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5 Tips for Transitioning from Full-time Student to Full-time Employee
5 Tips for Transitioning from Full-time Student to Full-time Employee
Leaving your life as a student behind and entering the working world is a scary and overwhelming experience. It can be hard to say goodbye to the life you’ve been comfortable living for so long - and very exciting at the same time. As someone who only ever had part-time, retail jobs before starting my internship, I was so stoked to dip my toes into the world of a career I could see myself doing… and equally nervous. Rightfully so, as there have been a few challenges so far. Adjusting to a new schedule, learning how to productively manage my time and battling imposter syndrome have all been struggles for me. Now that I’ve been in my new role for about a month, I have a few tips and reminders for combating these issues and for making the transition to your new normal as smooth and comfortable as possible. Here are 5 things to remember when starting your first full-time job:
1.Get on top of your time management skills
As a student, I am the worst procrastinator of all time. My motto has always been “why do it now if I can do it later?”... definitely not the healthiest mindset to have. I will leave everything, including final assignments, until the last possible minute. Knowing that I am able to pull off pretty decent grades doing this just perpetuates the cycle and I have been stuck in this never-ending stress loop for my entire University career. Transitioning to the working world has been so different in this sense, because I literally don’t have time to procrastinate. With trying to juggle multiple projects at a time, spending a lot of time in meetings and ensuring that I’m not doing work after hours, it has become evident to me that organization and time management is key. It has not been the easiest transition so far and I have had to call on tools like Google Calendar and Notion to start blocking out my days in advance. Focusing on time management has allowed me to make sure that I prioritize the important stuff and allow time for everything that I need to get done in a day. It can also be super overwhelming at times when you have a lot of different tasks to juggle, but reading up on time management tips, like the ones in this Forbes article, has been extremely helpful. I have also learned that time management skills are a constant work in progress. But I feel that getting on top of time management early on in my transition to full-time work has been incredibly helpful and allowed me to limit my ability to procrastinate.
2.Set intentional work/life boundaries
Seriously! When you’re a student, your whole world revolves around school and your academic schedule. Whether it’s looming assignment deadlines or you’re fixating on your GPA, you often find yourself thinking about your school life outside of the classroom. When transitioning to full-time work, making sure that you keep your time away from the office completely to yourself is incredibly important. You’re not getting paid to think about work at home! Setting boundaries around work and really nourishing your personal life is essential to avoiding things like stress and burnout, which will really benefit you in the long run. I know how tempting it can be to get a headstart on emails at home or brainstorm ideas for a new project while you’re off the clock, but it’s important to remember that you should be saving these tasks for the office. I have found it helpful to spend my time outside of work cultivating my personal relationships, taking care of myself, practicing my hobbies and passions or even binge watching a new tv series (I recommend Succession). At the end of the day, failing to maintain a healthy work-life balance is only going to make the work you’re doing harder.,So do try to set those boundaries for yourself early on.
3.Stay curious
Whether you’re just starting a work term, a new summer job, or you’re taking the first steps in your post-graduate career, transitioning to full-time work is a valuable learning experience. You might think that your educational background has set you up to be an expert in your field, but you’ll soon realize how much you don’t know. Use this time to try new things, gain new career insights and most importantly - never stop asking questions. Getting a job is an exchange - you give the employer all of your wonderful skills and education and they provide you with an experience you’ve never had before. It’s a learning opportunity! I have found it helpful to stick my nose into every area of work that you can. Learning about the behind the scenes processes, quizzing my coworkers on what a day in their workday looks like and asking about professional development opportunities has provided many insights for me and the team. My advice? Take advantage of what your position has to offer because most of the time there are more opportunities than meet the eye.
4.Lean in to networking
One of the most valuable aspects of a new job is being on a new team! It can be weird and uncomfortable to go from seeing your friends and peers every single day at school to feeling like you only spend time with your coworkers. Though it’s important to maintain those friendships outside of work, don’t overlook the people that you see in the office everyday. I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn a lot about my colleagues and their work by conducting informational interviews. I have not only learned so much but I have also been able to ask if they know of anyone in the industry that would be good to chat with and gain insight from. Professional networking can be really fun and interesting and is a really valuable skill to build and maintain early on in your career. Get used to picking people's brains and having professional conversations as you never know when this will lead to a connection that can change your life! The contacts that you’re going to make now in your new role will probably last you a life-time and might even open doors and lead to exciting opportunities down the road. Be curious about everyone - and kind!
5.You were hired for a reason
This is the hardest one to remember, by far. Starting a new job and having to complete tasks you’ve never done before while following a schedule you’re not used to can be overwhelming. We are often our own worst critics and failing to meet a deadline or making a mistake at work can really make you feel like a failure who doesn’t deserve to be in your position. It’s easier said than done, but I have found it helpful to try and be kind to myself. Remember that you were hired for a reason! Your employer thought you were the best fit for the role out of an entire pool of applicants. They saw your experience, technical skills and watched you rock an interview - they made a bet on the potential they saw in you. It’s really easy to doubt yourself, but try not to self-sabotage! Go into work knowing that as long as you show up with a can-do attitude and a willingness to learn what you don’t already know, you can accomplish anything.
