Lazy Faire September 2011

For Business Students, by Business Students

September 2011

LAZY FAIRE

Words of Wisdom from

DARREN LIVINIUK

FALL

ELECTIVES! the best courses to take!

FASHION great looks for the season!

the UofA & BSA EVENTS GUIDE

Community Connection

UTILIZING ELECTRONICS

KELSEY BULMER 1

Advertisement

2

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note

Karolina Zheng, Editor-in-Chief

Lance Chung, Content Editor

kzheng2@ualberta.ca

Welcome to/back to the School of Business!

A new year has commenced and the Lazy Faire team of 2011/12 is proud to present to you the September issue!

In addition, we are proud to announce a few changes to this year’s magazine, including a Student Spotlight, Community Involvement piece and our blog (http://lazyfaire.tumblr. com - Remember to check it out!). Our goal is to present you with timely information regarding events, opportunities and exciting news throughout the year.

In our September issue you can find articles such as our student spotlight (Darren Linviunk!), electives, time management and golf pointers, the BEA’s monthly newsletter and more!

If you have any questions or just want to chat, feel free to stop me in the hallways or give me a shout at kzheng2@ualberta. ca. Remember to pick up an issue the first Wednesday of every month during the BSA’s anti-burnout event and I hope everyone has a great and exciting year!

Ryan Jayatunge, Design Editor

lance1@ualberta.ca

rjayatun@ualberta.ca

As your new content editor, I’m so excited to be welcoming everyone back with the September issue of Lazy Faire! With a fresh, new start to the school year, we’ve also decided to revitalize the magazine by implementing a few changes here and there.

Hello my name is Ryan Jayatunge, I am a fourth yeah accounting major with a MIS minor and this year’s Design Editor for Lazy Faire Magazine. This is my first year on the team, and what I plan to bring forward to the team is a fun, hardworking environment. This year we are revamping Lazy Faire to look more professional.

One such change has involved featuring students (like you!) on our cover to acknowledge hard work, recognize achievements, and promote interaction within the student body. This month, we’ve decided to feature newly-graduated student, Darren Liviniuk, to discuss his experiences at the SoB. From his work as the accounting club’s president to being our faculty’s BComm. blogger, Liviniuk serves as a great example for current and incoming students.

Just a little about me, I like going to the gym, playing basketball and practically any sport or activity that is challenging, hanging out with friends, Starcraft 2, building models, watching Korean dramas, listening to trance and kpop, eating and, most importantly sleeping.

I believe this year will be the best year for the magazine; we have an awesome, hardworking team, and we are open to any suggestion and comment. Please feel free to contact me with anything we can improve on.

We’ve also included a diverse range of articles in this issue, covering great electives choices, fall fashion, technology and campuswide events. Be sure to aslo check out our newly-instated Tumblr blog for additional and extended content! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ever contact us.

Here’s to a great and exciting new year ahead, cheers!

Braden Lauer - Senior Contributor Breanne Pisani - Senior Contributor Eileen Lee - Senior Contributor Paul Lopushinsky - Senior Contributor Sally Au - Senior Contributor & Creative Director

C O N T E N T

Lazy Faire 2011/12

Thanks, Ryan Jayatunge

D E S I G N 3

Emily Wong - Creative Director Jeff Mah - Photographer & Creative Director Jenny Truong - Creative Director Matthew Alexander - Creative Director Nitasha Happy - Creative Director Shirley Guo - Creative Director

September Table of Contents

Academics

Arts & Sports

05

CALENDAR

07

UofA EVENTS

10

BEST ELECTIVES TO TAKE

13

GOLF TIPS: SEAL THE DEAL ON THE GREEN

18

Business

Student Life

FALL/WINTER TRENDS

03

TEAM/ EDITIORS PAGE

06

BSA EVENTS

15

INTERVIEW WITH KELSEY BULMER

16 17

INTERVIEW WITH DARREN LIVINIUK

12

BEA

08

TASTE

14

TIME MANAGEMENT

11

UTILIZING ELECTRONICS

19

FRESHMAN 15/ NUTRITION

Business Students’ Association

Follow Us!

www.lazyfaire.tumblr.com 4

www.bsaonline.ca

@bsavoice

Calendar

Remember to add/drop classes by September 20!

