Career Blog
On Thursday, November 16th, the Telfer Career Centre, along with the Profession of Management Consulting Program (PMCP) hosted an event which included a panel of professionals in the management consulting industry, as well as networking.
Who Was There
The panel consisted of 4 professionals; Joel Marchildon – partner at Accenture, Shannon Kot – senior manager at Deloitte, Jaiman Chin – manager at KPMG, and Laura Spriggs – senior manager at Interis | BDO. These four industry professionals were accompanied by multiple employees from their firms who participated in the networking portion of the event.
What I Learned
The panelists were asked a variety of questions regarding their experiences as management consultants, and from this, three key topics were emphasized by all panelists:
1. Constant learning: being a professional management consultant requires workers to take on cases that they may not be experienced in. Working with many different clients on many different cases gives consultants new experiences every day, and requires them to be constantly learning and adapting.
2. Time commitment: all panelists agreed that in their profession, time commitment can be an issue. They explained that there is always another way to help out or get involved in a case, and even though it is always good to be taking on responsibility, you have to say no sometimes.
3. Team work: the panelists also emphasized that being a management consultant means consistently working as a team. All coworkers bring different expertise and experience and each client has different requirements. The workload cannot be taken on by one person and therefore the team is one of the firm’s greatest assets.
The networking portion of the event was also a wonderful learning experience. There was not as many people in attendance as an event such as Telfer Connects, making it much easier for me to network with professionals. Both the students and professionals were open to conversation which made this a very positive networking experience for me.
This was a fantastic event, and I would encourage all Telfer students to attend next year.
“I heard about being a Career Centre ambassador through a friend who was also applying for the position. I realized I didn’t want to limit my extracurricular experience to specific clubs but to expand my experiences to include something that is more general to the student body. I knew as a Career Centre ambassador I would be stepping out of my comfort zone, since I would be constantly networking with students, employers, as well as Career Centre staff.
If you want to get involved, I strongly recommend applying to be an ambassador, you’ll gain a lot of meaningful friendships as well as experiences!”
- Yasmina Z.
2nd Year Telfer Student
Career Centre Ambassador
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.
This past week was Global Entrepreneurship Week and on November 14th, Telfer hosted the uOttawa Startup Career Fair in the lobby of Desmarais. This career fair was not like Telfer Connects or Telfer Networks, there was a business casual tone and it made it a fantastic opportunity for those that were not used to networking in a formal setting.
Having attended the event myself, here are my four takeaways from the Startup Career Fair:
1) Do your research
Many of the companies at the Startup Career Fair have of course not been around for very long. You may not be familiar with them, so it is important that you do your research. This applies to any career fair; know which companies will be there, what they do and what positions they hire for.
2) Have a goal
Networking does not come easy, especially in the beginning. You are not obliged to speak to every company at the career fair. Set a goal for yourself of how many professionals you want to speak with. If you feel confident once you reach your goal, continue learning about the other companies and building relationships!
3) Ask questions
Encourage the conversation by asking questions and show that you have done your research. For example, you could say “I was looking at your website and I noticed that you are starting a new initiative. Could you tell me more about that?” Invest yourself in the conversation!
4) Smile
Finally, you may have heard this before, but it is important to repeat: smile and be yourself! Recruiters are looking to get to know who you are, let that be the emphasis.
Put these takeaways to action at Telfer’s next career fair, Telfer Networks. If you feel you need to improve your networking or you just do not know where to start, register for the Making a Good First Impression Workshop in January, or the monthly Networking 101 Clinics.
With exams fast approaching, many students are on the hunt for the best study spots. Let me help you with this by listing some places on campus that you could adopt during your exam preparation.
- Morisset: The University’s library consists of 6 floors, some of them being quieter than others. To study in groups, the 5th floor is your best option while the 6th floor will be better suited to those looking for a quieter space. The only downside: you have to go there early to reserve a spot during study periods.
- Quiet room in Morisset: Since the library closes at 2 a.m., the study room in the basement of Morisset is open 24/7, and it’s a better choice option for students who want to study after this time.
- Déjà-Vu student lounge: Located between the Thompson residence and Morisset, Déjà-Vu has three study rooms available for booking and two study rooms where you can sit with your food and your course notes if you want!
- Fauteux: There, you will find chairs and tables, a coffee shop nearby and plenty of light during the day.
- Lamoureux’s Café Go: Inside the café, you will find several tables to study in groups or alone, with coffee close at hand.
- FSS: Tables and study lounges are set up throughout the building, and Première Moisson is located on the main floor for those of you who get cravings during their study sessions. (I plead guilty)
- SITE: Although SITE is for engineering students, it’s accessible to everyone. There are a lot of tables and a quiet room on the second floor, which means that you’ll almost always find a spot!
- Pérez: There is a library which all students can access on the 3rd floor. You will find offices and a study room.
Good luck during your exam preparation! Don’t forget to drink lots of water and eat lots of chocolate ☺.
This week, we’ve had a small taste of the Canadian winter. New international students here for their first winter are already panicking and – truth be told – so are more senior students. If you don’t already have a winter coat, it’s time to get one. In the winter, the temperature here can easily go down to -40° so here are a few tips to help you survive. Take your pens and make good note the following!
1) Follow a regular sleep schedule: I realize that this task is almost impossible for us students, but we will have to bring ourselves to do it one day or the other. We might as well adopt a healthier lifestyle and plan for 7 to 8 hours of sleep. It will also help us to focus better during our classes!
