Career Blog
We are now midway through the summer break. As many of you are about to start their next summer class or a new part-time job, our leaders here at the Student Services Centre are finally able to catch a breath after a grueling period of adaptation. At the Telfer Undergrad Office as in the business world, crucial decisions had to be made, and contingency plans had to be implemented. This week, two of our esteemed colleagues are sharing their insights on change, creativity, and resilience.
Matt Archibald, Director, Student Services Centre
Q. As Director, Student Services Centre, has your role been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?
If so, how?
A. My role has not been significantly impacted in terms of the responsibilities, but the approach is certainly much different! The last few months have required a thoughtful effort to communicate as much as possible with team members, students, professors, and our external community. We are adapting well to the use of virtual platforms to connect us!
Q. If you could give one piece of advice to all newly admitted Telfer students as they prepare to embark on their university journey in a virtual setting, what would it be?
A. Your strong study habits that admitted you into this competitive program will help as you embark on the university journey. Don’t hesitate to ask questions as there are many services available to guide you in this new environment. And enjoy the experience!
Q. As a leader, what do you think are the three key elements organizations and individuals alike need to cultivate to successfully navigate change and uncertainty? Could you give us an example based on what your own team has implemented?
A. Communication, feedback, and flexibility. We have found a way to keep a positive attitude in the light of current changes and we are educating ourselves on how we adapt. Our team has been excellent at creating short videos to support students on various topics from registration of courses to networking at upcoming events. We are also engaging in social media platforms to engage incoming students. It has been remarkable to see our adaptability!
Q. In six weeks, we will be “back to school”. Do you have any final words of wisdom for the Telfer community?
A. We are here for you! We pride ourselves on the #TelferNation experience and we are proud of our community! Do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions or feedback. We look forward to working with you in this new environment!
Esther Ouellet, Academic Administrator
Q. As Academic Administrator, has your role been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?
If so, how?
A. The pandemic has not changed my role nor my responsibilities per se. However, I had to adapt my strategies, especially in terms of team management. Supervising a team remotely comes with many challenges, since we cannot access our colleagues constantly and directly. Communication is truly important. I’ve created more frequent sharing opportunities for my team and I, and I’m setting short, impromptu meetings as often as I can, just to see where each of my colleagues is, understand their personal challenges and successes, and discuss the best ways to support them.
Q. As a leader, what do you think are the three key elements organizations and individuals alike need to cultivate to successfully navigate change and uncertainty? Could you give us an example based on what your own team has implemented?
A. Flexibility, goal-based output, and opportunity development. We need to understand that normal work hours cannot apply to just everyone in the same way, especially when working in the presence of young children. But when a team sets specific goals and clear deadlines, it can remain efficient AND flexible enough to determine the when and how. Change disrupts work, but it also drives growth and can be an opportunity to change processes, like by implementing new tools and new ways of interacting with each other and with our students.
Q. If you could give one piece of advice to all newly admitted Telfer students as they prepare to embark on their university journey in a virtual setting, what would it be?
A. I would give them the same advice I give students who start their studies on campus: develop your soft skills. The best students are not necessarily those who have a memory like an elephant or who can adapt to just anything. The best students are those who understand the importance of time management, personal organization, stress management, and a balanced lifestyle. And if they do not possess those skills already, I would tell them to come see us! Our mentors can help them in their development.
Q. In six weeks, we will be “back to school”. Do you have any final words of wisdom for the Telfer community?
A. It’s summer, and we are working from home. We are lining through historic events, and we may never experience this again. So let’s be prudent, let’s help each other out, and let’s make the most of it!
For the past four years, I had been set on working in Accounting for the Federal Government. It was what I had decided on as soon as I finished my summer internship with CRA back in August 2016. My following internship with DFO from May to December 2018, had validated that belief as well. I really enjoyed the work environments, the learning opportunities, and the people that I had been lucky enough to encounter on my teams.
In February 2018, push finally came to shove. My accounting courses became more demanding; my workload increased; I helped start Telfer’s very first women’s network, WMN, in addition to my role as a Telfer Career Centre Ambassador and Sponsorship director on CASCO. I started to feel overwhelmed and was having difficulty managing everything that was on my plate. (Looking back, it was a pivotal moment in my life as I had learned my professional limits and how much is too much for me.)
Simultaneously, other events were happening - both positive and negative - and they began to have an impact on my career path, although I didn’t realize this until after the fact. Taking Matt Archibald’s Seminar on Personal and Leadership Development (ADM 4396) gave me the opportunity to discover my passion and network with well-known leaders in the Ottawa community; attending different Career Centre workshops such as “Who Am I: Self-assessment and Career Testing” helped me evaluate my strengths, interests, and passions; I was becoming aligned with the right people who would connect me to others; work pressures started to mount; the pressure of keeping my commitments and my grades up while maintaining a social life, was taking a toll on me. It got to a point where something just clicked, and I asked myself – am I happy in accounting?
This was my breakthrough. Switching out of accounting was something I had been deliberating on since taking Intermediate Accounting 1 - the class which typically acts as a wake-up call for many accounting students. But after the build up I had encountered over those last few weeks, I finally had mustered up the courage to admit to myself that maybe, accounting isn’t the right fit for me. I had a very hard time accepting this fact, and once I did accept the feelings of dissonance that had been bubbling under the surface, I relied heavily on my support network. Many of my peers, upon hearing of my decision to switch, would ask “Well, what are you going to do now?” My answer was the same for about 2 months – I’m not sure, but I know I will figure it out. And I did!
I now work at a technology startup named Oproma as an Inside Sales Representative. The company focuses on creating value out of people’s unstructured data. I never thought of sales as a profession - I believed the ‘car salesman’ stereotype was true for any sales role. However, I have come to learn that professional sales is about building relationships, and solving problems. My passions, strengths, interests and talents are finally aligned; no longer am I trying to force a career path that isn’t right for me! I have a natural ability to connect with people, and networking is one of my favourite hobbies. My people skills are excellent, and I’m happy that I’ve finally found a profession where I can use these skills daily. I have surrounded myself with very driven colleagues who act as mentors to me, and I take in as much knowledge as I can from them. The fulfillment I feel about my life right now is unparalleled to anything I have ever felt before. I feel as though I am not only satisfying my soul and its calling, but also helping others grow both professionally and personally– which is my ultimate passion.
Main point: Make sure you’re being honest with yourself, about the path you’ve set for yourself. People say to follow your passion and then you’ll never work a day in your life - but the fact is, many people have difficulty finding that passion to begin with. Three resources that I recommend for developing more self-awareness are the Career Centre’s Who Am I: Self-assessment and Career Testing and Jump Start Your Job Search workshops, as well as the Seminar on Personal and Leadership Development (ADM 4396).