All in all, my transition from student to working life has been so exciting and educational. I’m finding that my time at the University of Alberta has prepared me for it in so many unexpected ways, and I am eternally grateful for the skills I've been able to develop throughout my degree and how they translate to my internship. I’m also grateful for all of the challenges I've faced so far, and what they’re teaching me. So no matter what you’re up to this summer, remember that you got this! Your University experience is invaluable and I’m certain that you’ll be prepared for success, no matter how it feels right now.
AWE Alumni Interview: Bouncing Back After Job Search Rejection with Nathaniel Haile
AWE Alumni Interview: Bouncing Back After Job Search Rejection with Nathaniel Haile
Getting a foot in the door of the working world can be difficult. Not to mention the frustration that comes from submitting handfuls of resumes and undergoing interviews, only to discover that the position was given to another candidate. But sooner or later, we learn that there are things we can’t control and that there are things we can control. Nonetheless, coping with job rejection can be stressful and add extra weight to future job applications. Does this ring true to you? Luckily, you’re not alone.
Nathaniel Haile was an AWE student whose initial work search expectations were hindered by the tumultuous nature of the Canadian labour market in 2019. Finding work during a pandemic was not easy. He had submitted almost 25 applications, interviewed for 8 positions and was the runner-up candidate for multiple employers.
Despite the challenges, Nathaniel was able to secure a 12-month work term as the Undergraduate Student Services Student Recruitment, Engagement and Communications Intern in Summer 2020. Flash forward to his graduation in June 2022, he was offered numerous full-time positions before he graduated with a double major in economics and political science. Three years later, Nathaniel is now a Masters student in Policy Studies where he had to decide between competing offers for his MA internship.
“A lot of the things that I’ve learned from AWE, I’ve used to land an internship for the policy studies program. It was because of those experiences from AWE that brought me to this step today.”
But before then, how exactly did Nathaniel persevere against the frustration of job search rejection?
First, it was crucial to remember that there were factors in the hiring-decision process that were out of Nathaniel’s control. The Alberta government had released the 2019 budget during the fall semester, leading to a hiring freeze on public-sector jobs. Unfortunately for him, that added an extra layer of boundaries to his work search process. He continued to apply to positions throughout fall, but the following semester was also filled with uncertainty.
“To put it into context, it was around March 2020. Everything was shutting down and there was a lot of unknown on the horizon. Not just in my job search, but globally speaking.” After multiple interview rounds with numerous employers, Nathaniel became the top candidate for multiple positions. But due to the hiring budget cuts, the employers were not able to move forward with the hiring process and had to cancel the positions.
As for the other jobs that he interviewed for, the employers told Nathaniel that they had no “real feedback” for his interviews. “I had answered all the questions precisely. I’ve done pretty well in the process, but I guess it just came down to a matter of choice.” And unfortunately, he was not their choice.
Acknowledging that, it was important for Nathaniel to learn not to take those uncontrollable factors personally. While we can control what we put on our resume or say in our interviews, we can’t control the qualifications of the other candidates and how employers determine “fit” for a position.
After the rejections, it came down to recognizing the aspects of the hiring process that Nathaniel did have control over. “I just realized that there’s always room for improvement, even when you think you did perfect (in an interview).”
Nathaniel spent time reflecting on where he needed to improve; and the answer to that varied from time to time. Sometimes, it came to answering interview questions more concisely. Other times, it came to preparing better questions for the employers or even paying more attention to detail for certain hiring assessments.
In October 2019, the Alberta government had announced plans to cut public sector jobs as part of their aim to returning to a balanced budget by 2023. Source.
“Just because I had to deal with rejection doesn’t mean I had to stop in the process of improving.”
Nathaniel didn’t wait when it came to reaching out to his Work Experience Coordinators. He frequently updated them on his work search and frequently asked for resume reviews and interview support.
With the combination of his numerous applications, feedback to consider AND schoolwork on top of everything, Nathaniel’s schedule was getting increasingly busier. “The frustrating part of applying to jobs was that it did take a lot of time to find a work term.” He optimized his time by blocking segments of his schedule in his calendar for applications and interview preparation.
“Because I knew that if I just saw a deadline, I scrambled before it, it wasn’t going to help me.” Instead, he would view the upcoming job application deadlines during the week and dedicated his time to working on the postings that expired during that same week.
While Nathaniel was reflecting on the ways to improve his applications and interviews, he was also brainstorming the ways that he could improve his experience to further qualify himself for positions. That potentially meant taking more responsibility in his part-time job, getting more involved on campus, or even finding more work experience. He did this so that when it came to his next round of interviews, he had more knowledge and examples that he could use to draw his answers from.
“That was the biggest take away. It’s not just what you do in the job application process, but it’s also what you do outside of it.”
Nathaniel’s biggest tip for anybody searching for work is to ask for feedback. Yes, this can be intimidating– but it’s worth it! It can be difficult to pinpoint where you could have improved in either your resume, cover letter or interview. But when you reach out, gaining the perspective of the employer can be beneficial to your understanding and learning of the hiring process. “And it could be something minor as, ‘oh, we just like the other candidate’, but then you know that you didn’t do anything wrong.” On the other hand, they could also give you valuable constructive feedback that you can apply to your future interviews.
Nathaniel emphasized the importance of keeping a positive mindset, especially in regards to the knowledge that comes from the experience of applying to jobs. “Experiential learning isn’t just about the job, but it’s about the process. There’s also a lot to learn while you’re in the position and there’s also a lot to learn afterwards.”
“The most valuable thing that I’ve received from my co-op experience is just that. The experience. Because work experience can really form and shape how you move forward in the future, and fortunately my experience with AWE really guides how I move now.”
Dealing with job rejection can be disheartening, but it is always important to remember that sometimes, there are certain decision factors that are out of your control. Try asking your friend, family member or colleague about a time when they got rejected from a job. They will most likely have an answer! Rejection is a part of life and you’re never alone in that experience.
AWE doesn’t only offer work experience, but it also offers a safe space to learn how to fall and pick yourself up again when it comes to job applications. Don’t hesitate to reach out for support from your resources and strive for improvement.
Working a Job Unrelated to your Major
Working a Job Unrelated to your Major
Aakanksha’s first year as an international student was hectic. She enrolled as an English major, but after spending a few semesters in the program she decided to switch into a double major in psychology and linguistics. But academic decisions weren’t her only struggle. Shaken after falling victim to a financial scam, she wanted to avoid all financial literacy programs and guides that reminded her of her situation.
However at the same time, Aakanksha was pondering her career options. She had discovered a field that would link her two majors perfectly: speech language pathology. And like most students searching for work experience, she was determined to land a job that directly coincided with her career aspiration. Becoming a Bank Advisor with RBC was not that, or so she thought! As this was the first work term she landed, Aakanksha originally assumed that she would have a “short stint in banking”. Yet it was an opportunity that surprisingly provided her with relevant experience that would bring her closer and closer to her speech pathology goals.
Work Search
Aakanksha was originally interested in finding positions in the psychology sector with Arts Work Experience. Unfortunately for her, there was a lack of callbacks to a number of her applications.
“I had reached a point where I was like, “oh no, I’m not getting jobs in the Canadian marketplace at all,” she recalls.
How Aakanksha Jaywasal, a psychology and linguistics student, developed relevant skills while working as a Bank Advisor with RBC that will benefit her career aspirations as a speech pathologist.
However, Aakanksha’s Work Experience Coordinator was still confident that she would be able to secure a work term. She encouraged Aakanksha to apply for all the positions that she was interested in – even if her work experience didn’t conventionally fit the job posting’s requirements. She followed her Coordinator’s advice, applying to a wide variety of positions that appealed to her, including a posting for a Banking Advisor. She was hesitant to initially apply due to her lack of experience in finances – even her knowledge on the topic was still rocky after she spent her first year actively avoiding the subject! Nonetheless, her Coordinator reassured her that she didn’t have to meet every single requirement of the job posting. Everyone has transferable skills from their past experience, especially Arts students. Combine that with a positive attitude and you have a great framework for the base of your application.
That’s when Aakanksha received a job offer for the Banking Advisor position with RBC. After studying the job posting, she was intrigued by the stability that the position offered; the organization had opportunities to continue working part-time after the completion of a work term. Not only that, but Aakanksha highly valued the benefit of being able to finance her education through an internship. After weighing the benefits, Aakanksha signed the offer of employment with RBC.
Work Term
Work Term
As a Banking Advisor, Aakanksha’s responsibilities included meeting with clients individually and assisting them with issues that they wouldn’t be able to solve from a quick walk-in. “I work downtown, and our clientele is largely made up of immigrants and students who are just starting out with all of this.” From providing credit education to helping with clients’ estate decisions and looking at retirement planning, all while completing her yearlong workplace training, there was no shortage of learning opportunities.
Of course, while starting a position in completely unfamiliar territory, Aakanksha first experienced moments of doubt in her position. Working alongside older colleagues in her branch who were more experienced in banking brought a sense of pressure. But Aakanksha acknowledged that this feeling was internal and didn’t let it impact her work. “If you’re starting with a new company, you get a lot of time to learn about them.” Aakanksha’s employers were patient and also provided a wealth of knowledge, training and guidance.
Aakanksha had created a list of goals to help her learn and grow throughout her work term; one of them being financial literacy. She was determined to help prevent other people from falling victim to the same types of money scams that she had been subject to when she first started university.