Fall Tuition due September 30!

Upcoming in October October 3 BBTC Weekly Meeting October 5 BSA Anti-Burnout BFA Mock Market Info Session October 6 BEA Nation 2 Nation SIFE General Assembly October 7 BEA Recruitment Application Deadline

Check out the Dear First Year Me video!

Search “Dear First Year Me” on YouTube or check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7J3RoulNs Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

September

4

11

BFA Wall Street Prep BSA Frosh Retreat

18

BSA Energize Ends

25

5

BEA Week of Welcome Begins

12

BFA Mock Fin Interviews Begin BSA Clubs Fair

19

BBTC Guest Night JDCW Info Session

26

BBTC Weekly Toastmaster Meeting

6

BSA Orientation BSA Book Sale Begins

13

BSA Book Sale Ends BSA Clubs Fair

20

JDCW Info Session SIFE Info Session

27

BEA Info Session SIFE Info Session

7

14

BSA Meet the Faculty BSA Pong Tournament

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

8

9

BSA Cohort Olympics

15

BEA Nation 2 Nation Kickoff JDCW Team Recruitment Begins SIFE Info Session

21

22

28

29

UAAC Annual UAHRMA AGM/ CA Dinner General Info SIFE Info Session Night

CESA Top of Class Etiquette Dinner

AEC Begins BEA Info Session UAHRMA Mentorship Info Night JDCW Social Tryouts

5

SU Clubs Fair & Beer Gardens End

16

BSA Energize Begins UAMA Graffiti Night

23

30

AEC Continues Party on the EDGE Tuition Due!

10

BFA Wall Street Prep BSA Frosh Retreat

17

UAAC Golf Tournament

24

BSAGolf Tournament

Business

What’s Happening In September:

Events

By Breanne Pisani

With the new school year kicking off there are plenty of events that just might be worth checking out. Here are a few put on by the BSA in the month of September. Find one that interests you and get involved!

BSA Energize Conference

The BSA’s Energize conference is quickly approaching. This September, students at the SoB are invited to attend an inspiring career conference hosted in Edmonton’s city centre. Students can expect inspirational speeches from leaders in their chosen fields and outstanding networking opportunities with over 120 business students and industry professionals. This unparalleled weekend of social events, career activities, outstanding food and a host of other features will take place at Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre and Westin Hotel on September 16th and 17th. Keynote speakers, including Edmonton Oilers President Patrick Laforge and Edmonton Airport’s CEO Reg Milley, showcase the caliber of this year’s speakers.

This year’s conference features an exciting evening event - an overnight stay at one of the city’s best hotels and a mini-case competition with prizes exceeding a $500 value. Registration is from September 7th – 13th, and tickets will be sold in front of the BSA office from 9am-3pm - first come first served. Cost for the conference, hotel stay, and all associated meals and events is set at $60.

BSA Golf Tournament

The U of A Business Students’ Association will be hosting its 3rd annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 24th, 2011.

This tournament is being held at the Ranch Golf and Country Club and all proceeds will benefit YESS (Youth Emergency Shelter Society). After the 18 holes of a Texas Scramble tournament, there will be a banquet and silent auction to follow. This event is designed to help support YESS as well as provide a networking experience as each pair of students will be partnered up with a pair of corporate leaders from the community.

For the registration deadline, spots can be reserved now and will likely continue up until a couple days prior to the actual tournament.

There should be more than enough spots for all who want to attend, so feel free to sign up! Costs have yet to be finalized but should be around $70-$80 for the day. Contact Kurt for more information: kbuban@ualberta.ca.

Come join your colleagues for an unforgettable weekend that is sure to leave you inspired. For any related concerns contact Graham Taylor (gtaylor@ualberta.ca) or Chris Monfette (monfette@ualberta.ca).

BSA Water Pong Tournament

The BSA Pong Tournament will take place on September 15th at Champs. It will be a water pong tournament, same rules as always.

There will be cups at either end of a table and opponents will have to throw a ball aiming to get it in the cups at the opposing team’s side.

When they do the other team needs to drink what is in the cup.

Teams will consist of two people and each team must have at least one business student so you are welcome to bring a friend from a different faculty! However there will be a limited amount of teams, so sign up fast. It’s a good way to welcome back another school year.

Any questions can be directed to Gina Mytruk: mytruk@ualberta.ca.

6

Student Life

Campus Events

By Breanne Pisani

We here at Lazy Faire also encourage all our fellow students to seek experiences and opportunities outside of our faculty. Meeting individuals from other programs and divisions of our school can help students think outside of the box and widen perspectives. Here are some great upcoming events that are being put on by UofA’s Student’s Union!

From Wednesday, September 7th to Saturday, September 10th.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Start off the school year by filling those bellies with some great breakfast in Celebration Plaza on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8AM to 1030AM. What university student wouldn’t be stoked for free food?!

BEER GARDENS

Enjoy some beer and great music with your friends at the always-popular Beer Gardens in QUAD on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11AM to 630PM. Entrance is free, and live entertainment will be provided from 2:30PM ‘til 6PM daily! Be sure to look out for the huge tent this year! Also, keep an eye on facebook.com/uasuevents for a list of bands playing.

WAYNE LEE THE HYPNOTIST

Entertainment comes in the form of seeing your fellow students fall under the spell of hypnotist, Wayne Lee. Come watch at the Dinwoodie Lounge on Wednesday night at 730PM! Tickets are $7.

TASTE OF THE U

One of our favourites, take a tour of local food vendors on and around campus. Yes, you heard correct, a food.tour. The tour starts in the Alumni Room at 5PM on Thursday! A $2 donation for the campus food bank gets you a tour of 6-9 restaurants around campus, where you’ll be able to sample their menu for free!

CONCERT: DRAGONETTE AND USS

Come to the Dinwoodie Lounge on Thursday to rock out to the sounds of acclaimed band, Dragonette, and USS! The show starts at 9PM, with a $25 cover charge.

MOVIE NIGHT: X-MEN FIRST CLASS & THOR

Enjoy these great action-packed movies before they’re available to rent at the Myer Horowitz Theatre on Friday! X-Men starts at 5pm, and Thor, at 8PM. Entrance is free!

Woohoo!

WOW MAINSTAGE

Check out some great music at the WOW Main Stage, Saturday night at 6PM. Price and artists are TBA, but you can keep an eye on any new announcements by checking out facebook.com/uasuevents!

7

Business

[

ake

tudent o at

“TASTE”

]

Program

The TASTE Engagement Program

TASTE is the new and innovative program designed by the University of Alberta Business Students’ Association (BSA) in partnership with the Business Alumni Association (BAA). A corporate host buys lunch for a student as an opportunity to support the school and its undergraduate program. Our goal is to create valuable relationships between students and alumni who want to make an impact in a student’s career.

The Benefit of Student Participation

TASTE is the venue for students to ask questions about life challenges, career development, industry opportunities, and matters that they may not easily bring up on a personal level with industry professionals in standard networking events. This allows them to get a better idea of the career path they chose to pursue and gain valuable insight from professionals in their field of interest. This is the opportunity to build corporate networks and to create a more valuable relationship with someone who once was in their shoes.

How It Works for Students

The online application form will be available on the BSA website. Interested students need to send this form to taste@bsaonline.ca with the subject line FirstName_LastName_TASTE eg.

Jane_Smith_TASTE. Selected students sign up for group sessions where the program director, Jessa Aco, together with a representative from the Office of the Dean, get to know the students better. A resume will be requested. Successful applicants will be informed through email and will be asked to attend an informational meeting.

Once a student has been matched with a corporate host, the student will be informed two dates/times for meeting. When chosen, the student will be emailed by the office of the corporate host for the location. Jessa will be making follow-up calls to make sure the meeting runs smoothly. The student will be required to fill out an online feedback form after the meeting.

There will be a celebratory banquet at the end of the term hosted by the BSA to recognize participants.

Student Inclusiveness

TASTE not only invites the most active students in our diverse pool of student clubs but it serves as a catalyst for involvement to other exceptional students in the faculty. Students from first to fourth year of Business School ranging from 19 to 25 years of age are all given an equal opportunity to participate.

8

If you have questions or concerns, please contact: Jessa Aco TASTE Program Director Business Students’ Association Alberta School of Business p: 780.266.1426 e: aco@ualberta.ca w: www.bsaonline.ca

Advertisement

Can’t get enough of us?

We’ve got Tumblr!

For additional content, visit

LAZYFAIRE

www.

.tumblr.com

9

Academics

[

Best Electives to Take

By Lance Chung

Jyoti Lamba, International Business

Any of the PHYS ED courses would be beneficial for business students. Aside from encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle throughout the term, and providing an outlet to de-stress, business students can really learn some great teamwork and motivational skills that would be great in a business case competition environment, or even after school, working for a company on a project.

As business students, you will learn the importance of di-

versifying your portfolio. The same concept should be applied to your education. Sure, the courses that the School of Business offers are great, but take it from your peers, having a well-rounded education can help you see the business world from entirely different perspectives, and help you gain a competitive advantage on the playing field. We asked a couple students what courses they thought were the most beneficial to them outside of the faculty, and here’s what they said:

I would highly recommend taking

a Drama class. I took DRAMA 149, which really helped to improve my public speaking. The confidence and improvisational skills that you are able to gain from this class are assets that come in handy for business students. If you can perform in front of an audience, presenting a powerpoint is a walk in the park!

se our e? c ich tak wh uld I sho

Darren Liviniuk, Accounting

Kristi Lewis, Marketing

All

students can benefit from HECOL 321: Introduction to Family Finance. This course covers personal financial planning topics, which every student should understand. Why is this class the best? If you don’t understand the material, this class prepares you to build a secure financial future. If you are familiar with the material, you are guaranteed an A (thanks to education students who are required to take the course). Also, the teacher brings cake and cookies to class. Best class ever!

Well, I took a basic psychology class that

helped in its own way. It motivated me to read several psychology books that I’ve really enjoyed and have helped me understand how to approach networking and social situations.

Colin Patterson, Accounting

Contact Us

Brittanee Tomkow, Marketing

I took SOC 346, which is a class about the

media industry. Aside from a very interesting and current curriculum, it really taught me the significance of the major forms of media and the types of human/consumer responses that each has the potential of evoking. The course was very relevant and showed the intensity and history behind the media’s influence on society. It was a great supplemental form of education for other classes that I would further pursue in advertising and promotions, especially.

For more great course electives and extended content, check out www.lazyfaire.tumblr.com ! If you have a suggestion yourself, you can also submit it to one of our editor’s e-mails, listed at the front of this issue!

10

Student Life

Utilizing Computers for School

By Paul Lopushinsky

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and purchase a laptop. Whether it’s a tiny netbook that cost a couple of hundred, a shiny Macbook Pro, or you went for the 17+ inch bad boy that barely fits in your backpack, there are many uses for your laptop beyond Facebook, watching your favourite shows, and looking at pictures of funny cats on the internet. If used properly, computers can allow you to be more efficient and effective in getting your school work done. Here are some suggestions that you can use to become a more tech-savvy student.

Choose your browser

Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari. Any one of them will do. The only time that you should use Internet Explorer is to download one of the three.

Say goodbye to flash drives This is 2011, and there should be no reason for carrying around flash drives. Use Dropbox (www.dropbox. com) to upload and store your files that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

Back stuff up!

Better living through open-source software

A lot of great software products require you to either pay a hefty amount, or can be acquired by asking the pirates down by the bay. Enter open-source software, communityproduced products that are free to download and edit. Instead of purchasing Adobe Creative Suites to make use of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, simply download their open-source equivalents, GIMP, Inkscape, and Scribus. Use sites like www.sourceforge.net to search for open-source software.

