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Category: Events

Faculty of Management students gain networking skills at event for women professionals

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In October, Management Career Services supported four Faculty of Management students to attend Happy Hour Club at the CO+ Space in Dartmouth. Happy Hour Club is a series of events for professionals and students who identify as women, giving them the opportunity to meet and develop their professional networking skills.

Happy Hour Club was founded in 2018 in Fredericton, New Brunswick by Dalhousie alumna Courtney Wilson (BMgmt 2010). Events expanded within New Brunswick in 2019, and this year, expanded again to include Halifax and Charlottetown. The events, which happen in the spring and fall, welcome women from every industry, sector, profession, and phase of life.

“I grew up in Cole Harbour, then went to Dalhousie, then had a wonderful career in Halifax spanning not-for-profit, private sector, and public sector work. In 2017, I moved to Fredericton with my now husband,” says Courtney. “I started Happy Hour Club because I wanted to develop a sense of community and belonging in a new city. I wanted to be part of a vibrant community of incredible women. I applied my past event planning and management experience to create Happy Hour Club, which has been extremely well received across the Maritimes by thousands of women. Our recent Halifax event was the 20th Happy Hour Club event.”

First-year Bachelor of Management student Ritika Harjani decided to take the leap to attend a networking event for the first time during her first semester at Dal. “I gained a lot of knowledge from attending the Happy Hour Club. I got to learn how to introduce myself to other people and what it means to be able to make meaningful connections,” she says. “I also was able to get an understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur and hear how other people have started their businesses and how they came up with their ideas.”

Also in her first year, Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student Fara Glazerman shares why she decided to attend. “I took advantage of the opportunity to meet and network with inspiring women living in Halifax. The event allowed me to learn about many local businesses, meet like-minded individuals, and continue to build my network. I had a wonderful time at HHC and look forward to attending future events!”

MCS is pleased to offer opportunities for our Bachelor of Commerce Co-op, Bachelor of Management, and Corporate Residency MBA students to learn about possible career paths and meet professionals in a variety of industries. For more networking opportunities and employer information sessions, visit the myCareer event calendar and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on other opportunities like this one.

Student Spotlight: Ben Boudreau

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Ben Boudreau is a second-year Corporate Residency MBA student from Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Initially drawn to human kinetics with the goal of becoming a teacher, it was through experimenting with business electives and supportive professors, as well as running entrepreneurial initiatives of his own, that Ben realized his passion for positively impacting his community through a business lens.

“I started to look for a post-graduate program that could provide me with an array of skills needed to showcase my abilities and experiences,” he says. “There is truly a myriad of reasons why I chose Dal’s CRMBA program. It offered me the ability to build on the knowledge I learned during my undergrad and pivot into a career in business, exploring industries and opportunities otherwise unavailable. The 8-month corporate residency provides a fully immersed educational experience in an organization. There is no better way to experience what your day-to-day career could look like!”

Last September, Ben was only three months into the two-year program and in search of his 8-month corporate residency when he attended MCS’ Rowe Networking Night. “At an informal coffee chat I was told to ‘measure each week not by how well you did, but by the people you added to your spider web.’ I thought it was brilliant advice. This idea of putting myself in a position to expand my network stuck with me and after seeing the list of Rowe Networking Night sponsors, I took on the challenge of gaining a one-on-one perspective with corporations and the great people within them.”

Ben shares that attending Rowe Networking Night was a crucial step for his career exploration, leading him to make several connections, including the person who would later become his supervisor at his corporate residency. “I learned about her own career path, KPMG where she worked, and I was able to gain insight about the organization that I otherwise would not have known,” he says. “This initial chat at Rowe Networking Night simply did not end there. That conversation turned into a journey of coffee chats and learning from various members of the KPMG team, and ultimately a conversation with the senior manager I originally met where I was humbled to cement our professional relationship by being offered an internship within her division.”

