Career Blog
Q: How has getting involved on campus enhanced your experience at Telfer?
A: “Honestly, I wish I had done this earlier! I had met so many people and made so many valuable connections. I have built trust and relationships with the club members. I was able to apply everything I have learned in my courses directly to my positions at Telfer clubs which enhanced my learning experience.”
Q: Why did you choose to study at Telfer?
A: “I saw the CO-OP program and the number of student clubs. The CO-OP program is amazing, especially for finance students. Although it is competitive, there are so many opportunities. I know so many people who have gone to Telfer and have told me about their experiences. The resources. There are so many, such as the Telfer Career Centre and the Academic Writing Centre. Everything that everyone told me about Telfer is true and I feel so happy with my choice.”
Q: If you could describe Telfer in one word, what would it be?
A: “Valuable. Because everything at Telfer is so valuable. The people, the courses, the programs. Everything at Telfer adds to your student experience. Over these past three years I have grown so much because of everything offered in Telfer.”
– Natalie Abo Setta, 3rd-year Finance student, Vice-President Marketing, Telfer International, Marketing Generalist, Telfer Human Resources Association
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.
Before entering my first CO-OP placement, I did not know what to expect. (I tend to freak-out over the unknown.) I imagined myself being overwhelmed with all the tasks and projects that I would be entrusted with. This fear was due in part to the fact that I had never experienced office work before. Having only worked in restaurants and retail stores, I did not feel prepared despite having attended all the necessary workshops and even a few 1-on-1 meetings with the CO‑OP staff.
Living – and fearing – the dream
I was very nervous partly because my first placement was at a very famous organization that I have known since I was very little: the House of Commons of Canada, on Parliament Hill. My whole life I had admired that building. Being from Ottawa, I’ve had the opportunity to go there for field trips, bike rides, and even New Year’s Eve. Getting to work on Parliament Hill was almost a dream come true. However, this made me more anxious, because I knew the standards would be high. I was not sure if I would be able to meet my employer’s expectations or if I would even fit in.
Seeking out support
On the first day, I felt excitement as I walked into this new setting, and I met my employer for the first time since our interview. She was very gracious and showed me around the different buildings. I had a lot of fun and many of my fears started to disappear. However, as work started to come my way, I became completely lost: I did not have a clue. Fortunately, my co-workers were there to help me: step‑by‑step, I started to learn more and more, and after a couple of weeks, I could do everything on my own. I felt silly for being so scared, as I realized that there was nothing to be scared about. At all. Turns out, I was well prepared for my placement, and my colleagues were there to support me along the way.
Taking advantage of the experience… and make connexions
Like for most things, I was scared for no real reason. I had so much fun over the course of my COOP term. There was a great balance between my capabilities and what my employer asked of me. The people I worked with were amazing and introduced me to so many interesting new concepts and ways of thinking. I met so many nice people that I’ve stayed in contact with long after my term has ended. I believe that this was easily the best part of my university experience thus far and I am very excited about my future CO-OP terms.
“For me, choosing Telfer was an easy decision. After attending some of the info sessions offered by the University, I was able to gain valuable information on the CO-OP program. This program will provide me with the opportunity to meet and engage with potential employers, which will be very beneficial, especially when I enter the workforce. This was one of the many reasons that I chose Telfer, and I think it is one of the reasons that you should too.”
- Ryan
First Year Finance Student