Career Blog
Tis the season to be ap-ply-ing. Fa-la-la-la-la. La-la-la-la. Don’t be alarmed: I’m just as fed up as you with festive songs. Now that the Holiday season is over, the recruitment season is upon us! Are you ready to start applying? Here are 4 tips to assess your readiness:
Tip no 1: Self-assess and reflect ─ Are you job ready?
How can you promote a product (you!) if you know nothing about it? Self-assessment helps you understand what you have to offer before pursuing opportunities. This means identifying 1) who you are (personality, traits, interests, and skills); 2) what is important to you (values); and 3) what you are looking for (objective or position). By knowing precisely why you are a great match for a targeted position, you will be more successful in your job search. Guaranteed.
Tip no 2: Review your job search strategy ─ Are you combining active and passive techniques?
It is estimated that 70% of job seekers use a passive job strategy and only 30% use active methods. Simply put, most of us simply check out available postings on job boards. But did you know that most opportunities are found through the “hidden job market”? These jobs exist, but are not necessarily advertised on traditional job boards: they are filled through referrals or networking with connections, recruiters, and so on. So why limit yourself? Widen your scope. Widen your network. Widen your prospects. Think about it: your next offer may be a coffee chat away!
Tip no 3: Research your employers of interest ─ Do you have all the information you need to apply?
This step is critical, as it impacts how you prepare your marketing tools. In addition to searching the organizations’ webpages, why not attend their info sessions and networking events? Check out our Calendar of Events for all the activities hosted by the Career Centre with employers. Make sure to connect with your new contacts afterwards to better understand their recruitment process and expectations.
Tip no 4: Sharpen your tools ─ Are your resumé, cover letter and LinkedIn profile up to date?
Your cover letter, resumé, and social media presence may be your first points of contact with recruiters. Therefore, these tools should convince employers that you are the best candidate. Additionally, an increasing number of employers rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen applications. By tailoring all your applications, you will greatly optimize your chances of being invited for interviews. Refer to our resumé and cover letter tips and templates on the Career Centre website. Sign up for events on Career Launch, and take your resumé, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to the next level.
As you can see, there are critical steps that you need to go through before hitting that “Apply” button. However, don’t feel overwhelmed or alone in the process. The Career Centre resources and staff are here to help you through each step. To receive more personal tips, book an appointment with the Career Centre staff through Career Launch.
References
Five-Week Guide to Getting a Job
6 Ways To Crack The “Hidden” Job Market
How to Target Your Resume and Get Hired Faster
“Starting off any new journey can be difficult, especially one as life-changing as your university and professional career. Thankfully for me, Telfer made this experience as welcoming and helpful as possible. I’ve been given the opportunity to dip my toes in various subjects and industries, which helped me figure out the path I wanted to take in life. I’m also surrounded by so many intelligent and motivated students which have helped me sustain my motivation throughout university.”
This week, Humans of Telfer features Michael Dellaire, a 4th-year student leader studying in Finance who has been incredibly involved, leading as VP Sponsorship of the Telfer Finance Society (TFS), creating TFS’s first-ever Bridge to Success Conference aimed at connecting students with employers and building real-life interview skills, and as an editor for the newfound University of Ottawa Business Review. Here’s what he has to say about his experience as he comes to a close on his Telfer journey:
“One of the most difficult decisions you have to make as a high school student is the direction you want to take in life. I had an incredibly difficult time figuring out which path to take. All I knew was that I was great with numbers, and that I loved storytelling (films, novels, etc.). Finally, I decided to study finance since it felt fitting as a “numbers guy”, but I felt like I was letting go of the creative side of my brain. However, in November 2019 I took part in the TFS Toronto Trip and this experience gave me a whole new perspective on finance. While visiting Canaccord Genuity and Burgundy Asset Management, I listened to these investment bankers and equity analysts describe their jobs. This made me realize that high finance was the perfect fit for me. By learning how to read companies’ financials, I could “read” the story behind the numbers which made equity research/valuations far more interesting to me. Once this dawned on me, I became far more motivated in my studies, and I joined the Telfer Finance Society as an executive to learn more about the finance world whilst promoting financial knowledge to our student base.
Due to this experience, I will be starting as an associate working in mergers and acquisitions at Grant Thornton once I graduate and I will be forever indebted to my club for giving me direction in life.”
– Michael Dellaire, 4th-year Finance student, TFS VP Sponsorship, Editor (Finance & Economics), University of Ottawa Business Review (UOBR)
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Mark Quinell graduated from the University of Portsmouth, England, with a degree in Spanish and a minor in Business Management. After graduating, he moved to Canada, and in June 2015, he applied to the Management Trainee program with Enterprise, a worldwide transportation provider.
Enterprise’s Management Trainee program is a specialized entry-level position that focuses on learning customer service, sales and marketing, finance, and operations. Mark enjoyed the growth opportunities linked to this position, as Enterprise has a “promote from within” policy that allows employees to grow into the role they covet. That was 6 years ago, and in the last few months, Mark has moved into his new role as a Talent Acquisition Specialist for the Ottawa region.
Mark has been loving acquisition so far; his favourite part is being able to connect and resonate with young and hungry students and graduates. He relates to them because that’s how he felt when he started at Enterprise. He loves being able to help them.
He recommends recent graduates look for a corporate culture that resonates with them. Pay isn’t everything – look for organizations that invest in your professional growth. Extracurricular events are good too, as they can make work not feel like work. For example, Enterprise introduced the My Purpose. My Time. program in 2020 – a charity program that gives employees paid time to volunteer within their communities. And for current students? Mark says to start prepping your resumé and cover letter early. His top tip? To have a dynamic, 2-3 sentence opener that shows who you are and what you can provide. Luckily, the Telfer Career Centre offers resumé workshops as well as resumé and cover letter critiques through Career Launch.
As well, Mark Quinnell is more than happy to meet with any students interested in the Management Trainee program or working with Enterprise in general, and can be connected with on LinkedIn or Enterprise’s career page.
– Mark Quinnell, Talent Acquisition Specialist for Enterprise
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Do the words “fresh start” come to mind as the new year approaches? Have you pulled together a list of resolutions? Are you thinking about ticking everything on it by the end of 2022? Here are 3 easy ways to think about what your career intentions are.
1. Look within and reflect
Are you always working or on the go? And then one day you wake up and realize your situation isn’t working for you anymore? First, think about your health, which is crucial. Then, check the quality of your sleep. If both are ok, that’s when you think about your career goals and what you want to achieve. What is your intention, short term and long term? What will help you gain knowledge to get there?
2. Think about your goal
Many different factors can influence your career intentions. Ask yourself what you would like to undertake soon. It can be as simple as:
- Developing a new skill
- Leading a team or a project
- Learning about another part of the organization
At the right time, you can then speak to how this year’s work supports your intent to take more responsibility for the work you are doing.
3. Assess your current performance
As an individual, always address where you are now with your career. You should be able to discuss this with your mentor and peers. And be ready to assess whether the objectives you have set need some adjustments.
At the beginning of your career, you can be lost. That’s perfectly okay. During those years, you learn to grow and develop. You learn how to prioritize, make decisions, influence others, be resourceful and act as a team player.
Follow your interests. Do whatever it takes to create a spark so you can remain fulfilled. Show your peers how to use the power of intention to drive their professional endeavors.
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important” ̶ The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
“I was given some of the greatest opportunities by Telfer during my undergraduate degree. From the workshops and networking events to the multiple job opportunities offered to me, Telfer prepared me for the future by giving me the right tools to pursue my dreams. A couple of things I like most about Telfer are the resources available to students as well as the support they give them, especially during their first year.
An example of how Telfer helped me identify my dream job is the CO-OP program. During the CO-OP program, I was able to meet with professionals and gain experience and knowledge, all of which I will continue to benefit from during my time at Telfer as well as after my graduation.”
– Jana Salameh, 3rd-year International Management student, Telfer Career Centre Ambassador, and musician
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
We’ve all made mistakes: big ones, like missing an exam, or small ones, like sending a text to the wrong person. But the most common mistakes we make are undoubtably spelling and grammar errors. This applies to everything – our essays, our presentations, and yes, our job applications! Because what does a job application full of typos and grammar mistakes say about you? I will leave that to your imagination.
Proofreading our work enables us to communicate effectively and to look professional. How many times have you needed clarification because someone didn’t use the right grammar or misspelled a few words? How many times have you considered someone incompetent based on the quality of their spelling?
CRUCIAL POINT: Any spelling and grammar mistakes on a resumé can lead your resumé to the garbage bin. Ouch.
Although we all got used to software that edit our work for us, such as the MS Word built-in spell checker or Grammarly, it is also extremely useful to learn how to check our own work.
Here is how:
- Read over your own work on paper with fresh, rested eyes.
- Get your peers to read it over as well.
- Use Grammarly and/or any other spelling and grammar checker, like Antidote.
Spelling and grammar are not your strongest suit? No worries. Book an appointment with Véronique Bélinge, the Professional Development Coordinator at the Career Centre, through Career Launch. With 19 years of experience as a translator, publicity writer and language specialist, she can help you develop solid proofreading habits that you can apply to your job applications, professional communications, and more.
Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. ─ Kim Namjoon, 2018
Q. What do you like most about Telfer?
A. As a community, Telfer places high importance on inclusivity, encouraging passionate minds, and acting as a support system. The School focuses on helping its students succeed in their fields of interest by creating an environment in which they feel comfortable reaching out for help, even for a professor’s insight about an entrepreneurial idea. In addition, the Telfer Career Centre provides opportunities such as networking events and career mentoring. The feeling of a close‑knit community is what I highly appreciate about Telfer.
Q. What has been your happiest moment while at Telfer?
A. One of the happiest moments in my Telfer journey has been spending time on different floors of Desmarais with my friends and studying in between classes. The schedule in university tends to separate students, therefore finding time to spend together, discussing courses, solving questions, or just catching up about the day, was always something I looked forward to.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
A. Considering the circumstances of the past year, the biggest challenge has been staying motivated while adapting to a virtual learning environment. Although online classes offer flexibility, comfort, and reduced travel time, there is a distinct feeling of isolation associated with the pandemic. Being online, I suffered from a lack of social interaction. Normally, we would be interacting with others through group projects/study sessions, clubs, and campus life, but being online, that has all gone away. However, as the situation slowly improves, I am looking forward to coming back to campus and enjoying the rest of my undergraduate experience.
– Haaruni Venkatesh Babu, 3rd-year Human Resource Management student, Vice-president, External Affairs, Telfer Human Resources Association, Vice-president, Marketing, Business Healthcare Society, and crewmember, Unit One Kpop Dance Crew
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Competition among talented candidates is fierce, so being qualified is not enough to get a job. You need to know how to sell yourself in three pages: two (maximum) for the CV and one for the cover letter. While the CV lists your skills and experience, the cover letter creates a link between you and the recruiter. It complements your CV and humanizes your application. In fact, it is your trump card: it allows you to stand out when your CV is not enough. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before you start writing your cover letter.
Question 1: Who am I?
To answer this question, you need to know your skill set, your area of expertise and what you are good at. In addition, you need to understand the logic behind your path (where you are going, and why). Finally, you need to make a list of your skills and qualities.
Question 2: What are my strengths?
Identify your strengths, that is, the elements that set you apart from other candidates. These are the qualities and abilities that stand out whenever someone speaks well of you. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would you say?
Question 3: Why did I choose this organization?
You need to ask yourself why you chose this employer, specifically. Think about your shared values and what you can bring to each other.
Question 4: Why did I choose this position?