Through creating and fostering this new professional connection, Ben was offered an opportunity for his corporate residency that did not exist at the time when they met. “That initial connection and the subsequent follow-ups with company members ‘created’ a new opportunity for me, and I remain forever grateful for their willingness to take me under their wing.”

In August, Ben wrapped up his corporate residency with KPMG, where we worked as a Management Consultant within their advisory services practice in Halifax. “This opportunity allowed me to work in a collaborative environment with a diverse group of people who have vast industry experiences and are all working together towards a common goal,” he says. “In addition, my role extended further to include various ‘side quests’ which included some of my favourite moments: a bi-weekly ‘what’s in the news and why does it matter’ session with my supervisor which led to new ideas and implementations, being invited to speak to a panel of 1,200+ management consultants, and trying my hand at recruiting.”

In addition to this work experience, Ben is supporting his community of students by serving on the CRMBA Society as the Director of Corporate & Community Relations. “I had the chance to work with amazing members of the CRMBA Society and I took it. I believe that some skills are best taught through volunteering and helping our community. The hope is to help our amazing CRMBA Society team create a beneficial impact for our cohort and our community.”

Ben now passes on the advice he once received to his student peers. “Speaking from my own experience, I would encourage students to take every opportunity they can to widen their web, increase their connections, meet new people, and learn more about ‘how they got there’. I’m a firm believer in making connections in person, gaining insight into the company, listening with your undivided attention, and leaving every meeting with an action plan of who to speak to next. My advice is threefold:

  • While leveraging networking events and building your spider web, understand that your goal is to learn and gain insights. Researching, listening, and asking questions are powerful tools.
  • Embrace experiences. Take the time to get involved in employer and community events, and try new experiences since these initiatives allow for an easy way to meet others while building crucial skills.
  • Don’t be afraid to take the path less chosen and self-develop your work term if there isn’t a position listed that resonates with you.”

This year, Dal Business Networking Night (formerly called Rowe Networking Night) is taking place on Thursday, September 14th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Click here to register on myCareer!

5 Tips to Help You Shake the Networking Nerves and Get the Most out of In-Person Events This Fall

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With the fall semester comes dozens of opportunities to attend employer events and information sessions. Our employer partners are looking to share information about job postings and programs and meet students who will be available for future work – this is an invaluable opportunity to build a professional network while you’re still in school.

While events have been continuing to take place virtually over the past few years, this fall semester marks the return of many in-person events. You may even attend your first in-person networking event this semester.

Networking events can cause nerves and uncertainty, but Management Career Services is here to help you feel prepared and confident to make and build professional connections. Here are five tips to help you feel prepared to attend an in-person networking event.

Prepare Ahead

If you know which organizations are hosting or attending the event, do some research ahead of time. What roles are they hiring for right now? What areas of the business are you interested in learning more about? Prepare some questions you can ask about what it’s like to work in the organization, their recruitment process, and what they look for in a candidate.

Dress to Impress

When attending a networking event, follow any dress code requirements or recommendations. When in doubt, dress as you would for a job interview. A clean, professional outfit shows that you are putting effort and thought into how you present yourself, which helps make a positive first impression.

Practice Your Introduction

Introducing yourself is the first step in creating a new connection at an event. Make your introduction concise but memorable. Know ahead of time how you will answer the question “tell me about yourself?” when getting to know a new industry contact. Think about your previous experience, where you are now, and where you want to be after graduation. Use body language that conveys confidence and openness.

Keep it Concise

No need to spend the entire event talking to one person. As you work the room, keep your conversations succinct and intentional. Get to know the person you’re speaking to without sharing your full life story. Making connections is about just that – it will be up to you to maintain the connection after the event.

Stay Connected

Networking doesn’t end when the event is over. You’ve made the connections, now it’s time to build them. Connect on LinkedIn. Send a message to follow up and touch base. Request a coffee meeting to further keep in touch. Putting in this work will increase the chances of one of your connections keeping you in mind when they hear about a job opportunity that aligns with your interests, or directly connecting you to a recruiter at an organization.

