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Learn how Margaret Lewis continued her job search through these unprecedented times.

Opportunities to teach and learn: How a not-for-profit’s support for student work terms led to full-time hiring

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Hiring a co-op, internship, or corporate residency student is like doing an extended interview. If you find a student who is a great fit for your team and has made a big impact in a short amount of time, recruiting your next full-time hire can be a no brainer.

Marcus Jamieson is Executive Director at TEAM Work Cooperative (TWC), a Nova Scotia Works employment centre that helps connect people to jobs and vice versa by supporting and empowering Nova Scotians and fostering resiliency to build a stronger province. According to Marcus, TWC is no stranger to hiring students from Dal, having done so for the past 10 years including from the Commerce Co-op and Management Internship programs.

“Our student employees are creative and bring fresh ideas to our organization. In fact, some of our innovations throughout the years has come directly from our students,” says Marcus. “It’s an opportunity for us to provide a professional experience to youth and have a role in shaping their career journey. We also like youth to be engaged in the community and learn skills such as compassion, empathy, teaching, sharing and kindness as part of their professional identity.”

Marcus says that not only does TWC hire students to support their learning and growth, but also for the opportunity to assess them as potential hires. His team currently includes two of their former Commerce Co-op students, one of whom, Xiyu Zhao, joined them full-time in August as admin support for TWC’s finance team.

“I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work at TEAM Work and it’s a great pleasure to work with my co-workers,” says Xiyu. “The whole team is supportive and knowledgeable. I did two co-op positions here and I learned a lot. Through my co-ops, I learned more about the local labour market and expanded my network.”

Xiyu is one of several students TWC has hired full-time over the years. “We have been fortunate to have wonderful, eager, passionate students who want to learn and demonstrate their skills,” says Marcus. “We have hired 5-6 of them back after their work term, and many others have requested second work terms with us. We love the diversity in culture, personalities, and backgrounds Dal offers us.”

Marcus acknowledges that hiring students offers opportunities to both teach and learn. “Dal students are going to be our future leaders, and learning from them is vital for employers to stay innovative, creative, and relevant. For TEAM Work, we need their voices to direct us in the world of work today. All employers should be open to hiring students, as the organization will get just as much out of the experience as the student.”

Interested in hiring a student or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Ayse Dai-Gammon, Employer Development Manager
Ayse.Gammon@dal.ca
902-220-2237

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator – NS
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca
902-219-2548

Student Spotlight: Peiying Wang

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Applications for the Bachelor of Management Internship Program are open now until Monday, February 7th!

 To learn more, visit our website, attend our virtual Information Session on Thursday, January 27th, or contact Jen Coombs, Career & Recruitment Specialist and Internship Coordinator, at Jennifer.Coombs@dal.ca.

Originally from China, Peiying Wang is in her fourth year of the Bachelor of Management program with a major in Managing Data and Information. She chose to study at Dalhousie because of a recommendation from a friend. Before deciding which program to study, she spent time exploring career options and determined that gaining management knowledge and skills would be beneficial before joining a company or starting a business.

Peiying opted to complete the optional internship program as part of her Bachelor of Management degree. Recently, she completed her 8-month internship as a Logistics Apprentice at Traffic Tech, a global third-party logistics company that provides logistics services on land, at sea, and in the air. Her daily tasks varied from tracking loads by communicating with carriers about pickup anddelivery schedules to providing freight rates to customers for transportation planning. “During my internship, my supervisors were always patient and reassuring, and they were always willing to work with me on challenging issues. I have learned a lot from them, not only in my work, but also in how to be a leader,” says Peiying.

Peiying shares that her internship provided her with the valuable opportunity to gain various skills for her future career. She says that the position constantly required her to contact carriers and sales teams, which improved her email and telephone etiquette, and enhanced her communication abilities. “This experience of working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment will enable me to integrate more easily into the same type of work environment in the future,” she says. During her internship, she supported the implementation of Traffic Tech’s new logistics information system and Centralized Tracking Team to provide logistics information to customers. “I was responsible for ensuring the system was updated on time with rapid, accurate, and comprehensive information, which played a crucial role in ensuring the team’s effectiveness,” she said.

Peiying found the position through myCareer, under the Bachelor of Management job postings, and received support from Management Career Services’ resources. “I realized the importance of being well prepared for every step of the job search. In my opinion, submitting an outstanding resume is necessary to get interviews.”

