winter 2011
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The Atrium's Winter 2011 magazine! Featruing a profile of the Newalta Corp!TRANSCRIPT
Winter 2011
2
Antonie� a PetrellaPresident
Design Editor
Aamir MirzaExecutive Vice President
Editor-in-Chief
Gourav SatheManaging Editor
Lauren NealVP Human Resources
Glorien Abbas VP Marketing
Rishi AggarwalMarketing Manager
Klara RaicLayout Design
Braden Polyak Photography
Rosalie EidPhotography
Robb FaragoWriter
Kira BorysWriter
Victoria Craig Writer
Robyn HendersonWriter
Rochelle HeinrichsWriter
Arooba KhanWriter
Rebecca EllisonWriter
Jake SolomonPromotions
Jennifer Waslowski Promotions
Th e views and opinions shared by some writers do not necessarily represent those
of Atrium Media Group
Antonie� a Petrella
2
We are coming to the end of another great year with another exit-ing Atrium Magazine. Our Winter 2011 issue includes informative articles about interview and job hunting tips amongst many other
interesting and original pieces.
In making this issue of the Atrium, I realized that after 3 years of being part of AMG, I would be designing my fi nal magazine, and while I am excited to be graduating this year, I will also be leaving behind something that has become
near and dear to my heart. I will miss it greatly!
Many members of our team will also be graduating this year and with that being said we are looking for a fresh new set of faces to become the Atrium Media Group. Many new positions will be coming available and I hope
you consider joining one of the many aspects of the Atrium team, be it writing, web design, photography, or one of our executive positions. Our hiring blitz will be happening at the end of March. For more information visit our website www.sbeatrium.com for position descriptions and applications.
On behalf of the entire Atrium team, I would like to wish everyone graduating the best of luck in your future endeavours, and to those returning continued success at Laurier.
A large portion of our Atrium team, including myself are graduating this semester and it has given us an opportunity to look back and re-fl ect on our experiences at Laurier. While the past is defi nitely memo-
rable, the future is just a litt le intimidating. In keeping with this idea, former Atrium President Abhishek Sarathy has writt en about his experiences out in the real world(page 15).
As the dark economic clouds begin to disappear, some degree of optimism begins to return on people’s faces. As a result, companies have increased their hiring and a a lot of our articles deal with the idea of fi nding your dream job. This includes taking advantage of online networking (page 8) to advice for succeeding in an interview (page 10). Also covered is advice for students looking to fi nd a balance at university(pages 5, 9). In addition there
is some great advice for everyone in regards to how to balance your fi nances (pages 12, 16 )and to also prepare for the future (page 14). Lastly, page 6 contains an interesting piece on ethical consumerism which has become an increasingly important topic in business.
Some of us will be moving on to the professional world after this semester while others will be moving on to another term of schooling. Regardless, before you know where you’re going, you need to know where you started. As Laurier completes a century of education, it’s staggering to think about how the university has grown from its humble beginnings. Hopefully the next century brings even more success to Laurier and the school continues to be a leader in produc-ing the leaders of tomorrow.
Aamir MirzaEditor-in- Chief
From the Editor-in-Chief...
Antoniett a PetrellaPresident
From the President...
3
Atrium Contents4 Rewinding Back to Delhi 2010
Gourav Sathe
5 Balancing it AllVictoria Craig
8 Staying “LinkedIn”Robyn Henderson
6 “Ethical Student” Doesn’t Have To Be an OxymoronRochelle Heinrichs
9 Do you Sweat the Small Stu� ?Lauren Neal
10 A� er the InterviewKeturah Leonforde
12 Personal Investing 101 Arooba Khan
You’ve Graduated- Now What?Jerry Borys
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From the Editor-in-Chief...
15 � ere’s No Place Like SchoolAbhishek Sarathy
16 How to Maximize Your Student BudgetRebecca Ellison
11 JDC School of the Year- Two Years and CountingElliot Draga
17 Interview: Michael BorysKira Borys
From the President of SBESS...
Another great year has come and gone for SBESS and we have a lot to be proud of. Amongst all of our many accomplishments, one of the highlights was taking home JDC Central School of the Year again for the second year in a row. Thanks to everyone who played a
part and for all the support that was given.
Thank you to those who voted yes to the referendum question. The vote passed with 71% major-ity, the highest support vote in Laurier history. The increased levy money will mean great things to come in the future.
Speaking of the future, congratulations to the new 2011-2012 SBESS team including incoming President Dragana Savic. They have great plans for next year and I am confi dent they will be successful.
To all the fi rst years, congratulations on surviving a whole year of university.To the second years, you are halfway fi nished. If you haven’t already, be sure to get involved and make the most of your university career.To all the third years, you are almost there. Good luck in ICE week and stay tuned for ICE Meltdown on April 1st. Finally to all my fellow fourth years, congrats on making it to the fi nal stretch. I look forward to seeing you all at graduation.
I would like to wish everyone the best of luck on fi nals, and if you get a chance come check out the newly renovated clubs offi ce.
Personally this has been one of the best years of my university career and I want to thank everyone for being a part of it.
Aneesh LalSBESS President
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Economic experts for long have asserted that India and China are moving towards becoming
the world’s largest economies. With a combined fi gure of approximately 40% of the world’s population, both markets constitute a vast consumer base for multinationals to continue to explore. The disparities between India and China however, could not have been more apparent than during the Commonwealth Games which were held in Delhi, India, last
year. Whereas China managed to successfully stage the Olympics in Beijing two years ago, India made a complete mess of the Commonwealth Games.
There is no doubt that in comparison to the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games are far less popular as it does not involve the participation of powerful coun-tries such as the United States and Scandinavian na-tions, who are normally high achievers in Olympic events. Thus, despite hosting a world championship on a smaller (and perhaps more manageable) scale, Delhi 2010 was riddled with instances of gross mis-management, corruption and disorganization of the highest order. Various issues plagued a successful hosting of the world event. First, although a substantial budget was allocated by the Indian government, the
Commonwealth Games suff ered from lack of profes-sional level infrastructure, and even failed to uphold basic sanitary and hygiene conditions necessary. An-other problem was the discovery of fraudulent usage of funds allocated to the Commonwealth Games, by the organizing committ ee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi. Although the charges are yet to be proven, the issue reached a stage where Kalmadi’s opening speech was outright rejected by the audience with persistent boos and cries of protest. It is rather unfortunate, but the pre-Commonwealth build up was more focused on
whether India could cope with the challenges of play-ing host, as compared to the excitement that is usually present during competitive world events, such as the Olympics.
The mismanagement of the Commonwealth may even lead some people into questioning why India agreed to play host in the fi rst place. With increasing dispari-ties between rich and poor, issues of corruption and misappropriation of funds and relative political insta-bility, should India have volunteered to host such an event? Although there is defi nite merit in this view, the Commonwealth off ered a great opportunity to provide a world-class exhibition of Indian hospitality and culture. The end result is no doubt shocking; how-ever the Commonwealth Games are a timely wakeup call to bring about radical structural reformation, in a bid to arrest corruption to minimal levels. India’s great advantage is that at the end of the day, it is the largest democracy in the world. There are defi nite instances of corruption in Indian history, and will probably always continue to be the case, however of late, there has been a strong movement towards exposing such shocking truths and secrets. The Indian media is hungry for in-formation, free and not constrained by government of-fi cials, and this has brought about radical tax raids and arrests of political offi cials concerned with the Com-monwealth fi asco. Going forward, the media I believe will play a larger role in increasing the level of trans-parency and accountability which India has lacked for so many years.
China and India may be moving in the same direc-tion, however India is lagging behind on various di-mensions. The Commonwealth failure was there for everyone to see and observe. Movies such as Slumdog Millionaire may lead some into believing that Western media tends to portray developing markets in a nega-tive light, but the fact remains that emerging markets such as India continue to be plagued by a lack of basic and fundamental necessities. The key going forward will be to address not only the upper tier of India’s so-cio-economic classes, but to seek structural reform that will benefi t the lower-tier consumers, who are most af-fected by ill-fated political practices.
Rewinding Back to Delhi 2010
India is lagging behind on various dimensions.“
”Gourav SatheManaging Editor
With increasing disparities between rich and poor, issues of corruption and misappropriation
of funds and relative political instability, should India have
volunteered to host such an event?
“
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So we all know the importance of maintaining a balanced life-style, especially to help manage
the stress of school. While this can be done through extra-curriculars, get-ting a few extra hours of sleep each night or being sure to get a few nights out on the town, one of the big fac-tors we seem to forget is eating right! We’ve got busy schedules so some-times grabbing a muffin from Star-bucks or some pizza from the Terrace seems like the best option. But what
we should be doing is going for the food that is packed with the nutrition to help keep us energized and ready to handle our busy lives! So here’s a list of some of the key things to look for in the foods you put in your body to make it through the day:
Carbohydrates: These are what provide you body with the energy to function and NO, they aren’t all bad! You want to split carbohydrates into 2 groups; the “bad carbs” and the “good carbs”. Bad carbs come from foods that contain a lot of sugar and white flour such as cookies and white bread. These are what pump up your blood sugar levels and keep you craving more sugars throughout the day. Good carbs on the other hand will give you the energy and fibre to keep your body functioning and ready for work! Think of foods with whole wheat and whole grains such as twelve grain bread or oatmeal.
Calories: Simply put, a calorie is nothing more than a measure of energy. Calories literally give our bodies the energy to function, move and breakdown food and are thus a necessity. But it’s overindulging in calories that causes weight gain. Calories come from 3 sources; fats, carbohydrates and protein. If all you are worried about is weight control then where those calories come from is irrelevant. But when it comes to nutrition, you want them to be coming from carbs and proteins. You want 30% or less of your calorie intake to come from
fats. And remember, exercise gets your metabolism working faster while you’re working out and for a pe-riod of up to two hours after (providing you’ve put in the effort). So the best time to eat those higher calorie foods is right after a trip to the gym so your body can transform those calories into energy more efficiently.
Vitamins: While vitamins do not provide us with energy, their main function is to act as the nutrients that keep our organs working and metabolisms pump-ing. And since our body is unable to effectively pro-duce these, we need to make sure we’re eating the right foods! For example, vitamin A is key for healthy growth and development and can be found in foods like carrots and mangos. Vitamin C is an excellent pre-ventative (note preventative, not cure) for the common cold and can be found in foods like oranges, tomatoes and green veggies.
Some helpful hints for staying alert and focused:•Eat smaller portions and more often throughout the day; this is what will keep your metabolism function-ing and will reduce the risk of your blood-sugar level dropping to low and causing the fatigue that plagues studying success.•Avoid processed sugars in the morning - these un-natural sugars will crank up your blood sugar, leaving you with cravings for those bad carbs. Instead, go with some fruit that is full of the natural sugars and energy your body needs!•Protein: The first thing that comes to mind is its abil-ity to help rebuild and strengthen your muscles after giving them a good workout. But another benefit of protein is its ability to increase dopamine levels which is a chemical produced in the brain that contributes to alertness.•Exercise: The reasons for this one are endless; it ac-tivates brain chemicals that help you relax, it keeps you active and awake, it means you are at the gym and therefore getting a healthy break from hitting the books and finally it gets your metabolism working so that your body can make the most of all of the healthy new foods you will be eating!
Victoria CraigWriter
The best time to eat higher calorie foods is right after a trip
to the gym because excercise gets your metabolism working
faster.
“
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Balancing It All
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As a student, specifically a business student, I under-stand that our generation is
often stereotyped as having low ethical standards but I also know this does not describe all of us. Ev-eryday we make choices as to what we purchase and where our money goes. We also incessantly hear the buzz words “ethical purchasing” and “over consumption” but often these concepts seem overwhelm-ing and beyond our reach. Is it re-
ally worth buying Fair Trade products when another brand is cheaper? Will I actually reduce the world’s consumption by buying less? I believe the answer can be yes, but making positive, properly informed deci-sions is often challenging. There are vast amounts of information available – social responsibility audits, formal sustainability reports, consumer blogs – but how can we differentiate between truthful facts and negative noise? I think the solution is first recognizing that the world needs to change and that individually we are each responsible for making this happen. From there we can decide what we value, what needs to be changed and how we are going to change it.
Snapshot of the World In a recent report re-leased by the UN Secretary General it was stated that despite the world’s increasing GDP, extreme poverty still persists in many nations across the globe. Similar-ly, a report on overconsumption published by the Sus-tainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) states that people in the world’s richest countries consume nearly ten times more natural resources than those in the poorest. These two statistics are proof that there is still a severe wealth and resource imbalance in the world’s nations. There are fears that our current consumption patterns may restrict the “sustainable and equitable development” of poorer nations (SERI) – there won’t be enough resources in the future when developing countries actually need and can afford them. In ad-dition, these innocent people are being caught in the middle of conflicts caused by our intense competition for resources. For these reasons, we should not only be
concerned about the environmental issues of overcon-sumption, but also its effect on other human beings.
Ethical Consumerism First of all, what is it? Essentially ethical consumerism is the mentality that what we consume does not solely impact ourselves but also our community, country and planet. We are responsible for what companies produce and the meth-ods they use to produce it, therefore, we are the driv-ing force behind the rapid consumption of the world’s resources. Because of this, we are also responsible for ensuring what we demand does not negatively impact those that produce it or the environment in which it is produced. It is up to us, as consumers, to put pressure on businesses and government bodies to recognize the importance of ethical sources and practices.