For more networking advice, go to myCareer to book an appointment with your Career and Recruitment Specialist! And, visit the myCareer event calendar to view the wide range of employer information sessions and networking events, both in-person and virtual, happening this fall.

Alumni Spotlight: Muyu Lyu

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Despite recently graduating from the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program, Muyu Lyu isn’t going far; he was hired full-time as Global Strategy Coordinator at the Faculty of Management Dean’s Office and Government and Global Relations. He was also appointed a member of Dalhousie’s 2022-23 Board of Governors. Studying at Dalhousie and working globally throughout his work terms, Muyu gained valuable cross-culture experience and skills.

Muyu completed his first co-op as an Accounting Student at High Liner Foods and his second at the Dean’s Office as a Special Project Assistant before returning to his home of China for his third and final co-op. He shares that working in different cultural environments allowed him to be flexible and adaptable. As an international student, Muyu indicates language was one of his barriers, but adds that “the challenges of working abroad presented opportunities to me, including the ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments, the satisfaction I get from solving work problems, and the ability to cross-culturally communicate.” While working at the Dean’s Office, he realized that he had only experienced a student’s perspective, but as an employee, he needed to adapt his mindset to better understand the organizational perspective.

During his studies, Muyu was an active voice for international students at Dal. In 2019, he served on the Dalhousie International Student Association (DISA) as Vice President and as President in 2021. While studying full-time, he co-founded Dalhousie’s International Student Peer Mentorship Program which has helped hundreds of international students develop their interpersonal and networking skills. In Muyu’s current role, he is continuing his work in student relations by developing a strategy to expand international opportunities for faculty and students worldwide. “I enjoy the ambiguity and complexity of my job, which always leaves me with something to learn and explore.”

In reflecting on his time in the co-op program, Muyu says, “MCS provided me with initial momentum, which is very important for me as an international student. They are a great source for international students to create a safe and comfortable environment to learn about the Canadian job market and culture, and give them confidence and encourage them to always try again.”

Muyu’s advice:

  • Try to be strategic on those small decisions you make daily – this can create a huge compounding effect for your life.
  • You can’t make everyone happy, so don’t worry about what others think.
  • Most things are valueless, so it is super important to identify your priorities. My trick is: if something is not an absolute “yes”, then it is an absolute “no”.

Instagram: @l1_murrayyy

Pronounce: He/him/his

Student Spotlight: Nadi Ukwatta

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Meet Nadi Ukwatta, a third-year Commerce Co-op student majoring in Accounting. Nadi moved to Halifax from her home of Sri Lanka in 2019, noting Dal’s co-op program as one of the main factors that drew her here.

Nadi secured her first co-op at United Way Halifax. Her second co-op was completed in fall 2021 with Irving Oil, an international energy company based in Saint John, New Brunswick. She continued to work with Irving Oil part-time during the winter and has now returned in a full-time capacity to complete her third and final co-op with the organization. “One of the greatest things about Irving Oil is their workplace culture. Everyone is very welcoming and understanding. Within the first few months I was able to learn and gain important skills in a short period of time.”

Nadi says that she enters each co-op with the mindset of creating an impact on the organization. “For me, this meant exceeding expectations of my manager and doing the best I could on the tasks I was given,” she says. “At Irving, I was able to make an impact by being a fast learner, having an excellent work ethic, meeting deadlines consistently, and completing tasks with a high degree of accuracy. In addition, my manager was impressed with my ability to solve problems on my own before reaching out for help.” This success during her fall co-op led to further opportunities within the organization. “My manager played a key role in securing me a part-time job at Irving Oil by looking for positions within the workforce that would help me gain more experience and learn new things. Networking within the company also played a role as other employees were able to determine if I would be a fit for their department.”

