Career Conversations - Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association & Simon Fraser University
Career Conversations - “Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association & Simon Fraser University” with Seleena Thandi
Navigating the search for your first full-time job that matches your major & interests can be an overwhelming journey. Whether you are a freshman, transfer student or a soon-to-be-alum, we all go through a stage during our undergraduate years where we aimlessly stare at the laptop screens, not knowing where to start. Not to mention that one resume.docx that’s been piled up on top of million tabs, waiting to be revisited when the pressure to get a job finally kicks in. It’s a dreadful experience, and we all deserve someone to ask questions, seek help from, and get support—so let’s talk about it.
Career Conversations, a blog series newly launched by CMNSU, aims to provide co-op experience of Communication students and alumni in diverse sectors. Through conversation-based interviews, we aim to capture insights and tips that will help you to get your foot in the door in the various professional fields.
“While it’s important to take steps to set up for post-grad life, don’t forget to enjoy being a student.” - Seleena Thandi is a SFU alumni of Spring 2024 with a major in Communication. With her co-op experiences that allowed her to explore different aspects of the communication field, she shares the value of stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing opportunities for both professional and personal growth.
1. Can you tell us about your co-op experience?
I completed three terms of co-op at two different organizations: the first as a Communication and Marketing Intern at the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association (DSBIA), followed by a role as an Area Enhancement Intern in the same organization, and the third as a Digital Communications Assistant at the SFU School of Communication.
DSBIA - Communication and Marketing Intern: I was responsible for managing the organization’s social media channels, supporting email marketing, and helping to plan and promote various events.
DSBIA - Area Enhancement Intern: This role was a bit different from my first co-op; I was responsible for planning community-based initiatives, including drafting reports, website copywriting, and more.
SFU School of Communication - Digital Communications Assistant: In this position, I created social media content related to the faculty, conducted interviews, and wrote articles for the website. Additionally, I developed a digital toolkit aimed at providing tips to incoming students joining SFU in the Fall.
2. What are some of the major accomplishments you’d like to share from your co-op experiences?
DSBIA - Communication and Marketing Intern: A memorable accomplishment was organizing the Santa Window Walk, a community event where participants visited local businesses with Christmas-themed window paintings and donated to charities. This event, held during COVID-19 in 2020, was especially memorable as creative approaches were required to engagethe community while adhering to health guidelines. We created a giveaway where participants could scan a QR code on posters to donate to charities and enter a contest by sending us photos of the paintings. This was a very enjoyable experience that still got people in the holiday spirit while being mindful of the regulations back then.
DSBIA - Area Enhancement Intern: I led the planning and execution of a community clean-up project. This involved coordinating with participants and managing the logistics of the event. We had 30 people participating from various community groups and collected around 20 bags of garbage which I would consider a success!
SFU School of Communication - Digital Communications Assistant:
One of my key accomplishments was developing the Digital Toolkit, a comprehensive resource for new students. The toolkit provided essential tips and guidance on navigating SFU’s various resources and services. As someone who was initially overwhelmed by the amount of different resources and websites, I aimed to create a user-friendly guide to help incoming students settle in more easily.
3. Any insights/key takeaways you learned through these co-op experiences?
Overall, the co-op program allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I was pretty anxious going into co-op, but I also knew this would be a great opportunity to learn lots of valuable skills.Through co-op, I was able to learn about different office cultures,get familiar with employee portals, and learn basic email etiquette, which can also be applicable across different industries. As an undergraduate student, I was also used to being in classes with people who were similar in age and thinking. However, once I started my co-op, I got the opportunity to meet different people with a variety of viewpoints, especially through collaborating with people from different programs. This was a refreshing experience. Additionally, such exposure also allowed me to figure out what I like in a job. I discovered that I’m quite flexible, enjoying both working independently and as a team. Overall, co-op has definitely helped me to identify my preferences and expand perspectives on work environments.