“You get a lot of knowledge that you need to apply to yourself as well.The population I was connecting with was immigrants and youth and I qualify for both. So it was just like, ‘Wow. I wish someone had sat me down, told me all of this about Canada– I would have not gotten scammed in my first year.”
Aakanksha’s experience as a Banking Advisor provided her a diverse set of transferable skills that she is confident will help a future in the psychology field. How exactly? “Banking therapy”, she claims.
“A lot of [it is] how you deal with people, because money is a sensitive subject. People can lose money in one swipe or gain money in one swipe. And both situations are emotional. So there’s a lot of interpersonal skills you develop.” Dealing with highly sensitive situations and stressful cases had reinforced her ability to handle serious conversations.
In 2022, Alberta reported over $1.1 million in losses. Source.
But on the other hand, how did her job relate to her linguistics major? Aakanksha reflects on the mentality that being a linguistics student brought her; the respect for all languages. That, combined with a basic understanding of tone and sentence structure. Her client demographic included immigrants and refugees, the latter of which she found her linguistics background came in handy for communication. “They might not be as comfortable communicating in English, [and so] you think of ways to bridge that gap.”
Aakanksha was the first one in her branch to incorporate Google Translate into meetings where she and her client would take turns conveying their meaning on the translating tool, helping improve their communication. At the end of the day, Aakanksha’s fascination with languages and her efforts to simply say hello in a client’s fluent tongue forged impactful relationships with clients. “The minute you say hello or something in their language, it’s a point of connection. They understand that you respect them, even though they don’t speak English to that level.”
Post-work Term
Post-work Term
Reflecting on her time before university, Aakanksha recounted the discouragement she faced when deciding to pursue an Arts degree. “A lot of that could just be my culture in India. You know, it's a bit of a hierarchy. If you do your sciences, you know, you're the smart kid. If you do commerce, you're in it for the money. If you do Arts, you can’t decide on anything. And now you're stuck. Which is not how it goes. You know, now that I'm in banking, sometimes I look back and I'm like, ‘So you remember when you told me if I don't do science, I won't earn money?’ And yeah, again, that could be a disadvantage for some.”
But Aakanksha is positive in the many benefits of an Arts education. “There's always an advantage where, when you do Arts, there's a lot of the social sciences that you get exposed to. It does give you a more empathetic edge, which ultimately in whichever sector you're working in, it does come into play because you want to interact with people, you want to form meaningful connections so that they think of you and opportunities arise.” Her time as a Banking Advisor definitely helped strengthen her empathetic edge.
From clientele work to using empathy, interpersonal skills, practicing confidentiality and patience and understanding serious topics, there was an array of transferable skills that Aakanksha was able to evolve during her work experience. That’s one of the beauties of Arts Work Experience: it encourages students to take chances and to not be afraid to try new things to develop their professional growth. The versatility of an Arts degree can open doors to a diverse range of opportunities that you never would have expected!
Work Search Strategies
Work Search Strategies
Looking for a job can feel like you are trapped in a vortex! From not knowing where to start, to navigating lengthy job postings with endless lists of skills and assets, it should be no surprise that work search burn-out can affect all people regardless of where you are at in your career.
Jordan Wong secured his first AWE work term as a Citizenship Program Assistant with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Jordan shared his experience with his AWE job search and his tips on how to strategically search and apply for jobs.
Past Experience
A lot of students feel that they don’t have relevant experience to apply for positions. Customer service jobs are common first jobs for many students. Before securing his work term, the experience section of Jordan’s resume had exclusively consisted of retail and volunteer work. Luckily, there were plenty of transferable skills that he developed in each position, especially in his customer service roles.
Through customer service, “You learn people skills, how to properly communicate with people, how to interact with them, as well as how to work in a team,” Jordan explains. He was also able to further develop these skills while he volunteered for the university’s Week of Welcome.
You may have heard that Arts students are equipped with a variety of soft skills that employers look for. It’s true! Not only did Jordan rely on his retail and volunteer experience, but he also mentioned the skills that he learned from his courses.
“One example that comes to mind is group projects,” a common scenario familiar to most Arts students. There are many different skills that derive from group projects: teamwork, leadership and maintaining positive relationships to name a few. Group work can involve conflict management when perspectives differ between members– especially when you have to reach a compromise to move forward with the project. Another example is public speaking, which can be practiced through presentations and classroom debates.
Understanding your experience and your skills will help you get ready to create a targeted resume.
Resume Writing
Your resume is arguably the most essential element when it comes to applying for jobs. It is the employer’s first impression of you and it shows them what you can bring to the role. Before Jordan secured his AWE work term, the resumes that he previously used to apply for retail jobs were generic; a “one size fits all” template. It wasn’t until he had his resume and cover letter advising appointment with the Career Centre that he realized how much time and effort was required to develop a targeted resume.
“It was definitely a different kind of game.” Jordan had applied to a total of seven positions before he secured his first work term.Despite the lengthy process, Jordan found the process worthwhile.
