course I felt I had to leave behind my indigenous identity but now I know that’s unnecessary. This program helped me realize that there’s a lot of help and support out there and that I can utilize it and helped me take every day as a learning experience and appreciate and nurture new connections because I used to not care or find that it wasn’t useful for me to try reach out or keep connections it also taught me the importance of networking and communicating.."  

Co-Curricular Record (CCR)

ISERP is CCR approved.

Applications to ISERP open on the following dates:

• August 1 - Fall Sessions (Oct - Nov)
• December 1 - Winter Session (Jan - Mar)
• April 1 - Spring Session (May - June)

• Apply to ISERP

For questions, please send reach out to: