Career Blog
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“Once we’ve started our program, it becomes difficult to know if we’ve made the right choice. Theory and practice are often very different things!
This is why my advice to you would be to try to gain some experience in your field of study as soon as possible to become familiar with it. The employers you will meet in the future will sense that experience! Also, don’t be afraid to participate in the networking events hosted at Telfer. It’s a fantastic – and free – resource made available to us, and it is up to us to take full advantage of it!”
– Yassine Tahiri
4th-year Finance student, Telfer School of Management
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.
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“My most memorable moment was when I joined JDC at the beginning of my first year. At the beginning, I was a little nervous – very nervous, actually – because I did not know much about case competitions, and the idea of presenting to real companies was very intimidating. However, I jumped at the opportunity, and it turned out to be a great experience. The best thing about it was meeting new people and learning new things from them. I got to see the different types of problems that companies face in the real world. Overall, I enjoyed the experience so much that I am participating again this year.
What keeps me motivated is my family and its constant support. The people around me, especially my friends, also fuel my motivation. I like to think that we are all in the same boat, so if I am stressed out, they are stressed out as well. I guess it is comforting to know that we are all in this together so we all encourage, support each other and, of course, go out for bubble tea whenever we can! I find that having a busy and stimulating schedule keeps me going, as I am contributing to something bigger, whether it be my personal growth, JDCC or academics.
Joining JDC and TCCT definitely made my university experience better. It changed my perspective on a lot of things, and I gained a lot of skills like communication. When you are in a club, your team is responsible for all decisions, so you learn the necessary skills that will allow your club to perform successfully – it’s a little similar to running a business. You also get to meet and grow your network which is something that is very beneficial in the long-term.
My advice to 1st-year students is probably something that they hear all the time, which is to get involved and use all the resources available at Telfer. Attend networking events and do not be intimidated by networking events because as a first-year student no one expects you to be perfect at networking so use this time to practice.”
– Aman Sidhu
2nd‑year Accounting student, VP Internal Affairs, TCCT
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.
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“What do you want to achieve in school? This question is not merely about your academic achievements, but also about your impact at school and on others. The connections we make while at Telfer can often be crucial to developing our career.
I never asked myself this question during my first year, and it showed. Many students come here with no idea of what they want to achieve after graduation. This is completely okay! To be honest, I still don’t know. The best advice I could give any first‑year student is to be open to change, new ideas, new disciplines, and new experiences. Try as many different things as you can while in school and explore your interests. We are always learning and will be throughout our careers.
I would also advise students to get involved, because it allows you to make connections and get noticed. It is much easier to be passive and stick to your group of friends, but good results don’t come easy. I am currently serving as Vice President of External Affairs for Telfer International, and as Business Lead for UOE Racing. It took me three years to figure out that clubs are worth joining, and I wish I learned that earlier.
Overall, I would tell first‑year students to make the most out of their time. Work hard, party hard, have fun, and get involved. Be open to change for the better as a person and to meet people who challenge your opinions. University is not just about getting good grades: it’s about making mistakes and developing personally. Give it the old college try and get out there!”
– Patrick Munro
3rd‑year MISA student
VP External Affairs, Telfer International
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.
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Question: Do you have any advice for students considering Telfer?
“Find yourself a mentor. For a business student, there is no greater asset than having a mentor looking out for you and telling you what opportunities you should pursue. Also, network. And by networking, I don’t mean hitting up all the Wine & Cheese events you can find, but talking to people. Talk to your classmates, talk to your professors, talk with the person next to you in the DMS elevator. Build your name and your brand, and opportunities will follow. Invite interesting people for coffee, and ask them for their advice. I guarantee it’ll be a better investment of your time than anything else!”
– Joel Emond
Accounting Student
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.
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“I think that in order to get the most out of the 4 years at Telfer and to be as ready as you can by the time of graduation, you should always stay involved and be able to prioritize well. Having multiple activities and responsibilities at once can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to determine what to focus on first.
My advice is that you should always give higher priority to the things that will help you achieve your goals and can benefit you in the long-term. I always like to keep myself engaged in activities that can help me reach my objectives. So make sure to join in at Telfer and to prioritize.”
– Noah De Abreu
4th-year Business Technology Management (BTM) student
Vice President of Events at Telfer MISA
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.
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Q. As the President of CéTSC, what impact do you want to have on students, and how are you able to measure or notice the impact you are making?
A. “Overall, I want to boost student engagement in the Telfer community and help my peers have access to all the resources that are available to them during their years at Telfer.”
Q. How does the knowledge you gain as an accounting student help you in your activities at Telfer?
A. “The understanding of the subjects we cover in class is very helpful to me. On the one hand, it informs my work as President of CéTSC, as I collaborate with various vice-presidents. On the one hand, I refer to this knowledge in my conversations to explain certain accounting concepts.”
Q. Based on your 3 years at Telfer, how has Telfer contributed to your career?
A. “As a Telfer student, I have developed various skills in business and leadership. I also made new valuable friendships and connections.”
– Alyssa Bourjolly
3rd Year Accounting Student
and President, Telfer School Council
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.
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"Coming to Telfer was an obvious choice to me: it was close to my family, and it allowed me to pursue my studies in French. What I did not expect, however, are the many opportunities to enrich my post‑secondary journey and to prepare for my future career.
In high school, I participated in Place à la jeunesse, which allowed me to discover the various clubs and other extracurricular opportunities available here. It was clear to me that I wanted to get involved on campus this year, so I applied for the position of Co‑president, Place à la jeunesse. This incredible opportunity brings me joy and will surely have an impact on my academic journey. I am looking forward to seeing what my next two years at Telfer will bring."
– Gabrielle Parisien
2nd‑year management student
and Co-president, Place à la jeunesse
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.
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“Through my short time in Telfer, I have been able to meet many people who have influenced life on both fronts: professional and personal. Through Telfer, I have built friendships with people that I hope to keep in my life forever. From them, I can learn to be a better student, a better worker, and a better person overall.
One thing that stood out to me about Telfer was their international exchange opportunities. I’m looking forward to having the chance to study abroad and immerse myself in a new culture.”
– Ashley Little
2nd-year International Management student
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.
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“One of my happiest memories while being a student at Telfer was the incredible friendships I made. To this day, I am still amazed at the fact that this school is a community and that everyone who integrates it becomes part of a family.
The connections I’ve built through my classes, with my professors, as well as in clubs and other extracurricular activities, have opened my eyes and made me a better person. I’ve always felt that I was able to contribute to and become part of something big, considering that I came to Canada as an international student. My friends made my integration and adaptation to Canadian life easier, and this is one of my best memories of my time as a student at Telfer.
Now that I am an alumna, I have the opportunity to do the same for other students with my role as Career Engagement Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre. I want students to have the same experience as me and carry that through their studies and bring that into their careers.”
– Gaëlle Faye
Career Engagement Coordinator
Telfer Career Centre
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.
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“I am not sure where the time went. Three years ago I was an apprehensive 1st-year student arriving to Ottawa with unease and no certainty of what was ahead. Now, I find myself an evolving and ever-curious 4th-year student, though still with some degree of uncertainty.
Going into my last year of university, there is the inevitable and daunting question from family and friends: what’s next? In my 3 years at Telfer, I have sought out the support from my network of peers, colleagues, faculty members and even people beyond my network. Over time, the what’s next plan has evolved, turning from finite titles into a series of stepping stones. So as I prepare for the year (and even years) ahead, I am grateful for the support I have gotten along the way.”
– Annesha Mendes, 4th-year Finance student, Telfer Peer Mentor
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.