A tip that stuck with Jordan was the formula-like method of describing experience in a resume. Check out the example below:
Your resume is your ticket to a job interview. Targeting your resume through providing specific examples can help employers understand why you are a good fit for the role and make you stand out from other applicants.
Job Interviews
It took six different applications before Jordan was invited to his first job interview. Perseverance paid off! While he didn’t immediately secure a job offer with his first interview, he was still able to learn from this experience.
“I think the lesson that I took away from my first interview and how I adapted my interview prep afterwards was to specifically think about what experiences I had and what skills that experience demonstrated.”
Reflecting on your past experiences and using the S.T.A.R. interview method can really enhance your job interviewing skills!
Jordan adds that it’s also essential to learn about the company that you are applying to. “You have to prep for your interview by reflecting on the aspects of both the job position AND the organization. Read through the job posting and think, this is an important competency for the job– how have I demonstrated that in the past?”
Challenges
Although we all hope that the job hunt will be smooth sailing, it’s also perfectly normal for people to encounter setbacks. Remember, job search burn-out can impact anybody.
“I think the most challenging aspect was just spending so much time applying to a job and not hearing back.” It’s a combination of both time and energy that can be exhausting. From allocating hours to writing targeted resumes and cover letters, reading through postings on job boards and preparing for job interviews, it should come as no surprise that job seekers can fall victim to burnout.
Some AWE students approach the job search with a narrow scope, only applying for positions that are directly related to their field of study. Despite Jordan’s wishes of working in a government job, he also opened his mind to a variety of other industries. “I applied to anything that I found interesting– anything that I thought would be both work experience and a learning experience.” Exercising flexibility in your work search process can lead to unique work experiences that can diversify your soft and hard skills, expand your network and open doors for future career paths.
Jordan's Final Piece of Advice
So, despite all of these challenges and the lengthy work search process, how did Jordan do it? What is his advice to anyone else struggling with their work search?
“My first piece of advice is keep applying. There’s always new jobs being posted. Apply, even if you don’t hear back from the ones you’ve already applied to.” Jordan also recommends taking advantage of the services and resources provided by the Career Centre. Recent graduates are also able to access their services for free!
Finally, if you’ve applied for numerous positions, but haven’t received many responses from employers, it might be time to take a closer look at your resume and cover letter.
At the end of the day, make sure that you are staying motivated! If you find yourself dreading the process, try asking yourself what is the most difficult part of the process that is preventing you from applying to positions. After the holidays, the hiring season will be back in full force. Buckle up!
Networking Nerves: How to Approach Networking
Networking Nerves: How to Approach Networking
The word “networking” can be daunting for most job seekers. It can bring up memories of career fairs, nervous butterflies and vague imagery of corporate leaders clinking champagne glasses. Sure, the purpose of networking is to build your professional contacts in order to elevate your career path. But what exactly does that look like and how exactly can you benefit from networking?
What comes to your mind when you think about networking?
Prior to working at the U of A Career Centre as a Career Peer Educator, Laura McLean’s idea of networking looked very stereotypical: people in suits, standing at tall tables and chatting with business executives. As an Arts student, she wasn’t sure if networking would benefit her academic or professional career.
“I always thought that [networking] was more of a business student thing, people who want to be CEOs and stuff like that. I was way too intimidated to ever consider doing that.” These thoughts combined with Laura identifying more as an introvert, made networking a hard concept to unpack. Laura’s introverted social battery is not uncommon. With a quick Google search, one can easily find handfuls of online guides that are dedicated to supplying introverts with tips and tricks when it comes to networking. To add to the intimidation, networking isn’t just an opportunity to meet other industry professionals— for some people, it can also be a tool to negotiate their salary growth over time or help them change career paths. Talk about pressure!
But Laura’s vision of networking started to change once she started working at the Career Centre. To her surprise, she was introduced to more casual, “informal” methods of networking. What exactly does that look like?
Laura McLean ‘22 MA, is currently working on a PhD in Indo-European studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. During her time at the U of A Laura worked at the University of Alberta’s Career Centre as a Career Peer Educator where she assisted graduate students with their career management. Laura shares her experience and advice on networking!
“Casual networking”
“You can network in your own life,” Laura explains. “Chatting with your friends about the different types of jobs that they have and how they got their jobs.” Sounds easier than the stereotypical imagery of schmoozing with corporate supervisors, doesn’t it?
From asking about job interviews to chatting about work experiences, the natural flow of conversation manifested into common networking topics for Laura and her colleagues. She hadn’t realized it, but simply talking to her friends and colleagues about their career experiences were valid forms of networking, even if they weren’t at a large-scale networking event. And even better— it was networking within her comfort zone.
Laura’s networking experience
Another key feature of networking involves staying in touch with your connections. “Even if it’s just once a year or maybe [reaching out] through LinkedIn, it might come in handy down the road.” Laura, who is currently studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, working towards her PhD in Indo-European studies, had used her professor’s connections to help with her academic applications.