You never know when things can go haywire, whether you get a virus or your hard drive decides to stop working. Buying an external hard drive (which are dirt cheap) and backing up your data is something that you want to do, whether you’re using a Mac or PC. Note for PC users: Make use of System Restore, which allows you to set your computer back to a date before an issue (like a virus) occurred. In dealing with viruses, Microsoft Security Essentials is all you need. It’s free and it runs quietly in the background.

Telecommute your meetings

If you’re working on a group project and you can’t find a time to work on it during school hours, use programs that allow you to collaborate and communicate from afar. With Google docs, your group can all work on a single document at the same time. To speak to one another, use a program such as Skype so you can discuss things while working on your project.

11

Make use of the Computer labs in the basement of Business

The computer labs down in the basement of Business have dual monitors.

Working on Management Science assignments with the questions open on one monitor and your excel spreadsheet on the other is much easier than clicking back and forth on your dinky laptop screen. If you are stuck on an assignment, chances are that other people will be working on the assignment in the labs, so why not make some new friends while you are at it?

Business

12

Arts & Sports

Golf Tips: Seal the Deal on the Green By: Braden Lauer Going green.

The fall semester at the school of business brings with it the BSA Charity Golf Tournament on September 24th.

The tournament gives students a chance to pull out their clubs, play 18 holes, and eat at a nice banquet at the Ranch Golf and Country Club. There are a variety of benefits that come with this event, from supporting YESS (Youth Emergency Shelter Society) to creating a networking opportunity for students. The BSA finds corporates from the community to play along with our business students to give them some insight on the game in the corporate world. Students can mingle with the corporates while trying to match them on the course.

The worry sets in

With my ‘below par’ golf skills I always wondered how I could stand a chance amongst the low scoring business golfers. However, I soon learned about the magical world of handicapping. Handicapping is an adjusting of individual scores to match skill level. Doing so will let you play against people of any skill level and still compete with them. This leads to a more comfortable outing for all individuals involved.

Be prepared and know the ‘game’

In order to turn a game of golf into a business success, you should come prepared. Treat a round of golf with a client/coworker/boss to be like any other meeting. Arrive on time and make sure you are prepared to get what you want out of the “meeting”. Preparation means learning the lingo of golf and being as comfortable as possible with the etiquette on the course. You should respect the

other golfers by dressing correctly, being ready for a shot, keeping cell phones off, etc.. The golf course is in many ways a place to sell yourself. If you earn somebody’s trust on a golf course, you’ve got a good chance of earning it in the business world too. With that being said, don’t try too hard to push your own personal agenda. The point of golfing is to relax, so you should make an effort to only talk business if it is brought up by the other members of the party, or after the game in the clubhouse.

Driving it home

Somewhere along the line, golf became a major part of corporate culture. The game is still growing in popularity and it seems as though it is here to stay. Take the time to become familiar with it as it could be useful in your future career. The BSA event, itself, is a great way for you to become comfortable with socializing and networking on the course. Whether you are a competitive player or a weekend hacker, it is always a great idea to try to seal a deal while on the golf course.

For more info on the BSA Golf Tournament check out the BSA events on pg.6 To get some more business etiquette tips in a variety of settings check out: www.sideroad.com

13

Student Life

Time Management By: Paul Lopushinsky

Juggling school, social life, work, and all the other joys

of life is a lost art in the present day and is sadly overlooked. By re-evaluating how we make use of our time and how to streamline our lives, we can become more time efficient and live more fulfilling lives. Here are some tips and strategies that can be used to improve time management.

Respect and Understand Parkinson’s Law

Parkinson’s Law states that, “work expands to fill the time available.” If you start on a paper a month before it is due, it will not be important and, as a result, you won’t give it your full attention. On the other hand, if you leave it to the day before, you’ll stress yourself out beyond belief and will end up with a rush job. Find the right balance where you put some pressure on yourself to get things done, but not so much that you are generating high levels of stress.