In her current role as summer co-op student for the Inventory Accounting Team, Nadi’s daily tasks include contributing to an inventory tracking system to ensure all relevant transactions are properly recorded. She connects with employees from other departments to verify and forecast an appropriate level of inventory for the company, which allows her to improve teamwork and communication skills as well as her attention to detail. “What I enjoy most about the job is that there is always something new to experience,” says Nadi. “For tasks that are repetitive, I make it a challenge to find efficient ways to complete them while maintaining high accuracy. If I am ever in doubt, there are many people around me who are more than willing to provide a helping hand and walk me through the process.”

Nadi says that during her job search, Management Career Services (MCS) played a crucial role in providing support. “I wouldn’t have been where I am today without the help of MCS. My CRS, Lauren Shaw, gave me a head start to pursue my desired co-op in my first work term by guiding me throughout the whole process and going above and beyond to provide the best advice.”

Nadi’s advice for you:

  • Don’t hesitate to ask questions to your peers and managers. Everyone is aware that a co-op is an opportunity to grow and learn to prepare you for the career you choose.
  • Mistakes make you better at what you will do in the future.
  • Have a ‘can-do’ attitude, be confident and willing to deal with problems or new tasks. Challenge yourself every day to do better than the previous day and learn as much as you can in the time you have.

Instagram Handle: @nadi__nu

Pronouns: she/her

Alumni Spotlight: William Gregg

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William Gregg is a Dalhousie alumnus who graduated from the Bachelor of Commerce program in 2020. After taking part in various tours of Dal, he was sold on the campus atmosphere. He went on to choose the Bachelor of Commerce program because of the variety of courses and majors offered, as well as the ability to attain valuable co-op work experience.

Using Management Career Services to his advantage, William polished his resume and cover letters during his job search, and used his past employment history to set him apart from other applicants. “My Career and Recruitment Specialist helped me develop relationships, fine-tune my resume and cover letters, and provided myCareer access – a great portal for job postings. I found all of my co-ops through myCareer postings.”

For William’s first two co-ops, he worked at TJX Canada as a Logistics Analyst. “They have a great corporate culture, work-life balance, great people, and an amazing office with pool tables, video games, and other fun stuff to enjoy on break!”

After completing his first co-op with TJX Canada, William decided he wanted to extend his time with the company and was willing to put in the extra work to try to secure a second work term there. Understanding the importance of reaching out to contacts and making new professional relationships through networking, he expressed interest in returning. “I did reach out to networking contacts to secure my co-ops, especially when arranging to return to TJX Canada for my second term.”

William then went on to complete his final co-op term with Adgar Investments & Development as an Operations Assistant. Even though the positions differed, he enjoyed both experiences and what he learned from each company. “I still value the experience I gained from working with these businesses and doing real career tasks. It really prepared me for the first year of my professional career.” Shortly after graduation, he secured full-time employment at DHL Express as Operations Supervisor.

When reflecting on the biggest challenge during his time securing co-ops, William, like a number of his peers, said job interviews. For many students this is their first time in a professional interview. “My biggest challenge when searching for co-op roles was learning how to master interviewing. All it takes is lots and lots of practice.” It’s very easy to get discouraged when applying for jobs, so staying motivated and not losing hope is key. “Apply, apply, apply to as many jobs as you can would be my best advice, because even a bad interview is always good practice.”

William’s advice for you:

  • Never give up on searching for a job that you actually want, and don’t settle for a job that may not fit what you’re looking to do. I received my first co-op job offer on Christmas Eve, just over a week before I actually started working. I cut it close, but it was worth it!

Pronouns: He/Him

More from William:

  • Instagram: willgregg1

Where there’s a WIL there’s a way: Dalhousie business students find and bring value in work-integrated learning

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March is National Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Month. The opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they’re gaining in their classes to a real workplace setting doesn’t just help them build their skillset and set themselves up for long-term success; it gives employers the opportunity to benefit from bringing new talent onto their team for a few months.