Peiying’s advice for you:

  • Be well prepared for every step of the job search.
  • Research the company, industry, and position before creating an application.
  • Use the guidance provided by Management Career Services.

Instagram Handle: cassie____w

Pronouns: she/her

How to Spot a Phishing Email: Four Things to Look Out For in the Workplace

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Phishing emails have become much more common in recent years. They’re one way that scammers try to obtain your information and money, and even infect your computer with dangerous software by posing as a company or someone you trust. Phishing emails commonly target business professionals, so here are four tips to help you spot a phishing email while on your work term.

Your ‘boss’ asks you to buy gift cards
Unless it has been discussed previously, your boss or anyone in the company won’t send you emails asking you to pay for things like gift cards with your own money.

Sketchy email addresses
If you receive an email that seems suspicious, it’s always best to check the email address, even if the sender’s name is someone you know. Sometimes the sender’s email address is obviously fake, such as executivedirector@companyname.com, but scammers can get creative by adding a period, switching two letters around, or misspelling a word, and hoping you won’t notice.

Suspicious links
If you receive an unexpected email with a link, it might be a phishing email. One way you can tell is by hovering your mouse over the highlighted area. If the description doesn’t match the link, do not click the link and delete the email.

Requesting private information
Scammers might pose as IT or Human Resources and ask for private information such as your passwords, address, or social insurance number. You should not send confidential information via email, and most companies will never ask you for that type of information through an email.


Phishing emails can be sneaky, but with enough diligence you can avoid falling victim to them. If you are ever in doubt if an email is legitimate, ask your supervisor. If you realize you’ve fallen to an email scam, tell your supervisor immediately and they will guide you through the proper procedure for handling the situation.

Student Spotlight: Monica Nahas

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Monica Nahas was born and raised in Halifax, and is currently completing her second year of the Corporate Residency MBA program. As Dalhousie is the only university in the Atlantic provinces that offers a corporate residency component within an MBA program, it was the perfect option for Monica, who believes the CRMBA program is designed for people looking to pivot.

“I do not come from a business background. I graduated with a degree in International Development and Law, Justice & Society,” says Monica. “This program has provided me with the opportunity to merge my knowledge from my undergrad with the new skills that I have acquired throughout the past year and a half.” She was able to directly apply these new skills in many aspects of her 8-month corporate residency as a Marketing and Social Media Associate with 7 Virtues.

7 Virtues is a perfume company sold exclusively at Sephora. The company has a strong mission of ‘Make Perfume not War’, and every sale helps someone who is rebuilding from war or strife. Monica says she gained a lot of valuable information from her position within the company and is looking to incorporate her new skills toward her future work experiences. She shares that some of her biggest accomplishments during her time with 7 Virtues included working directly with embassies in 13 European countries and creating strong connections with people from all around the world. “Furthermore, I was also able to see new products go from R&D to soon to be on the market,” she says.

Monica adds that she enjoyed the great opportunities her team gave her. “I was included in nearly every part of any decision or task, which helped me learn about what I am good at and the type of work I enjoy. My residency guided me down a path, allowing me to figure out what field I want to be in post-graduation.”

Throughout her corporate residency experience, Monica worked mostly from home due to the pandemic. She had a flexible schedule, which allowed her to take breaks when needed. She says that “taking a five-minute walk is the best way to help you realign and get back on track with your work.”

Monica’s advice for you:

  • Be open minded when it comes to any job that is presented to you.
  • See how different sectors of a company interact and how people get specific tasks accomplished. It helps you learn about your interests, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Management Career Services is very helpful with helping shape and strengthen resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.

Instagram Handle: @monicanahas

Pronouns: she/her

Alumni Spotlight: Kate d’Entremont

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Originally from Franklin, Massachusetts, Kate d’Entremont is a Dalhousie alumna who graduated from the Bachelor of Management program in April 2021 with a major in Leadership & Organizations. Kate’s time at Dalhousie began with pursuing a career in ocean sciences, but after a year, she switched to Management. She felt her skills were better suited for the program, but that it would still give her the opportunity to explore her passion for the ocean.

Kate participated in the optional 8-month internship for students in the Bachelor of Management program and completed her internship as Events & Program Assistant for Management Career Services. She says that during that time, her supervisor helped her develop her personal and professional skills. “I was able to receive an offer for the first job I applied for post-graduation due to the incredible preparation I received from MCS throughout my degree.”

