Career Blog
“Here’s a peek at my journey at Telfer:
What I’ve learned...
Through various courses and extracurricular activities, I gained leadership and communication skills. As the President of the Telfer Competitions Committee (TCCT), I currently manage an amazing executive team of 20 students who are in turn responsible for over a hundred Telfer students. As a business student, I hope to someday be in a senior management position. I believe that my experiences at Telfer will help set me succeed in such a role.
How it’s going...
It’s hard to juggle 4 courses, 30 hours of work a week and a time-consuming position like TCCT president. After realizing I had too many things to remember, I decided to create a calendar with all my tasks and events and made sure to set multiple reminders. I also find it very important to take personal time and spend time doing nothing. If it was not for those frequent little breaks, I am pretty sure I would have burned myself out.
What I’m grateful for...
I’m very lucky that I decided to get involved from my first year so I don’t have too many regrets. Case competitions such as Jeux du Commerce (JDC) and Happening Marketing (HM) have been the highlights of my time here and have been some of the best experiences of my life.
For that reason, my biggest recommendation for any Telfer students would be to get involved and make the most of the opportunities available to you. Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.”
– Elias Azzi, 4th-year MISA (Management Information Systems and Analytics)
and President, Telfer Competitions Committee (TCCT)
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.
“I’ve always been inspired by several women in my life and others who have left their mark on History or became famous in the media. These include, among others, my mother and my aunts, independent ladies who work in male-dominated fields. I think also of Serena Williams, whom I admire for her exceptional athletic performances. I also think of Jane Austen, an English author who lived in the 18th century and wrote compelling, feminist texts.
When I look at those women, their lives and their journeys, I am filled with the desire to meet new challenges. I too wish to become one of those inspiring women who have shaped History. It is this dream that has led me to choose the Telfer School of Management, one of the top schools in its field. I believe that the values taught at Telfer (leadership, excellence, and integrity) will help me reach that goal.
To conclude, if I had one advice for other humans of Telfer, it would be this: dream big and work hard to make your dreams come true. It is our duty, as women and men, to transform the opportunities offered to us into successes, whatever our dram career may be, and to become models for future generations.”
– Noémie Ipou, 4th‑year Marketing
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.
“My favourite aspect of Telfer is the emphasis on student involvement in clubs and organizations. Getting involved in clubs such as WMN and AIESEC in Ottawa have been the highlight of my Telfer experience. Through them, I was not only able to meet some amazing people, but also develop myself personally and professionally. One of my proudest moments here was the development of Words with WMN, the first podcast from a Telfer Club. It gave me a creative platform to engage with new people and start some impactful conversations.
My ideal career would be in technology consulting. I realized this is the career path for me by attending various networking events, getting involved in campus clubs and joining the Profession of Management Consulting Program (PMCP). This allowed me to discover my strengths and weaknesses, something I may not have been able to grasp simply through classes. All my experiences at Telfer have gotten me to this very moment, and now I am looking forward to graduating in Winter 2021!”
– Wiam Ben Karroum, 5th-year BTM and Finance
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.
“One of the most rewarding moments during my Telfer experience was in my 3rd year, when my team won first place in the marketing case competition at Jeux du Commerce, a large business competition between many different universities.
Case competitions are always a chance to have a lot of fun and use my creative skills, but the reason that this moment was so rewarding was that I had competed in the same competition in my 2nd year, and despite our hard work, we did not do very well. This setback pushed me to work harder and prepare stronger for the next competition, knowing that I needed to develop my problem-solving and adaptability skills. I am now a stronger teammate, leader and problem-solver because of this experience and the many other competitions I have competed in!”
– Fiona Doomasia
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.
“Hello. My name is Sophia Chouinard, and I am a Co-op marketing student. I am now in my 4th year, and so far, I have had an amazing experience at Telfer. What I like most about Telfer is meeting new, like‑minded people. I have met all my close friends through my classes, and they have truly enhanced my university experience. My ideal job would be within the marketing field, either in event planning or content creation. Ideally, I would like to work in an organization that aligns with my values of corporate sustainability and sustainable living.
