Damon Peters is a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program, majoring in Accounting. Originally from Ontario, Damon chose Dalhousie because he believed that it could offer him the best opportunities after graduation due to the mandatory co-op program.
Damon was hired by accounting firm KPMG for his first co-op on their Valuation Services team, where he worked completely remote. “As a new student entering the accounting workforce for the first time, it was important that I retained all information given to me and completed all work in a professional and timely manner,” he says. He then worked with Alliance World Transport, a local exporting company for his second co-op. Damon decided to use this opportunity to try a different role – he worked as an Export Coordinator, which allowed him to explore whether he wanted to pursue logistics in the future. Damon then completed his third co-op with Environment and Climate Change Canada as an Accounting and Finance Support Officer. “I was especially interested as it had plenty of room for growth, was with the government, and it concerned a really important issue for me – the environment and climate change.”
Damon realized that he enjoyed the work he was doing and the team that surrounded it, and was eager to ask about future work opportunities they may have. After his work term, he secured a part-time position with the organization. Investing in his growth as an individual, Environment and Climate Change Canada assisted him in signing up for various programs to help with future personal development. “I would like to thank Dalhousie and its Commerce Co-op program for such amazing experiences. Through these co-ops I have met so many fantastic colleagues, developed some incredible connections, and gained amazing hands-on experience.”
In addition to his co-op opportunities, Damon worked for Management Career Services as an Assistant Career and Recruitment Specialist (ACRS) during the Winter 2022 semester. The role involved providing one-on-one online peer coaching appointments and suggestions for improvement on cover letter and resume structure, formatting, and content, as well as practice interview responses and delivery. Damon says that he learned a lot about document structuring himself during his time in the part-time role, including key points to gain employer attention and when to include relevant experiences. At first, he wasn’t sure what to expect from the position, which excited him. “But I knew it would be an incredible learning opportunity. Plus, it looks really good on a resume! There’s lots to talk about, including teamwork and mentorship,” he says. “The students were very cooperative and listened very well. I never had a problem with a student and they had amazing questions.” He also shares that the role has positively influenced his way of thinking. “My friend goes ‘I just got a job doing this’, and my response is ‘Wow, you have developed these skills doing that!’” The highlight of his experience as an ACRS was getting to meet a diverse group of students and learning about their experiences. As a result, he not only recommends, but hopes other students will apply for this position in the future.