Ethical Labelling Ethical labelling is a tool with which consumers can identify products produced to specific ethical standards. The “FairTrade” or “Fair Trade Certified” logo (as used in Canada) is the most well-known of all ethical labels. It indicates to consum-ers which products abide by a specific set of standards with regards to the procurement, production and dis-tribution of coffee, tea and cocoa products (among others). There are other labels as well, such as the “Rainforest Alliance Certified” seal that indicates com-pliance with standards set by the Sustainable Agricul-ture Network (SAN). For the most part ethical labels are positive initiatives but it is always best to do your own research as to what each label represents.
Resources If you are interested in knowing the de-tails of a company’s ethical behaviour, it is beneficial to do some exploring. I will be the first to admit that seek-ing out correct, unbiased information can be a daunt-ing and challenging task; however, there are some unique resources available to you. There are numer-ous websites and organizations devoted to rating and reviewing the world’s companies and their business practices. Some rely on wikis and the accuracy of mass self-regulation to rank companies. Others use what in-formation is provided by the corporations themselves to create a grading scheme. Overall, it’s up to you to
Everyday we make choices as to what we purchase and where our
money goes.
“”
“Ethical Student” Doesn’t Have To Be an Oxymoron
Rochelle HeinrichsWriter
There won’t be enough resources in the future for when developing
countries actually need and can afford them.
“”
A student’s guide to ethical purchasing and how over–consumption is
impacting our world.
decide which resource works best for you. I have listed several below with a description to get you started. My only advice would be to take what they say with a grain of salt and do your own research in addition to these:•KnowMore.org (www.knowmore.org)According to its homepage, KnowMore.org aims to “raise awareness of corporate abuse” using wikis and the knowledge of real consumers to review the ethi-cal (or unethical) behaviour of hundreds companies worldwide.•Ethisphere Institute (http://ethisphere.com)Ethisphere Institute is a think-tank and business fo-rum dedicated to corporate social responsibility, sus-tainability and other ethical business topics. They also publish a magazine and compile the annual World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking™.
•Free2Work (www.free2work.org)A protect of the International Labour Rights Forum (ILRF), Free2Work grades and profiles companies in five categories relating to business ethics using pub-
lically available information. They even have an iPod App!
What You Can Do Obviously the big ques-tion is “what now?” How can we possibly solve the massive global issues of overconsumption and ethical consumerism? With hard work, I think it is possible. Firstly, we need to keep informed of the societal and environmental costs of production, as explained in a recent UN report. The production of food, specifically meat and dairy products, consumes large volumes of water each year. We need to be conscious of these facts and try to reduce consumption when we can. Remem-bering the humanitarian side of overconsumption is also important. There are numerous groups and orga-nizations you can get involved in that raise awareness for child labour or other human rights violations. The International Labour Rights Forum is one example, or TransFair Canada (they organize the Fair Trade la-bels). Obviously recycling is also an important step in reducing our use of resources. If we can reuse as many materials as possible there will be less need for exces-sive extraction. Lastly, a point made in the SERI report mentioned earlier, we need to remember that material possessions do not always achieve “higher life satisfac-tion.” Happiness can be found in more than the latest iPhone or a new pair of shoes. Perhaps by standing up for those in developing countries we can achieve both happiness in our own lives and a better standard of living for them.
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We need to remember that material possessions do not always achieve higher life
satisfaction.
“”
A student’s guide to ethical purchasing and how over–consumption is
impacting our world.
8
Staying MMmMMM Making the Most of Online Networking
Networking has been a central method for building busi-nesses well before the Inter-
net came of age, however with the proliferation of social media web-sites networking has taken on new meaning. Within the last few years social networking via the World Wide Web has become an enor-mous trend amongst many individ-uals. Websites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and oth-ers have become the dominant
means of communicating with friends and family, by uploading albums of pictures, updating statuses and planning events virtually.
Beyond giving individuals the means of communicat-ing across vast distances, large companies and corpo-rations have quickly adapted to the emerging oppor-tunities that social media creates. Where services such as Facebook and MySpace have been successful in bringing groups together based on common interests, business-networking websites such as LinkedIn are now offering a similar experience in the professional world. Through extensive research we have learned that several businesses use online networks to seek potential candidates for available positions, advertise and market their products or even find manufacturers in various parts of the world. The common trend of online friend based networking has even been consid-ered one of the most valuable business tools the Inter-net has yet provided. So, it’s time to make the most of your online networks!
Consider the option “LinkedIn” a business oriented social networking site mainly used for professional purposes. LinkedIn requires users to: •Upload current job information •Provide previous work experience •List general interests •Build “connections” with a list of contacts whom par-ticipants know and trust in the business worldThe list of “connections” accumulated allows people to:
•Find available job postings •Receive notifications regarding specific business po-sition openings•Follow different companies•View profiles and select individuals according to their credentials •Meet others indirectly through a mutual and trusted contact
Fourth year Business major and current Vice President of Corporate Relations of the School of Business and Economics Students’ Society, Jessica Piccolotto out-lines, “LinkedIn gives one the ability to network with colleagues, classmates, professors and industry profes-sionals, on LinkedIn people have the ability to write recommendations which is something that I think will become very useful in the future as the job mar-ket switches to social media websites.” In the future, LinkedIn will become a necessity just as cover letters and resumes are now because employers will incorpo-rate social networking websites such as LinkedIn into their screening routines and hiring processes.
Each day thousands of employers are signing onto LinkedIn, so don’t miss the opportunity to catch their attention. Make the most of this online networking era and begin marketing yourself to potential employers. However, keep in mind that although these social me-dia outlets provide several prospects for young gradu-ates and those looking for summer and co-op positions, they can be harmful to your reputation- so be sure to set your privacy settings high and be reluctant to what you choose to post. With that in mind, begin building trusted connections in hopes of a promising career and bright future. After all it is about whom you know, and LinkedIn has the ability to see whom you are con-nected to!
Robyn HendersonWriter
Each day thousands of employers are signing onto LinkedIn, so don’t miss the opportunity to catch their
attention. Make the most of this online networking era and begin marketing yourself to potential
employers.
“
”
Businesses use online networks to seek potential candidates for
available positions.
“”
Do you find yourself irritated by small things? Do negative thoughts seem to consume
your mind? Or does stress over-power your life? If you answered yes to any of the above you may be sweating the small stuff! There are many ways to stop worrying and to channel a more positive outlook on life. Richard Carlson’s book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff...and it’s all small stuff” offers some methods to keep little things from taking over
your life!