Define why you chose this position. Where does it fit into your career path or the achievement of your goals? You should also be able to list the reasons why you feel you are the best person to excel in the role.
Question 5: Are these elements already included in my CV?
The cover letter acts as a complement to your resume; it is not a duplicate of your resume. To get a clear understanding of what a cover letter is, essentially, (and what it is not!), schedule a cover letter critique with the Career Centre‘s Professional Development Coordinator from Career Launch or check out the Career Centre’s cover letter page.
Now that you have all the tools to get started on the writing, get started!
Sources:
5 questions à se poser quand on rédige une lettre de motivation
“Studying at Telfer has also taught me valuable life lessons, some that humbled me, some that inspired me, and some that helped me overcome my vulnerability.”
Today, we write a new Humans of Telfer story about Farhan Ahmed. A student leader here at Telfer, Farhan has contributed to many different student clubs and initiatives, picking up many great tips along the way. Here is what he had to share with us:
“I firmly believe that the person who is graduating in 2022 is not the same as the one who started his undergraduate education in 2017. As I approach my final term at the Telfer School of Management, I have had numerous opportunities to reflect on the past 5 years. From a naive eighteen-year-old first-year student to a twenty-two-year-old ready to take on the professional world, the growth has been incredible. It didn’t take me long to realize that business school was indeed the optimal fit for my aptitudes and career aspirations. I feel fortunate to have attended the Telfer School of Management, as its programs/resources have helped me navigate these critical years of my life. Studying at Telfer has also taught me valuable life lessons, some that humbled me, some that inspired me, and some that helped me overcome my vulnerability.
I believe a rich university experience comes from immersing yourself within your academic community. I encourage everyone to get involved – join student clubs, take part in case competitions and explore every opportunity that Telfer has to offer. Thanks to these experiences, I developed a passion for consulting and was exposed to leading firms in the space through my network. Most importantly, my heavy extracurricular involvement allowed me to build friendships that will last me a lifetime.”
– Farhan Ahmed, 5th‑year student (Accounting and Finance; CO-OP), PMCP mentor, Former Career Centre Ambassador
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
In our fast-paced society, it’s easy to lose sight of our personal development. However, it is important to find the right balance between the various aspects of our growth. One approach is to learn through reading on topics such as: 1) career development; 2) personal finance; and 3) creativity. Here are three book recommendations to get started!
- Career development, with Ashley Stahl
Choosing a career path can be daunting, especially if you are still trying to develop a clear idea of what to pursue. Remember: it is never too late to change your course. A book that stands out is Ashley Stahl’s “You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, and Design Your Dream Career”. According to Stahl, life consists of sifting through options, so why shouldn’t a career be treated as such? You career should grow with you and not hold you back.
- Personal finance, with Robert Kiyosaki
Money is another aspect of life that can make you feel stuck. This next book focuses on developing financial literacy to achieve financial freedom. In Rich Dad, Poor Dad, famous non-fiction author Robert Kiyosaki presents nine key lessons to improve your understanding of money. Two points that stood out for me as an accounting student are: 1) knowing the difference between assets and liabilities; and 2) making your money work for you. Financial literacy and freedom can be useful in your career, regardless of the path you choose.
- Creativity, with Elizabeth Gilbert
Another non-fiction book that focuses on personal development is Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert, which Penguin Random House describes as “[cracking] a world of wonder and joy.” Gilbert encourages you to take on a creative approach to living by simply changing your attitudes, habits, and approaches. She demonstrates how creativity permeates the skills we develop and our interactions with others. Tapping into our curiosity can help us overcome any fear of pursuing new exploits.
In essence, no matter how busy life gets, we need to make time for our personal growth. Books (and audiobooks) are one of the many types of resources that can help you identify your dream career, provide you with tips on financial freedom, and teach you how use that knowledge in a creative manner.
Interested in other ways to boost your personal growth? The Telfer Career Centre also has multiple services and resources to further assist you.
Check out the Calendar of Events on Career Launch to register for a workshop or book an appointment!