Career Blog
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Q. Why did you choose Telfer?
A. I chose Telfer for its great accounting program and its CO-OP option. The accounting courses help prepare students who are pursuing a CPA designation. This was perfect for me because I would like to achieve this designation in the future. Also, I wanted to gain valuable work experience during university, and the CO-OP program has allowed me to do that. I have completed my first 4-month CO-OP term, and it exceeded all my expectations! My placement gave me a real preview of my future career and confirmed that accounting was the right career path for me.
Q. How did you decide what career you would like?
A. Before deciding to pursue a career in accounting, I wanted to become a teacher. However, that changed in high school when I took my first accounting class. I had always enjoyed math and working with numbers, so I decided to try it out in grade 11. I ended up liking it. I had great teachers in high school who showed me what a career in accounting could look like and taught me about the CPA designation. That really helped me make my initial decision to pursue a career in accounting.
Q. What is your favourite Telfer memory?
A. Last fall, I had the opportunity to perform in the CASCO virtual gala as a dancer. It was a very fun and rewarding experience to do something that I love while helping raise money for the kids at CHEO. Participating in the CASCO gala has surely been one of the highlights of my time at Telfer so far.
– Mary Warren
4th-year Accounting student and dancer, CASCO Gala
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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So you want to get a job but don’t know where to start? Well, the first step is simple. You just have to make a résumé! Now, tossing all of your skills and experience onto a document is easy, but nicely formatting everything is the real challenge. Here are some general tips to make the process easier.
- Keep it short and succinct. If you have less than 5 years of experience, your résumé could very well fit on one page. Write in bullet points with size 11 or 12 font in Arial or Times New Roman. The margins should be set to a minimum of 0.5 inches.
- Keep it formal. Do not use personal pronouns. When discussing previous positions, use the past tense. When describing your current position, use the present tense. Use bold, italics, and underlining formatting to nicely organize everything.
- Keep the content relevant. Refrain from using jargon and obscure acronyms. Hiring managers should understand what you are referring to. Focus on your skills and past experiences that are most relevant with regard to the posting. Don’t hesitate to elaborate on your accomplishments!
- PROOFREAD YOURSELF AND GET SOME PEERS TO EDIT YOU. No matter how well you did in your English class or how much time you spent working on your résumé, make sure to proofread it! Get a friend to peer edit it as well because they might see something that you missed. There is no shame in asking for help. It is better to be safe than sorry!
Are you wondering how I know so much about formatting résumés?
I simply researched during my spare time and I attended Telfer’s Rock Your Résumés event! If you were not able to attend, don’t fret!
Here is, in essence, what the experts I have met had to say.
- Create your own personal “letterhead” and use this for your cover letter as well. Include your name, phone number, and email address. Make sure your email address and voicemail message are professional. If you are still using something like chocolatepanda(...)@hotmail.com as your email address, make a new one that includes your first and last name.
- If you have a high GPA (over 7.0), feel free to list it. You may also list any awards and scholarships you have received in the past.
- Avoid acronyms. Human resources managers will not know what everything stands for, so make their job easier and write it all out. Avoid clichés and generic statements. Try to set yourself apart from others by making your resumé unique to yourself.
Many recruiters glance at a resumé for around 6 seconds. Only if it is eye-catching will they decide to read through it. Therefore, I suggest putting your best effort forward.
Always remember, first impressions matter!
Be sure to check out Career Launch for more events that will help you achieve your dream job!
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Meredith Silverman is a 4th-year accounting student at Telfer as well as a returning Career Centre Ambassador. In her Humans of Telfer interview, she shares her experiences as both an Ambassador and a CO-OP student.
Q. What is your favourite Telfer memory?
A. My favourite Telfer memory have been working as a Career Centre Ambassador. I enjoy writing various career blogs because I learn something new every time while helping students with their own career journey. The Humans of Telferseries also remains a highlight each term, as I love hearing different experiences from every Telfer student I interview.
Q. Why did you decide to participate in CO-OP and how has it impacted your academic goals/career goals?
A. I decided to participate in the CO-OP program because it is a great way to get relevant work experience. Regardless of your specialty at Telfer or at any other faculty, the best way to learn is by putting theory into practice. I highly recommend this option to every student. The program has allowed me to land multiple positions at a public accounting firm in both tax and assurance, which enabled me to apply the foundational accounting theories I have learned through Telfer courses while continuing to expand my knowledge.
Q. What are your plans postgrad?
A. Postgrad, I am looking forward to using all the knowledge that I have acquired during my time at Telfer towards obtaining my CPA designation. Every course at Telfer that I have taken and will be taking in my final year will have contributed to this journey. The CPA designation will allow me to practice as a Chartered Professional Accountant either for a public accounting firm or the government.
– Meredith Silverman
4th-year Accounting student and 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.
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Are you confused about what to write in that little box called “Summary” (the About section) on your LinkedIn profile?
Well recently, I was too. However, after attending several Telfer events and doing some research in my spare time, I was able to fill that little box and finally complete my LinkedIn profile. I know it is easy to skip the summary, but it is one of the easiest things you can do. Most importantly, it significantly improves people’s first impression of you.
