Meet Connor Ross, a fourth-year finance major from Calgary, Alberta. Since entering the Commerce Co-op Program, Connor has expressed a passion for getting involved in student-run initiatives including the Dalhousie Investment Society, the Dalhousie Movember team, and the Rowe Jeux de Commerce Central (JDCC) Team. As the captain of the Rowe team and the main Dalhousie representative for Movember, Connor became the third-ranked student fundraiser in the country in 2015. At the 2016 JDC competition, Connor earned the Dal JDC Team Most Valuable Player award. With work terms spanning from Halifax to Calgary, he has gained valuable insight into working in numerous finance industry sectors and locations. Here’s what Connor has gained from his experience:
“I would certainly recommend students explore different fields of work, regardless of whether it is related to their major. Their co-ops certainly don’t have to be in different cities but it certainly adds value to live and work in different business environments. In my opinion, students should use their three co-op terms to discover what interests them, which will allow them to have an idea of what industry/role they would like to pursue upon graduation. For myself, I have developed a passion for the oil & gas industry; an industry my family has been involved with for more than 50 years. These experiences have also influenced my grad job search in that I now know I want to continue working in corporate finance but I would like to acquire a job that allows me to have adequate work-life balance.
To ensure success during my work-terms, I applied three things that helped not only satisfy my job requirements but boost my professional development. Firstly, I learned that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. With most of my experiences being in the capital markets there is a tremendous learning curve, and to get the most out of my experience I asked an abundance of questions to learn about the industry. Secondly, I learned to always keep expanding your network. Developing your network allows you to utilize your connections for future job opportunities and leverage them for key information that allows you to perform your job more effectively. Lastly, I created a daily schedule of tasks, meetings and events to ensure I stayed up to date; time management skills are a necessity.
Extra-curricular activities have helped me tremendously with my interviews and job pursuits. Being involved in societies/teams has allowed me to separate myself from other students and showcase my ability to have an impact. I highly recommend to students to find a extra-curricular they are passionate about that allows them to showcase their skills and initiative. This will allow them to create a stronger resume and give them something to draw upon in interviews.”
Are you trying to decide which industry to pursue for your first work term or which area to major in? Come to the Industry Week Student Panel on Monday Feb. 1, 2016 from 2:30- 4:00 p.m. in Room 3089. Hear what other experienced 4th year Commerce Co-op students like Connor have to say about what it’s really like to work in different industry settings and roles, and gain advice on how to have a successful co-op. For full event details and registration, visit the myCareer event calendar.