The Pomodoro Technique

Check out http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/ and download the free e-book. The technique requires total concentration on a task for 25 straight minutes, and then taking a five minute break to clear your head. Using this technique allows for much better use of your time, instead of doing tasks over longer periods of time (but getting distracted throughout).

Know When to Call it a Night

If it’s three in the morning and you’re still studying, you should realize that your brain shut down hours ago. If you’re struggling to stay awake and can’t remember anything from the last page you read, get some rest and come back later refreshed and continue from where you left off.

14

Chunk Your Time-Wasting Activities

Instead of checking Twitter, Facebook, or your email many times throughout the day, do it once in the morning and once in the evening. You will be more efficient in responding to emails, wall posts etc., and can focus on other uses of your time.

Get Involved at School

Devoting your time to extracurricular activities around the University will teach you a lot about time management. Whether you join a student group, a recreation team, or an exercise class, taking part in other activities beyond your school work will force you to become more efficient with your reduced time dedicated to school work. As getting involved in various activities around the University expands your boundaries, you will find yourself enjoying school more and being more productive with your time.

Business

Community Spotlight: Kelsey Bulmer & Cerulean Boutique

By Eileen Lee

Kelsey Bulmer is a former BComm. student who just graduated last year. She is opening her own high-end women’s boutique this September and Lazy Faire got an opportunity to ask her a few questions about life after graduation and her new business.

First of all, tell us a little bit about the boutique you’ll be opening!

KB: Cerulean Boutique is a ladies designer store that offers ready to wear garments, as well as resort wear year around. We carry garments, accessories, shoes and handbags; our focus on the whole customer experience. The store is located in downtown St. Albert at 12 St. Joseph Street.

Why did you want to start your own business?

KB: I knew I always wanted to be in the fashion industry, not completely for the fashion itself but more so to empower women to be the best they possibly can be. In my high school years I started to research different careers within the fashion industry and found out not only how difficult it is to get your foot in the door, but how vulnerable the positions were. So as a result I decided that owning my own company would be the most secure career path in the industry that I wanted to be in.

Did you have a business plan?

KB: I did have a business plan, which was initially developed in Business 201. From there, with the economic changes and other influences, I have modified the plan to fit today’s economy, location and overhead.

Which classes at the School of Business were helpful for you towards completing your goal?

KB: Classes that I took which I felt were helpful from a retail entrepreneur’s perspective were Retail Marketing, Service Marketing and Marketing Communications. These all have given me theory, as well as examples from companies to reference when

needing to make important decisions that all affect how the public views your company. perspective were Retail Marketing, Service Marketing and Marketing Communications. These all have given me theory, as well as examples from companies to reference when needing to make important decisions that all affect how the public views your company.

Which classes at the School of Business were helpful for you What kind of struggles and triumphs did you have while preparing to open your business and what kinds of struggles are you anticipating when you open up your business?

KB: One of the largest struggles was finding the right location.

Location has a lot to do with success; it was very important to me that the location fit the store’s image. Last August I attended a buying show in Las Vegas, where my intent was to find the designers that I wanted to carry so that when it was time to purchase I would already have the connections. In hindsight, it was one of the best things I could have done to start on the right foot; the show opened up my eyes on the whole process of buying inventory. Another struggle has been knowing the right amount of inventory to purchase, because buying is done six months in advance. Also, I need to be aware of how my marketing budget is being allocated and what mediums are being used to get the most awareness out of every dollar spent.

And lastly, what is your one piece of advice for students who are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur?

KB: Advice I’d give a student thinking to become entrepreneur is do your research on the market, industry and demand for what you are offering. I know you’ve heard it before, because I had many times, but it is so true. You can never be over prepared. If you do not know something, ask! There is always someone willing to enlighten and guide you. Saying this, when all your preparation is done, do not be afraid to take the risk.

The potential payoff for following your passion is endless.

The Lazy-Faire team would like to congratulate Kelsey on opening her own business, and wish her success down the road!