4. How did your co-op experiences contribute to your skill development?
In communications and marketing roles, the primary goal is to convey information to specific target audiences. My co-op experiences taught me how to tailor my ‘language’ to different audiences and fields. For example, my current role at a real estate company requires a different approach compared to the non-profit sector, where I previously promoted community events. Additionally, I developed technical skills in graphic design, becoming more confident in programs like Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
On a broader level, the co-op experience helped me to learn how to draft an application package, including creating a resume, writing a cover letter, and preparing for interviews. These skills have been particularly valuable in navigating the post-graduation job market. Although job applications can be anxiety-inducing, my co-op experience helped desensitize me to the process.
Has it changed your perspectives towards what career you want to pursue? - Before my co-op term, I had no idea what I wanted to do; I was interested in marketing, but I wasn’t certain about it. Doing co-op allowed me to find out that I enjoy doing social media marketing. Although I am not entirely certain if this will be my final career path, I am currently satisfied with my role and enjoy the creative aspects of social media marketing.
5. How was job searching for Full-time positions like after graduation, were there any differences between Full-time positions vs. co-op positions?
The biggest difference was the shift in responsibility; after graduation, job searching became entirely up to me. I needed to be self-disciplined, unlike during the co-op program where advisors provided guidance and support. Another big aspect was that for co-op, all the job postings were in one portal, so all you need to do is go to that portal and everything is there. For post-graduation job searches, you would have to look at individual company websites and use job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn. Additionally, the resume format changed: I transitioned from a Canva-designed resume to an ATS-friendly format to improve keyword scannability for job applications.
6. What strategy did you find most helpful during your job search after graduation?
I definitely recommend making a LinkedIn account, as I had coffee chats with various LinkedIn connections of mine and that’s how I got the tips regarding ATS-friendly resume format. When it comes to applying for jobs, it is important to be selective—while the job market is tough and you may not hear back from many of the companies, it is important to focus on tweaking your resume and cover letter to each position you are applying to. In addition to these documents, I also prepared an online portfolio that could showcase my design skills, and this is actually what helped me to land my current position. In addition to your creative design work, if you have any written articles, that’s also something good to include in yourportfolio.
7. What activities/involvement outside academic aspects do you feel were helpful in securing co-op positions?
In my second year, I joined the Active Bystander Network, which is a group that works with the Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office to help educate the SFU community on consent, sexual health and violence. My role involved managing social media and running booths to engage with students. This experience was valuable not only for personal growth but also for enhancing my resume.
Additionally, I was involved in a non-profit organization outside of SFU called Paying It Forward. It was started by a friend, and I managed their social media and helped to organize events that provided care packages and food to communities. Both of these roles demonstrated my commitment to community service and strengthened my resume. If I were to do undergrad again, I would definitely try and join a club like CMNSU—as I feel like you learn so many valuable skills while meeting new people who share similar goals as you.
8. What advice would you give to undergraduate students, primarily to those who are starting their university years?
In addition to joining clubs and engaging with the community, staying connected with faculty members is crucial. I didn’t realize this until I started working for the School of Communication, and I regretted not doing it sooner. Our Communication professors are very nice and offer valuable advice, including guidance for pursuing a Master’s degree. I also strongly encourage people to try to make friends in their classes, just to make for a more fulfilling undergraduate experience.
9. What about those who are soon-to-be-alumni?
For preparing for post-grad job fields, I cannot think of a better way to prepare than doing co-op. You don’t have to have a full career plan, but doing co-op and getting hands-on experience will definitely prepare you better for job searching after graduation.
10. Any last comments?
While it’s important to think about your future and take steps to set up for post-grad life, don’t forget to enjoy being a student. Take advantage of this time—you don’t have to have everything figured out all at once, and it’s okay if you don’t have all the experiences right now. Enjoy the freedom of not having to worry about a full-time job just yet. While starting your career is certainly exciting, I also found myself missing the student life once I graduated—so don’t stress out too much, enjoy your time!