Dalhousie Management Career Services facilitates four to 12-month work-integrated learning opportunities for three business programs: Commerce Co-op, Management Internship, and Corporate Residency MBA. Through work-integrated learning programs like these, employers connect with young business professionals, and benefit from fresh new ideas and perspectives. Getting involved in work-integrated learning is also beneficial for Dalhousie alumni! It’s another way to stay connected to the available talent pool should there be an opportunity to hire a student in their own business or company.

Work-integrated learning is a win-win for employers and students. One Dalhousie business student, Francisco Rios, an international student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree, experienced first-hand what it was like to work in Canada during his three co-op work terms. “Since my first work term, I have worked hard with dedication and a positive attitude; key factors to learn and obtain a good work experience. As a result, I strengthened my communication and analytical skills.”

Tiffany Butt, a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student, expressed how immersing herself in the co-op experience allowed her to exercise her networking skills, resulting in meaningful connections. “The biggest takeaway from my co-op experience so far has been my development of resilience and confidence in the workplace. These are skills that cannot be taught and are much sought after by employers. I am looking forward to completing my third work term this coming summer and continuing to grow as a young professional and as an individual.”

The variety of companies that can benefit from hiring Dalhousie business students is endless. Working for a startup as a co-op student can be an exciting environment, as it often leads to more responsibility, collaboration, and the opportunity to make meaningful professional relationships. Christopher Marshall, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student, completed one of his co-ops with a startup company in Halifax called Prosaris. “I transformed my classroom knowledge into real-world actions and results, helping the startup go from concept to market readiness. I learned how to quickly adapt to a completely novel product and work with a small team to continue to iterate and adapt, making me a better marketer. The co-op program allowed me to not only better myself and prepare me for a successful career in marketing, but also make an impact in our larger business community.”

With all the challenges thrown students’ way this past year, Dalhousie business students preserved and continued to make an impact on their work-integrated learning employers. While all of our students excelled in their own way, the Top Co-op Student of the Year Award recognizes the achievements that our talented students make while on their work terms. Students who receive this prestigious award are truly driven to make the most out of their co-op journey.

Congratulations to all of the students nominated for the Top Co-op Student of the Year – Faculty of Management category:

  • Morgan Balch
  • Kelly Bent
  • Parker Boland
  • Bradley Burgess
  • Tiffany Butt
  • Katherine (Kate) Costaris
  • Lyndon Deslauriers
  • Kyle Dickinson
  • Denali Dorn
  • Peter Frost
  • Karleigh George
  • Ben Grondin
  • Celine Hage
  • Ross Hewson
  • Noah Innes
  • Jordan Kelsie
  • Victoria King
  • Xiaotong (Nicole) Li
  • Yan Liu
  • Muyu Lyu
  • Christopher Marshall
  • Francisco Rios
  • Thomas Sangwine
  • James Whytock
  • Alexandra Wight

The passion and enthusiasm they exemplified throughout their work terms proudly represents Dalhousie Management Career Services across many industries.

And, congratulations to the Top Co-op Student of the Year – Faculty of Management winner for 2020: Stefan Wippel, Bachelor of Commerce.
To read more about Stefan and all of the 2020 Top Co-op Award winners click here!

To learn more about how Dalhousie business students can benefit your business, visit dal.ca/mcs.

Student Spotlight: Mohamad Hariri

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Originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Mohamad Hariri is in his second year of the Bachelor of Commerce program, majoring in international business. He chose to attend Dalhousie due to its accreditation and the ability to obtain work experience through the co-op program.

Mohamad is in the midst of completing his first work term as Accounting Technician at AC Belliveau Veinotte, an accounting firm located in Bedford. “They are a medium-sized firm with six different offices located in Halifax and southwest Nova Scotia. They do all types of accounting work for clients and personalize it to their specific goals.” He was intrigued to learn more about the company, as they have a unique environment due to their size. “The culture of doing things is very hands-on but very diverse.”

