UCalgary Career Services: In the Works

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.

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.