Spencer Robertson is a Dalhousie alumnus who graduated from the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program with a major in Finance in 2021. Originally from Whitby, Ontario, he chose Dalhousie because of the mandatory co-op program. “Having the ability to gain tangible work experience while earning my degree was truly a win-win.”

Each of Spencer’s co-ops were completed at RBC, which provided him with the opportunity to learn more about the organization. During his first work term, Spencer’s role was Banking Advisor at RBC’s Advice Centre. He supported clients with a variety of personal banking requests. Throughout the day, he connected with upwards of 60 clients, each with unique situations requiring personalized solutions.

During his second co-op as Project Coordinator under the Technology and Operations department, Spencer supported RBC’s goal of attracting early talent. One of the main initiatives he had the opportunity to work on was the planning and execution of the Halifax Innovation Challenge. “The goal of this hackathon-like event was to build deeper relationships within the academic ecosystem to better attract early talent in Halifax.” For his third and final work term, Spencer again worked within the Technology and Operations division where he worked on holistic strategies enabling RBC to connect with academia across the country. “This role was a great opportunity to continue building RBC’s presence from coast-to-coast.”

Spencer shares that one of the key takeaways from his co-ops was the importance of communication. “Regardless of the role or industry, communication will always be a top priority. Having the ability to successfully convey your ideas will allow for better team collaboration and ultimately helps drive better results for individuals and organizations.” Another piece of advice he has to offer is to always be curious. “Learning more about different teams and areas of the organization is a great way to explore future careers and expand your network.”

Spencer went on to secure the role of Manager of Transformation Enablement within the Enterprise Operations division at RBC after graduation. There, he focuses on partnering with teams across the back-end payment processing side of the bank to identify saving opportunities and create efficiencies. Spencer’s co-op experiences helped him build the skills he needed to succeed in his post-graduate career, which led to him having the confidence to jump into the real work world, ready to make an impact. “From learning to prepare and present key presentations, to drafting an effective email, my co-ops gave me the opportunity to develop these skills in a safe environment.”