During both her undergrad and her early years as a masters student at the University of Alberta, Laura attended more online conferences to aid her graduate school applications. She decided to stay after the end of a particular panel and listened in on the casual discussion that lingered between the panelists. Eventually, she was the only audience member left as she listened to the panelists converse about their work.
A few months prior to this panel, Laura had reached out to a professor and met with him to discuss work opportunities. That same professor happened to be a presenter at that panel, recognized Laura’s name and asked her to formally introduce herself to the other panelists.
“It was definitely valuable to just have that professor know my name and recognize my face,” Laura recalled. “You never know whether [a] connection will come in handy down the road.”
Networking for work
Before Laura even realized the value of casual networking, she was already using those networking skills with her peers. Even casual connections and conversations about careers can lead to work opportunities. You have probably heard the term, “it’s about who you know!” But how does that really work? Laura’s friend, who had previously worked at the Career Centre, not only suggested that Laura apply to become a Career Peer Educator, but she also reviewed her resume and personally recommended her for the job.
“She was very influential in helping me get this job,” Laura affirmed. “It’s a great example of networking.”
Everyone has a story
So, we now know that networking doesn’t always have to look like formal conversations over champagne. Still nervous about the idea? Laura has one last piece of advice:
“They’re going to ask you questions about yourself. Don’t be afraid of that. You have a really interesting story and networking can be just learning what’s out there. It doesn’t have to be to find a job.”
At the end of the day, networking boils down to a conversation filled with stories. Although those nervous butterflies might not immediately disappear, the good news is that the networking process gets easier as you get used to it.
How to Productively Manage Your Time at Work
How to Productively Manage Your Time at Work
I will completely admit that during my studies, I was a terrible procrastinator. Online classes were no help either – the midnight deadlines meant that I could literally submit something at the last second! It got to the point where I even started some papers the day they were due (which I do not recommend). After each assignment was completed, I found myself in an endless cycle of barely submitting an assignment before the deadline and then immediately being slammed with another assignment. Sound familiar?
Starting a new job with set hours meant that my time management skills needed serious upgrading. It was up to me to complete my tasks during my working hours, since I was not getting paid to complete any of them off the clock! During my first few days at my position, I had to roll up my sleeves and discipline myself into building and strengthening healthy time management habits. They say that work-integrated learning helps you build transferable skills to take from the classroom and into the workplace, and vice-versa. The latter part of that statement is true for me! Even though I’m only two months into my work term, I really feel that the time management habits that I picked up will definitely be beneficial for when I return to my studies. Here are the best 5 strategies that have helped me shape my productivity and time management and that can hopefully help you out during both your work and/or studies.
Block out time in your calendar
Don’t underestimate the usefulness of Google Calendar! If you aren’t already using an online calendar for work, school, appointments, or plans, it is a lifesaver. It offers a convenient way to sync your calendar to all of your personal electronic devices, so you can easily view your availability and upcoming deadlines.
The next step to using your digital calendar’s full potential is to specifically block out time for specific tasks. Are you drafting a proposal? Need to edit a colleague’s work before a deadline? Whatever the task is, I have found that blocking out time in my calendar helps me stay on track and easily work towards deadlines. I have also found it helpful that planning in advance and blocking out time in my calendar for upcoming days gives me a good idea of what my week will look like. As an added bonus this also ensures that I don’t load up my schedule and I make sure that I leave time to complete whatever task or project that I’m determined to complete!
2. Create to-do lists and/or use physical planners
Nowadays, there are countless free apps for creating a digital to-do list. Similar to using an online calendar, having your to-do lists synchronized with your personal devices is a convenient way to check on your progress and tasks no matter your location! My personal recommendations for digital to-do lists include:
MinimaList for your mobile device
Notion for both your computer and your mobile device
Apple Reminders or Google Tasks for both your computer and your mobile device
Prefer to physically write out and view your tasks on paper? That works too! Different preferences and methods work better for different people. Using coloured pens and highlighters to colour-code your to-do list can help you visually map out the order of importance. Even if you don’t have access to purchasing an agenda or a planner from a bookstore, you could simply use a notebook, or even print out a free template online! Here are some resources for free weekly and monthly planners:
3. Using Time Management Techniques
After I map everything out in my calendar and create my to-do lists, I sometimes struggle with determining the next steps! Here are some methods you can utilize to encourage yourself to take the next steps and get to work:
a. Eisenhower Matrix
a. Eisenhower Matrix
I personally like doing this method on either a whiteboard, piece of paper, or a customizable online productivity app like Notion to help me customize my own time management template. Once you have all of these tasks organized by importance and urgency, that daunting list of responsibilities and projects that you need to complete will look less daunting and more reasonable. Now, you have a better idea of which tasks to prioritize and focus on one at a time
b. Focus on one task at a time
b. Focus on one task at a time
Even with your carefully planned calendars, to-do lists and time management strategies, it can still feel overwhelming. I get it. You likely have a dozen tasks to complete in a single day, there are projects looming over your shoulder that you feel like you need to get started on right away, and oh no– did you just get assigned with another task to finish by the end of the week? Gah!
