Career Blog
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.
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.
THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.
“...Studying at Telfer has pushed me to take advantage of unique opportunities that would otherwise not have been made available to me...”
“One of the things I love most about Telfer is the diversity of people that make up our student body. I have made so many close friends from other countries and learned so much about other cultures!
I chose Telfer because of the possibility to pursue my studies in French and after having heard great things of their experienced professors. I believe that studying in French is especially important in a country where it is an official language; this will open up more opportunities for me when I join the workforce.
I am especially looking forward to beginning my first Co-op term this summer and further specializing into my program these next two years. In the future, I would like to start my own company and use all the experiences and knowledge I have gained during my years at Telfer. Studying at Telfer has truly pushed me to take advantage of unique opportunities that would otherwise not have been made available to me and I am very happy to have chosen this school.”
– Zineerah Sheikh, 2nd-year Business Technology Management (Co-op)
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 gives me a unique opportunity to further my studies in French and English and to participate in a mobility Co‑op placement. Thanks to the professional connections I have made and to my ability to communicate in both French and English, I had the chance to travel in Canada during my Co-op placement. I recommend that you participate in the career fairs, if only to practice: you’ll be using those communication skills every day in school and at work. Don’t wait for that “once in a lifetime” interview to try networking!”
– Lauren Saly,
3rd‑year accounting student (Co-op)
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 interview question we all dread: Tell me about yourself? Job interviews are often nerve-wracking, especially as a CO-OP student hoping to stand out. During this round of CO-OP interviews, I decided to ask employers what made students memorable, and the underlying theme was personality.
One employer stated, “grades are necessary to establish competence, but we are looking for a connection. That sometimes means focusing not only on grades, but also on extracurricular and character-building activities.” Easier said than done, right? In addition, I have often found myself trying to show that I am the perfect candidate for the job and forgetting that it is also the other way around; interviews are an opportunity to find out if I want to work for them.
Below, I have compiled a list of tips to help you loosen up to be yourself.
Listen to the question and answer without a rehearsed script.
Let’s start off with how we answer questions. According to several employers, students often miss answering the question because they are too focused on reciting a script they memorized. Instead, listen attentively to exactly what the interviewer is asking (jot it down if you can). Take a moment to formulate a concrete answer with a relevant example. It is suggested to have a list of various professional stories in your pocket. Doing so will provide you with flexibility to answer questions candidly.
Throw in relevant personal anecdotes when you can.
Gathering your thoughts to prepare a response may trigger a related memory. For instance, you may recall how during your trip to France you only spoke French. Feel free to toss it into your conversation. Not only will it highlight your bilingualism, but it may spark a conversation which reveals your interests. However, don’t forget to return to your interview if you and your employer ramble on about France. Use your time wisely to build a memorable connection with the employer.
Research the company.
To demonstrate your passion for the job, research the company. Subtly demonstrate how your values match the company’s and how you can add to their vision or goals. Of course, if it doesn’t come up naturally don’t force it! However, if the employer mentions a company initiative that you have read about online, jump in with: “Oh, when I was researching your departmental plans, I read a little on that project. Would you be able to tell me more?” Small additions to the conversation show the employer that you are interested. It ultimately demonstrates your desire to be a part of the team!
Remember, interviewers are just people. Who are trying to find a candidate whose personality and ability will add to the team. Toss the idea of trying to be what they are looking for, and instead be genuine. Either way, your true personality will surface; better that happen during the interview and not the first day on the job.
Happy job hunting!
There is more to University of Ottawa CO-OP than just gaining work experience for your CV. From my personal experience, after completing 4 work terms, here are some reasons why I’d recommend CO-OP to all my peers:
1) Confidence
Working in a professional setting before graduation, not only helps you to gain important transferable skills, but also to gain confidence in those abilities and skills. As a CO-OP student, you are in a unique position to be able to learn many different things without all of the pressures of a full-time permanent employee.
2) Interview Skills
Very often when applying to CO-OP jobs you will receive multiple interviews. You will get used to answering routine questions, receive feedback and perfect your first impression skills. From my personal experience, I learned to ask better questions of the employers to figure out if it’s a good fit for me, not only the employer.
3) Learning about companies
As a by-product of doing many interviews, you get the opportunity to ask questions and learn a lot about what companies do, their culture and whether or not it would be a good fit for a CO-OP position or full-time. Then you will be able to develop some interest in some companies and find opportunities to network and learn more throughout your university experience!
Lindsay Armstrong
4th Year |
I have been reflecting on my first work term as part of the CO-OP program. I have learned SO MUCH in my second year of university, it’s crazy. This summer especially has been a continuous path of learning and I am going to tell you all about it here.
The Beginning
When the process of finding my placement began in the winter, I had no idea if I wanted to work at my current place of employment full-time in the summer or go through the selection process and find a different job. It was a pretty stressful time because I literally thought, “This decision will define the next year of my life!” Which is drastic, but I think we all find ourselves in situations like this sometimes.
The staff at the CO-OP office were understanding of my situation. I still looked through the jobs on the navigator and even interviewed for some. While it was a helpful experience, in the end I decided to stay at my current place of work for the summer. If you found your own placement, that’s great, brownie points to you! This independence means you are capable of finding your own job, which will come in very handy in the future.
The Experience
I started working at seoplus+, an Ottawa-based digital marketing agency, in December and by the time summer rolled around I felt at home and welcomed. In the beginning of the work term I started in my new position - Jr. Digital Marketing Specialist. What does that mean? Well, I was in charge of social media campaigns for multiple different clients, worked on Google My Business listings, and was responsible for uploading blog posts to WordPress websites.
Throughout my placement I was able to hone not only technical skills of digital marketing, but also my ability of working with my team on a daily, full-time basis. Adjusting to a 40-hour week from a regular term of courses at university is not an easy feat, but to me it brought a welcome routine and allowed me to plan out my time better. Don’t get me wrong, I still have to fix my sleep schedule and learn how to properly meal prep.
The End
Overall, this first work term has started off on a bit of a stressful note, but once all the logistics were settled I was happy to find myself going to work every day. What made my CO-OP a memorable experience was exactly that - the fact I wanted to be there. I made an effort to befriend my coworkers, to participate in team lunches and webinars, and to take on new tasks if the opportunity presented itself. Also, in every job there will be elements that you love doing and elements that you do not, and that’s okay! Strive to find something you enjoy and work to implement it more and more into your work day.
Lessons Learned:
- It’s okay to take a non-traditional approach.
- Make sure you are making a decision that will make you happy.
- Consider all alternatives, and their pros and cons to avoid making biased decisions.
- Make an effort while at work, it could make the difference between a temp-job and a career move.
Sonya Gankina
3rd Year Marketing Student |