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

May 18, 2023 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Even 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: Sasha Paikin & Keshav Paliwal

August 30, 2018 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Sasha Paikin and Keshav Paliwal are two second-year Bachelor of Commerce students who made the most of their first year in anticipation for their first co-op job hunt this fall! We asked them a few questions to find out how they did it, how it helped them, and wether they have any advice for students entering their first year:

Sasha Paikin is from Burlington, Ontario and is thinking of majoring in accounting. In her first year, she attended 15 MCS events, including numerous Info Sessions, and the Toronto Corporate Tour. During her summer off, she worked for Durward Jones Barkwell as an accounting intern.
Keshav Paliwal is from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and is thinking of majoring in accounting or finance. In his first year, he attended 12 MCS events including many Power Hours Workshops and the Toronto Corporate Tour. During his summer off, he worked in commercial banking with Scotiabank.

Here are a few of the questions we asked them:

How did you find the time to attend so many events between classes and homework?
It honestly wasn’t difficult; most events were either in between my classes or afterward so I never had to miss any class to go to an event I was interested in. – Sasha

If you plan ahead and stay on top of your work it’s not a problem to find some time to attend an event. –Keshav

Which event was your favourite?
The Halifax Corporate Tour was my favourite event because of the opportunities to network in small groups with so many interesting organizations. – Sasha

I don’t have a particular favourite event, though any event in which recruiters from an organization came to the school was a really valuable experience, as you get to learn about opportunities and expand your network. – Keshav

What was your impression of the Toronto Corporate tour?
The Toronto Corporate Tour was a great experience and I would recommend it to everyone. The networking events were a great opportunity to make connections and the corporate tour visits allowed me to see the positions I would like to apply to this fall first-hand. – Keshav

How do you feel going into your first co-op job hunt this fall?
Attending these events has definitely made me feel more prepared. I now feel more comfortable making meaningful connections and selling myself in interviews. – Sasha

I feel really well prepared to go into my first job hunt thanks to the MCS events which helped me develop my interview, resume and cover letter skills. I’ve also found that it really helps to get advice from upper-year students who have a few co-ops under their belt. – Keshav

What advice do you have for a first-year student coming to Dal?
I recommend learning as much as you can in your first-year about the co-op process through MCS events so that you don’t feel stressed in the fall of second-year. I would also 100% recommend going on a corporate tour, even if you aren’t interested in working in Toronto or Halifax. They are a great opportunity to make connections that could help you secure a position in the future. – Sasha

I recommend taking full advantage of all the DCS [Dalhousie Commerce Society] and MCS events, particularly, the case competitions. They offer a great opportunity to build analytical and presentation skills. Definitely apply for the Toronto and Halifax Corporate Tours, they expand your network and learn what job opportunities may interest you. – Keshav

To learn more about the events we offer and what MCS can do for you, check out our website and the Events Calendar on myCareer!

How to Leverage your Summer Work and Volunteer Experience

August 21, 2017 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

As you start looking for your first co-op, internship, or post-grad job, consider how any of your experiences can strengthen an application and give you a competitive advantage. It’s easy to overlook summer jobs or part-time jobs if they don’t seem directly related to your career goals. You may think, how can flipping a burger, working a cash register, being a nanny, or volunteering at an event help me land a job in a more professional setting? However, in almost any job you have had in the past, you have learned something new, gained experience you can draw on, or worked with people that can help you achieve your future career goals.

Identify transferable skills and accomplishments

Skills that employers are looking for can be developed in a variety of ways. For example, mentoring new servers in a restaurant shows leadership and communication skills; completing landscaping jobs on-time shows time management skills; and working as part of sales team shows collaboration and teamwork. When identifying which skills you have developed, consider which ones were required to complete the tasks and responsibilities of your role. Here’s five ways you can easily leverage it.

Update your resume and LinkedIn account

Once you have identified which transferable skills you have developed, highlight them on your resume with strong profile and action statements. If you need extra help with this, attend the “Improve your Cover Letter and Resume” workshop, watch the e-webinar on writing a winning resume, and/or book a one-on-one appointment with a Career and Recruitment Specialist.

Maintaining a LinkedIn profile is a great tool to show your skills and qualifications to employers – and have recruiters come to you.

Looking for help getting started on LinkedIn? Watch the “Your Career Starts Here” and “Top 5 Profile To-Do’s” videos on the LinkedIn for Students Youtube playlist.
Already have a profile? Attend our next LinkedIn workshop which covers how to maximize the social media platform.

Think of examples from your work experience that showcase your skills and abilities

Expand and illustrate the skills you highlighted in your resume and cover letter during upcoming interviews. Your cover letter should provide specific examples of key skills the job requires. Additional examples can be provided during the interview. Avoid repeating what is in your cover letter – they have that already; tell them something new.

Interviewers commonly use behavioural interview questions that ask you to draw on previous experiences. For more information on behavioural interviews, watch our e-webinar which covers how to formulate the perfect answer.

Request references and/or LinkedIn endorsements

Show future employers you can walk the walk by proactively putting together a list of references that reinforce your application. An additional option is to ask colleagues and supervisors to endorse your skills on LinkedIn, which can add credibility to a job application, attract recruiters looking for your particular skillset, and increase your profile’s professionalism.