While multitasking may sound like a good idea at first, or it makes you feel more productive by getting things done by killing two birds with one stone, there are plenty of sources that suggest multitasking actually makes you less productive. In fact, it may actually slow you down, distract yourself from your task(s) at hand, and could potentially lower your quality of work.
Remember when you blocked time out in your calendar, or when you created your Eisenhower Matrix list? For me, I find it helpful to stick to the plan and eliminate distractions. I do my best to close off web browser tabs for other projects, I resist the urge to multitask, or I even hide my to-do lists and calendar to prevent my mind from wandering to my other duties. It might feel weird at first, but once you are able to satisfyingly check off that task from your to-do list, it will be worth it.
c. Mindfulness
c. Mindfulness
You can plan and organize your work and life and yet it all still feels so overwhelming. There might be so much going on in your life that you find it hard to concentrate on one task at a time – and that is okay! It is human to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, taking a minute or two to quiet your mind and tame your thoughts can be the mental reset that you need to start over.
Sometimes, I find myself unable to focus on a task because there is too much going in my head. Mindfulness and meditation isn’t easy at first, but your mind is like a muscle. Once you train yourself to clear your headspace and exercise your ability to focus on your breathwork, you might find yourself more able to focus on the task at hand.
Regardless of the type of environment you work in, make sure to take your breaks! getting away from my desk for a bit, really helps me reset and feel ready to tackle the next task at hand.
Whether you are working or studying, I hope that some of these methods and resources are helpful to you!
Navigating the Unexpected: Finding Work in the Pandemic
Navigating the Unexpected: Finding Work in the Pandemic
It was a cold November morning when Jocelynn Proulx, '20 BA, logged into her computer to start the work day. She expected her weekly check-in meeting to proceed as normal, with some updates about what she'd been working on recently and feedback from her boss, but the last 15 minutes of that meeting did not go as she'd expected. Her boss had bad news. They had to let her go due to funding issues related to the pandemic.
"It was a really hard time," she said. "It was an emotional rollercoaster. Felt like going through a breakup." This wasn't something she could've planned for.
"I knew I did everything right," Jocelynn said. She had diversified her education, had two co-op positions through Arts Work Experience gaining 16-months of full-time work experience and she participated in career education programming to further her professional skills. "I put a lot of work into it. I was still unemployed."
Jocelynn is not the only one. Data from Statistics Canada has shown that young Canadians aged 15 to 24 years old accounted for 45 per cent of employment losses since the onset of the pandemic.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the job market, new grads were faced with unprecedented challenges.
Pictured: Jocelynn Proulx, '20 BA, Criminology major, Certificate in Sustainability
“Looking for my first job at the beginning of the pandemic, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Idara Effiom, ‘20 BA.
In the early months of 2020, Idara was busy applying to jobs, trying to secure a position ahead of her upcoming graduation. She had even received some promising responses! But the pandemic had other plans.
“When we went into lockdown, a lot of the jobs themselves got canceled,” she said. “It was tough. Really disheartening.”
Where could new grads turn to for career advice in these uncertain times? No one had experienced a job market quite like this before. “Nobody knew the answers to what we were facing and that made me really nervous,” Idara explained.
New grads, like Idara, had to figure it out for themselves.
Pictured: Idara Effiom, '20 BA, Psychology major, Anthropology minor
“The most important thing for me was not to dwell on all the rejections or cancellations I was getting,” Idara said. Despite her disappointment, she continued to submit applications and forge ahead with the job search.
For Idara, having people in her network to connect with was a big help. She let them know she was looking for work and asked them to send her any job opportunities they knew of. “That worked really well,” she said.
In fact, she ended up landing a position that someone in her network shared with her. “Despite all the anxiety, nervousness and general insecurity, you really just have to persevere and keep trying!”
Resilience is key. Idara mentioned, that in times of uncertainty it is important to “take time for yourself as needed, but don’t forget about your goals. It doesn’t matter how tiny the steps are, as long as you’re doing something to work towards your goals.”
After Jocelynn was let go, she kept her career goals in mind and connected with an employment agency in Edmonton where she was able to learn some new job search strategies and feel supported throughout the process.
Jocelynn encourages students to take advantage of the resources that are available to them: connect with the Career Centre, attend workshops on job search strategies and practice your interview skills. “If you do all these things and still end up unemployed, that’s okay. Some things are out of our control and we need to treat ourselves with kindness,” Jocelynn said.
If we’ve learned anything from these uncertain times, regardless of where you’re at in your job search or career, it’s that it’s hard to plan for the unexpected. But know that you can be resilient throughout the process and there are supports available to assist you and get you back on track.
Despite the challenges and hardship, there is a positive side to it all: this generation is acquiring a unique skill set that will serve them well throughout their careers. “Being flexible, resilient, having to adapt quickly and find ways to stay motivated, even interpersonal skills,” said Idara. “We know how to build strong working relationships through a computer screen! And that is unique to our age group.”