Ask Yourself the question, “Will This Mat-ter a Year from Now?”So many times we find ourselves stressing over things that really shouldn’t matter. Take a step back from whatever circumstance you are going through and ask “Will this matter a year from now?” or “Is this situa-
tion really as important as I’m making it out to be”? This question won’t solve all your problems, but it may give you a more objective perspective.
Be Aware of the Snowball Effect of Your ThinkingNegative thoughts have the ability to spiral out of con-trol. This can lead to nervous breakdowns, yelling, cry-ing and it’s all unnecessary. The sooner you can catch your negative thoughts and control them, the less chance they have to build up momentum.
Count to ten Anger can be seen as an emotion we all experience a tad too much? When you feel yourself getting angry, take a deep breath and count to ten slowly. The mix-ture of breathing and counting will help to take your mind off the situation and relax your entire body.
Resist the Urge to CriticizeCriticizing others says more about us then it does about them. Not only does criticizing not solve anything but it contributes to the anger and distrust of our world. Try and catch yourself in the act of being critical and notice how it makes you feel. Breathe Before you SpeakDoing this is not only simple but it also helps to increase patience, add perspective and lead to respect from oth-ers. So often people talk to others without really listen-ing, this has become a common habit. Breathing before speaking will take some practice and the gap between speaking may seem like a long time, when in reality it is only a few seconds.
Turn Your Melodrama into a Mellow- DramaWe all have a tendency to blow things out of propor-tion. We work ourselves up for nothing. The next time you feel stressed, remind yourself that life isn’t an emergency, remove yourself from the situation and return to it later with a fresh perspective.
Look for the Extraordinary in the OrdinaryWe see life in the way we want to see it. If you search for something negative, you’ll find it. You can train yourself to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. It all comes down to intention; there is so much to be grate-ful for as life is an extraordinary thing.
Do you Sweat the Small Stuff?
Lauren NealVP Human [email protected]
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Congratulations! You’ve done it. You created a compelling cov-er letter and resumé, snagged
a coveted interview slot, prepped yourself thoroughly and conducted yourself brilliantly during this job interview. The discussion is now winding down and you find yourself breathing a huge sigh of relief be-cause now all you have to do is sit back and wait for that offer to arrive right? Not so fast!
As a former executive recruiter and HR director for global corporations, I have witnessed candidate after candidate blow their employment chances not only be-fore the interview, or during the interview, but all too often after the interview. What makes this so surpris-ing is that most of the mistakes made after the inter-view are avoidable. Too often candidates believe that a few ‘quality’ minutes with an interviewer will trans-late into scoring a job offer. But as most athletes know – it’s often how you finish that determines where you place.
So what are the keys to finishing strong after the in-terview? Here are a couple of tips designed to keep you in the game longer and stronger than any of your competitors.
1. Finish the interview - strategicallyHow you close the interview will either open or close the door for further contact with a prospective em-ployer. Before leaving any interview, be sure to restate your interest in the position and ask the questions: “What are your next steps?” and “How can I follow up with you?” This sets the tone for appropriate and timely follow-up on the part of both parties. It also paves the way for you to follow up with a well-timed status update request if you haven’t heard from the prospective employer within the stated timeframe.
2. Express your thanks - sincerely This single action alone may help you distinguish
yourself from the other candidates who fail to write or email a note of thanks. Choose the method that you believe will be most consistent with the culture of the organization or style of your interviewer(s) and ensure you keep your tone both enthusiastic and pro-fessional. Whether you choose a handwritten note or a brief email is less important than ensuring a timely turnaround – generally within one business day. You might want to reference something specific that you learned during the interview that has deepened your interest in the company, product, team or position.
3. Name the elephants – directlyEven the best interviews usually have an awkward moment. If there was something during the interview that you failed to address or seemed to be a cause for concern, you may want to use your thank-you note to briefly tackle that issue. I am not referring to restat-ing major character flaws or glaring skill deficiencies but perhaps addressing one of those areas that you just know in your gut was not adequately resolved during the interview. If, for example, relocation came up dur-ing your interview and you hesitated or were caught off guard in your response, you may want to state that you have given this idea some additional thought, and would really welcome the chance to work from a dif-ferent geographical location.
4. Audit your social media presence – immediately The majority of employers openly admit that they will conduct an internet search on prospective candidates prior to a hire. Likely they have already Googled you prior to calling you in for an interview. Nevertheless, if you are short-listed, you can probably guarantee that they will really take the time to comb through your online presence. This would be a good time to review and remove questionable images, comments or affiliations. While you are at it, you may want to adjust your privacy settings. If you haven’t already done so, consider creating or updating your LinkedIn profile so that a positive, professional online career summary can be easily accessed by any prospective employer. To further demonstrate your interest in your profes-sional community, you may want to use LinkedIn or relevant blog sites to join industry-related discussion groups or to keep on top of trends in your field. (Note this is a great tip for before the interview as well!)
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Too often candidates believe that a few ‘quality’ minutes
with an interviewer will transfer into scoring a job offer. ”
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After the Interview 6 Tips for Finishing Strong
Keturah Leonforde
11
5. Prep your references – adequatelyIt’s so easy to forget that your references are a make or break part of your job search team. While you have spent significant time researching and prepping for this oppor-tunity with this company, remember your references have likely not been part of the process. By providing referees with a well-timed update including a current copy of your resumé, the job posting, a company website link and even a summary of the anticipated interpersonal or technical skill areas that they may be asked to comment on – you can ensure that they are able to confidently and appropri-ately respond to a prospective employer’s questions with-out stumbling or drawing a blank.
6. Cross your bridges – cautiouslyThe worse thing you can do after the interview process is to burn the bridge by failing to close the loop with the prospective employer. Of course, if you are offered the position and you accept, this is less of an issue. However, if you are not the successful candidate or if you decide to turn down the position, be very careful to maintain your professionalism and enthusiasm as you respond to the in-terviewer. Be sure to offer your best wishes to them, thank them again for considering your candidacy and express, if true, your interest in future opportunities with the orga-nization. This single action may keep you in the running
for planned or unplanned future vacancies or networking referrals.
At the end of the day, don’t despair if it seems like there is more to do after the interview than before or during the interview. The good news is that the impact of your fol-low-up efforts will likely be greater at this point in the job search process because you are dealing with a relatively smaller number of competitors the further you go. Keep in mind too that there are many unknown variables that are part of the hiring process so finishing strong does not necessarily guarantee that you will land your target posi-tion. What it does mean is that you gave it your best shot. Ultimately your success should not solely be defined by the number of job offers you receive but also by the pro-fessionalism, enthusiasm and commitment you demon-strated throughout the process. When all is said and done, those are qualities that will ensure you have ongoing job search success and, more importantly, enjoy a sustainable and rewarding career.
For additional tips and resources to assist you with career planning or employment preparation, visit the Laurier Ca-reer Development Centre at www.wlu.ca/career.
