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Category: work term

First 30 Days Checklist: How to Start Your Work Term with Success

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Whether you just started your first work term or are about to start, you may be wondering how to ensure you make a great first impression. Keep reading for our First 30 Days Checklist to help you feel prepared leading up to and as you start your work term!


Before You Start:

  • Confirm your start date and arrival time and location for your first day with your employer.
  • Ask if there are any tasks you should complete or information you need to provide in advance to support your onboarding.
  • Research the organization.
  • Ask if you need security clearance and what processes to follow.
  • Have your transportation arrangements ready (ex. if you’re taking the bus, check routes and times before your first day), allowing you to arrive early.
  • Ask your employer about the organization’s dress code and refer to our blog on professional dress to help you decide what to wear.
  • Having your personal information prepared is crucial: Social Insurance Number, permanent address, emergency contact number, etc.


Once You Start:

  • Understand your obligations (work hours, expected overtime, travel requirements, etc.).
  • Understand your benefits (holidays, health plan, pension plan, etc.).
  • Make a good impression. Show your employer and coworkers you’re right for the job.
  • Get to know as many people as you can during your work term to build your professional network.
  • If you have a mentor or buddy, be thoughtful in your interactions. Don’t take up too much of their time. Offer to buy coffee and find out the best ways to communicate with them.
  • Save a printed or electronic copy of your job description (hint: you’ll need this for your work term report!).
  • Learn the organizational norms (coffee breaks, supplies, parking, dress code, personal calls, etc.). Pay attention to your organization’s culture. Your ability to understand and adapt is fundamental to the impression you will make and how much you will enjoy your time there.
  • Familiarize yourself with the organization’s policies and procedures, and avoid conducting personal business through the organization’s email or internet systems.
  • Maintain confidentiality. Don’t discuss your organization’s business, clients, or competitors outside the workplace. If you’re in a position where your work is overlapping with your personal interests (ex. a friend or relative), inform your supervisor of the potential conflict of interest.
  • Establish professional and effective work habits early. Be enthusiastic, take initiative, focus on producing accurate work, take your responsibilities seriously, and commit to your work.

Listening is so important, and yet so hard to do, especially when you are absorbing a lot of new information. What can you do to help you remember what you’re learning? Write it down! Take detailed and effective notes you can refer back to during your first 30 days and the remainder of your work term.


We’re Here to Help!

If you need assistance or advice during your work term, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Career and Recruitment Specialist. Contact our office at mcs@dal.ca or call us at 902-494-1515.

And don’t forget to stay connected with MCS throughout your work term for important updates and information. Keep an eye on your Dal email during your work term. Read our e-newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Your Reference Letter of the Future: What Will Your Legacy Be?

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legacyEven though your work term is just getting started, imagine that the end of your work term has come. For some, this is an opportunity to reflect on their experiences, evaluate the skills they developed, relationships they created, and projects they completed. Others may simply be looking forward to the next step of their professional careers. What some students don’t realize, however, is that over the course of your work term, no matter how long or short it is, you will leave an impression on your coworkers and colleagues. The legacy you leave is something that can benefit you in a number of ways, not the least of which is a positive reference for a future job.

A great way to begin the process of building your legacy is to write your own reference letter highlighting the traits and abilities that you will strive to achieve by the end of your work term. This exercise will give you a better understanding of the type of employee you want to become and will also keep you focused on actually achieving it. This exercise is most effective if you keep the physical cover letter you wrote for yourself visible (taped to your desk or notebook, for example), so that it will provide motivation to achieve your professional development objectives.