Stay connected with your employer

Whether your summer job or volunteer experience was in an industry you would like to pursue as a career or it was just to help pay for tuition, your former employers can be great resources to you in the future. Building your network with a variety of contacts has the chance to offer some unique opportunities down the road. Be sure to collect business cards, connect on LinkedIn, and thank your employer for the experience during your time with the organization. Keep in touch in case new opportunities with greater career development potential or full-time roles become available. Since your former boss or company is familiar with your capabilities and experience, they may be more likely to consider you over other candidates who they don’t know.

What is a Mid-Term Review?

October 20, 2015 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Taking some time to evaluate and reflect on your experiences while on your first co-op work term is very important to do. It helps you evaluate the skills you are developing, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and can better define your career interests. Understandably, some students may not take the time to properly reflect during the first portion of their first work term and are more focused on performing their best at work or making the best impression they can at their new workplace. Thankfully, your co-op work term includes a mandatory mid-term review session with your Management Career Services Career and Recruitment Specialist. This represents an opportunity to take a step back from your co-op job and really think about how your first work term is helping your career development.

The mid-term review occurs half-way through your first work term and consists of you and a Career and Recruitment Specialist from Management Career Services meeting either in person or on the phone to discuss the following areas of your work experience:

Job expectation versus reality (it terms of job descriptions and tasks/projects)
Favourite and most challenging aspects of your position
Areas of strength and improvement
Discuss new skills and knowledge you’ve obtained
Goals for the remainder of your work term

The mid-term review is an honest and confidential experience that should help you realize your strengths, discuss areas of improvement, and truly evaluate how your first work term experience will help you define your career interests.

In addition to meeting with you, your Career and Recruitment Specialist will also be conducting mid-term review with your employer whose feedback can go a very long way in helping you understand who you are as an employee and a professional in the workplace. Ultimately, the mid-term review is a critical part of any co-op and your career development.

During your mid-term review you will also have the opportunity to show how much you’re enjoying your first co-op by participating in the work term pride campaign that will showcase you as a successful and proud student!

For more information on the mid-term review process and other approaching check points in the Commerce Co-op program, visit the Commerce Orientation Workbook under the Resources section of myCareer.

How to impress your boss with professionalism, etiquette, and initiative

December 2, 2014 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Securing your first work term is a great achievement and an important first step to your career development. It is also an excellent opportunity to make a positive impression that can lead to success in the workplace as well as making great professional connections. To make the most out of your first work term, consider these tips:

RESEARCH & REACH OUT

Learn as much as you can about the role, the company, your boss, and your co-workers before your first day. You can do this through speaking with people you know, researching the company website, the news, LinkedIn etc
Ensure you reach out to your immediate supervisor to introduce yourself prior to starting work. Confirm logistics such as: Location, start time, dress code, and emergency phone numbers.
Give some thought to the skills and knowledge you are hoping to get out of the work term, how you can achieve this and who can best help you achieve your goals

TAKE TIME TO S.T.U.D.Y.

S = Survey your surroundings

T= Take the time to analyze and learn the most important things; company’s strategic plan, goals and objectives, structure, processes, current projects

U = understand the people situation: Who are the key resources? Who’s doing what?

D = Do not make hasty decisions. Being new means you will not yet understand the current situation, facts, or internal politics

Y = Yes you can! No matter how overwhelmed you feel in your new position –just take a deep breath, remain calm, stay focused, and prioritize, prioritize, prioritize

DEAL WITH AMBIGUITY

Ask questions to understand your role and how you will be evaluated. Learn the business, in and outside of the area/team you are working. Approach your supervisor to schedule a time where you might interview them to learn more about the company/industry/job. Be proactive as it is great to show initiative, but show some restraint. Humility plays as important a role as ambition.

EXHIBIT PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

How you answer the telephone, how you use email, and how you articulate your voice mail greeting are different from your personal accounts
When leaving a message, ensure you state your name and contact information at the beginning and end of the short, concise message
Perform menial tasks with enthusiasm to demonstrate your work ethic does not change depending on the task you are assigned
Show respect for the corporate culture
Become acquainted with colleagues, even those outside your peer group

RELATIONSHIP & IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT

Remembering names is a very important business skill to master. Develop strategies to remember names.
Learn what is normal in this particular workplace: work hours, coffee use, smoking, parking etc
Try to avoid eating at your desk. Arrive early to work, ready to work, not to eat breakfast
First impressions matter… and they last. Always dress professionally. It is better to overdress then to underdress
Take initiative to ask for more work if you are not busy. Let people know your strengths and your willingness to assist
Be keen. Don’t be the first one to leave at the end of the day. Always remember that even if this is not the job you want for a career, it is a stepping stone for you in terms of your resume, your skills and a reference

ADD VALUE

80% of success is attributed to simply showing up and giving 100%. When you commit to a goal, deadline, or say you are going to do something, ensure you meet those expectations
Keep moving forward and do extras. Avoid excuses such as “I have no experience” or “I am a student”. For the duration of your work term, you are an employee of that company and should identify yourself as such
Demonstrate that you are approachable and coachable. Being able to receive constructive feedback and use it to improve is an important skill to have
After one month, take the initiative and request an informal review of your progress
Start each day by writing down how you can contribute and what you hope to learn
End the day by writing down what expected and unexpected progress you made and what you can do tomorrow

Archives for 1st work term

Identify transferable skills and accomplishments

Update your resume and LinkedIn account

Think of examples from your work experience that showcase your skills and abilities

Request references and/or LinkedIn endorsements

Stay connected with your employer