Provide your references with a well-timed update including a
current copy of your resumé, the job posting, a company website
and your skills. ”
“
The story of this year’s JDC Central Del-egation began in early September, at the outset of the fall semester. JDC Central is
an undergraduate business competition that takes place at university campuses across Ontario ev-ery year. In its inaugural year of January, 2010, Ryerson hosted the event that Wilfrid Laurier University eventually won. Laurier also won its bid to host the competition in 2011 earlier in the year, so come September the pressure was on. Our school was hosting after having won the very first JDC Central competition, in its 100-year an-niversary, and as the host school. For team cap-tains Elliott Draga and Matt McGuinness, that pressure only added to the hard work they were prepared to put in. The team was selected and be-gan practicing at the end of September, fervently working towards being named school of the year for the second year in a row. Week in, week out, all 34 delegates practiced to improve their re-spective skills for the weekend of. JDC Central is comprised of six academic case competitions (accounting, business strategy, entrepreneurship, finance, management information systems and marketing), as well as a parliamentary-style de-bate, sports competition and social competition. Finally, in January, the weekend everyone had been practicing year-round for had arrived. The team hit its stride just at the right time, as overall, Wilfrid Laurier took home 5 first place trophies, 1 second, and 2 third’s all on its way to finish-ing as the 2011 School of the Year once again. In 2012, the competition will be hosted in Ottawa at Carleton University, and Laurier will be vying for its third consecutive school of the year award.
JDC School of the YearTwo Years and
Counting By Elliot Draga
12
At one point in your life, you realize that it’s time to finally think about your personal
finances concerning the near future. Some of us value money more than others. Some may plan to retire at 45 or 65; none the less, we all want to achieve financial security at a cer-tain time period of our life. Getting to that personal stage of financial satisfaction can be tricky. Thus, it is best to construct a personal invest-ment program that is suitable for
our needs and wants.
Step 1- Establish your investment goals.Investment goals should be specific, measurable and realistic. There are various questions that we should address when establishing personal investment goals. For example, how will you obtain this money? What will you use this money for? How much money do you need for personal satisfaction? How much risk are you willing to assume in an investment program? What are some possible economic conditions that can alter your personal goals?
Step 2- Determine the amount of money you need to obtain to achieve your goalsThe amount determined is directly derived from your personal investment goals. It’s time to perform a finan-cial check up. How good are you when managing your money? If you’re the kind of person who spends more than what you own (purchasing on credit) then maybe it’s time to cut back a little. Before beginning a personal investment program it’s always better to ensure your financial affairs are in good shape.
Step 3- Getting the money needed to start an investment programStart an emergency fund if you don’t have one. It’s al-ways safe to store a certain amount of cash that can be accessed immediately. Secondly, always “pay Yourself first!” because too often we save what is left over after
paying everything else. A better approach would be a) pay your bills, b) save a reasonable amount of money c) use whatever money that is leftover for personal ex-penses regarding leisure expenses. Also, participate in an elective savings program. You can elect to have money withheld from your paycheque each payday automatically and have it deposit in your savings ac-count. An example of this are RRSPs (Register retired savings program) and the RESPs (Registered Educa-tion Savings Program)
Step 4- A personal “risk assessment”This is one of the most important factors the impact an investor’s decision. With regards to finances and money, how much risk are you willing to take with the money you have obtained to invest in the capital mar-ket. A high risk individual will have a much different investment program than one who can only undertake a low amount of risk. Question yourself, “How much risk am I really willing to take with my money?” Keep in mind, a low risk investor also implies that it is very unlikely your returns will be as high as someone who is willing to undertake much more risk than you. There is always a tradeoff between risk and return.
Step 5) Looking into the investmentsAre you a low risk investor?Some investments that are suitable for low risk inves-tors are financial security instruments and financial in-struments that provide a predictable source of income. If you want to keep your risk at the most minimal level, then consider purchasing Guaranteed Invest-ment Certificates, Canadian Government Bonds and open a savings account. These financial instruments provide a great form of financial security, but gener-ally provide a very low yield given a maturity due date on the investment. If you want to take the risk one step higher, you can purchase financial instruments that are likely to yield a higher income. For example, conservative corporate bonds, utility stock, provincial and municipal government bonds. If you do consider yourself a purely low-risk investor you can also look into other investment strategies such as “portfolio diversification” to increase the return your portfolio while minimizing risk. An ideal approach would be to reduce the risk in your financial portfolio while aim-ing for a higher return. For example, you can diversify your portfolio to balance out the risk to an extent by purchasing a mix of various financial instruments that are low risk and high risk.
Arooba KhanWriter
If you’re the kind of person who spends more than what you
own, then maybe it’s time to cut back a little.
“”
Personal Investing 101 How To Achieve Your Financial Dream Goals
13
Are you a high risk investor? The investment growth strategy fits in very well for a high-risk investor. This strategy would be medium-high risk, as it includes purchasing common stocks, preferred stocks, rental property and convertible bonds. Common stocks are generally more risky since many factors can affect the value of the stock i.e. busi-ness and economic conditions. These investments are very popular, and can provide you a source of income through dividends or if the dollar value of the stock increases. Another growth potential is when the com-pany splits its common stocks. Common stocks are more riskier than preferred stocks, since preferred stocks have a higher priority in being paid when a company faces financial issues (i.e. bankruptcy). It is also important to note, that you have to make a person-
al sacrifice for immediate cash when undertaking the investment growth strategy since many corporations re-invest their profits in the form of retained earnings. As a result, the growth is financed by the retained earnings and in turn increases the dollar value of the stock. The final set of investments that are considered to be the riskiest are speculative investments such as options, derivatives and commodities. A speculative investment is a high-risk investment made in the hope of earning a very large profit in a short period of time. However, if you are unsuccessful you can lose all or most of the initial investment you made. If you think you’re a high risk investor, it does not necessarily mean you must invest all your wealth into high risk invest-
ments because that would not be an ideal approach for any investor. You can simply invest more wealth into high-risk investment and leave a small portion for low risk investment i.e. (60% high risk instruments and 40% low risk instruments.
Though risk may vary between investors, one invest-ment strategy that is suitable for all investors is diver-sification which always minimizes risk. This is the pro-cess of spreading all your investments, and not putting all initial income into one type of financial instruments. For example, avoid investing in just common stocks and preferred stocks but rather invest into corporate stocks, options, derivatives and government bonds. In that case, if a specific company performs poorly and does not issue the dividend income you were expect-ing for then you have other assets that will yield a re-turn which will most likely weight out the risk in your portfolio.
