Career Blog
“After 3 years of studying in my native country, I realized that I needed a school that could do justice to my ambitious aspirations. I had the chance to hear about Telfer through a friend, and I applied and got accepted! Initially enrolled in the Marketing option, I quickly changed my mind once I saw that the Finance program was a lot more appealing to me. The well-equipped Finance Lab also won me over!”
- Imad-Eddine O.
2nd-year Finance 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.
It’s that time of the year again… That’s right – Exam season! Exams are creeping in and you’re trying to cram every bit of studying you can get done in a limited amount of time. Studying for exams can be stressful and overwhelming and it’s not always fun for everyone. However, having great study habits and being prepared will help you get through your exams. Thus, here are my top five exam tips on how you can study and prepare for exams.
1. Organize Your Time
Don’t leave your studying until the last minute. Exams can get overwhelming but, being organized and having a plan on how you want to break your study days will help ease your nerves and will not stress you out so much. To help sort out your time management, create a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you write them. Then plan your study accordingly. You may find that you want to spend more time studying for some classes so, find a balance that you’re comfortable with and that works for you.
2. Take Regular Breaks
While you may think it’s best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counterproductive. Don’t study for longer than 50 minutes without taking a break. It is better to study for short intense periods with constant concentration than long periods of time when you are tired and not working effectively. Thus, try studying for 45-50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break and repeat. During your break, try not to go on your phone or on social media as it can be a big distraction and you may end up spending more time on it than expected. Instead, use that time to take a walk, go outside or grab something to eat. Either way, make sure you physically get up and walk away from your study spot. Taking regular breaks really help for long-term retention of knowledge.
3. Colour Code Your Notes
Having great study notes is an important key when studying for exams. One way to have effective study notes is by colour coding them. You can use different coloured pens, highlighters, paper, etc. Having colourful notes can help you stay engaged and you won’t be bored studying the material. Therefore, create a system that allows you to colour code material that’s going to be on the exam by what’s important, less important, etc. This will help you focus on the most relevant information and prioritize the material.
4. Eat Healthy, Stay Active, and Sleep
Make sure that in the midst of all the craziness and studying, you find time to eat healthy and exercise. Exercising and eating healthily boost energy levels, clear your mind and allow you to focus more easily. It’s important that you don’t forget to take care of yourself. Likewise, SLEEP IS IMPORTANT. Some people think sacrificing sleep and pulling all-nighters will help them retain more information. However, this is not the case and it is a very bad idea. Getting a good night’s rest the night before your exam will help you remember information that you have studied and will keep you alert during your exam. Therefore, make sure you get enough sleep and are well rested so that you can be fully focused during your exams.
5. Minimize Distractions
Devote your entire focus to the task at hand. Cell phones and social media are big distractions. They can easily shift your focus away from studying. You can tell yourself that you will only be on your phone for five minutes but most of the time, you know you will end up being on your phone for an hour. To stay focused and productive while studying, you should put your phone away, out of sight and on silent. Delete social media apps for the time being (you can re-download it once exams are done). Additionally, find a quiet place to work and if you must listen to music, stick to instrumental music. Concentrate on one task and immerse yourself in it.
Lastly, I hope these tips can help you prepare for your exams. You’re at the last stretch of this semester so make sure you continue to work hard to finish the semester off strong. Try not to let the stress get to you. Believe in yourself, study hard, drink water and rest well! I wish you all the best of luck on your exams!
Hello, your friendly university writer is back. This time, we will be discussing getting involved in school. Believe it or not, there are the right and wrong ways of doing it. This article was inspired by Rebecca McCormick, who was my amazing mentor in first year.
Let’s start with the “Why”. You are in university, you are attending your classes, getting grades, and meeting new people. But often, academics are not enough. Usually it is the getting involved, and the volunteering that allows you to experience new things and expand your network. Getting involved looks different for everyone. Maybe you would like to be a part of a Telfer club (some of them are hiring right now, check their Facebook pages) or maybe you’d just like to go to different events. Start your journey by thinking about what matters to you and your priorities.
As for me, I started my involvement by becoming a Telfer Career Centre Ambassador, and then joining the Women in Management Network (WMN). I have also started attending different community events such as Creative Mornings, and Local Talks. In the beginning of the year I was selected to be a part of the Executive Mentorship Program, which I highly recommend to everyone - you apply, and are paired with a high-up executive in your field, with whom you then meet throughout the year. I was pretty much as involved as can be.
I was so involved that I started to not study as much because I did not have the time, and I felt like my priorities were shifting. I realized I needed to balance out my schedule, but I did not know how. Funnily enough, I figured it out at an event, and a grandiose event at that - The Career Centre Celebration. My mentor from first year, Rebecca, was at the event and I asked her how to stay on track and keep up with school but still get involved.
Here are my takeaways:
Decide what you want to associate yourself with.
