Meet Stephanie Bigford, a 2013 Bachelor of Commerce graduate currently working for Smuckers in Toronto, where she completed one of her co-op work terms. Stephanie applied for jobs out of province and landed in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), which is a huge industry looking for young talent. Here’s what Stephanie had to say about the job hunt and the industry.

“Finding a job out of province was difficult because it was more challenging to establish a strong connection via phone interview and leave an impression. Skype interviews helped put a name to a face but it’s not the same as interviewing in person. Finding a job this way can take a little more time but is well worth it for the sake of accessing a larger job market and a specific location.

When looking for your next co-op remember that there are a ton of corporations that sell CPG products, all looking for new young talent. It’s important for your resume to stand out when applying. Joining extracurricular activities such as JDCC, sports teams and volunteering will help increase your skill set in addition to what you learn in the classroom, make you stand out from other students applying for the same position, and hopefully get the job!”