Managing People & Organizations

From her time with Big Brothers and Sisters Canada to her time with Health Canada, Jenn Dubois has found her passion of helping people. Jenn is a fourth year Commerce student majoring in Managing People and Organizations. On top of her studies, Jenn is also Co-Captain of the ROWE JDCC, a youth mentor, and a SPCA foster parent.

Before coming to Dalhousie Jenn lived all around Central and Eastern Canada. Though the transition of moving was difficult Jenn found a way to get involved in extra-curriculars while maintaining her studies. The mandatory co-op drove Jenn to choose Commerce at Dalhousie, prompting her to move again from New Brunswick to Halifax.

“Moving around showed me there is something different about every place you go, and to seize any opportunity rather than waiting for an opportunity to fall into your lap. No matter how scary or different it may seem, it could be a one-time opportunity that you may not get again and if you do, you never have to do again.”

Jenn deferred her first co-op to focus on her studies part time while working with Health Canada. This experience allowed her to network for her co-op and gain expertise about Government Human Resources. Jenn has since completed her two co-ops with Health Canada allowing her to experience the organization in different positions as well as notable moments. During her Winter 2018, she earned two awards of excellence for Excellence in Service Delivery, one from the Assistant Deputy Minister, and another from the Deputy Minister himself. She accomplished this when a vacancy opened and volunteered to help fill the organizational gap, which placed her into the teams working to fix the Phoenix pay issues the organization was facing.

“A tip for any students looking to secure a co-op with the federal government Federal government should create an account on GCJobs and look at FSWEP [Federal Student Work Experience Program] or COOP opportunities posted.” She also suggests that if you are interested in a role related to Managing People and Organizations that it doesn’t hurt to try one out. There is a wide range of jobs types and it is a great way to network as well as get to understand companies better.

Jenn is hoping to secure her final co-op and secure a full time position with the governments Human Resources division. With the connections she has made in the industry, as well as the experiences she’s had, she is in good standing to secure such positions! If you would like to reach out to Jenn or follow her career connect with her LinkedIn.

If you are interested in working in Managing People and Organization please feel free to contact our CRS specialist Maggie Ma for more information, or Jennifer Coombs to learn more about applying to government organizations.

This week’s spotlight showcases our new Career and Recruitment Specialist, Maggie Ma. Maggie brings a passion for international business and a background rich in helping people achieve their career goals, making her a phenomenal addition to the Management Career Services team. She also has an abundance of experience in areas such as entrepreneurship, engineering, medicine, and international trade.

Maggie is an alumna of Dalhousie, having graduated from the Engineering program in 2009. She brings a breadth of experience and industry-specific intelligence to her role with MCS. For example, upon graduation, Maggie spent several years advising clients to provide industry and trade education on and familiarization with global markets, as well as liaising with prospective international businesses seeking opportunities in Canada.

Maggie later worked for a research and development engineering firm where she oversaw the establishment and operation of a clean energy lab located in Bedford. Shortly thereafter, as a result of the significant experience she had gained, Maggie completed her Project Management Professional certification.

During her time as an independent business consultant, she realized her desire and talent for helping people, particularly young people. Since she had already gained so much experience in this area, it was a natural transition for her to then join the Co-op Office at St. Mary’s University.

At St. Mary’s, Maggie had the opportunity to work with students from across all faculties and disciplines as an Office Coordinator. In this role, her passion and talent for helping others build their career became more apparent than ever, but this time, with a focus on co-op education and work-integrated learning.

“I love helping students from the early stages of the job search through to landing their first job,” says Maggie. “Most students are very energetic and eager, but aren’t sure where to start, which is where I come in.”

Maggie will be available to start meeting with students as of next week (March 18, 2019). The main groups of students that she will be serving include Commerce students interested in International Business (previously assigned to Jonathan Perry) and Managing People & Organizations (previously assigned to Jennifer Coombs), as well as Bachelor of Management students seeking general career coaching. Maggie is thrilled to be working with students from the Rowe School of Business, especially since international business has always been an area of interest for her.

When asked about what advice she would give to her undergraduate self, she responded by saying that she wishes she had been more confident in her own strengths and abilities and had taken advantage of the resources available through the school.

“I would encourage students to remember that employers are there to help you grow through your co-op experience. Learning comes first and everyone is there to help students be successful.”

If you fit into one of the student groups previously mentioned and are keen to meet with Maggie to discuss your co-op goals or just ask questions about your career, be sure to book an appointment with her through myCareer.

Student Spotlight: Jenn Dubois

MCS Spotlight: Maggie Ma, Career and Recruitment Specialist

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