How to brand yourself
This article was written by David Adelman, a student in Concordia’s Department of Journalism, for the 2012 summer issue of the Concordia University Magazine.
On my path to graduating from Concordia this spring, I became a pro at dancing between class assignments, midterms and finals. However, I quickly realized I was an amateur in terms of deciding what my next steps would be once I took my final bow on stage and walked away with my undergraduate degree.
Where would I work? How could I succeed in today’s job market? Should I learn the fundamentals of business networking or continue my education?
For inspiration and direction, I spoke to a number of Concordia alumni who’ve done well in their fields and are willing to pass along some of the secrets of their success. (They all also volunteer for the Concordia Mentor Program — see “Tonight’s main course: expert career advice”.)
After speaking with these professionals, I learned that today’s job market is constantly changing and that advancing in the “real world” isn’t as simple as studying hard for an exam. It’s important to learn how to balance business smarts with creativity. Most of all: follow your passion for what you want to do in life with determination and courage.
Name: Mutsumi Takahashi, Ba (Psych.) 79, Mba95
Field: Television Broadcasting
Position: News Anchor, CTV Montreal
Best Advice: “Find out what makes you different and don’t take no for an answer.”
“They say that a little bit of celebrity is a very good test of character,” Mutsumi Takahashi relates. That means Takahashi’s moral fibre has been well tested since she’s held a high profile for more than 25 years as news anchor at CTV’s Montreal affiliate.
Takahashi has kept her feet on the ground by offering career advice to others and remembering her roots. Looking back to the days before sitting on the anchor chair, she feels her life has been filled with a series of fortunate opportunities. “I came into the media at a time when it was expanding as opposed to contracting,” she recalls. “For graduating students who want to get in the field today, I always say: ‘There is no direct route; it’s a matter of how badly you want it.’ ”
This applies to any path, Takahashi adds: “You have to figure out what you’re good at, what you can offer that other candidates don’t have.”
- Always treat people with respect.
- Use a moral compass to guide your judgment calls; it is not necessary to win at all costs.
- Know what makes you unique and use that to your advantage
Name: Paul Tri Dung Mai, BComm (Fin.) 02
Field: Finance
Position: Vice President, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Infrastructure and Project Finance
Best advice: “Study and work internationally; it makes a difference.”
The spectacular, downtown Montreal view that Paul Mai enjoys from his office window didn’t come easily. “I wasn’t in a program that just brings you directly to your field,” he explains. “I worked part time during school, and after graduation I wanted an international experience.” So Mai decided to plunge into the unknown and study abroad at the London Business School in the United Kingdom for his Master’s of Science in finance.
After his degree in 2006, Mai continued to live in London while working at Japanese-owned Shinsei Bank. “The exposure to a different culture and work ethic helped shape me very much.” He says about working abroad: “It’s not a prerequisite, but it gives you an edge.”
- Accept that no two people have the identical career path.
- Develop relations with your classmates and build your resources.
- Find a mentor in your field.
Name: Deirdre Potash, BFA 82
Field: Art Education/Entrepreneurship
Position: Owner, Art Comes To School, Montreal
Art educator, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Best advice: “Find your passion and then get your name out there.”
For as long as she can remember, Deirdre Potash wanted to teach art. So it shouldn’t have surprised her too much when a few days after her Concordia convocation in 1982 she received an unexpected phone call: “Hello, I’m from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Your professor recommended you for an art education position here.” She jumped at the opportunity. Thirty years later, Potash reveals that she’s still living her dream, inspiring creativity in others. “You’re going to be spending most of your life working; find your passion. For me, that’s teaching,” she says.
She turned that love for art education into a Montreal-based business called Art Comes to School. As its website (artwill.ca) states: “let the field trip come to you.” “There is a niche market for public schools that have cut down their art programs,” Potash explains. “I go to schools all over Quebec and Ontario and bring art back into the classroom.”
Potash accepted long ago that she would never strike it rich from her profession. Yet making a difference in someone’s life can’t be measured by monetary value — and it can serve as a guide for following your heart into a career.
- Take risks, ask questions, educate yourself and listen to your gut.
- Network and get your name and what you want to do “out there.”
- Always carry business cards with your name and contact details.
Name: Robert Nag, BEng (Elec. Eng.) 93
Field: Aviation
Position: Centre Leader, Montreal Training Centre, CAE Inc., Montreal
Best advice: “A good challenge inspires everything else.”
What would Robert Nag do differently if he could go back to his days as an undergraduate at Concordia? “Focus more on projects than exams,” he says. “My last two years were so enjoyable because of group projects.”
The same enthusiasm displayed midway through his studies led Nag to a summer internship with CAE, the Montreal-based world leader in flight simulation for civil aviation and defence. Shortly after graduation, he landed a full-time job there and has remained with CAE ever since. Today Nag oversees the training of pilots and instructors for the Montreal Training Centre.
As a manager, Nag has found that employees often underestimate their capabilities: “We have the skills within ourselves. We just have to expose them, and then everything else will follow. The first step is to find challenging and stimulating work.”
- Apply for jobs where you can demonstrate a high level of interest and engagement to the interviewer.
- Be motivated and flexible to go beyond the job description.
- Don’t hesitate to push your ideas forward in the workplace.
Name: Sarah Sajedi, BSc (chem.) 91
Field: Environmental consulting
Position: Director of research and development, Era Environmental Consulting Inc., Montreal
Name: Gary Vegh, BSc (Chem.) 88, GrDip (Ecotoxicology) 92
Position: Senior environmental toxicologist, Era Environmental Consulting Inc., Montreal
Best advice: “Willingness to go above and beyond the standard expectations.”
Twenty-five years ago, Sarah Sajedi met Gary Vegh for the first time on the 10th floor of Concordia’s Henry F. Hall Building. They married shortly after.
Since then, their partnership has expanded beyond the home front. Beginning in 1995, the couple has shared an office at ERA Environmental Consulting, a Montreal-based company they cofounded. “Between work and our family, we’re together 24/7 — and still married,” laughs Vegh. He handles the business’s consulting end while Sajedi oversees the programming for software that tracks chemical emissions produced by their client companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, Masonite Corporation and La-Z-Boy.
From her experience of hiring students, Sajedi notes that many are too eager to become managers immediately. “They aren’t willing to take the time and work through the steps,” she says. Attitude counts: “It’s important that graduates show that extra enthusiasm and commitment.”
- Be open-minded and do what you are asked to the best of your capability; you never know where it might lead.
- Let your enthusiasm and passion determine your career choice. If you’re truly passionate about your work, you’ll stand out.
- Always try to do more than what is expected. Extra effort gets noticed.
Name: Sharon Hunter, BA (comm. studies) 90
Field: Communications
Position: Principle and senior writer, Sharon Hunter Communications, Montreal
Best advice: “Volunteering does volumes for visibility — be strategic.”
Sharon Hunter has been honing her skills as a commercial writer ever since tutoring college peers. That’s why turning communications skills into a business was a logical choice after seven years in the software industry, she says. As a marketing communications consultant, Hunter conveys: “I’m an independent but have a network of collaborators from which I cherry-pick for specific projects.”
With more than 20 years in the field to back her, Hunter recommends that those looking to start their own business should initially acquire knowledge in the workplace: “Get agency or corporate experience first and hopefully get mentored on the job to build your skills set.”
Hunter, who is also president of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators)/Montréal and volunteers for the Dinner for Eight program, adds that one of the best ways to gain valuable experience and connections is to volunteer in industry or for an association related to your field — which is not just working for free. “A great recommendation for your work boosts network visibility, offering great return on time investment,” she says.
- Develop leadership and learn to work as part of a team.
- Collaborate with individuals who complement your skills.
- Accept criticism gratefully; it helps you grow.
To volunteer for or learn more about the Concordia Mentor Program and Dinner for Eight, visit the Concordia Mentor Program page.
Related links:
• "Tonight’s main course: expert career advice" — NOW, April 19, 2012
• Alumni & Giving