Job searching during the COVID-19 pandemic certainly comes with its challenges. Mohamad knew that he was going to have to focus and put in a little extra effort in his job search, and understood that MCS would help in whatever way they could. “I faced a lot of challenges when I was initially job searching. One of the biggest challenges was trying to find a co-op during these trying times. One of the ways I overcame this was to reach out to MCS and have meetings about what I can do better to be more successful in my job search. That benefitted me greatly as I started to get more interviews with their advice.”

Mohamad also accredits landing his position to his networking skills, noting that it is important to use connections you already have to make yourself known. “I did reach out and start networking for this co-op. Another co-op student and excellent friend helped me connect with this firm, which was very beneficial.”

The journey that comes with attaining your first work term position can be stressful as this, for many co-op students, is their first experience working in a field of their interest. Mohamad’s advice for students working towards securing their co-op term is to “use all the resources Dal has to offer, especially Management Career Services. They have the experience and know-how to help you get a job. From resume writing to interview preparation, they support you. They help make the journey of finding a job more manageable.”

Mohamad is eager about what’s to come during the rest of his first work term, and when asked what he is most looking forward to, he replied, “I am most excited to gain experience, new opportunities and learn from my co-op. I am also very excited to learn and grow these skills to benefit me personally, professionally, and financially. I am looking forward to a collaborative, team-focused culture, opportunities to learn and develop my skills, and a chance to learn more leadership skills over time.”

Mohamad’s advice for you:

  • Meet with your MCS Career and Recruitment Specialist to go over your goals and how to work toward attaining them.
  • Network and reach out to as many people as you can.
  • Take advice from others.
  • Engage in a strong support system from family and friends.

Pronouns: He/Him

 

More from Mohamad:

Instagram: @Mo.Hariri

Student Spotlight: Rui Sun

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Originally from the province of Shandong, China, Rui Sun is a fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student, majoring in Accounting. After graduating high school in China, Rui knew she wanted to broaden her horizons and attend post-secondary in Canada. She chose Dalhousie because of its culturally diverse location, and this being her first Canadian experience, she wanted her school to be in a city that doesn’t get too cold, allowing her to enjoy all types of weather. Rui decided to pursue a career in finance and was inspired by her mother, who introduced her to the industry through her lifelong career.

In hopes of attaining a master’s degree, Rui will be attending the University of Toronto in fall 2021 for the Master’s of Accounting and Finance (MAccFin) program, which is North America’s first graduate degree option in both accounting and finance. “I am not the kind of person who can put all my effort into work or study. Work-life balance is really important to me, and I enjoy time to stay with myself or hang out with friends. If I got a job now I would need to work full-time, and still need to prepare for CPA exams. This is not the life I want.” For these reasons, Rui decided to take the master’s program to help her prepare for her CPA, as well as to devote more time to learning as much as she can at a young age, and then using that knowledge to further her career in the future.

Accredited by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, the MAccFin program is 16 months long and will allow Rui to move freely between different careers, both in management and finance. She will also get the opportunity to gain more work experience through the work term component of the program. Rui is excited by the opportunity to add even more work experience to her resume, on top of the three co-ops she completed through the Bachelor of Commerce program, before completing her school journey.

Rui completed her first Commerce co-op with Holloway Lodging Corp. as an accountant. This was her first work experience in Canada. “I learned a lot about what constitutes a Canadian workplace, which is quite different from China.” Rui began her co-op at a very busy time for the accounting industry, but she was able to quickly adapt and attained valuable knowledge.

Her second work term was at Charm Diamond Centre, also as an accountant. The individuals Rui worked with made her feel like family and helped her learn throughout her time there. Communication was pertinent for Rui as she had three supervisors, which was more than she was used to. “I needed to communicate with all of them about my work, so my business communications skills were further improved.”