For me, that is 3 things: WMN, my workplace, and Telfer in general. I will be VP Career at WMN next year, so I will be supporting all of our events and participating as much as I can. I want to be associated with my workplace, because marketing is a big network of creatives, and you need to know people in the industry. And, of course, Telfer, since I want to support my school, and make my mark here.
Make an appearance.
If you have an important event to go to, but also like 500 other obligations and finals coming up, don’t worry. You do not have to stay for the whole event, especially if it is a networking event. Make your rounds in the room, make sure everyone important sees you, grab a canape or two and you are good to go!
It is so easy to become overwhelmed in the many exciting opportunities offered at Telfer and in the community. However, by attending everything, you will not only confuse yourself, but can also miss out on actually important events; that is why Takeaway #1 is crucial. As well, balance overall is so important, and school should be the first priority. After all, this is why we are all here….Right?
SO, narrow down your involvement focus, and organize your schedule while keeping in mind your personal priorities. Good luck on finals! Summer is so close.
“I first became interested in Telfer Capital Fund (TCF) when I attended a workshop on financial modelling. I really enjoyed that workshop and applied the following year to be part of the program. Ever since, TCF has been a great learning experience. It has helped me learn about the different career paths that I could pursue as a finance student. Now, as a portfolio manager co-leader, I have been able to meet with CEOs and connect with key individuals within Telfer. I encourage all of those who are passionate, optimistic and ambitious to apply. In TCF, it’s not only about how smart you are, it’s about whether you’re willing to put in the time and have the right attitude.”
- Ram K.
3rd-year Finance Student
Capital Markets Mentorship Program (CMMP)/Telfer Capital Fund (TCF)
Portfolio Manager Co-Leader
For more information and to apply to the CMMP and the TCF, please contact Chloe Watt, Relationship Manager and Coordinator of these Programs, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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.
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a conversation, without knowing how to make your exit?
I am currently reading Mike Bechtle’s How to Communicate with Confidence, a book that teaches us how to engage in better conversations ― not by trying to become someone else, but by building on our personality strengths (whether we are extroverted, introverted, or a mix of both). One of the chapters addresses ways to exit a conversation gracefully, and I’ll share four of these tips with you today.
1. Be honest
Do not make up false excuses to end the conversation. Instead, you can wrap up the discussion by mentioning what you enjoyed the most from your interaction. This will help you part ways on a positive note. Then, be decisive and direct in making your exit without leaving room for negotiation. And voilà!
2. Make it about you
If you have set some goals for yourself before the event, don’t be afraid to use them to justify your moving on from the conversation. For example, you may want to meet specific people to learn more about a particular program of study. However, it bears repeating that for this tip to work, you need to have genuinely set your objectives beforehand.
3. Ask for help in achieving your goals
Let’s say you came to the event to learn more about the field of finance and its various career opportunities. You can ask the person you are talking to if they are knowledgeable on this particular topic. If they are, it will give your conversation a new direction (especially if it had become tedious). You can always excuse yourself afterwards to learn more from other attendees on this topic. If the person has no information to share with you, they might either introduce you to someone who does ―which will lead you into another conversation―, or they will say “no” and you will have a way out!
4. Help other people meet
If you recognize other people in the room, introduce them to the person you are speaking to. If you feel that they are hitting it off (and this is important!), you can then excuse yourself and move on.
These tips are helpful in all situations, from networking events, to evening gatherings and in everyday life.
The secret is to practice often. It is a well-known fact that we learn through repetition!
By the end of the academic year, students are facing many challenges, including studying for final exams, doing research projects and having to look for a summer job. As students expend a lot of energy and resources to perform, they start to experience stress. In order to manage stress better, it is important to first recognize the different signs of stress and take on good habits to alleviate it.
What does stress look like?
Stress can have multiple physiological, cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects.
- Physiological responses: In periods of stress, our body gives us signals. For example, our heart rate increases, our breathing becomes shallow and our muscles tighten.
- Cognitive responses: Stress affects our way of thinking. It can also cause memory lapses, prevent concentration, cause insomnia and hinder decision-making.
- Emotional responses: The most common emotional states experienced in response to stress are irritability, impatience and frustration.
- Behavioural responses: We witness a change in our lifestyle habits. For example, some people lose their appetite while others cannot stop themselves from snacking.
Three tips for coping with stress
- Hold yourself to your schedule
When you plan to study for a specific period of time, do everything you can to follow through on your plan. To do this, try to find a quiet place away from all forms of distractions. Above all, don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
- Do something you really enjoy
It’s important to take the time at least once or twice a week to do something that you really love. This will allow you to be happier and more attuned to yourself. For instance, you can spend some time drawing, playing sports, or cooking.
- Think positive
We must avoid being overly dramatic when we are faced with challenges. The best approach is to put things into perspective in order to handle our responsibilities.
