Career Blog
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!
One of the main reasons I joined the Telfer Career Centre as an ambassador was because someone told me it would be a great way to learn how to network. The Centre allowed me to start networking in a pressure-free environment. As I started volunteering at networking events and information sessions held by various employers, I was able to practise networking easily. In many of these events, I had to communicate with our guest employers to ensure everything goes smoothly. The best part is that I was paired with another student, usually a volunteer. This proved to be especially important during my first few networking events. It made all the difference knowing that I had a partner there with me.
Getting involved with Telfer also let me see all the opportunities made available to students. I had a chance to meet the people involved in some of my favourite events. When I first heard that it was possible for clubs to prepare case competitions and to compete against other schools from other cities, I was astounded. In other clubs, volunteers are called upon to help organize events such as the CASCO annual gala, which showcases everybody’s hard work towards a great cause. These are only few of the many opportunities and experiences you have access to by getting involved with the Telfer Career Centre. Were it not for my work as an ambassador, I would never have heard or known about some of these events and the complexity of their planning.
Lastly, volunteering at the Telfer School is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to make friends. I often saw the same students in class, but I barely got to know any of them. Once I became an ambassador, I started to realize that many of my classmates were also volunteers! My work as a volunteer gave me a fantastic opportunity to become acquainted with a lot more people from my program and to build my network. This wouldn’t have been possible without the Career Centre!
How do you gain work experience that is relevant to your program of study? Applying for the CO-OP Program is a very common answer that I’ve heard from many people. However, if you were not admitted to the CO-OP Program for some reason, or you are still on the waiting list, do not worry! There are many routes that can lead to success. Besides the CO-OP Program, there are other programs and internship opportunities that allow you to gain relevant work experience during your studies.
Connexions Program
This program is open to students who have completed the common core courses in the first two years of their program. In previous years, students had the opportunity to work at organizations such as Export Development Canada (EDC), Investors Group, Welch Group Consulting, Canada Post Corporation, and many more. These internships offered by the participating organizations are unpaid.
Each work term is one semester-long (12 weeks). Students are required to work a minimum of seven hours per week. By completing the Connexions Program, students will receive 3 ADM units for one of the fourth-year ADM elective courses (ADM 4904). Students are allowed to complete the program a second time with a different organization as another ADM elective course (ADM 4905).
Work-study Program
The Work-study Program is open to all students who are taking at least three courses a semester. This program provides the opportunity for all students to work on-campus part time during the school year and full time during the summer. There is a variety of positions available across different faculties and services at the University of Ottawa such as customer service officer, assistant project officer, and junior information officer.
Telfer BCom Internship Program
This program is open to second- and third-year students who have completed the common core courses in the first two years of their program. Students will have the opportunity to gain work experience at different organizations such as the Department of National Defence (DND), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). These organizations offer paid internship opportunities.
The work terms are 8-month long and, depending on the employer, may be split over two summers. By successfully completing the Telfer BCom Internship Program, students will receive 3 ADM units for one of the fourth-year ADM elective courses (ADM 4903).
Job postings
If you still could not find a position that matches your interest, check out the job postings on the Career Centre website! There are current positions available for all business students posted all year long. But be sure you keep an eye on the application deadlines.