Name: Duygu Biricik Gulseren

Education: PhD (Industrial/Organizational Psychology), Saint Mary’s University (2021)

Current Job:  Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, York University

 

  • When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

    I was born and raised in Turkey. In the 90s, Argentinian soap operas were very popular there. Before starting school, I wanted to be a housekeeper because their uniforms looked pretty to me on TV. Later, I dreamed of becoming a belly dancer and then a hairdresser, until I realized I wasn’t suited for manual work that required fine motor coordination. 

    Once I began school, I discovered my passion for reading and writing. I fell in love with learning and realized I wanted to pursue a career that involved thinking, writing, and understanding people’s minds and behaviors.

  • How did you become interested in career development?

    Career development isn’t always straightforward for many people. While many stories depict a linear career progression, real-life careers often aren’t linear. Despite my interest in human behavior, I ended up studying chemical and biological engineering, which I disliked. My struggle to find a field I truly enjoyed led me to question careers and career development. During a psychology course, I learned about career development, which helped me figure out how to pursue a field I was genuinely interested in and move away from engineering. That’s when I became interested in studying career development itself. 

  • What are you doing now that you’re done school?

    I am not quite done with school yet. I work as an assistant professor at the School of Human Resources Management at York University, where I teach and conduct research on human resources management, focusing on employee health and wellness. 

    Besides teaching, I also run a small consulting firm. I love being a student, so I’m enrolled in another master’s program to study psychology. My goal is to become a licensed mental health professional. 

    These days, I’m busy with research, teaching, consulting, and studying. 

  • Looking back, how did being a member of GSEP help enhance your current career?

    Being a GSEP member has been a significant part of my Ph.D. journey. It boosted my confidence in my work and connected me with numerous career scholars and practitioners, not just in Canada but around the world. 

    Attending Connexus introduced me to a friendly and welcoming community. The connections I made there led to invitations to give talks about my research in various places. 

    Being on a committee within CERIC allowed me to contribute to career development in Canada. Overall, GSEP has helped me in many ways. 

  • What is something surprising you’ve learned since getting into the career development field?

    I am surprised that many people still do not understand the importance of thinking about careers and planning for them before school age. This is not something we should wait to do until college or university. We should start planning and thinking about our careers as early as possible in our lives. 

    I’ve encountered many adults who are still struggling with their career choices and do not know what their career interests are. This surprises me because, as career researchers, we know that career development begins even before schooling. 

Learn more about CERIC’s Graduate Student Engagement Program (GSEP).