Like a number of students last summer, Rui had secured her third and final co-op work term but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her position was cancelled unexpectedly. After this setback, Rui felt the pressure of an approaching deadline to secure work for her final co-op. She has been a member of the Nova Scotia Chinese Culture & Art Club (NSCCAC) for two years, so she inquired about completing her last co-op with them. Through networking with various individuals and marketing her skills, Rui secured her final co-op with the NSCCAC, which entailed both accounting and coordinating events. “This was definitely a positive result from my networking. It is good to join clubs or associations during school time. You will never know when your networking will work.”

For most of her last co-op, Rui worked remotely and experienced a few challenges that many co-op students are currently also experiencing. “It can be harder to communicate if faced with difficulties, but my supervisor is kind and is always patient in helping me.” Rui accredited MCS in aiding her with her job search. “Advisors in MCS helped me work on my resume and work permit. Lauren Shaw also helped me with my personal statement for my application for my master’s program. I am so grateful for all your help!”

 

Rui’s advice for you:

  • Be brave and work hard. We are young, don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
  • Go on adventures, instead of doing things you can still do when you get to ninety years old.

 

Pronouns: She/Her

 

More from Rui:

Instagram: @ruiii312

Alumni Spotlight: Nicola Scott

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Nicola Scott is a Dalhousie alumna who graduated from the Bachelor of Management program in 2017.

Attending Dalhousie was an easy choice for Nicola – she is from Halifax and preferred to stay close to home. In her second year of study Nicola transferred to the Management program. “I decided to switch because I was interested in the relationship aspect of business.”

Once enrolled in the Management program, Nicola decided to take advantage of the 8-month internship option and landed her internship as Project Coordinator with NTT DATA Services in May 2016. NTT DATA Services is a division of NTT DATA Corporation, a top 10 global IT services provider with over 130,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Nicola was responsible for administration of client accounts and assisting with invoicing and contract set-up.

Taking advantage of the internship option allows students to apply knowledge they have learned in their courses to practical work situations. Management Career Services makes it a top priority to give students a competitive edge when applying to the internship program, investing in each student’s career to enhance employment opportunities after graduation.

“It was exciting for me to be able to apply the information I learned in classes to my role at NTT DATA Services,” says Nicola. “The Faculty of Management does an amazing job at preparing you for the real world, but if students really want to apply that knowledge, the internship program is a fantastic way to do that before you graduate. Jennifer Coombs and Jessica Mackenzie were both so helpful in preparing me for my internship and supporting me throughout the process.”

Throughout the Bachelor of Management program, students have numerous opportunities to make connections with organizations and leading industry professionals at networking events. Through myCareer, organizations to post open positions, some of which are privately offered to Dalhousie students.

“During the internship search, MCS was an invaluable tool for me. The staff at MCS were so supportive with resumes, networking, and interview support. I wouldn’t have found this internship role at NTT DATA without it being posted on myCareer. If students aren’t actively looking at myCareer, I really suggest they start because it is such a helpful resource.”

Sometimes, when students exhibit an exemplary performance throughout their internship, they are offered further employment with their organization. Fortunately, this was the case for Nicola. In fact, she is still with the company. This coming May will mark her fifth year with NTT DATA Services. “I am very lucky that my internship transformed into a full-time job after graduation. I’m now a Project Program Management Senior Analyst. I don’t think I would be where I am in my career without the internship program. My education from Dalhousie and the skills I learned on the job during my internship allowed me to create a new role within the company. I’m now part of our account leadership and run all administrative functions for multiple accounts.”

When asked what she would tell students thinking about getting involved in the internship program, Nicola responded, “I cannot recommend the internship program enough. The benefit of an 8-month internship is that you are at a job twice as long as a regular co-op. This allows you to take more tasks on and build a strong relationship with your employer, which is what helped cement my permanent role. You also get to add the job to your resume, which generally means you have more work experience at graduation than someone who didn’t do an internship which is really helpful for the post-grad job search. Plus, MCS encourages paid internships which is amazing because it allows you to make money while finishing up your degree.”

 

Pronouns: She/Her

 

 

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