With the summary, you get the chance to introduce yourself in your own words and better display your personality. Readers will believe whatever you write! Now, this does NOT mean that you should lie...
Here are a few tips which can help you write an impactful summary!
- Your summary should be unique! Do not copy your friend’s or family member’s summaries. Mention some unique traits that set you apart from others, as well as some of your strongest skills.
- Talk about your goals and career aspirations! Employers are looking for individuals who have goals, who are striving towards something. Setting goals provides you with both long-term and short-term motivation, and aids in the further development of time management and organizational skills.
- Add in a short description of your experience and current role! Talk about what you excel at and back it up with some of your past accomplishments. This lets employers know if you would be a good fit and/or are qualified for the job.
- Keep your summary short and sweet! Hiring managers do not have the time – or the patience – to read long paragraphs for each person. Only add key details that will make you stand out. When you get the interview, you can further elaborate!
- Lastly, have a call to action! Tell them what you want them to do and how they can get in touch with you.
With everything happening virtually these days, your LinkedIn profile might very well be the first thing HR managers and hiring recruiters will see when looking for candidates online. Therefore, your summary can be a determining factor in your job search.
Trust me: put some time and effort into it, because I promise, it will be worth it!
Need to talk to an expert? Book a Writing a Compelling LinkedIn Summary appointment with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch.
Resources:
20 Superb LinkedIn Summary Examples (+Writing Guide)
13 Creative LinkedIn Summary Examples & How to Write Your Own
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“One word that I would use to describe Telfer is family. I love that the Telfer community is one big, happy family that supports you no matter what. Whether you’re celebrating a new job offer or crying over an unbalanced balance sheet in financial accounting (trust me, we’ve all been there!), you can always count on the Telfer community to have your back!
My most memorable moment at Telfer so far has been joining CASCO (shoutout to the CASCO fam ♡)! Being able to work with such hard-working students who come together to give back to the community has been truly inspiring these past two years. The CASCO community helped me find growth and confidence in myself, which allowed me to even go on to be this year’s president!
If I could go back and advise my 1st-year self, I would tell her to GET INVOLVED! As cliché as it sounds, it is through Telfer clubs, case competitions, and so much more, that I was able to meet some of my very best friends. Not only did I meet the loveliest people, but I was also able to gain valuable work experience and grow my professional network!
All in all, these past 3 years at Telfer have been quite the ride! I’ve met amazing people and made amazing memories, and I can’t wait to see what my last year here holds. Whether we’ve interacted directly, or if we just walked by each other in the halls of DMS, thank you for being part of my Telfer journey!”
– Patricia Felthman
4th-year Accounting student and President, CASCO
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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For some of you, it may have been a little while since you have updated your resumé. Now that the fall term has begun, what better way to prepare for your job search than to add all the current, relevant information on your resumé. With many Career Centre employer events coming up, make sure your resumé is ready for potential opportunities by following these few simple steps.
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Include your most recent experiences
This past summer, some of you may have held an internship, a summer job, completed a CO-OP term, learned a new skill, completed a certification, gained a new interest, volunteered, etc. This is all valuable information to add to your resumé. When adding your newest experiences to your resumé, filter through the older information that perhaps is no longer relevant.
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Use keywords from the posting
With the rise in use of applicant tracking systems (ATS) by employers, many qualified candidates are not receiving the job interviews that they deserve. Although your experience and skills make you a great fit for a position, recruiters may never get to see it due to ATS not being able to capture certain keywords on your resumé. Therefore, make sure to edit your resumé based on the posting and include the keywords mentioned in the qualifications section.
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Include action verbs
When drafting a description for roles you have held, certain guidelines apply. Every skill statement (bullet point) should start with powerful, past-tense action verbs. You want to suggest that you led a project ? Start with verbs such as “coordinated”, “planned”, or “oversaw”. You want to highlight something you accomplished in your role? Use verbs like “achieved”, “generated”, or “maximized”. There are many informative articles online that can help you find the best action verbs to impress recruiters.
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Add measurable achievements
When adding new information, make sure to include measurable results. What does this mean? To highlight your customer service skills, instead of mentioning that you “answered all customer inquiries in a timely manner”, mention that you “responded to a high volume of customer inquiries within a 24 hour period, providing each customer with appropriate advice and solutions”. Quantifying your responsibilities will allow prospective recruiters to better understand what you can bring to the table.
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Edit the content (peer review committee, resumé critique at the Career Centre, etc.)
With every update/change comes proofreading. After reading over your resumé, have a few of your friends read it over to make sure that you did not miss any spelling mistakes, formatting errors, etc. If you think your resumé is all up to date, book a Resumé Critique appointment with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Career Centre through Career Launch.
REMINDER: A resumé is a working document. You can always brainstorm ways to improve it by updating any relevant information.
Good luck with your fall resumé update!
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Q. Why did you choose Telfer?