The happiest moment of my life while at Telfer was at Telfer Connects in 2019, where I was able to speak to my current employer. All the preparation done through the Telfer Career Centre taught me how to demonstrate my skills and knowledge and make amazing connections, which came in handy during the networking event. Finally, the biggest challenge I have faced so far at Telfer has been coming out of my shell. It has been difficult for me, but it has allowed me to really make the most of my time at uOttawa. Studying at Telfer has pushed me to expand my comfort zone and develop my skills with tangible benefits.”
– Sophia Chouniard, 4th-year marketing 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.
“Initially, what attracted me to this region was the accounting program at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. I ended up choosing the Telfer School of Management instead due to its national recognition. I have the feeling of having a unique identity at uOttawa, and the access to French is also a huge benefit, in my opinion. Ma greatest source of inspiration is Michael Jordan. I admire him for his perseverance and drive to succeed, in business as in basketball.
I have always had an affinity for mathematics, so I knew that accounting was a good option for me to expand my skills. I am very methodical and highly disciplined, and I think that Accounting allows me to use those qualities to my advantage.”
– Amour Assoume Mendene, 3rd-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.
“The greatest thing Telfer helped me realize is that there are always ways to make connections and to create opportunities for yourself.
You are more than capable in turning small, seemingly meaningless interactions or experiences into tangible, career opportunities.
Finding a job never really ends, ultimately everything you do- from the LinkedIn invite to a recruiter, to frequently attending professor offices hours, or introducing yourself to a stranger in a class— broadens your network.
You never know who could end up referring you to a job, introduce you to a hiring manager, or even hire you for your first co-op placement!”
– Helen Wang, 3rd-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.
“Hello. My name is Samuel Lainez, and I am a 2nd-year Finance student at the Telfer School of Management. I am also in French immersion.
The best thing about Telfer is that it offers so many opportunities for students to grow professionally and personally. No matter what specialization you are in, Telfer has a club or subsidiary organization that can appeal to anyone.
I am a Director of Finance for the Telfer Student Council (CéTSC). This opportunity has helped me expand my knowledge of the finance industry and professional workplaces.
Through Telfer I have been able to make many long-term friendships and strong networks that I could never have imagined.”
– Samuel Lainez – 2nd year Finance student
Director of Finance for the Telfer Student Council (CéTSC)
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.
“Joining the uOttawa volleyball team as a Finance student at the Telfer School of Management was made possible through the different programs and services offered by the University, such as: the Peer Mentoring Program, the Student Academic Success Service (SASS), and, obviously, my 3rd‑ and 4th‑year volleyball teammates. From my very first year, they provided me with books and advice to facilitate my integration at Telfer. By going through the Co-op process, I received useful advice. If I had one piece of advice for students who are going through this process for the first time, it would be this: fewer jobs will be available due to the COVID-19 pandemic: be proactive.
Being a Finance student, I always wanted to experience real-life financial situations and the financial market, learn how to make better pitches and, finally, being able to graduate from the Telfer School of Management with some useful knowledge and experience. After looking at what was offered by the School, my classmate and I realize that the Capital Market Program was limited in terms of investment opportunities. Therefore, I was asked to be a member of the Investment Club created by my finance classmates. Within this club, we get to meet every Tuesday, pitch companies, and decide together whether we want to invest in a company or not.
I encourage every student who wants to learn about the investment club and what it can offer to join us every Tuesday during our weekly public meeting. Check out our Facebook page: TFS Investment Group.”
– Mathew Gaerke, 4th‑year Finance
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.
“Telfer has given me the competitive advantage to thrive inside the classroom as well as in my daily work life. My favourite memories at Telfer so far would be Mad Marketing, hosted by the Telfer Marketing Association (TMA), and 101 Week, hosted by the Telfer Student Council. I met many amazing employers and made meaningful connections. I was able to promote myself and learn how to network effectively. 101 Week is how I met the majority of my friends. A year later, I still appreciate the fact that I still connect with all of them (virtually, of course).”
– 2nd‑year Public Policy and Economics,
VP External Affairs, TMA
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.