Step 6) Monitor your investment program To keep your investment program on track, always monitor your investment program on a consistent basis. Watch how the market is performing, and read the news regarding economic conditions which may in turn affect your portfolio. A constant evaluation is necessary since investment goals may alter on a yearly bases depending on personal circumstances. For ex-ample, changing your job may affect your investment planning in the short-run or long-run. Also, different investments may seem less attractive or more attrac-tive from time-to-time depending on financial and eco-nomic conditions of a particular economy. Remember, to stay up to date and modify your investment plan when personal circumstances change around you. It will only help you bring you closer to achieving your financial dreams and goals.
Start an emergency fund if you don’t already have one.“ ”
14
You’ve just about fi nished your University education and almost got that degree you’ve worked so hard for. Now what? You enter the next phase of the pro-
cess of joining the real world. If you’ve been taking the ad-vice of your professors and guidance counselors, you should already know a lot of this stuff and be well prepared – right?
You’ve probably already got several versions of your re-sume. They’ve been honed to perfection. What have you got on there? If all you’ve got to show on your resume is that you’ve graduated from University and got a degree, then you could be in for a hard time. When employers look at your resume, they want to see what else, besides school, you’ve done. Have you joined clubs, done some volunteer work, invested time in some worthwhile activity? These ex-tra-curricular activities don’t necessarily have to be related to your fi eld. Have you participated in sports activities? Is there something unique you’ve done? (Smashing yourself into a wall for a YouTube video doesn’t count!)
Sometimes, it’s the oddity in your resume that catches the interest of the people who are looking at your resume. Sometimes, they’ll include you on a short list just to ask you about something that piqued their interest on your resume. Remember, the hardest part is gett ing that fi rst interview. Employers want to see that you’ve got more to off er than just being good at regurgitat-ing data that you’ve learned at school. Don’t get me wrong – the piece of paper you’ve got that att ests to the fact you’ve graduated is important, but it’s only the start. You’re com-peting with a lot of other people who have that same piece of paper. You need something that will make you stand out!
Next, you’ve got to send out your resume. Not surprisingly, e-mail is the best way to send out your resume and get re-plies. By now, you’ve most probably gott en rid of that cool e-mail name you had like [email protected] and replaced it with your real name. Employers generally don’t fi nd the former that impressive.
Now replies are pouring in and employers are looking to hire you (Don’t you wish!) You fi nally get an interview. How do you prepare? You need to do some research on the
company that is going to interview you. Check out the com-pany on the internet and ask around for people that might have some experience with that company. Almost certainly, you will be asked questions about the company you are hoping to work for. They will most likely ask you “Why do you want to work at this company?” Prepare a good answer besides your immediate glib responses like “It’s a paycheck” or “I hear it’s a good place to work.” Depend-ing on the company you are applying to, they may even ask your opinion on what you think works at the company and how you might be able to improve upon it; another reason to research the company. Prepare some answers. If you’re asked a question you haven’t prepared for, stop and think about it before replying. And if you start answering a ques-tion and realize you’re babbling, it’s okay to ask to start over. The people asking the questions are human (usually). On the subject of babbling – don’t. Answer a question directly and completely; then stop talking. Too often, when people are nervous, they start answering a question and then keep talking, with no end in sight. Interviewers will not usually stop you, so it’s up to you to stop yourself. Come to a defi -
nite end in the answer and don’t just trail off like you’ve lost steam.
Remember, the interview is really a conversation between the employer and you. They want to ask you ques-tions about yourself so they can get some sort of impression of who you are and how you can benefi t the
company. They’re not only looking for someone to fi ll an available position, they’re looking for potential for the fu-ture. You can also ask them questions about the company and how they work. It makes the whole interview process easier for both sides when it becomes a natural conversation as opposed to a question and answer process.
When you’re preparing for the interview, be ready to be in-terviewed by more than one person. Depending on the type of job you’re applying for and the company, you may often fi nd yourself facing a number of people. Although this can be a nerve racking encounter, keep in mind that often, most of these people are not professional interviewers. They have jobs, albeit at a more senior level, and they must take time out of their schedule to conduct interviews. There is nor-mally a plan to how these interviews are done and some sort of evaluation sheet based on the type of answers you give. It
You’ve Graduated–Now What?
A Manager’s PerspectiveBy Jerry Borys–Post -Production Manager , CBC
On the subject of babbling – don’t. Answer a question
directly and completely; then stop talking.
“”
It’s been eleven months since my last lecture at Laurier, and I’m still expe-riencing campus withdrawal. There
must be something wrong, right?
I’m writing to you from the real world – it’s a whole diff erent place, where you can be easily sucked into the mundane “routine bubble” of the daily commute, 9 to 5 work life and living for the week-ends. Sometimes the “Laurier bubble” seems much more exciting.
Don’t get me wrong – I love my workplace. I was fortu-nate enough to snag a great job in my fi eld of study (BBA) through campus recruitment. I’m also part of a brand new rotational program that allows me to explore diff erent roles to see what’s the right fi t for me, as well as off ers ongoing leadership training. The best part of the program is that there are 14 other candidates who are recent gradu-ates like me. This is one of the things I miss about school – being surrounded by your peers. Yes, a close-knit campus like Laurier can lead to intertwined social lives of drama, but it’s also a campus of familiar faces, strong school spirit and partying that starts midweek at Phil’s.
I miss the library – I would have never said that back when I was cramming for an exam at 2 AM on the 7th fl oor of the li-brary, after hours of searching for study space and starving from the lack of food options that are open that late. However, when at work, I sometimes wish there was a quiet spot away from my desk and
department to play some music and work on my pieces of a project.
Finally, “sleeping in” is unheard of. At school, if you wanted to sleep in, you could skip class with minimal consequence. At work, you risk your job if you make that decision. The work life has turned me from a very produc-tive night owl to a groggy morning person who can’t start the day without a Grande cup of bold coff ee, therefore putt ing me at risk of future stomach ulcers.
It’s my fi rst time in 18 years that I’m not in school. Yes, I worked during the summers, but I enjoyed those intern-ships because I knew that there was always an end to the work routine, when I moved back to Laurier every Sep-tember. But, this time, I’m in it for the long haul. I guess I just need to grow up and get over the fact that I’m not a student anymore. Even my OneCard expires next month, which makes it offi cial. Plus, no more student discounts.
I guess there’s one wonderful thing that makes it much easier to cope with my new life – a steady stream of in-come. No more student budget, baby – $$$!
may not always be obvious to you to fi gure out what kinds of answers they’re looking for. Be yourself and be truthful. Know what you’re talking about and don’t embellish. If you don’t know the answer, don’t make one up. If you don’t un-derstand a question, ask the person to repeat it or rephrase it. They may be using terminology you’re not familiar with. Don’t forget, you may have learned diff erent terminology in university. You’re also being evaluated on how you conduct yourself during the interview.