15

Business

Lazy Faire Meets

D

Darren Liviniuk

By Sally Au

arren Liviniuk is quite the accomplished man. Aside from just having graduated, Liviniuk boasts a long list of accomplishments that have been achieved entirely from his time here at the U of A. While at the School of Business, Liviniuk was the president of the accounting club, tax captain for JDC west, BComm blogger, student ambassador, and more (yes, it’s possible!). We caught up with him to discuss his experiences at the SoB, and if he had any words of wisdom for new and current students!

So, why accounting?

At RMBS a couple years ago, Dan Height was doing a presentation, and I really connected with one of the things he said, “Take something you want to learn in school that you wouldn’t learn on your own.” I can sit down with a book on marketing and read it cover to cover because it’s interesting and fun and kind of sexy stuff. Accounting isn’t really like that. It’s the language of business; cash is king and there’s nothing to challenge that. The other thing I like about accounting is that it’s applicable to all different disciplines. Some of my friends wanted to work at pharmaceutical companies, so they got a science degree - but I can do that with an accounting degree, too.

But say I change my mind and want to work in the sports industry; I can also work for the Edmonton Oilers too!

16

Why did you decide to pursue the CA designation with Deloitte?

I wanted to go and work for one of the big accounting firms because I don’t think there is a better place to start your career. If you look at business week, they put out a, “Best Places to Start Your Career” list. Something like the top 4 (out of 6) are the big accounting firms because you get a very versatile, on-the-job working experience, where you learn a lot of the ins and outs of business. You also get a lot of experience that you can’t get if you go work in the industry as a payables clerk. It all depends on the type of experience you want to get at the end of the day. It’s all the same kind of work, but just different scope. If you work in a small accounting firm, you work on one file from start to finish, so you get to deal with

Business

Don’t look at these recruitment events like job interviews, look at them like a wine and cheese. You’re going to have a little drink, a little food, talk to some interesting business professionals, and make some friends. some more complex issues. At a bigger firm, you’ll have a team of 7-8 people working on one file, with you working on one little part of it. Eventually, you’ll become an expert and will know that one part inside and out.

Besides school, you were also very involved in the campus community. Can you tell us a little more about your experiences?

The one that I had the most fun with was definitely the accounting club, it was the first time I had a really big opportunity to help with some things in school and kind of make a name for myself. It was always where my passion was and I’m very proud of some of the things we accomplished. In the year I was president, our volunteer tax clinic generated over a million dollars in refunds. We also increased our sponsorship revenue by about $25,000. The club was always very successful; it always had the highest number of memberships, but we also did a lot of things that improved the club, especially in adding the value that it provided for students.

Do you have any tips for all the students who will be going through recruitment this September?

Since I was part of the accounting club for three years, from director to president, I have been through recruitment many times as an observer. Try and do as much preparation as you can. Things like your resume and cover letter, they will largely be the same for every firm, with some minor differences.

But, make sure to tailor them and say, “I like your firm because…” and add the details.

The second big tip is to go to all the events.

Making your decision based on benefits is no way to pick a firm. What it comes down to is, “do you like the people at this firm? Do you want to work with these people? And do they want to work with you?” Don’t look at these recruitment events like job interviews, look at them like a wine and cheese. You’re going to have a little drink, a little food, talk to some interesting business professionals, and make some friends. At the end of the night, they’re much more likely to say, “Oh I remember that guy, he’s a nice guy. I wouldn’t mind sitting in a board room working on an audit with him for two weeks.” That’s what’s going to be important for your job, more than how informed you are about their benefits plan.

If you’ve ever been to any of these events, you would’ve noticed that the representatives are always in conversation with someone because there are about 200 students and 20 of them, so you probably have to elbow someone out of the way. A lot of the younger people, such as the staff accountants, will have a lot less people around them than say a partner, which will give you an opportunity to get more of a one-on-one conversation, so that is a start. If you do end up being in a circle, don’t ask boring questions – “What are you doing when you are not working?” If you are informed about the businesses and the kinds of opportunities that they have, there are much more interesting things to ask about. Be prepared, make friends, know what you want and ask for it.

17

What advice would you give to a first year student who’s torn between pursuing the different accounting designations, or even between the right major to study?