Although “legacy” can seem like an intimidating word, leaving a positive legacy at your workplace does not have to be dramatic or grand. It can be as simple as assuring that you’ve done your job to the best of your ability and by demonstrating one or more of the following:

  • Improving on an office process/procedure
  • Exceeding outcomes by adding extra value to your projects and assignments
  • Showing initiative and anticipating needs
  • Proving to be reliable and actively searched for more tasks and projects to complete
  • Maintaining a great attitude and putting effort into integrating your personality and strengths into the projects you worked on
  • Genuinely caring about your position, organization, and coworkers
  • Taking advantage of opportunities to get involved and make a difference
  • Focusing on transformational learning and always improving
  • Demonstrating effective communication and building positive relationships with your coworkers and clients

While these traits will without a doubt help you leave a legacy at your workplace, they are also traits that employers value and look for when hiring. Keep in mind that if a future employer calls one of your references and hears any combination of the traits listed above, then you’ve not only proven your legacy to your past employer, but also showed that you’re capable of creating a new one with a future employer.

Student Spotlight: Damon Peters

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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.

Student Spotlight: Jasmine Rana

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Meet Jasmine Rana, a second-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student who is planning to major in Marketing. She came to Dalhousie from Oakville, Ontario to experience living in a university town. “Halifax is very different from where I grew up and I was excited to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people and be able to call this place a temporary home,” she says.

Jasmine worked for Dash Hudson as a Marketing Intern for her recent co-op in the winter. Dash Hudson is a marketing software company that focuses on social entertainment and producing metrics and insights that brands can utilize to measure their social media performance. “Engagement as a brand is extremely important because it helps solidify your presence on social media and humanizes the brand. I had the pleasure of creating an engagement playbook for Dash Hudson, which was my greatest accomplishment of the term,” she says. In the playbook, she outlined what strategies work and don’t work on social media and listed ideas the company could use.

Jasmine says that she truly felt like part of the team at Dash Hudson, being constantly involved and getting a chance to express her ideas. “I was able to participate in the monthly social insights meetings compiling the analytics across all social platforms to help assess our performance: what we can do better, what is going well, and what should be tested going into the next month,” she says. She also had the opportunity to demonstrate her creativity by making TikToks, Instagram Reels, and graphics for social media channels. She contributed a Gen Z perspective, giving the brand options for current social media trends and providing team members content to amplify the hashtag #LifeatDashHudson.

Jasmine was excited about meeting her manager, diving into her responsibilities, and getting work experience at a company she truly admired. “I am lucky to have been in an environment that fosters discussions and welcomes questions, which allow me to complete my best possible work,” she says. She worked remotely throughout the term, finding the transition to the online environment to be a smooth one. “Dash Hudson offered me a space to learn and grow, and I have been able to find myself more while working with extremely talented individuals on work that is so innovative and cutting edge. If this is what work life is like, sign me up!”

Jasmine’s advice for you:

  • Start your job search early and make sure to have all of your documents in order.
  • Identify what you like within your co-op role, from responsibilities, to people, to environment, as it can help align your future career path.
  • Keep an eye out for experiences that you would love to have again as well as those you are longing for.
  • Remember that you’re doing your best and that’s what matters.

Instagram Handle: @jasminerana__

Pronouns: she/her

Student Spotlight: Nuhan Imad

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Dalhousie is the university of choice for many international students, including Nuhan Imad from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is in his second year of the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op Program, planning to major in Accounting.

Nuhan is currently working as an Assurance Associate (External Auditor) at PwC Canada for his first co-op. PwC ranks as the second-largest professional services network in the world and is considered one of the Big Four accounting firms. “While theoretical learning has a lot of value to provide in its own essence, practical learning through working provides us with the opportunity to implement our learning through the means of performing tasks relevant to the respective industries that we might be interested in,” he says.

Nuhan works collectively with his team to conduct a thorough audit of clients (companies). “As an auditor working alongside other auditors, our main objective is to ensure that the companies we audit present financial information to the public that is not materially misstated,” he says. Auditors are known for providing assurance to the public and helping external stakeholders make well-informed financial decisions. Nuhan’s first task at PwC was to support a major client, challenging him to expand his knowledge and experience. “With the help of my amazing team members, I was mentored and provided with assistance, making it easier for me to work through all my tasks,” he says. “Being able to finish the work on my first ever client was a huge step for me in terms of the amount of knowledge and experience I gained, and I consider this an accomplishment that will reflect in my repertoire for years to come.”