The interview is now coming to an end. You’re breathing a sigh of relief. One of the last questions usually asked is if you have any question for the interviewers. If you haven’t already asked any questions during the interview, this is your opportunity to get information from the interviewers. You should have some questions prepared in case there are no natural questions that come to mind. You don’t want to
leave the interview without asking a single question. This makes it appear as if you haven’t really done your home-work for the interview.
Finally, thank the interviewers for their time and the oppor-tunity to be selected for the interview. It’s OK to ask them when a decision might be made.
You may have to go through this process many times. There are a lot of people applying for each job and there are many variables that determine who gets picked. Don’t let yourself get down because you haven’t gob a job from that fi rst or tenth interview. It can take time, but if you’ve done your due diligence, it will eventually pay off . Then you enter the next phase – how to survive in a new job and move forward. That’s another article. Good luck.
There’s No Place Like School
Abhishek SarathyLaurier Graduate
15
Between tuition, housing, gro-ceries, and books, life as a stu-dent can really add up. Here
are a few easy to follow tips to help you make every dollar count!
Many students don’t realize how much they are spending on bank fees. Most banks off er free or re-duced rates for student accounts. If you are paying for a regular ac-count, call or visit your local branch armed with your student ID card
and/or proof of enrolment to make the switch. Also, ensure you are staying within your transaction limits – not all bank accounts have unlimited withdrawals, and fees per extra transaction are typically $0.65. If you are withdrawing cash, try to do so at your bank’s ATM or from a teller. Those fees of $1.50 from other ATMs may not seem like much, but if you were to visit these ATMs twice a month for a year, it would add up to $36! Make sure you also keep track of the balance in your account. Sometimes the bank will automatically give you overdraft instead of declining your card as a courtesy when have insuffi cient funds. This courtesy will, however, cost you.
Transportation is another hidden cost. Many of us spend more on cabs and gas than we realize. When the weather permits, try walking to shops and restaurants – most are closer than you think! Year round, check out the bus schedules at www.grt.ca. Buses run frequently and it is free with your OneCard. If you do have a car, take your roommates grocery shopping with you. Although they may not be willing to pay gas money, perhaps you could negotiate being exempt from pur-chasing communal items such as toilet paper. Also try to carpool with friends when visiting home so you can split the gas money.
Textbooks are a major expense for all of us. Buy used whenever possible. You can do so through the Laurier Bookstore, SIFE Bookswap, or even Facebook Market-place. Don’t be afraid to ask professors if you may use
an older edition of a book. Usually, only a few changes occur between editions, so you may not have any prob-lems. Swap textbooks with friends who have the same courses on opposite semesters, and try to sell your textbooks at the end of the semester.
Having a social life is obviously important, but it can take a toll on your savings. Instead of going out to ex-pensive restaurants with friends, try organizing pot-luck dinners. You’ll get to try an interesting assortment of food for a fraction of the cost. Rent movies in groups to share the cost instead of going to the movies. If you do end up going to the movie theatre, try to go to mati-nees and eat beforehand so that you won’t be tempted by the pricey concessions. When you go out to the bar, bring a set amount of cash that you’re comfort-able spending for the night and leave your credit and debit cards at home. Plan inexpensive nights in with your friends, perhaps to watch a favourite television show, have a game night, or play a sport if the weather permits.
As mentioned previously, eating at restaurants and even fast food restaurants can get very costly. Stock up on healthy, aff ordable food at the grocery store. Remember, you are only cooking for one, so try not to overstock on items that will go bad in a week. Check fl yers in the paper or online for the best deals and write out a list before you go shopping. This will save you time and money, as you will be more focused on the items you need rather than impulse buys. Look for ways to cut down on expensive habits: brew your own coff ee or try to limit the amount you drink, buy value-packs of gum, use a Brita fi lter instead of buy-ing bott led water, and quit smoking. That’s obviously easier said than done, but with motivation and support you can kick these habits and save a lot of money in the process.
Students have a lot to worry about, and keeping track of a budget can be an intimidating process. Hopefully with these tips you can learn to save your money and still enjoy your time at Laurier!
Check fl yers in the paper or online before you go shopping.“
Rebecca EllisonWriter
Having a social life is obviously important, but it can take a toll
on your savings.
“”
How to Maximize Your Student Budget
16
”
Recently, I spoke with my uncle, Michael Borys. I thought he would be an interesting topic
for an article and decided to inter-view him. I wanted to get an inside look at the world of finance. As an accomplished executive, he gave me his insights to success.
AMG: 1)Please define your job and what your duties areMB: I’m the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO,
for Newalta Corporation. Our revenues are approxi-mately $600 million, we have 80 facilities and five re-gional offices across Canada, and are listed on the TSX as a public company. We are in the business of recov-ering and recycling saleable products from industrial and oilfield waste streams – we are an environmental friendly and focused company.I am responsible for Accounting, Planning, Informa-tion Technology, Tax, Treasury and Insurance, Risk Management and Capital Management, with 8 direct reports and a total staff of approximately 225 people. As CFO, I am also responsible for establishing and maintaining strong relationships with our Board of Di-rectors, especially our Audit Committee, our various banking partners, our major investors (institutional funds), and our auditors, and most importantly, the balance of the executive team.
AMG: 2)What do you love most about your job?MB:I love building teams of highly capable, engaged, results oriented people. The team I have now is very different than what I inherited when I first joined the company about two and a half years ago. I love speak-ing to my direct reports and their teams about new ideas and how to move the business model forward. I like seeing them excited about what they do, and see-ing them act and feel empowered. Contrary to what many people think, higher level finance positions have much more to do with communication, engagement,
and motivation rather than actual number crunching – I leave that to my direct reports who in turn leave it to their direct reports. I enjoy the travel my career path has allowed – I’ve worked in Toronto, Bermuda, Vancouver, Poland, Ed-monton, and now Calgary. I’ve also been able to travel to a number of interesting locations such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles (Paramount Studios), Las Ve-gas, much of Canada, London, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Dubai. I enjoy working through acquisitions and also through financing. We just raised $125 million last November and the whole experience was terrific – we exceeded our expectations on pricing and street reaction to what we did.
AMG: 3)What is the job market like for en-try level finance and accounting jobs?MB: It is what you make of it. Anyone can get a job in a good or bad economy. There are always lots of op-portunities if you can find them. From a pay perspec-tive, I’m amazed at what we do pay people coming out of university – when I started back in 1985, my starting salary as a CA student was $16,000. Today, first year CA students can earn $50,000 or more. There is always a job out there for someone willing to find it. Leverage any and all contacts you have with family and friends– they might not get you the job but they can help set up introductions.