2) Don’t forget to drink water: The idea of getting free pizza is clearly a more exciting prospect. But it’s important not to neglect what our body needs so we don’t die of dehydration. Don’t forget that it’s just as easy to get dehydrated in the winter as it is in the summer.
3) Take vitamins: Obviously, there are few opportunities to soak up the sun during the winter months, therefore fewer opportunities to produce the vitamin D our body needs. It is recommended to take a vitamin D supplement every day (despite students’ notoriously chaotic days) to address vitamin D deficiency.
4) Dress properly: Instead of only wearing a winter coat, you’re best to layer your clothing (e.g. wearing a t-shirt under a sweatshirt, under a vest, under a coat…). I know it’s not very pleasant, but it’s very effective. At least, when you go from the icy cold outside to the warmth of buildings and classrooms, you’ll be able to take off the extra layers and stay in a t-shirt!
5) Stay active: My least welcome piece of advice, I know. But staying active will help you produce antibodies that will prevent infections (most of them, at least). In addition, it will help you manage stress, especially during your exams!
To preserve your precious health, try to follow these little guidelines as much as possible. To function well, the world needs healthy little human beings. “May the odds be ever in your favor”!
“I’ve learned that it's really important to try to expose myself to situations where I might not be very comfortable. Challenging myself to network and practice skills that I might not necessarily have naturally has really helped me become who I am today.”
- Jane O'Reilly
Organizational Behaviour Professor
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.
In the first place, what do management consultants even do? Management consultants are people who advise company executives on the best ways to manage and operate their business. Now, if this sounds like something of interest for you, then you are at the right place! Whether you know that this is the field for you or you’re still hesitant about it, keep in mind these 3 things.
Panel: Profession of Management Consulting
This speaker panel is happening this Thursday, November 16, 2017, from 5:30 till 7 p.m. Guest speakers from Accenture, Deloitte, KPMG as well as Interis | BDO will be present at the panel to discuss with you what a normal day in their professional life is like. In addition, you’ll get to understand the main steps that you should follow to get started in this field. When you register to this event on the website, you get to submit a question for the panel. This is a good opportunity for you to get your question answered by the field’s professionals. Not to mention, you can take advantage of this panel and network with the representatives of these companies.
CMC Eastern Ontario Chapter - Mentorship Program Launch
This is one opportunity that you should make sure you don’t miss! Apply for a mentor in the management consulting field. Full details are provided on the event’s website. The keynote speaker for this event is Ms. Karen Hodge-Cunningham. During the Program Launch on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, she will talk about how to establish a good relationship with your mentor to best benefit from the program. Lastly, the best part is you get to network!
Profession of Management Consulting Program (PMCP)
This 2-year development program that is run by the Telfer School of Management’s Career Centre is the most important opportunity to acquire the skills needed to be able to get your dream job in the management consulting field! Each year, only 12 students get chosen to participate. Through this program you’ll get to work on real cases and get advice from professionals. You will be exposed to industry professionals which gives you a better chance to build your professional network in the field. This can be the highlight of your student experience here at Telfer. If you’re interested, check the website for full details on application deadlines and eligibility. Also, you can contact Caroline Hannah, Senior Relationship Manager at
"The fact that I chose a specialization in Finance can be explained in part by my family culture: almost all of my family works in this field. I also have a passion for numbers, and the Finance program was the ideal choice. When I came to Telfer, I had expectations just from an academic standpoint, but I gained so much more: I worked as a teaching assistant, I was president of a competition and I also did CO-OP internships.
My life at Telfer alternates between classes, internships and group projects. I also love being a teaching assistant because I want to have a positive impact on my fellow students. I make good use of the CO-OP Office’s and the Career Centre’s resources. Apart from these resources, I try to maintain good relationships with professors like Mr. Saadi with whom I worked on a research project, and who later became a mentor for me. However, life at Telfer hasn’t been without its share of less pleasant experiences. I encountered several problems in my group projects, mainly due to personality differences. I am someone who hates procrastination; I prefer to plan my projects in advance, which is not the case for some people. Still, these are all useful experiences for my future career. My long-term dream is to be a professor and researcher in Finance, and why not, to come back here to teach."
- Aïcha T.
4th-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.
The upcoming week is global entrepreneurship week and is celebrated around the world among all innovators and entrepreneurs. Telfer is taking part in this week by prompting entrepreneurship culture within the University of Ottawa from November 13th to the 19th.
Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Global Entrepreneurship Week:
1. Know the week’s activities:
It’s a good idea to get to know the schedule of the entire week to determine which events will be the most beneficial to you, as there is a lot going on. This will ensure you make it to the events that you would like to attend, without arriving late or completely missing it.
2. Get educated:
Even though, there will be a lot of information coming your way throughout the week from guest speakers to workshops, you should most definitely do some research before going to the events. I suggest you do some research to learn the background history about the guest speakers, learn about the different start-ups, and the events that will be held throughout the week. This will ensure that you go in prepared and will allow you to know what questions to ask, making the events more beneficial to you!
3. Be prepared to network:
With any networking events, you need to be prepared to network! One tip to use when networking is to learn to listen. The speakers are there to share their experiences and give you tips to help you become future entrepreneurs, so be ready to be all ears. One of the events that will be held during the week that will allow you to put your networking skills to the test is the Startup Career Fair taking place on Tuesday, November 14th. This event will consist of many start-ups within Ottawa and give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with what options are available for you.
With these tips and tricks, you are all now ready to make the most out of the upcoming week!
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!