Author bio: Claire Wasel is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree in Psychology with a co-operative education designation and certificates in Applied Social Sciences Research and Psychology Research. She is currently on a 12-month co-op as the Arts Work Experience Communications and Program Support Intern with the Faculty of Arts. Claire is looking forward to graduating in 2023 and attending graduate school in the future.
Arts Work Experience Alumni Interview: Emma Zurawell
Arts Work Experience Alumni Interview: Emma Zurawell
Pictured: Emma Zurawell.
Like most undergraduate students, Emma Zurawell was unsure of how her skills and knowledge she gained from the classroom would apply in a real world context. It was this thought that motivated her to join Arts Work Experience (AWE) back in 2018.
"More than anything, AWE gave me confidence in my abilities and motivated me to apply for positions after graduation, because I knew I'd be able to handle the work if I were to get the job," Emma said.
After graduating from the U of A in 2020 with a B.A. in Urban and Regional Planning, Emma successfully navigated the transition from student to employee. She credits this successful transition to her time with AWE.
"I can say with 100 per cent certainty that I would not have gotten my current position if it hadn't been for my AWE co-op experience with the City of Edmonton," Emma said. "All the things I learned during my time with the City, combined with the knowledge I gained from my time in AWE, helped me stand out as a strong candidate."
Before Emma got her current job as a Municipal Planning Intern with the Town of Stony Plain, she was an AWE student in search of work experience. One of the first things she learned was how the job search process works. “Being in AWE taught me that looking for a job is definitely like a full time job,” she recalls. “There’s so much detail and craft that go into your resume and cover letter, it requires a lot of effort and time!”
All that effort paid off. After a successful interview, she was hired for an eight-month work term as a Planning Co-op Student with the City of Edmonton. Her main role was to work on rezonings and land development applications in the established and developing neighborhoods (outer ring) of the city.
“I definitely felt like I was in over my head at the beginning,” Emma said. She wasn’t familiar with some of the technical terms the other planners used around the office, but her colleagues encouraged her to ask lots of questions and were very understanding and supportive.
Emma Zurawell presents the daily life of an urban planner at the City of Edmonton during her eight-month co-op.
Emma enjoyed being able to shadow other professionals and contribute to their projects. “Even though I was hired to work on rezonings, I was encouraged to reach out to the other departments and get involved with the projects they were working on, so that introduced me to different sides of planning that I hadn’t known about before and allowed me to gain more in depth experience.”
During her co-op with the City, Emma heard about the Municipal Internship Program, which is a provincial program that hires recent graduates to work in municipalities where they can gain first-hand experience in municipal government. Emma was drawn to the opportunity and decided to apply after graduation.
“The program appealed to me because it provided lots of opportunities for professional development and I knew I’d get a more varied work experience in a small municipality than I had previously with the City.”
When writing her application for the Municipal Internship Program, Emma reflected on her previous experiences to help her compose a strong resume and cover letter.
“Everything I learned about planning and municipal government during my AWE co-op was really useful when writing my application and helped me stand out as a strong candidate. I’d gotten resume help in the past so I knew how to put together a strong resume that addressed all the keywords in the job posting and I knew that an application really comes down to marketing yourself well,” Emma recalls. Since she had already been through the interview process a few times, she knew how to prepare effectively.
Emma found that having the co-op notation on her degree was a great conversation starter during interviews. “People would always ask me about it, which was nice because it gave me the opportunity to tell them all that I’d gained from participating in AWE and about my previous work experience.”
In September 2020, Emma was hired on a two-year contract as the Municipal Planning Intern for the Town of Stony Plain through the Municipal Internship Program. While the City of Edmonton has hundreds of planners, Emma is now one of three in Stony Plain! “Our team is very small, but mighty. We work on everything in planning that you can think of: subdivisions, redistrictings, master plans, bylaws, and some projects here and there.”
Emma says her day to day work with the Town of Stony Plain is much more comprehensible after her previous work experience with the City of Edmonton.
“I really do find myself recalling my experiences at the City of Edmonton a lot. When things come up at work, I’m not a stranger to them. I think, oh I handled something like this in my co-op, I can handle this!”
Since her supervisors are aware that she will be moving on to a new job after her contract is up, they are supportive of her skill development and encourage her to participate in professional development courses in order to meet the qualifications of prospective future jobs.
Emma is already searching for her next job and is looking forward to learning new sides of planning in the future.
“I think it’s important to look out for future jobs and see what they require so you can prepare in advance and work on those skills through professional development training.”
Author bio: Claire Wasel is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree in Psychology with a co-operative education designation and certificates in Applied Social Sciences Research and Psychology Research. She is currently on a 12-month co-op as the Arts Work Experience Communications and Program Support Intern with the Faculty of Arts. Claire is looking forward to graduating in 2023 and attending graduate school in the future.
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