Samuel Dundas completed his first year of the Bachelor of Commerce program at Dalhousie in May 2015. Over the summer, he worked as an analyst at a power and utility company in Calgary in order to gain more confidence with analytical roles and excel modelling. As a student with exceptional career focus, Samuel tells his fellow students why he took the initiative to participate in the Halifax Corporate Tour during his first year at Dalhousie.

“Coming to Halifax from across the country, I had not developed a network that spanned this distance. The Halifax Corporate Tour provided me with an opportunity to meet likeminded individuals in various lines of business who provided insight towards several potential career paths that follow a commerce degree.

 This was a starting point to build my network. Halifax may not be the financial capital of Canada, but it is home to many corporate offices of the major banks and professional service firms. When I started reaching out to individuals in bigger cities like Toronto and Calgary, having established a connection with those same firms in Halifax, I was provided with more credibility than someone who had yet to meet anyone in the industry.

You will hear all sorts of advice, but having been a first year student just under a year ago, the best advice I could give is to really push yourself out of your comfort zone. Employers that see young, keen, and passionate students are very inclined to encourage you with your pursuits, and in turn potentially refer you to their connections in the industry. Remember that the employers you meet are normal people with their own passions and interests, and they understand that it’s not easy to approach them with conversation. If you can tap into more than just industry related questions, you will not only build a more lasting impression, but you will relate on more of a personal level. This will build a more contextual atmosphere for both parties, making it much easier to chat with one another.”

When asked if he would recommend the Corporate Tour to other students, Samuel said, “Absolutely, I also highly encourage anyone with questions about this tour to reach out to me at samuel.dundas@dal.ca, I would be more than happy to help where I can.”

Do you want the opportunity to network with employers and get an inside perspective from leading companies? Registration for the Halifax Corporate Tour is open! Apply before 4:30 p.m. on October 9th, 2015!