Elliot Smith grew up in Sable River, Nova Scotia, and attended school in nearby Lockeport, where classes had only 10 to 15 students. Now in his third year of the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program, he came to Dal without a set career path, just a strong interest in math. Everything clicked for them during a second-semester introductory accounting class with Professor Jenny Zhang. “I knew accounting was where I wanted to be,” Elliot says. A brief period of doubt after a co-op term in another industry didn’t last long, thanks to Professor Zhang. “When I returned to classes, it rekindled what I had originally felt when choosing accounting and reaffirmed my choice of my major.” He also picked up a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies by just how much the classes had to offer.

Elliot has completed two co-op terms so far, and each one taught them something different. As a Tax Intern at HBA Chartered Professional Accountants in winter 2025, he prepared personal tax returns and assisted with audits. As an Administrative Intern at Rayleigh Solar Tech Inc. last fall, his responsibilities included everything from event planning to building a brand-new safety manual from the ground up. “When I was first asked to work on safety things for Rayleigh, I knew very little about safety in the workplace, but the team there was helpful and was always open to answering questions I had to help me work through it.”

Eager to grow his network, Elliot jumped at the chance to take part in the 2026 Calgary Corporate Tour hosted by MCS, hoping to push past his nervousness around networking and explore whether Calgary could be a future home base. The alumni networking event during the tour opened his eyes to just how far an accounting degree could take him. “I was able to learn about energy companies that may also have a place for accountants and that banks also have room for accountants.” He credits Management Career Services for making the experience worthwhile. “I truly feel MCS goes out of its way to lift students up and give them the best opportunities they can.”

Elliot’s co-op journey has brought them into smaller companies rather than large corporations, a choice that has led to some genuinely rewarding co-op experiences. Throughout every job search, Management Career Services has been a constant source of support, especially through regular check-ins with Career and Recruitment Specialist Tiffany MacDonald. “There is nobody I have been more grateful for throughout my Dalhousie journey,” he says. With the help of resume reviews and interview prep, MCS and Tiffany have helped him navigate personal challenges that he doesn’t have to dull himself for the sake of landing a job. Looking back, he’s grateful he took that first step of asking for help. “I really would have missed out on a lot of things that have been integral to my university and co-op experience.”

This summer, Elliot is completing his final co-op as an Accounting and HR Coordinator at Rank Group, where he’s gained hands-on experience across both HR and accounting in the furniture and commercial property departments. “It has been extremely helpful for me to gain this experience and use it to determine what I enjoy most when looking for my future job,” he says.

Reflecting on all three work terms, Elliot feels he’s found something valuable in every role, giving him a clearer sense of what he wants in his career. After finishing his Bachelor of Commerce Co-op degree, they plan to pursue a Master of Professional Accounting, working toward the CPA designation. In the future he hopes to land a role that blends accounting with administrative and HR responsibilities.