Meet Rachel Rovet, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student majoring in Marketing and pursuing a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Rachel chose Dalhousie because of its co-op program. She recognized early on that putting in time and effort to grow her professional network would be beneficial in her co-op job search. One way that Rachel did this was by requesting and conducting informational interviews. “I learned the significance of informational interviews through the Commerce Co-op Orientation course, and made it a practice to continuously connect with professionals throughout my co-op searches.”

While searching for her second co-op, Rachel discovered and applied for the Brand & Marketing Intern position at Interac Corp. “My strong interest in the role prompted me to utilize the Dalhousie Student Alumni portal on LinkedIn, which was recommended to me by the MCS team, to connect with a Dalhousie alumnus working at Interac,” she says. “One of the most invaluable assets I gained from MCS was the opportunity to connect with their network. This allowed me to connect with a Dalhousie alumnus working as the Digital Marketing Specialist at Interac, who was a mutual connection with a member of the MCS team.” Rachel says that the Dal alumnus working at Interac became a crucial contact after she requested an introduction from MCS and then conducted an informational interview.

Rachel recommends that other students consider informational interviews and adopt an approach of genuine curiosity about the other person’s work and experience. “In these conversations, in addition to inquiring about their role and experience as a marketing professional, I delved into the company, the team, and the intern position while gaining additional insight and advice for the interview process. I also always inquire if there are further connections they recommend reaching out to,” says Rachel. “Overall, informational interviews not only helped me gain important insights about the company but also showcased my genuine interest and enthusiasm for the role. Once I secured an interview for the Brand & Marketing Intern position, I had already conducted thorough research on the company, leveraging the personal connection, knowledge, and insights gained from our informational interview to help me stand out during the formal interview process.”

Rachel went on to complete both her second and third co-ops with Interac. Over the course of her time with the organization, she built confidence thanks to her encouraging and supportive team, which led to her actively participating and contributing insights and ideas. She learned that being curious, asking questions, and demonstrating an eagerness to learn were instrumental in excelling in a co-op. “In addition, I learned the importance of networking and building connections. Making an effort to set up coffee chats with new people from my team, other teams, and even agency partners has been valuable and helped me determine what areas of marketing I’m most interested in.”

The impact of her time at Interac on her career journey is evident by the fact that Rachel nominated her supervisor Matt Houghton for the 2022 Dalhousie Top Co-op Employer of the Year Award, which he won in the Financial Services category. “From the first week, the people were incredibly welcoming and inclusive, with almost everyone on the team setting up a one-on-one meeting to get to know me.” She also noted that her supervisor played a critical role in making her feel like a valuable part of their team. “His and the team’s encouragement to take initiative, share my opinions, and actively involve myself in various projects and campaigns made me feel like a truly valued team member.”