UCalgary Career Services: In the Works: Recent Episodes
UCalgary Career Services
Career development is so much more than updating your resume, writing a cover letter, and practicing your networking.
In each episode of In the Works, we sit down with a special guest and chat about what's new in the world of work. You'll get honest advice from someone who's been there, learn how you can turn your education experience into an exciting job, and hear some of their hilarious stories and conversations along the way.
Social media content creators are popping up everywhere: podcasts, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitch. Can this unconventional profession be an established career choice for students, and how might it fit into a long-term career plan?
In this episode, Labib Ahmad and Harrison Yeung discuss what it takes to have a successful career as an influencer, the pros and cons you might not have considered, and the kind of roles that have emerged with the rise of social media.
Do you remember being asked as a kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question that haunts people throughout their careers — where am I going? Well, we have good news: it’s totally okay to not know what you want to do. In this episode, Labib Ahmad and Harrison Yeung discuss their career paths and the uncertainty that comes with them. Do you really need a definite plan for your career? Do you have to have a specific end goal in mind? Their personal experiences highlight that career uncertainty is exceedingly common, and that the real key is building career resiliency to succeed in your professional life. Later, Labib and Harrison also discuss the importance of term-based jobs that can propel young careers forward. There are so many options to choose from, like the Explore Micro-Placements Program, which allows students to gain real-world experience without the long-term commitment.
In this episode, we take a peek into recruitment and culture by chatting with Lauren Bozko, a recruiter with Litco Law. She tells us about the unique way they interview potential employees, how they've cultivated a culture that ensures that staff love what they do and where they work. Lauren shares why she thinks "human resources" needs a rebrand, and what skills are necessary for a successful career working with people.
Lastly — get a peek into the hiring process. What does a recruiter say you MUST have to succeed in your job application?
In this episode, David and Lawrence sit down with an old friend! Hasnaien Ahmed (BSc '19) was a longtime volunteer with Career Services and is now studying medicine at the University of Alberta. He discusses some of the challenges of medical school and how he reframed "failure" to stay resilient, motivated and passionate about your path.
Next, he and the co-hosts discuss why you don't need to be one-dimensional in your career planning, and that it's okay to pursue a wide array of interests. Hasnaien also shares why he made the strategic choice to pick a minor or extracurriculars that weren't "GPA boosters".
Does attending post-secondary count as a career move? We think so — additional education shapes your career in many ways and can open up more options for you in the future. Grad school is one of those options — it can lead to higher salaries, advanced roles and may even be required for positions in research and academia.
We talk to Mehnaz Rafi, a UCalgary alumna and current researcher at the Haskayne School of Business, focusing on organizational behaviour. She tells us about what grad student life was like, what skills you should develop for grad school and how you can make strategic connections with supervisors to elevate your research.
We're gearing up for the Industry Career Fair! David and Lawrence round up their tips for you to stand out at a virtual career fair and why it's essential to follow up after you network.
In this episode, Linda Chan covers her 20+ year journey as a marketing and events professional, and her current role as Director of Community and Collaboration at Benevity. Getting to where she is now wasn't easy, but she gives tips on the steps she took to get the all-important foot in the door. Now, her job allows her and her clients to dream big, apply innovative solutions to complex problems, and create lasting memorable experiences.
Introduction
Lawrence and David talk about their personal experiences with the transition from working from home and what they're looking forward to in the fall term. Next, we interview Tim Cruz (BComm '18, MDSA '21), a data scientist at AltoSante and a member of Calgary's startup and data science community.
Tim discusses the importance of practicing and developing soft skills during university (yes, group projects will help), and how they were crucial for his success. He also shares what life is like working at a startup like AltoSante and how he navigates a fast-paced environment where uncertainty is absolutely certain.
In this episode, David and Lawrence discuss the benefits of joining a professional association before sitting down to chat with Helen Hajnoczky, Editorial and Marketing Coordinator with University Press at the University of Calgary. She shares the circumstances that led her to a career in publishing, including writing for student publications such as NoD and Rampike magazine, and divulges resources and programs to help you get your start in the industry.
It's the little things. David and Lawrence explore the importance of customer service jobs and the lessons and skills you gain. They also delve into their experiences working in the industry and reflect on when they delivered excellent customer service before finding their respective careers.