“I came to Telfer to pursue my dream of becoming a professional accountant. It’s through the tools offered at the school that I was able to secure a job at BMO and find a balance between work and classes. Studying at Telfer was the best decision of my life and I would do it all over again!”
- Karl N.
2nd year 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.
Congratulations! Your hard work searching for jobs has finally paid off. You have landed an interview at a company you have always wanted to work for. Not only is this exciting, but also terrifying. Despite the nerves, you can ace your interview with these 9 interview tips for students.
1) Create a Portfolio
You don’t need to be a visual arts student to have a portfolio. Even commerce students should bring a portfolio to a job interview. A portfolio can range from a website, to a blog, to a binder with your work examples. In other words, a portfolio is proof that you know what you say you know. Use this to your advantage!
2) Research the Job, Interviewer, Organization, and Industry
Before arriving to the interview, research the job so you can say why you are fit for the position. Likewise, you should research the interviewer to see what kind of experience they have within the company. Finally, it is important to research the organization and the industry. This is important as you must have the knowledge to answer any questions about the two.
3) Prepare Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
Tell me about yourself? Why do you want to work here? What’s a time you exercised leadership skills? Where do you see yourself in five years? These are some questions that you may be asked during your interview. If you know they could be asked, don’t stress about them, just prepare for them.
4) Bring a Copy of your Resumé and Cover Letter
Look prepared and professional by bringing a copy of your resumé and cover letter. Not all employers will have your resumé printed out so this gives them a chance to read it once again. Similarly, you can use these documents to refer back to previous work experiences.
5) Dress for Success
This doesn’t always mean suit and tie. Do your research on the company culture and dress code. From there, it is always best to dress one step above the “norm”. You may not want to be too overdressed but it would be much worse if you were underdressed. You still want to make a good first impression. As a result of dressing for the organization, you will fit in with the company culture.
6) Tell your Story
There is no getting out of the “tell me about yourself” question. With this in mind, prepare to tell your story to the interviewer. As you tell your story, be sure to relate it to the job you are applying to. This is your chance to make your mark and be memorable in the interview.
7) Practice Interviewing out Loud
This could be in front of a mirror, friend or family member. By telling your story out loud it will become more natural to say during the interview. You are also more likely to remember what you want to say if you practice out loud.
8) Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of every interview, you will be asked: “Do you have any questions?”. If your answer to this is no, think again. By all means you must have at least three questions to ask the interviewer. Not only does it show your interest in the position, but also answers anything that is not already on the website.
9) Follow-up with the Interviewer
You can breathe! Your interview is over. However, it is very important to follow-up with your interviewer. In that case, send a thank you email or LinkedIn message to continue to build a connection. You are more likely to land the job if you do this final tip!
If you have chosen to study at the Telfer School of Management, you have come for a reason. Maybe you have a specific dream job in mind, or have a general plan to work in the business field, or maybe you even plan to create your own business. Whatever your goals, the Telfer Career Centre offers many resources to help you succeed in achieving them.
Are you unsure of what you want to do with your business education?
Look no further than the Self-Understanding, Career Testing and Planning workshop. This workshop will help you to analyze your personality and interests to assist you in finding potential career paths that could be a good fit for you. I had a great experience taking this workshop. The personality tests provided me with a better understanding of myself and of what I wanted in a future job. I was able to use this information to help choose an option at Telfer that I enjoy.
Do you want to know more about what professionals are doing in your field?
Attending networking events, speaker series, and office tours offered by the Career Centre are great ways to meet professionals in your chosen field and gain insight into what they do. By attending, you could potentially determine if the jobs these people are doing might be of interest to you. Either way, these types of events are a great way to make connections in the business world and learn something interesting.
Do you want to build your professional skills?
The Telfer Career Centre offers a great number of workshops and clinics to help you to improve and diversify your professional skills. Whether you are looking to improve your resumé or find out new ways to be creative with your LinkedIn profile, the Centre has ways to support you.
If you are looking for a more one-on-one experience, think about booking an appointment with a career counselor or relationship manager, or drop in to visit one of the Career Centre ambassadors on Fridays during our office hours. The ambassadors can help you with resumés, cover letters, LinkedIn critiques, interview tips and practice, and even networking advice. By using the tools offered by the Career Centre, you will be able to round out your business education by gaining the necessary skills you need to succeed!
The Telfer Career Ambassadors offer peer-to-peer advising on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in DMS 2111 (from September to November and from January to March).
"I’m new to campus and have enjoyed learning about what the Telfer School has to offer and am happy to be getting to know the students. As a recruiter for the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, I want to let students know that the CPA designation is not just about auditing or tax work. It has so much more to offer and certainly doesn’t limit you to positions in accounting firms. CPAs can work at any company anywhere in the world. If you see me on campus, don’t hesitate to say hello or ask any questions you may have!"
- Jessica R.
Student recruiter for Post-Secondary Institutions with CPA Ontario
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.