Kate says her biggest accomplishment to date is transitioning from being a student to a working professional during a pandemic. She currently oversees all marketing and communications at the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, a non-profit organization that promotes growth and development in Downtown Dartmouth. Her role includes creating and implementing a variety of content, from social media to the monthly newsletter, and maintaining relationships with clients.

Through her job, Kate has had the opportunity to participate in several interesting and rewarding projects, such as filming with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce for their Hidden Gems campaign and Open Street Sundays. Her latest project is helping with the planning of new murals for the downtown area. “The job makes me very happy, which I am very fortunate for and am grateful to have found. I LOVE the community in Downtown Dartmouth. The people and businesses are unmatched. Everyone is kind and supportive with the same goal: make Downtown Dartmouth an even better place to be, without taking away its unique charm and style.” In the future, Kate says she is excited to continue watching Dartmouth grow and thrive.

Kate’s advice for you:

  • Use the services provided at Management Career Services.
  • Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
  • Take advantage of myCareer.

Pronouns: she/her  

The Professional Dress Code: Decoded

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When it comes to figuring out what to wear on the job, sometimes it’s not clear at first what is meant by terms like “Business Professional”, “Business Casual”, or “Casual Friday”. However, there are certain standards you can apply to safely determine what will look appropriate. If you’re not sure what the dress code is for your workplace, your best bet to ensure a positive first impression is to show up on the first day wearing a business professional outfit. Then, once you arrive, observe the office environment and ask an experienced colleague or your supervisor what the expectation will be on a day-to-day basis.

Some general tips to keep in mind:

  • Be cautious of bright or distracting colors and patterns.
  • Avoid see-through materials.
  • Shirts and pants should always be pressed with no
    wrinkles.
  • Keep your professional dress shoes shined and in good
    repair.
  • Avoid running shoes.

Here are some guidelines to help you understand the difference between different workplace dress codes.

Business Professional

  • Suit jackets/blazers/pants/skirts should be in matching colours
  • Conservative ties
  • Solid, dark or neutral colours (navy blue, black, or grey)
  • Professional shoes that are shined and in good repair, brown or black shoes to compliment your suit color
  • Closed-toe heel or dress shoes

Business Casual

  • Suit jackets are not necessary
  • Ties are optional
  • Plain-colored, collared shirts, cardigans or sweater-vests in a wide range of colors are generally accepted
  • Nice pants/slacks
  • Professional shoes that are shined and in good repair, brown or black to compliment your casual yet professional look

Casual Friday

  • Jeans, khakis, or corduroy pants are acceptable
  • Plain or plaid shirts, golf/polo shirts and company shirts are all acceptable
  • Loafers are acceptable; avoid sneakers/runners and refrain from wearing shoes that have holes and are dirty or raggedy
  • Sweat pants and shorts are not appropriate
  • If you are going to wear leggings, ensure they are made of thick material and worn with a long top reaching at least to your hips

For more tips for your first day visit the MCS website’s resource page!

Bright, Adaptable and Eager to Learn: How Deloitte Greenhouse benefits from Hiring Dalhousie’s Corporate Residency MBA students

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One of the unique and beneficial parts of completing a Corporate Residency MBA at Dalhousie University is the opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience through an 8-month work term. For the employers of these corporate residencies, the students who join their team often have a previous degree and work experience, adding value both to the company’s culture and bottom line. Recently, Dalhousie Management Career Services spoke to one of those employers, who has been hiring Corporate Residency MBA students since lauching their Atlantic Canada Division.

Kara Barnard is Regional Greenhouse Lead, Atlantic Canada at the Deloitte Greenhouse at Dalhousie University. The Deloitte Greenhouse Experience Program creates an environment that encourages business leaders to challenge conventional thinking and address complex questions. The program is brand new, but even with COVID-19 delaying the opening of their physical doors, the Greenhouse Experience Program has been active in the Atlantic Region since January 2020. “We kicked off our virtual launch with a Corporate Residency MBA student on board and have had one ever since. We will be having our third student join the team in January!”

Kara says that student employees perform a variety of tasks at the Deloitte Greenhouse, from supporting the delivery of virtual client sessions, to having the ability to pivot and dig in on whatever is needed, including finding the answers to get to the right design or approach for clients. “We have had exceptional experiences with our student employees! They have been bright, adaptable, eager to learn members of our team who had a meaningful impact within weeks of joining. They also bring a level of curiosity that continues to push our thinking about what we do and how we can do it differently.”

