Nick Usher Jones is a third-year commerce student completing his marketing major. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Nick chose to attend Dalhousie because of Halifax’s location and desirable co-op program. “I chose the Dalhousie Commerce program because I think Halifax is a wonderful place to live, and it is a great change of scenery from Toronto,” he said, “I was very fascinated with Dalhousie’s Commerce program because of their co-op. I knew that the co-op program would allow me to make connections in the business world and gain quality work experience. Business is also something that I am very fascinated by, and Dalhousie is known to have a terrific Commerce Program.” he added.
Nick’s first co-op was at BMW in Toronto, Ontario, as a Junior Accounting Clerk. This job gave him the experiences he needed to develop his time management skills and become more detail oriented. “It was difficult at first, but my supervisor and co-workers helped me get there. The balance of time-management and attention to detail that I learned to apply to my work is a powerful tool that I will use for my future career.”
Nick sought the help of Management Career Services for coaching and to ensure that his resume looked appealing to the employer. This assistance allowed him to have a completely customized application that is crucial for securing any co-op position. He found a position he was interested in at Digital Nova Scotia and at the advice of his Career and Recruitment Specialist, Jonathan Perry, Nick got creative.
“Jonathan gave me the advice to connect with students who have had the same position that I was interested in. Through LinkedIn, I found the student who was working for Digital Nova Scotia this summer. I asked Jonathan to put me in touch with the student to learn more about Digital Nova Scotia and the position. The student gave me great information, which made me more interested in the job,” he said. Nick secured the position as a project coordinator at Digital Nova Scotia. He is looking forward to having the opportunity to apply his written and verbal communication skills. “In my last position as a Junior Accounting Clerk, I didn’t get the opportunity to do many interpersonal tasks,” he added.
Nick is hoping that this position will allow him to expand his network and connect with other Nova Scotia-based businesses. Like many other students, Nick is working remotely. “So far, working from home has been off to a great start. I have already built relationships with my co-workers, and I am looking forward to the rest of my co-op term!”.
Nick found that his approach allowed him to have a great connection within the company. He mentioned the importance of having a significant online presence, including on LinkedIn. He noted that an online presence could increase your chance of securing interviews and being more successful in your co-op search. Nick also added, “LinkedIn gives co-op students an advantage to secure interviews for placements. I find this because you are giving the employer more information by having a profile, and you can connect with future employers and co-workers. This effort also helped me stay motivated to keep searching for placements during a challenging time.”
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