Student Spotlight: Lathika Saravanan

June 10, 2024 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Lathika Saravanan, a second-year Commerce Co-op student majoring in Finance, describes her heritage as “a blend of Indian roots and Saudi Arabian upbringing.” To Lathika, her journey at Dalhousie is not just about academic excellence, but also about breaking stereotypes and pursuing her passions. “The world of Commerce has captivated me since high school, with its intricate dance of money and global economic dynamics. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about understanding the heartbeat of economies and how they shape our world.”

During her first co-op in winter 2024, Lathika worked with Scotia Wealth Management as a Service Support Officer. In this role, she played a pivotal part in the Private Banking team, ensuring adherence to regulations and internal procedures while delivering exceptional service to clients.

While Lathika didn’t work on specific projects, her contributions were nonetheless significant. By tackling various tasks aimed at enhancing team efficiency, such as organizing client data and managing administrative duties, she enabled her colleagues to focus more on delivering personalized service—an accomplishment that underscores her dedication and commitment to excellence. According to Lathika, her biggest accomplishment this term was her coffee chats with coworkers. “I’ve managed to keep my network tight knit. It’s like nurturing a friendship garden, where trust and camaraderie bloom. Mixing work with a bit of fun, that’s the secret sauce!”

Beyond her professional endeavours, Lathika is an active member of the Dalhousie Quantitative Finance Society, a relatively new society at Dal. As a representative, she strives to support its growth by connecting with students and imparting valuable insights about the society and recent finance news, underscoring her passion for fostering growth and learning among peers.

Through another student society, Lathika had the opportunity to participate in the DALIS (Dalhousie Investment Society) Stock Pitch Competition this year, which she describes as a nerve-wracking yet rewarding experience. Despite initial challenges, her team secured third place—a testament to their resilience and determination. “Winning isn’t everything. What truly matters is putting yourself out there, embracing the opportunity to grow and learn. As a student, that should be your primary focus.”

Lathika shares that networking has played a crucial role in her co-op journey so far, especially in securing her first opportunity. Embracing platforms like LinkedIn opened doors to unexpected encounters and connections, ultimately leading to meaningful opportunities. “The more active and engaged you are on LinkedIn, the more employers will take notice. It’s where sincerity in your job search shines through.”

Here is Lathika’s advice for you:

Prioritize learning and growth over winning.
Embrace opportunities for personal and professional development.
Be authentic and proactive.
Seize every opportunity to make your presence known.
Utilize QR codes provided at networking events to continue making connections.

Student Spotlight: Jinhan Xiao

September 18, 2023 Management Career Services 1 Comment

An international student from China, third-year Commerce Co-op student Jinhan Xiao chose to pursue his degree at Dalhousie because of the co-op program. “Dalhousie is recognized as one of the top universities in Canada. I chose to study at Dal due to its excellent Commerce co-op program, which can help me pursue my dream job in the future,” he says.

Being an international student, Jinhan knows that adapting to a new culture can be challenging, but says that at Dalhousie, he has found a community that has been incredibly welcoming. “The people here are friendly and always ready to offer assistance, making my study experience very enjoyable.”

Jinhan completed his first work term this past winter, where he worked at ITFL Chartered Accountants in New Minas as an Internal Audit and Compliance Staff co-op student. His responsibilities included filing tax returns, preparing balances, and managing administrative tasks. “My co-op provided me with invaluable practical skills that go beyond classroom learning,” he says. “It offered a glimpse into the real work environment in Canada and equipped me with interpersonal skills and professional tax knowledge that will greatly benefit my future career.”

Jinhan’s search for his first co-op position started with refining his resume and crafting an impactful cover letter. After tailoring his application, he used myCareer to explore different job postings. “MCS’ platform myCareer is an excellent resource for locating work terms. It features a lot of job postings, each vetted by MCS before being published. I recommend that students seeking work term positions explore opportunities on the myCareer platform. Alternative websites such as Indeed and LinkedIn can also yield promising job prospects. These platforms offer numerous valuable opportunities as well.” Jinhan also recommends applying for a diverse range of jobs to increase the chance of success. “While you might be passionate about a particular position, considering multiple options will help.”

Student Spotlight: Natcha Wannaklang

October 30, 2018 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Natcha Wannaklang is a 4th-year BComm student majoring in accounting. She is originally from Thailand and came to Canada to pursue her undergraduate degree in Commerce at Dalhousie. Despite being an international student immersed in an unfamiliar country and speaking another language, Natcha was able to secure three work terms in Canada and fast-track her professional development. Keep reading to get inspired by Natcha’s work term success!

When asked about the biggest job search challenge she has had to face being an international student, Natcha says that it was difficult to make connections when all of your past work experience is in another country.

“It is hard to get your foot in the door for an interview with companies when your past work experience isn’t in Canada. Since I am from Thailand, all my work experience was in another language and culture, and I was trying to find work in a country I didn’t have any personal connections in. Even though I grew up speaking another language, I am fully capable of working in English, as are many other international students.”

Working in the small, rural community of Inverness during her second co-op work term at Cabot Links presented Natcha with a greater feeling of culture shock than she had experienced before. But it helped that her employers and co-workers were very welcoming, and all the workers were very close.

“When I first moved to Inverness, I lived in staff accommodations where I got to meet many of my coworkers who I now consider my friends. Since many of the workers at Cabot Links are from all over the country, having workplace events really helped bring everyone together and feel more a part of the team”.

One of the greatest strengths Natcha believes she brings to her employers as an international student is her diverse background and culture. Growing up in a different culture than most of her classmates and peers gives her the competitive edge of having a unique perspective. According to Natcha, sometimes a different perspective leads to a new way to solve a problem. This proved especially useful when tasked with finding solutions to problems during her work terms.

“Having multiple perspectives and approaches for solving problems is always beneficial because it allows a company to listen to new ideas and find a better way to achieve the goal at hand”.

Although Natcha has experienced challenges finding a co-op work term, she says her experience has been nothing but positive when it comes to personal and professional development. One of the most difficult aspects of being an international student is not knowing the culture of your host country. Natcha says that all three of her co-op work term employers went above and beyond and were welcoming and supportive throughout her employment. From helping to update her resume and cover letter, to engaging her in team building activities, Natcha says she has felt comfortable from the beginning.

When asked about what type of advice Natcha would give to fellow international students who are looking to make the most out of their co-op work terms, she says to work hard and make sure to get out of your comfort zone.

“Finding a co-op placement is never easy, so by working hard and applying to a lot of job openings, it increases the chances that you will find a co-op that you will like and will help you to further your future career. My work terms have resulted in going out of comfort zone by working in a communications role, moving to a small town in Cape Breton for work, and working in an industry I wasn’t very familiar with. The great thing about my work terms was that each one gave me the experience I needed to find work after I graduate”.

Pro Tip:Optimize your job application by tailoring your resume and cover letter to align your skills and experience with the specific job description and qualifications.

Want to learn more about finding work in Canada? Check out our e-learning webinar “Beginners guide – the job search in Canada” under the Resources section of myCareer.

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