In addition to gaining great work experience, Nuhan is thinking about his future career and development by making an effort to network with colleagues. He is also continuing to improve his skill set and feels the environment he is in now will set himself up for future success.

Nuhan says that during his job search, Management Career Services (MCS) played a crucial role in providing support. “MCS was always there to review my resumes and cover letters, and to provide the coaching I needed to set my mind on what I wanted to do and achieve during my co-ops.” He received 100% on the job application assignment, an assignment for first-year Commerce Co-op students to help prepare for writing cover letters and resumes. He says that learning how to write a proper resume and cover letter helps a great deal in getting noticed by employers.

Nuhan’s advice for you:

  • Don’t underestimate the influence networking can have over getting picked for a job interview.
  • Use all of the resources provided by MCS, such as review of resumes and cover letters, practice interviews etc.

Instagram Handle: @nuhan.i

Pronouns: he/him

Student Spotlight: Katherine Fontana

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Second-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student Katherine Fontana is currently working for global streaming service Netflix for her first co-op. She is planning to declare a major in finance after developing an interest in financial markets through the Dalhousie Investment Society. Originally from Oakville, Ontario, Katherine was intrigued by Dalhousie’s nationwide reputation and wanted to experience the east coast lifestyle.

In her role of Assistant Trainee Accountant for Netflix, Katherine’s daily tasks include printing vendor invoices and purchase orders from the previous day, auditing petty cash statements from various departments, and collecting and organizing crew gas receipts for Netflix’s sustainability program. “My role in the office is very important to the daily operations of the accounting department, as many of my duties begin the cycle of the various steps towards completion,” she says.

As you would expect from a big corporation like Netflix, the environment is very fast paced. Her biggest accomplishment so far has been her ability to adapt to this environment and learn information quickly to be successful in her role. Katherine has been working in person, getting multiple opportunities to connect with fellow colleagues and gain confidence and organizational skills. “I am grateful for the opportunity and skill development this co-op has provided me so far, and I look forward to the rest of the term,” she says.

Katherine took advantage of the many resources available through Management Career Services (MCS) to help secure her co-op with Netflix. “I was able to apply the skills learned through MCS into my job search. This enabled me to find a co-op that provided me with the opportunity to build on my career interests.”

Katherine’s advice for you:

  • It is never too early to start looking for a co-op. The earlier you begin your job search, the more tailored your co-op can be to your career path interests.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach out. If you are not sure what you are interested in, read up on different careers, different companies, and reach out to those individuals who may be able to provide you with insight into their career paths and aspirations.
  • Set goals for your next co-op, but do not lose sleep over it.

Pronouns: she/her

Alumni Spotlight: Madison Longmire

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Meet Madison Longmire, originally from the Annapolis Valley. She was attracted to Dalhousie’s campus in the heart of Halifax, wanting to explore city life. When it came to selecting a program, the mandatory co-op component of the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program was the main selling point for her. She felt it would allow her to be more dynamic and adaptive as a professional while making connections. Madison graduated in 2019 with a major in Accounting, a path she chose because she loved the idea of dealing with numbers, financial analysis, and the wide variety of careers that are available in the field.

Madison accepted a different role for each of her three co-ops, which gave her the chance to be challenged in distinct ways. For her first co-op, she worked alongside Actuaries, an area that interested her at the time. During the co-op however, Madison realized she could no longer see herself working in that role long term. “This was a tough realization to make, especially for my first co-op, but I can see now how valuable this insight was, and without the co-op program I would not have had the opportunity to come to this conclusion in my second year of university,” she says.

