Career Blog
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Most of the time, we as students – and professionals – have to deal with a lot of pressure. Having to go to work, making sure we get good grades, trying to spend some time with our friends and family. All of that can become overwhelming, especially while we are trying to figure out what we actually want to do in life. However, I believe it is actually good to not know where we will be in five years, or exactly what our professional journey will be like. In my case for example, I’m a third‑year accounting student, but four years ago, I saw myself enrolling in the nursing program, simply because I thought it fitted my personality better. And guess what, I picked accounting, and I love it.
For some of us studying business, being in third year means going through interviews and a lot of networking events. Well, by going over my interviews, I realize that the interviewers were not necessarily expecting to have someone’s personality matching the job. And guess what: your personality doesn’t have to match the job’s idealistic criteria. I got the opportunity to learn that by talking to people who had done a personality test like the ones they asked you to do while you’re in high school and even in elementary school.
When we look at jobs, we typically focus on things such as the job description, and we forget about few other things such as the social aspect of a job. This year, I had the chance take part in one of the Telfer Mentorship Programs. While talking to my mentor, I heard stories about his job as a CPA. He told me that he will always remember what his manager told him few years ago: « You are what I’m not, and what I don’t want to be, but the clients like you, and you’re bringing me money. » Quite shocking, right? But that one sentence made me realize that anyone can apply to any job, even if they do not have the « right » personality. They can still do amazing things.
Not knowing how to do something or what you will be doing in five to ten years can be stressful. Trust me: I’ve been there just like many of you. But we should all try to focus on this: what do we like, and how can we apply that in the future?
Want to learn more about yourself? Ask your friends, your family members, and your professors! You can also book a career-testing appointment through Career Launch.
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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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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!
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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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Before entering my first CO-OP placement, I did not know what to expect. (I tend to freak-out over the unknown.) I imagined myself being overwhelmed with all the tasks and projects that I would be entrusted with. This fear was due in part to the fact that I had never experienced office work before. Having only worked in restaurants and retail stores, I did not feel prepared despite having attended all the necessary workshops and even a few 1-on-1 meetings with the CO‑OP staff.
Living – and fearing – the dream
I was very nervous partly because my first placement was at a very famous organization that I have known since I was very little: the House of Commons of Canada, on Parliament Hill. My whole life I had admired that building. Being from Ottawa, I’ve had the opportunity to go there for field trips, bike rides, and even New Year’s Eve. Getting to work on Parliament Hill was almost a dream come true. However, this made me more anxious, because I knew the standards would be high. I was not sure if I would be able to meet my employer’s expectations or if I would even fit in.
Seeking out support
On the first day, I felt excitement as I walked into this new setting, and I met my employer for the first time since our interview. She was very gracious and showed me around the different buildings. I had a lot of fun and many of my fears started to disappear. However, as work started to come my way, I became completely lost: I did not have a clue. Fortunately, my co-workers were there to help me: step‑by‑step, I started to learn more and more, and after a couple of weeks, I could do everything on my own. I felt silly for being so scared, as I realized that there was nothing to be scared about. At all. Turns out, I was well prepared for my placement, and my colleagues were there to support me along the way.
Taking advantage of the experience… and make connexions
Like for most things, I was scared for no real reason. I had so much fun over the course of my COOP term. There was a great balance between my capabilities and what my employer asked of me. The people I worked with were amazing and introduced me to so many interesting new concepts and ways of thinking. I met so many nice people that I’ve stayed in contact with long after my term has ended. I believe that this was easily the best part of my university experience thus far and I am very excited about my future CO-OP terms.
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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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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.
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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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Sitting in the car, on the bus or in the library? Maybe you are going to the gym or just lying in bed. Do you need some career advice, motivation, or entertainment? Here are my two favourite fun and motivational career podcasts!
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The School of Greatness – Lewis Howes
Lewis Howes had a rocky childhood as he dealt with bullying and abuse. But he had his mind set on becoming a professional football player. After a life-changing injury, he became a New York Times best‑selling author and the owner of a seven‑figure, multimedia business. In The School of Greatness, he invites various celebrities such as actors, athletes and business moguls to talk about their story and their successes in business. Every Friday, he also posts 5‑minute videos with advice on topics like leadership and public speaking.
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Safe for Work – Liz Dolan and Rico Gagliano
Hosted by Liz Dolan, former Chief Marketing Officer of world-class brands such as NIKE, OWN:The Oprah Winfrey Network, and National Geographic Channel, and Rico Gagliano, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, this very funny and entertaining podcast talks about the little problems that may come with working a 9 to 5 job. They talk about things like asking for a raise, dealing with public-speaking fears, achieving the perfect work-life balance, and even how to fake an illness when calling in sick! They also take calls from listeners to answer their own career and work questions whether that is dealing with a crazy boss or dealing with a distracting coworker.
lewishowes.com/blog
www.themuse.com/advice/6-careerboosting-podcasts-youre-going-to-love-listening-to
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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.
