About the Job

NOC: 4121,4122
Occupation: University Professors and Assistants
Category: Occupations in Social Science, Education, Government Service, and Religion

Nature Of Work:

University professors teach courses to undergraduate and graduate students. They study and meet with colleagues to keep up with developments in their field.

University professors conduct research by experimenting, collecting and analyzing data, and examining original documents, literature, and other source material. From this, they develop hypotheses, arrive at conclusions, and publish their findings in academic journals and books. As well, some university professors are hired on a course-by-course basis only to teach.

Teaching and research assistants assist university professors in lecturing, hosting seminars, and research activities.

Skills:

To work in this field, you should be intellectual, inquisitive, and analytical, and have a strong desire to pursue and pass on knowledge. You must be able to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written forms, as university faculty are expected to publish articles regularly as well as lecture. The ability to carry out and analyze research is also important. Strong planning and leadership skills are essential. You must be able to inspire confidence and motivate students to learn. As well, you must be a self-starter, as universities are decentralized institutions in which to work.

Other Considerations:

University faculty generally have flexible work schedules; they may work staggered hours and teach classes in the evening.

Most university teaching and research assistants are employed on a part-time basis.