A. I chose Telfer because of its variety of specialized programs and its collaboration with other faculties. I am currently enrolled in my second year of the BCom/J.D. program, which allows me to study at both the Telfer School of Management and the Faculty of Law. Thanks to this specialized program, I can complete an undergraduate degree in both commerce and law. There aren’t many schools in Canada that offer this opportunity directly out of high school, which is the main reason why I chose Telfer.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
A. The biggest challenge that I faced last year was studying in French. I am an anglophone and I have been in French immersion my whole life. However, I still find it quite difficult to take university-level courses in my second language. I struggled to take my tests in French, fully understand my professors, and communicate with my peers. Although this was my biggest challenge, I also consider it my biggest accomplishment. In retrospect, I can confidently say that putting myself in this situation a year ago has allowed me to further develop my communication skills in French, making me a better speaker.
Q. What would be your ideal job?
A. Ideally, I would like to become a corporate lawyer. I appreciate and love every aspect of business, including finance and management. I believe that a strong business background and leadership skills are key assets for corporate lawyers. In addition to being a lucrative profession, corporate law touches various industries, such as insurance, retail, and the public sector.
– Karishma Kanagarajah
2nd-year BCom and J.D. student and VP Marketing, DECA uOttawa
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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Ideally, as Telfer students, we would all like to gain at least one relevant work experience before we graduate to know if our option is really for us. Unfortunately, not all of us have access to Co-op. Fortunately, Telfer has a brilliant solution: the Connexions Program.
Connexions is a voluntary internship program that bridges the gap between university life and the workplace. With the support of your team at the Telfer Career Centre, you will easily find an internship related to your option.
Here are three reasons why the Connexions Program is absolutely worth the trip and can positively transform your academic path.
Reason #1: It gives you work experience
Connexions gives you the opportunity to do a volunteer (i.e., unpaid) internship related to your option (management, finance, marketing, etc.) This internship is a great opportunity for you to network and learn about the pros and cons of your chosen industry. In addition, it allows you to receive a Co-curricular Record, which is very well received by employers.
Reason #2: It fits your academic career
Unlike Co-op, the Connexions Program allows you to complete your program of study on time. The 7 hours (minimum) that you dedicate each week to your internship allow a full course load.
Reason #3: It gives you university credits (ADM4904/ADM4905)
You can complete up to two Connexions internships during your academic career, and each internship is equivalent to a three-credit ADM 4000-level course. YES! You read that right: Connexions gives you the opportunity to trade assignments, group projects and exams for valuable work experience, new skills, and professional contacts.
Now that you have an overview of the program, what are you waiting for? For more information on Connexions, contact the Career Engagement Coordinator, Gaëlle Faye, at
Source: https://bit.ly/3ldaP1v
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Q. What do you like most about Telfer?
A. I like how Telfer feels like a community. Everyone at Telfer is very kind and helpful to one another. Telfer also has a calm working environment which helps while working/studying.
Q. What would be your ideal job?
A. I actually have two ideal jobs (I will be happy with either)…
1. Partner at a public accounting firm
2. Director for the government (ex. CRA)
Q. Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life?
A. My parents are my biggest inspiration. Seeing them work hard my whole life (English is not their first language) has pushed me to do the same.
– Maneesha Rakhra,
4th-year accounting student and member, Telfer Accounting Club
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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How many of us receive Telfer communications without taking the trouble to read them? How many of us hear of networking events, but hesitate to sign up? How many of us are unaware that Telfer has a Career Centre that guides students and recent graduates on the job market? About a year ago, I was one of those students. It is thanks to my two internships at the Career Centre that I have come to understand the value of this service for Telfer students.
An unexpected opportunity
Not so long ago, I did not know anything about the Telfer Career Centre. Everything changed when the Co-operative Education Programs team invited me to apply for an internship at the Career Centre. I was about to give up the idea of finding a third co-op placement in the middle of a pandemic. That is how I became a Project Officer at the Telfer School of Management Career Centre!
A close-knit team
As soon as I started, I knew that my internship would be a rich learning experience and that I was now part of a cohesive team (or family, more like) comprised of nine ambitious and dedicated women. Their motto? To strive by collaborating. Their no. 1 goal? To continue to provide Telfer students with high quality services, not matter what, in a virtual environment.
Unrelenting efforts
Did you know that all those workshops, events and appointments offered by the Career Centre rest on complex logistics, hard work and a constant quest for excellence. An event such as Telfer Networks and the virtual alumni panel require weeks of brainstorming among colleagues and back-and-forth with employers and panellists. Having participated in such projects remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my years at Telfer.
More than a job: a mission
I remember what one of my colleagues, Véronique Bélinge, said to me at one of our weekly team meetings: “When I coach students in their job search and that they finally land an opportunity , I feel a great sense of personal satisfaction. The professional success of our students is our raison d’être.” I understood then that I was surrounded by professionals that are deeply passionate about what they do.
More than an internship: a transformative experience
I want to use these lines to pay tribute to all the members of the team. On behalf of Telfer students, thank you for your efforts and hard work. Thanks to you, I had an unparalleled experience filled with accomplishments. And even in a virtual environment, I received a warm welcome and quickly developed a feeling of belonging. I also want to say a very big, special thank you to Karianne Lessard, who guided me and supported me through my time at the Career Centre and who was always there for me.