Madison’s second co-op was in the billing department of a healthcare organization, providing opportunities to develop her interpersonal skills. “I spent a large portion of my time speaking with different individuals on the phone, which at the beginning was quite intimidating, but became much easier over time,” she says. For her final co-op, she worked as an Underwriting Assistant. “I had very surface level knowledge of what underwriting entailed, but this co-op was able to change my perspective on what risk management and risk analysis really meant and its importance.”

Madison is currently an Underwriter for Trisura’s Executive Solutions. “Underwriting requires assessing risk for different factors of a business. I spend most of my days analyzing companies’ financial statements, executives, and business practices and then building insurance policies surrounding their risks and exposure points,” she says. She is enjoying her time working with a wide range of businesses and gathering knowledge across many industries. “A career path with opportunity to grow was also of utmost importance to me. I saw there was a need for young leaders in the industry and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me.”

Madison describes Trisura as a company that is rapidly growing and expanding their team across Canada and the US. “Despite growth, Trisura continues to still have that small company feel where your worth is valued and your achievements are recognized,” she says. “Trisura prides itself on promoting entrepreneurial mindset among all employees and allows underwriters think outside of the box and provide non-conventional solutions, which can be tough to find in the industry.”

Madison’s advice for you:

  • Keep in contact with your connections, they can be very helpful when looking for opportunities.
  • Everyone’s career path is different. Explore your options. Explore your network.

Pronouns: she/her

Alumni Spotlight: Noah Innes

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Originally from Halifax, Noah Innes is a recent Commerce Co-op alumnus, having graduated in 2021 with a major in Marketing Management. He was drawn to the program because of the mandatory co-op component. He also says that his parents and sister are Dalhousie alumni, and he wanted to carry on the tradition.

Noah took advantage of his co-ops to try three different work experiences in three different industries. For his first co-op, he worked in an accounting role as a Research Payments Analyst at RBC. “I valued how great of an employer RBC was for my first co-op. I got to partake in lots of activities, like Lunch & Learns and RBC’s Annual Shareholders Meeting.” His second co-op was with InterTalk Systems as a Business Marketing Student. “I really valued the autonomy I was given in that position to hone my marketing skills,” he says. “Being a smaller company, I got to work directly under the President, which was cool.” His third co-op was spent as an Employment and Communications Specialist for Job Junction – Nova Scotia Works Halifax. “Nova Scotia Works allowed me to continue to build upon my marketing experience. I really valued the independence I had in this role. I even had the opportunity to launch my own marketing campaigns using Google Ads and Facebook Ads.” He says that even if a co-op isn’t directly related to your field of interest, it can still give you the opportunity to gain valuable skills that are transferable to future jobs.

Noah is currently working at IBM as a Business Consultant in the Project Management Practice. In this role, he is responsible for the handling of tickets, in addition to conducting regular reporting. He says that IBM is an ideal employer for business students and graduates because of the growth opportunities available, particularly due to the company’s entire program dedicated to hiring new grads. “IBM is extremely invested in developing its employees’ talent through learning opportunities, which aids in career progression,” he says. “We offer great opportunities for students who take either a Technical or Functional (Business) route with their education. There are many facets to the company that do not require having a technical background!”

In his job search, Noah was looking forward to applying the knowledge from his Dalhousie courses to real work experiences, finding the balance of alternating between work terms and academic terms to be very valuable. He has been working from home for the entire nine months at IBM. “Working from home has its merits, such as the lack of a commute and the ability to wear what you want. Some days, staying productive can be especially challenging, though over time, it becomes easier to prioritize tasks and stay organized,” he says. He is looking forward to the partial return to the office so that he can interact more with his colleagues.

Noah’s advice for you:

  • All experience is good experience.
  • Be aware that the space you work in can have a huge impact on your ability to get work done.
  • Taking breaks throughout the day is extremely important to avoid burnout.