Later, David and Jingfeng chat with Lawrence Kirtiadi (MEng '15, BSc '12), Territory Manager at Bellgro Health and Wellness. With a background in engineering, Kirtiadi discusses what influenced his decision to switch to sales and the importance of finding a mentor to aid you in your career journey. He also shares his thoughts on networking and what you should really be taking away from each connection you make.
In this episode, David and Lawrence explore how to navigate challenging interview questions and the benefits of completing the Clifton Strengths test.
Later, David and Shubham chat with Thiago, an intermediate software developer at Helcim. Thiago recounts his experience growing up in Brazil and pursuing a Bachelor's of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the exchange trip that led him to pursue an MSc of Electrical Engineering at the University of Calgary. He explains the lessons he's learned over the years, including tackling and facing new problems and challenges.
David and Lawrence cap off the episode by discussing the correlation between popular games such as poker or the game of life and career development.
David and Lawrence discuss their first summer jobs and provide tips for those looking to land their own. Later, David and student host Shubham chat with Dorothy Chung (BSW 19") about her practicum and what it's like to be a social worker in the field of children's services.
To round off the episode, David and Lawrence revisit their CD for film and TV segment, applying career development tips to The Intern (2015), starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
In this episode, David and Lawrence reflect on what they learned at Career Services' recent career conference, It's your move: Navigating a new world.
We also chat with special guest Preet Dhesi (BComm '15, Accounting) and explore the realm of investment banking. After a few years working in accounting at a Big Four firm, Preet had his "a-ha moment," when he realized his true aspirations lay elsewhere. He made his career transition to investment banking, joining the team at BMO Capital Markets, where he currently works as an investment banking associate. Preet describes how and why he made the leap, and why getting involved with his interests during university helped lead him to his dream job.
Later, Lawrence and Liliana discuss The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, written by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, and reveal tips for cultivating your own self-compassion and its related benefits.
Charlotte, David, Matthew and Lawrence continue answering your questions. Are you making the right impression when networking? What's the best strategy to secure a promotion? What's "cross-training," and why should you do it?
In our Real People, Real Careers segment, David interviews Nagwan Al-Guneid (BA '05, MSc SEDV '15). Her passion for sustainable development helped guide her to her current position as Communications Lead with Energy Futures Lab. She shares her experience as an international student from Yemen, her "zig-zagging" path through her studies (she originally planned to go to medical school), and how important it is to stay up-to-date on current issues to succeed in your career.
You asked, we answered! We collected questions from our listeners and let the career development team bust common myths and share their input. What keywords should you be using to stand out to recruiters? What job boards should you be looking at for your field of study? Next, why does Aaron Quinton say you should be the "least intelligent person in the room?". Aaron Quinton (BSc Chemical Engineering '15, MDSA '19) is a data scientist at the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA). However, data science wasn't something he initially planned to study — instead, he pursued his studies and job search with a sense of curiosity and open-mindedness. Aaron also shares how every industry runs on data and why data science the perfect field for problem solvers.
In this episode, we chat with Kristin Kersey (BN '07), a Clinical Research Nurse with Alberta Health Services. Find out how she landed on nursing as a career and the challenges she's faced so far, including managing a proper work-life balance and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Later in the episode, Lawrence and David dissect the 1999 cult film Office Space. How has it shaped the way we view job satisfaction and "corporate life" today?
Resumes have changed a lot since their origins in the 14th century. In this episode, Lawrence and David dig into the real dos and don'ts of resumes, like, "one page or two? Can I use colour? Is Times New Roman passe?"
Next, Sean Mallany (BA '10, MPP '12) shares how following his interests led him to a Master's in Public Policy, to a provincial internship and finally, to a full-fledged career in public policy.
In this episode, we interview Nora Molina, director of UCalgary Career Services (and our boss!)
She's had an exciting career path, primarily working in post-secondary environments and the non-profit sector. It all started with the unique experiences she made for herself when she was a student at UCalgary — one thing led to another and ended with her landing an incredible (and what she calls "accidental") career.
How do you turn a love of the outdoors into a fulfilling and challenging career?
Carmen Chelick, the founder of Biodigenous Consulting, explains how her biology background evolved into so much more. In this episode, we discuss entrepreneurship, why you need a mentor, and getting paid to be outside.