AMG: 4)What are you looking for when someone applies for financial work?MB: Attitude, motivation, willingness to learn and drive impact are some of the most important things we look for – once you get in the door, it’s less about academics and more about where your head is at – are you hungry or do you feel you deserve to be taken care of – If you are hungry and humble and willing to learn, you are hired. If you think we owe you something, forget it. You read about common mistakes made by people applying for jobs and coming in for interviews, you laugh and then you realize that if you can avoid those mistakes, you would be seen in the top 10% of applicants. •Keep your resume professional, and no typos, no jokes•Show up in a suit to an interview for a professional position … be alert, have many questions ready and look the part of being interested•If you are going out for lunch as part of the process,
Interview : Michael BorysSenior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Newalta Corp.
It is what you make of it. Anyone can get a job in a
good or bad economy.
“”
Kira Borys Writer
17
Continued on next page.
understand the interview is still going on – this is not a lunch with a friend – don’t order alcohol unless its put onto you but be sure to keep it at one drink, if pushed, then move on to tonic water
•Look and act hungry for the roleI am also looking for where the person failed – You learn in business that people who have failed, made big and small mistakes, are much more valuable than people who can’t remember when they failed or who don’t just own up to it. My mistakes have made me better, and its part of my experience profile.
AMG: 5)What obstacles did you have to overcome in your journey of becoming a CFO?MB: I had no role models so I learned as I went along. I was fortunate enough after a couple of jobs, after I had my CA designation, to join KFC which was then part of Pepsico. Pepsico is well known as a people de-velopment culture, focused on developing and build-ing leaders. I had many leaders to watch and pick the best habits. Books always help but you learn the most
about leading, about progressing from watching oth-ers do it effectively. I think today, many people are so much more plugged into contacts from various walks of life. When I started out I didn’t have any business connections and no awareness as to how things got done. If I knew what I know now it would have saved me from making a lot of mistakes – but you also learn more from failing than from always getting it right. I’m a terrible presenter but despite all of the above comments on having to be a good communicator, I got through it all simply because I was myself – I was never going to win any presentation skills awards but people also enjoyed my sincere, no bullshit style. You learn quickly that to succeed, you need to play yourself – you can only fake it so long before you are found out. You will come across many great presenters that don’t really get too far in the organization because they may not have any of the other required skills. If you can find the balance between motivating people to succeed and impacting the business positively, you’ll do great
AMG: 6) What jumps out at you in a re-sume from someone that is applying for a job in the finance/accounting field?MB: Someone in my position is not looking at entry level applicants. At my level, I’m looking for fit be-tween the person and our organization – will they suc-ceed. Ultimately, I want t know what they are looking for – Are they looking for a good, respect driven en-vironment, are they looking for an aggressive take no prisoners type atmosphere, are they looking to learn or
simply make money. In an entry position, as I mentioned above, the hiring person is looking for someone who is professional, has a good clean head on their shoulders, wants to learn, and is hungry for the position.
AMG: 7)What advice overall can you give to students gradu-ating out of university, going into the finance field?MB: Plan. Think about what you want to do with your life generally but don’t get too focused on jobs or titles or tasks – If you speak with most successful peo-ple, they will tell you that the jobs they progressed through were generally not on their expected path – it just devel-oped because of opportunity and their own performance. My best jobs at KFC/Pepsico did not exist when I first joined the company. Think about your career in stages. Stage 1 – Start of Career – Un-derstand the landscape•Early on, it’s all about learning, and getting yourself a better understanding of what’s out there. Put yourself in a po-sition where you will be able to watch
Attitude, motivation, willingness to learn and drive impact are some
of the most important things we look for.
“
”
Michael Borys
Mr. Borys has 25 years of financial management experi-ence in strategy development, financing, mergers and
acquisitions, and risk management. His extensive leader-ship experience is a strong asset to furthering Newalta’s
corporate growth strategy. Prior to joining Newalta in 2008, Mr. Borys was Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer for The Brick Group
Income Fund. He has a Bachelor of
Commerce Degree from Concordia
University and is a Chartered Accoun-
tant.
“
18
effective leaders and learn from them. Do not go into jobs that teach you nothing, show you nothing about leadership and development. Too often, young people find that they have given up their first 3 or 4 years of work life before they realize that they have no better sense of what opportunities are out there. Stage 2 – Start to Mid Career – Position yourself for success
•Once you get into that right role, then manage your career – don’t think someone will do it for you. If you want more experiences or travels or people reporting to you, make sure your boss knows that. Put yourself in a position where you are not a victim but rather driv-ing your own direction. Sounds simple but you will always run across people that think they have been recognized for what they have done. These are victims that let time manage their career – if you put yourself in a position of remaining marketable, your employer will have to take care of you – but if you let yourself fall behind and lose that marketability, you will take a long time to get it back. Keep your eyes open, don’t be a victim. Own your career, which you could also take to mean own your life.
Stage 3 – Make some money – Accumulate wealth•For some people, money is not important, so this is dependent on what you want in life and why you are working. Some young people see someone mak-ing $250,000 and want that pay right away. The first 2 stages of your career as I describe it is not about mak-ing real money – its about learning, developing, pay-ing bills, enjoying the ride and ensuring you are ready for the last stage if you go there. This last stage is about realizing all the potential you have developed in the first 10 to 15 years of your career and truly moving up the organizational ladder, or simply starting or run-ning your own business. You are now in charge. This is your wealth accumulation years. People in my position don’t typically build up that much wealth until they hit 40 to 45. In these last 10 to 15 years (or shorter), this is where you will build your wealth, your retirement nest egg. This is the fun part.
AMG: 8)What should be a graduate’s start-ing point in searching for their ideal job?MB: •Understand what they are looking for – don’t let fear of not finding something drive you into the wrong opportunity. You are not looking for a task or something to keep you busy but rather, something that you might find interesting and something that you might learn from. There are lots of great environments out there, but unfortunately, there are also lots of very harsh places out there, big companies and small com-panies. Don’t let money determine what you decide to go for – the money is meaningless at this stage in your career.Get your education done with, have decent to good marks, show some balance in your profile so its not all about school; ideally, get involved in the community or a charity. Companies are looking for rounded indi-viduals. And then talk to people – as with this article, find people that you might be able to access and get some face time with them – and just ask them what their career profile was all about, ask them all of these questions and just let them talk. People love talking about themselves if the questions are sincere.
You learn quickly that to succeed, you need to play
yourself.
“”
Profile: Newalta Corp.We’re in the product recovery business, where
innovation and customer-driven approaches add value to our customer’s bottom line.
We’re also working to find ways to build a better world. We’re changing how industry perceives waste by partnering with our customers, helping them to meet their environmental objectives kilo by kilo, litre by litre.- Taken from www.newalta.com
Don’t let fear of not finding something drive you into the
wrong opportunity.
“”
19
Join Atrium Today
Visit www.sbeatrium.com for applications.