Cassidy Lawrence is a second-year Commerce Co-op student who is planning to major in International Business. Originally from Ontario, she chose Dalhousie for its Commerce Co-op program, allowing students to gain valuable work experience as well as growing academically. She also wanted to experience living away from home in a smaller city with beautiful scenery, but still be close enough to home to visit.

In her first year, Cassidy made it a priority to join student societies to meet new people and expand her knowledge in areas of interest. She became involved in the Dalhousie Women in Business Association (WIBA), Dalhousie Sports Business Society (DSBS), Rowe Marketing Association, and Dal Chain as a general member. She shares how impactful the mentorship programs were through both WIBA and DSBS. “Joining these societies was one of the best decisions I made in my first year. They allowed me to meet incredible people and open doors I hadn’t anticipated. Through DSBS, I had the chance to develop a relationship with the co-president, Reagan Lindsay-Kereluik, who shared her experiences at Dal and helped me navigate my own interests as well. This connection led to my current role as the External Relations Associate for DSBS,” she says. “My mentor through WIBA organized a ‘day in the life’ where I had the opportunity to go to the company she works for, Deloitte, and take a tour of the building, meet some of her coworkers, and learn what its like to work there.”

Networking has been extremely valuable for Cassidy. She shares how LinkedIn is a crucial tool for discovering job opportunities and connecting with peers and professionals. “By leveraging LinkedIn, you can gain insights into individuals’ roles and experiences at various companies, which can be invaluable for career exploration and growth. Leveraging existing connections and alumni networks can make a huge difference in your job search and career development. At Dal, we’re lucky to have an amazing community of alumni and current employees who are willing to provide guidance of advice.” Cassidy emphasizes that while it can be intimidating, taking that step to reach out and grow your network can lead to access to hidden job opportunities, increased credibility, and mentorship and guidance. She shares that she has applied these insights toward her first co-op search by proactively engaging with her network, expanding her connections through networking, and utilizing alumni and professional platforms.

Looking ahead, Cassidy is excited about the opportunity to apply her academic knowledge in a work setting and to gain hands-on experience during her first co-op this winter. “The chance to work on actual projects at a company and work in a team is a great way to bridge the gap of theory and practice.” She is hoping to dive deep into industry-specific tools and technologies, sharpen her problem-solving and analytical skills, and improve her communication and collaboration abilities by working with colleagues to clarify her long-term professional goals. Overall, she hopes to develop a strong foundation that will help in guiding what she’s looking for in a career.

During her co-op search, Cassidy intends on utilizing the resources provided by Management Career Services (MCS) by actively engaging with the myCareer platform to identify relevant networking events and job postings that align with her interests. She also plans on consulting with her Career and Recruitment Specialist to refine her career goals and take advantage of their resume review and interview practice services. “By leveraging these resources, I aim to enhance my application materials and prepare thoroughly for interviews, ensuring a successful co-op search.”