Career Blog
“When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” (Billy Joel)
University is a weird phase for students.
It’s the official bridge between childhood and adulthood.
It’s a purgatory that blurs the line between what’s acceptable to do as a young adult finding one’s place in life and a grown-up ready to hit the ground running.
It’s a time where failures and mistakes are encouraged because as soon as you cross that graduation stage, people can’t chalk up the fact that you’re just a kid or a student.
University is a weird, but almost comforting phase for students.
So, why is everyone in such a rush?
Four years will come and go in a blink of an eye and in hindsight, the experiences and memories made in university will be cemented as an essential period in your life. The stigma for students that decide they want to change programs or for the students that just need a little break is almost taboo. The mere concept of graduating past four years brings up several questions that have an undertone of negative connotations like: “What happened?” or “Is everything okay?”
Everything IS okay.
And everyone is different. Everyone has a different path and distinct opportunities. Graduating in four years may notbe the right path for you. Rushing through a part of your life just because you feel pressured to by society’s standards is an easily preventable regret. Take a year off if you feel like you have to. Change programs if you know that this is not the future you see yourself in. Four years is not the deadline that everyone has set for you and it’s definitely not the deadline that you should feel chained to.
There’s so much waiting for you. Before you know it, you’ll be right there in the middle of everything. Years will fly by. You will hit different milestones and make countless more memories. It will be at your doorstep one day, so there’s no need to rush out the door to find it.
So, like Billy Joel says, slow down and cool it off before you burn it out.
Vienne vous attend.
As Telfer students, we can gain many personal and social benefits while volunteering in our community. Volunteering can also help you achieve your career aspirations. So if you find yourself having a couple of extra hours to spend, why not get involved for the following reasons:
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Get some experience
If you can find volunteer opportunities within an organization or charity for which you would like to work in the future or in your field of interest, volunteering can get your foot in the door. Whether in the healthcare industry, the recreational sector, or community services, volunteering can be a valuable experience. Just because you are not being paid doesn’t mean that your work is less valid or less important.
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Explore your options
If you are not sure what you would like to do when you graduate, volunteering with different types of organizations is a great way to test things out. You can try out different roles at various organizations, and it will give you the chance to better understand your strengths and weaknesses. The more roles you take on, the better you will understand what you want in a job after graduation.
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Meet new people
Since you are most likely to support a cause that you feel strongly about, your fellow volunteers may very well share your feelings. This can be a strong foundation for future friendships. There are many clubs at Telfer through which you can get involved with your community. You can also volunteer with a group of students who can become lifelong friends! You may also look at your Community Engagement Navigator in uOzone to seek out amazing upcoming opportunities. Hopefully, you take advantage of all the benefits that volunteering presents you with throughout your time at university!
After finishing my first year of university, I wouldn’t have told anyone I was enjoying my time there. I didn’t love my classes too much, I wasn’t sure if my program was for me, and I didn’t know too many people. The idea of returning for my second year and to go through it all over again was a daunting prospect..
I had no idea how I could change my experience this time around to actually enjoy myself. At first, I considered changing my faculty. I had always enjoyed my Geography classes throughout high school, and I thought that maybe I should switch to a program in that field. I also considered changing cities and schools. I really love Montreal, and I thought that maybe I should pick up my life at one of its numerous universities. All of these ideas were scary to me though. I didn’t know if I would be able to go through with any of them, and if I did, I thought I might be just miserable in a new setting. I wanted to take a semester off to think about my future. My mom wouldn’t let me do this though, and I didn’t make any of the big changes I had envisioned. So I guess I would be returning to Telfer for my second year.
It was depressing to see summer ending, as I really did not want to return to school. I couldn’t imagine this year being any different from my first. However, I went every day, and for the first few months, it was the exact same as during my first year. I didn’t enjoy my studies at all. Eventually, I made a few new friends, and my relationships grew stronger with the ones I made in the first year. One of those friends asked me if I would like to join Enactus, as someone had recently left. I agreed because I felt like I needed something to put on my resumé. I knew CO-OP was right around the corner, but I had no volunteer experience prior to this. This experience changed everything.
Since the beginning of my first year, everyone has been telling me to ‘Get involved’. I never took that advice seriously. I thought all those clubs were pretentious and lame. I couldn’t imagine joining one. Also, as I barely had time to study, I didn’t think I could manage my time to participate in a club. I am so glad I did though. Since joining Enactus, I’ve met a hundred new people who are super cool, and I have had experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life. I continued to apply to more clubs at the end of my second year, and I am now an executive of MISA, a Career Centre Ambassador, as well as a member of Enactus. Although it is a lot to manage, I have a lot of fun, and it has transformed my university experience. I can see direct applications of my studies in these clubs and I’ve had countless amazing experiences because of them. I wish I hadn’t been so jaded at the beginning of my studies and took the advice that I heard countless times to ‘Get involved’. It’s an amazing feeling to be part of a team and it changed my outlook on university. I am now very happy in my studies, and I am so glad to have gotten involved. So to anyone reading this, for the love of God, get involved in something on campus. It’s an experience you won’t regret.
We are already midway through summer, and this welcome break from school may have given you the opportunity to take stock of what you have achieved so far, and to reflect on what you want to accomplish next in your academic and professional journey. With that in mind, five staff members at the Student Services Centre (SSC) have graciously accepted to share with you key pieces of professional advice they wish they had received earlier in their career.