Kara shares that she would recommend hiring a Dal business student to any organization. “I found them to be an integral part of delivering quality to the clients we serve! They are quick to dive in and understand how they can help and explore the best way to make that happen.”

Interested in hiring a student or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Ayse Dai-Gammon, Employer Development Manager
Ayse.Gammon@dal.ca
902-220-2237

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator – NS
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca
902-219-2548

Alumni Spotlight: Jamie Dunbar, Tate Drummond and Max Clark

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Dalhousie alumni Jamie Dunbar, Tate Drummond, and Max Clark are currently working together at Carpedia International, a management consulting firm in Ontario.

Left to right: Max Clark, Tate Drummond, Jamie Dunbar

After completing his Bachelor of Science degree in 2013, Jamie was unsure about staying in the field of health sciences. “I ultimately leaned towards trying something new and decided to pursue my MBA so I could further my understanding of what opportunities existed on the operations side of business.” He graduated from Dal’s Corporate Residency MBA program in 2018.

Tate graduated from the Bachelor of Commerce program in 2019. When it came to picking his major, it was a student society that helped him decide. “After joining the Dalhousie Investment Society and learning more about the world of financial markets, I decided to pursue a major in finance.”

Max is a 2019 graduate from the Bachelor of Management program. What drew him to the program was the opportunity to pursue an 8-month internship, which he completed in Tokyo, Japan.

While all three alumni have different educational backgrounds from Dalhousie, the lessons they learned from their work experiences were diverse but equally valuable. As an MBA student, Jamie completed an eight-month corporate residency. “I was able to do a corporate residency with Davis Pier, a consulting firm in Halifax, with a focus in public sector. It was my first exposure to the consulting field and helped prepare me for client interactions.” As a Commerce Co-op student, Tate completed three 4-month co-ops with three different companies. “My co-ops helped me discover what excited me most or less. I tried different things, like Risk & Asset Management, in the industry I was targeting (finance) and learned a lot of valuable soft and technical skills, as well as equipped myself for success in courses I was taking.“ In further reflection, Tate says, “I uncovered what made me tick most; not my day-to-day in these roles, but problem solving projects I was taking on within my co-ops. This shifted my focus toward consulting, and I landed my last co-op in the field, setting me up for future success.” Through the optional internship program, as a Management student, Max completed his 8-month internship in the marketing field. “I worked as a Market Analyst for a mobility company in Tokyo. This played a role in my preparation for consulting by teaching me the required skills to critically think about issues and assess the best possible solutions and implementation strategies.”

In the professional world, consulting can hold a different definition depending on the person and who they work with most. For Jamie, who works as a Results Manager at Carpedia, his definition of consulting is “an opportunity to help businesses align their values and financial expectations, from the C-suite to the frontline employee.” Tate works as a Consultant, spending most of his time with mid-management and frontline employees. “Consulting entails being an expert active listener, trouble-shooter, and objectively minded problem-solver,” he says. “It’s providing a fresh perspective to organizations on how they can improve their performance.” Max, a Senior Consultant who spends a lot of his time with mid-management coaching departments during implementation, views consulting as “going into a business, diagnosing underlying issues, making recommendations to clients on how to solve these issues, and working side-by-side with them to support the implementation of these recommendations.”

There are many reasons why someone might be drawn to a particular career, but for Jamie, it was the aspect of helping people that fostered his interest in consulting. “The initial draw and what still brings me a great deal of joy is helping businesses achieve the operational and financial results they were unable to achieve on their own.” Speaking about his current position at Carpedia, Jamie says, “I typically switch between clients and industries every 6-8 months, which for me, keeps the work fresh.”

In Tate’s case, it was the environment of consulting that drew him in, and the desire to work in agile environments with intelligent and results-oriented individuals. “The pressure of achieving results is high, but every day I am challenged to think on my toes and push myself professionally and personally,” he says.

Like Tate, Max was drawn to the fast paced, results-oriented culture where no two days are the same. “Yes, the learning curve may be a steep one at times, but the incredible amount of knowledge and diversity of skills that are gained from the job is what drew me in and has kept me around,” he says. “A lot of people think of consulting as a stepping stone to the next job, but for me it is not just a job, it’s a career.”

