Work Experience: The Extra Step to Creating the Career You Want
Tangible experience is key to success in any position you may take on in the future. We had the pleasure of interviewing Hanna Nakonechny, a cooperative education student at the Alberta School of Business, who undoubtedly has had ample opportunity to learn and gain valuable skills. She has been able to complete 16 months of work experience in accounting, consulting, and corporate finance. Reflecting on her experience, she has been able to learn where her strengths and passions truly lie when picking which career path she saw her heart in - a great benefit of participating in work experience during her university career!
“I decided to enter the co-op program since I didn’t have a solid network as I’m not originally from Edmonton, and I wasn’t exactly sure what career field I wanted to pursue. Entering the co-op program opened my eyes so much to the possibilities in the business world and allowed me to merge real-life connections with the technical skills I’ve learned in the classroom.” She says, “I highly recommend for all business students to apply for the co-op program and gain experience while finding out what is important to meet personal and professional aspirations in the future!”
Hanna’s co-op experience is unique as she has only spent 2 months working within the office. Through the challenge of working virtually, she has gained a variety of skills in terms of work habits both in office and at home. When looking back on her experiences thus far, Hanna says “In my co-op terms, I’ve learned how to engage effectively with coworkers virtually, and work through a multitude of different engagement types, developing professional communication skills with internal staff and external clients. These skills are invaluable and will help me immensely when I begin my career after graduation!”. Feeling empowered after her co-op terms, she has been a huge advocate for the program. Hanna has since become the VP Finance for CESA, hoping to encourage more students to explore employment opportunities while still in school.
A great piece of advice Hanna received early on in her work experience is: “ I was told at one point that if your job is not adding value or teaching you something, then it is no longer somewhere that you should be committing your time to and that it’s best to move on. I kept this in mind throughout my co-op terms and was constantly asking if there were additional projects or services that I could help hone my skills and find my niche within the organization.” This advice was critical in ensuring Hanna received the experience she wanted, and was able to be pushed past her comfort zone. She goes on to say that “it’s essential to use your voice and make sure that your employer/team knows exactly what you are looking to gain. If not, you may not be learning and developing to your true potential."
As Hanna reflects on how she adapted to virtual work terms, she found that her two key takeaways are focusing on coworker relationships and how they played into her confidence in her role. She focused her efforts on engaging with staff in the organizations she worked at, whether it was virtual or in office. “In reality, I found that the majority of people that I worked with were genuinely very interested in me and my interests and wellbeing. Being a temporary employee on a set contract, I was unsure of the level of comradery to expect. I thought some coworkers would not be super interested in bonding with someone who would only be working with them for a predetermined amount of time. But I was very happy to find that I made a ton of genuine connections with my coworkers, so it is definitely worth it to reach out and make bonds with new staff.”
She goes on to say “I also expected to be very overwhelmed and confused at the beginning of my first work term. Of course, starting a new job is never an easy task, but I was impressed with the support from other coworkers, whether junior, senior or even partner level. In my experience, the office took the term “team” to heart and was very quick to offer help when needed! Although it may seem daunting, it was always worth it to ask any questions or for help. The more senior-level employees always have so much experience and knowledge to pass on, and are very willing to share their knowledge!”
Finally, Hanna has some tips she would like to share with all of our readers heading into work experience:
Don’t stress too much about making a good impression on your first day! Be yourself and do not worry about making mistakes or looking silly. If you got hired, you made a powerful impression in your interview and will make a great addition to the team
Don’t worry about having incredible technical skills! Most organizations have very strong onboarding and skills training, so don’t worry!
It’s okay not to take everything so seriously all the time. Of course, work and output are important, but so is your mental health. Making your workplace an enjoyable place to be is essential for your well-being and productivity, so connect with your coworkers! It can be as easy as grabbing a quick coffee with someone who sits near you.
“Overall, you can sum up my advice to my past self into a pretty quick summary – have fun with your co-op placements! Although professionalism and a good work ethic are important, these positions allow for developing your work skills for when you enter the workforce after graduation, so make sure you take the time to create healthy work habits that will carry you through your career.”