“Know when to be a sender and when to be a receiver. I have always had a go‑getter attitude and wanted to be “part of the conversation”. Whether it was to prove myself as a professional or to ensure I had a say in the matter. I often chose to speak when it would have been wiser to listen. Listening is a learned skill, and there is a tremendous value in listening to those around us and actually taking in what they are saying and learning from their experiences.”
Amanda Richardson
Manager
Telfer Career Centre
“When I was a kid, I never had a finalized game plan for when I would "grow up". I held several types of jobs: salesperson, teacher and researcher, project manager, publisher, administrator at Telfer! Two things have helped me grow in all of them: remaining 1) open; and 2) flexible. When presented with a project or task I had never tackled before, I would volunteer with enthusiasm and use that opportunity as a stepping‑stone towards the development of a new skill.”
Esther Ouellet
Interim Academic Administrator
Student Services Centre
“I hate interviews. Of course, you will tell me that we all have to go through them. That being said, when our self‑esteem is faltering, it becomes difficult to display the kind of confidence that employers are looking for. With hindsight, I would give my younger self the following advice: “Prepare.” Researching the employer, rehearsing, organizing my thoughts, those are all skills that I already have. And if there is one thing that shows your will to work hard, it is preparation.”
Karianne Lessard
Events and Special Projects Assistant
Telfer Career Centre
“Focus on you. So many of us feel compelled to compare ourselves to others on various fronts (what they studied, how quickly they finished, where they work, how much they get paid, etc.) The truth is, each and every one of us is different and possesses a unique set of interests and talents. Don’t worry about what other people are doing… simply make choices that make sense for you. Concentrate on your own journey and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.”
Marion Lajoie
Career Counsellor
Telfer Career Centre
Get to know yourself. Get to know your personality, your values, your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses. Accept and appreciate all of it. And then, pursue opportunities that allow you to put it all into practice. Pursue careers, relationships and hobbies that are in line with it all. And remember to keep evaluating as you go. In the end, you will have lived a life that is truly fulfilling.”
Stéphanie Dion
Academic Development and Student Retention Specialist
Student Services Centre
We hope that these small pearls of wisdom will enlighten your reflection as you are preparing (not to hastily, hopefully) to go back to school. Always remember: whether you need a professional opinion, a guiding hand, a friendly advice, or an invigorating pep talk, you can always rely on the staff at the Telfer Student Services Centre.
I am very grateful for the job experiences I have had so far. They're great for building my resumé and my skills, but they’re also great in painting a clearer picture of what employers look for in a candidate. Today, I will emphasize the importance of possessing certain traits and why they matter to your future. They also happen to be characteristics that you will find useful in your personal life and academic life.
In other words, I have gathered three transferable/soft skills or traits that I have found to be highly valued by my past employers, and most possibly, your own!
1. Punctuality
It may seem like a random trait out of the many skills and characteristics that make up a great employee. However, at the end of the day, employers not only want you to be punctual, but they also want the work to get done and done on time. Are you the kind of person to get tasks done as soon as they're assigned to you? Maybe not chores or assignments due in a month's time, but what about work tasks? Employers care about your answer to that question. My past supervisor valued an employee who was punctual, because it meant she didn't have to worry if things were getting done and if they were getting done at a good pace. Once a task is assigned to you, put it on your schedule and prioritize the task accordingly, in relevance to other tasks you also need to get done. It's a great feeling knowing you got a task done within a day or two when your supervisor may have expected it done for a little later. Always strive to be better and to make sure that all the work you're assigned is getting done on time!
2. Curiosity
Unsure about a task? Ask questions! Interested about something completely irrelevant to your tasks/position? Ask about it! Want to take on another project because it seems cool? Ask your supervisor! Want to know more about anything at work? Ask!
Do you see the trend? Be curious and express that curiosity!
Employers love young employees who ask a lot of questions, that show their interests and talk to their supervisor openly about what they don’t understand and what they want to know more about. It shows the supervisor and the rest of the team that you care and are engaged within your position. They want employees who are curious, who ask questions about everything they find interesting and who show that they want to learn more. It proves to the employer that you are ultimately interested in learning, and being knowledgeable. So do not be afraid to ask questions to your colleagues and supervisor!
3. Likeability
This may seem like an obvious one, but it is really, really important nonetheless. No one wants to work with someone unenjoyable, difficult, rude, insensitive, or negative. How do you present yourself when you’re having a bad day? Do you act quieter than usual? Maybe even completely secluded?
It is very important to be aware of how you act and how dependent your mood is on your behaviour. Being aware can help you figure out if you should shift your mindset and attitude so that even on your bad days (we all have them!), you can limit how your type of day affects your character. As business students, we will all likely work within teams, meaning we will most likely always be surrounded by people. This means we must always present ourselves as positive, communicative, kind, sensitive and empathetic towards others as well as simply being enjoyable to be around. We can do that by being more aware of our behaviour and what factors affect it on a day-to-day basis. Once we understand those factors, we can manage our behaviour on a daily basis much easier and more effectively.
We are all capable of expressing our genuine goodness, positiveness positivity and kindness, so don’t forget to learn to apply those positive features so that your employers are more drawn to you and everyone in the workplace will be attracted to your presence. Be the person people look forward to seeing in the morning!
Being punctual, curious and likeable are only a few of many skills and traits that are just as valued to employers. It is crucial that we all understand ourselves and are able to express those skills academically, personally and professionally. If you are unsure if you have any of those traits, or if you want to explore more of your transferable skills, I suggest attending one of the Career Centre’s “Self-Understanding, Career Planning and Testing” workshops, where a career counselor will help you understand what transferable skills you may have and which ones you may want to develop! There’s no such thing as being too skilled!