Instagram Handle: @noahinnes

Pronouns: he/him

Student Spotlight: Thomas Sorrell

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Thomas Sorrell is a second-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student, planning to major in Supply Chain and Logistics Management. He says that one of the key factors that made the program so intriguing was graduating in four years with opportunities for three different work experiences. He also wanted a change in scenery, something different from his hometown of Markham, Ontario.

Thomas was a participant in ASPIRE Edge, a program that helps bridge the gap between education and the workplace. He decided to apply because he felt the program would grant an advantage during his co-op job search and would help differentiate him from others. “I had an easier time getting interviews when I included the program on my resume compared to when I did not,” says Thomas. The program allows participants to work at their own pace to sharpen skills in five key areas: communication, critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork and collaboration, resiliency and adaptability, and data acumen. “One important thing I learned during the program was that not many people want to read a long email, but they also don’t want to be unaware of certain details, so it is always good to be concise with your messages.” He found the overall program to be very beneficial and would highly recommend it to others.

Thomas is currently completing his first co-op with Traffic Tech, a third-party logistics company. “My main responsibility is to manage a queue of trucking shipments by checking on their status throughout the day. I check on things such as the current location, when the shipment begun loading or unloading, and time until arrival to next destination,” says Thomas. He shares that he is finding the experience working with other co-op students and the employees to be very enjoyable and is learning a lot from the position. Thomas found this job with the help of Management Career Services (MCS). “They provided me with a plentiful list of job opportunities on the myCareer website. My CRS also provided extremely helpful advice and suggestions.”

If you’re a student interested in learning more about the ASPIRE Edge program, click here.

Instagram Handle: @sorrell_boots

Pronouns: he/him

Student Spotlight: Keira Prette

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Keira Prette is in her third year of the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op program, majoring in marketing. The co-op program was a key factor in Keira’s decision to attend Dalhousie, as she wanted opportunities to apply skills and learning experiences to real work situations. “Having the opportunity to use what I have learned in my classes and then transition to a work term was one of my biggest attractions to the Commerce Co-op program, and still today is one of my favourite parts of the program,” she says.

Keira completed her second co-op this past fall at PeopleCan as an Online Training Support Assistant. She worked alongside Debbie Adams, the owner and sole employee of the business. PeopleCan offers business coaching and training for small business owners and entrepreneurs. “My main responsibility was providing support in any way that Debbie needed. I assisted with online events, social media planning, video production, networking events, the organization and development of online courses, research, and identification of improvements with social media strategies and operational efficiencies,” she says.

Her favourite project during her time at PeopleCan was supporting the development of a business course called Budgeting Essentials. “I created all of the graphics and visuals for the course and had the responsibility of advertising the course on PeopleCan’s social media. This project took about eight weeks to complete, and I was able to learn a lot about the process of marketing a product to customers.” Keira also says that she found the mentorship she received from her supervisor to be the best part of the experience. “Debbie pushed me to grow in my networking skills, technical skills, and general business knowledge. I know the skills I learned at PeopleCan will carry with me throughout my life and marketing career.”

During both of her co-op job searches, Keira sought support from Management Career Services (MCS). “For my first co-op, I struggled to land interviews. I needed assistance on cover letters and strategies for interview taking. Meetings with my Career and Recruitment Specialist helped me tremendously and after only two meetings I was able to earn three interviews, one of which became my first work term at Carte Nav Solutions,” she says. During the process, Keira found it challenging to choose what she felt was the right job; the one that would be most beneficial to her future career. “I met again with my Career and Recruitment Specialist who was able to provide me with some very helpful advice when considering which position to take, and from there I was able to make an informed decision.”

Keira’s advice for you:

  • Take a wide variety of classes to allow yourself to explore interests.
  • Take advantage of the support provided by MCS and your Career and Recruitment Specialist.
  • Put your mental health first. Make use of the resources available and seek out support if you feel your motivation and productivity decline.

Instagram Handle: @keiraprette

Pronouns: she/her

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