Their advice for you:

  • Try to figure out what you want in a job before entering the workforce. A company that aligns with your core values is where you will find the most success.
  • Network! Building relationships is just as important as getting good grades.
  • Have fun!

If you’d like to learn more about Carpedia or consulting in general from one of these Dal alumni, feel free to reach out to them on Linkedin!

Alumni Spotlight: Rika Kebede

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Rika Kebede is a Spring 2021 graduate of the Corporate Residency MBA program. In 2015, she completed her undergraduate degree in BioMedical Science at the University of Guelph. After taking a couple of years off, Rika decided a medical career wasn’t the right path for her. “The Dalhousie MBA was always on my radar, but I was kind of scared to make the pivot from science to business. Once I dug into it a little more, I realized just how beneficial the CRMBA would be for me as I tried to figure out my professional goals.”

Rika Kebede HeadshotDespite knowing that she wanted to pursue a CRMBA, in terms of a specific career path, Rika kept her options open. “I had no idea what route I wanted to take, whether that was consulting, banking, finance, or something else. And I think it’s important to share that because there are always people that have a clear goal or career in mind, but I wasn’t that person, and I know there are others like me that are in the same boat.” Rika set herself a goal to network with at least two people per week to help discover areas of interest. “Fortunately, CRMBA alumni (and Dal alum overall) are incredibly open and happy to chat, so I was easily able to meet a number of previous grads to get an understanding of the work they do and whether similar roles would be a good fit for my personality, goals, skills, and interests.”

During her job search for her 8-month corporate residency, Rika experienced challenges deciphering and understanding job descriptions. “Job postings tend to be generic and don’t always offer a ton of insight into what you’ll actually be doing or the team dynamics. Don’t rule out a job just because one or two lines don’t resonate with you, or because you don’t think you’re qualified. Do some networking beforehand (or leading up to the interview if you decide to apply) and shoot your shot, because it could end up being an awesome opportunity! And if it isn’t – you’ll have either gained interview experience or learned about what you don’t want to do.”

For her corporate residency, Rika worked at Deloitte Greenhouse as an Experience Designer. She admits that at first her idea of the corporate world was old-fashioned. “I didn’t really know what to expect when I first joined the Greenhouse, but being open to new experiences and opportunities was something I was really excited about,” she says. “The Greenhouse showed me that there’s an ability to blend behavioural-science, design thinking, and strategy to create immersive experiences for clients and teams, while still having fun!”

Rika’s advice for you:
• Not all networking calls will feel natural (especially at the start), but the more you network, the better you’ll get at navigating conversations and different personalities!
• Be open!

Instagram: @rikaakebede
Pronouns: She/her

Student Spotlight: Weilin Huang

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Weilin Huang is an international student from China who is graduating from the Bachelor of Commerce program in 2022 with a major in Accounting and a minor in Economics. She has already secured a post-graduation job at Deloitte’s Toronto office as a Consultant, which she describes as her dream job.

During her time in the Commerce program, Weilin completed her three co-op work terms with three different companies. She spent her first as a Captive Associate for Marsh Canada Limited, her second as a Junior Associate, Investor Operations at MUFG Investor Services, and her final co-op as an Investigations Officer with RBC this past summer. Weilin cites these experiences as a key contributor to landing her post-grad job at Deloitte, by helping her grow important skills like problem solving and communication. “At the beginning of my first co-op, my communication skills were not as good and I was afraid to speak in front of the group. My manager gave me some feedback and suggestions about how to improve. In the end, I effectively improved my public speaking skills.”

In all of her work terms, Weilin had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people, which she says was the most exciting part of the experience. “I had the opportunity to learn about the other functions of the companies and meet new people,” she says. “The thing I value most from my past co-op is the company culture and team collaboration. I worked in a very supportive team and everyone was willing to help me when I met obstacles. I really loved that environment.”

Like many other Commerce students, Weilin experienced interruptions to her co-op in March 2020 due to COVID-19. During her first co-op, she spent the final two months working from home, while her second and third were completed remotely. “Working from home reduces commute time and was more flexible for me. However, it still has cons in that it is harder to connect with other colleagues than when working in the office.”

Weilin’s advice for you:

  • Reach out to experienced professionals for coffee chats to learn more about the industry you are interested in.
  • Reach out to people in your desired position or company to learn more about the company culture and job responsibility.

Instagram: ericccia

Pronouns: she/her

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