First, get involved often and early. That’s how you’re going to meet people, and that’s how you are going to get a lot of opportunities. We were hosting JDC a couple years ago, and I volunteered there because I met someone at frosh. At JDC, I met some people from another group, so I got into that one. The more you get involved, the more opportunities you are going to have in other things. You have to get your face out there and it’s much easier if you start now, because if your aspiration is to get some of the bigger roles with some of the bigger clubs, you probably do have to get involved early on.

The other thing is that no matter what you are doing, apply yourself to it fully, because accomplishments speak more than anything.

Hey, you want to be the president of the accounting club? Becoming a director in your first year isn’t going to help you; becoming a director, and doing a really awesome job and accomplishing all these things does. If you are really good at your job and you work – really hard - people will give you opportunities.

Check out more from Darren’s interview, and additional content at : www.lazyfaire.tumblr.com!

Arts & Sports

FALL FASHION

By Lance Chung

The fall runways saw a diverse range of aesthetics that any person can easily integrate into their wardrobes this season. From bold colours and patterns to heritage vibes, there was something for everyone!

The bright and bold colours that were seen throughout the summer are here to stay for the fall and winter seasons. Counteract the cold, bitter temperatures by injecting some colour into your wardrobes. During the winter months, palettes will typically consist of monotonous neutrals and dark tones. This year, try something different by wearing bright oranges, reds, and other colours that go great with the season.

Just remember, balance is key.

To avoid going overboard, pick one or two colours and build the rest of your outfit Zara Orange Blazer $100 around them. You can also go ASOS Blue Bag $46 with a more conservative outfit Rose Nasammi Bracelets $50 Aldo Mustard Peeptoe $146 and accentuate it with bright accessories. Subtle, yet effective.

Ladies, this season is all about vibrance and liveliness. If bright and bold colours aren’t your thing, try going for a little bit of animal print!

The runways were alive this season, from Dolce & Gabbana’s leopard print pieces to Burberry Prorsum’s cow print hats. The best part is that there’s a wide assortment of faux animal print items available, providing great accessibility for the student on a limited budget.

As with anything bold, make sure to choose Rachel Roy Snake Skin Bag $99 one item Aldo Leopard Print Shoes $146 and build Deadly Ponies Zebra Print Wallet $285 around it.

Animal Warehouse Leopard Print Belt $40 print accessories Sperry Topsider shoes $100 ( belts, shoes, bags, etc.) are great ways Nixon Watch $300 of accenting your look and taking it to Tanner Leather Belt $84 the next level.

Filson Duffle $500 J Crew Vest $80

Last year we saw a resurgence in Mad Men-era style, with slim suits and suave to match. This year, we’re going farther back to a look inspired very much by a heritage vibe typical of the 20’s and 30’s. Look for fuller fabrics, like tweed and herringbone, and pieces like a vest or oxford shoe – items that are not only on point this season, but classic standards that will look great anytime, anywhere.

18

Student Life

VS Written by Braden Lauer

Fighting the Freshman 15

T

he new school year is a great time to reinvent yourself, just make sure to watch out for the notorious “Freshman 15” while doing so.

Reinventing yourself with 15 pounds of beer belly isn’t exactly the goal. Just like with studying, the key to keep off those extra pounds is consistency: consistency in fitness, and consistency in nutrition.

Fitness

“One important thing is that you make fitness a priority right at the beginning of the semester. It is easy to get caught up in meeting new people and classes, and of course, the celebrations at the start of university. If you’re running out of time for everything, exercise is often the first thing to go. Make sure to make it a priority. Go for a walk, join a recreational team, do anything to stay active,” says Megan Ragush, a program coordinator from Campus Recreation. “It’s not just the physical, but the mental health. It will help you out in the long run to take that bit of time between studying for some physical activity.”

We asked Ragush about some of the resources available to students to maintain their fitness goals, “It is important for a student to know that you already pay for access to the gym as part of your school fees. With your OneCard you have access to the weight room in the Van Vliet Centre, so put it to use. It is also a good idea to try any of the Campus Recreation programs. The group exercise programs range from pilates to bootcamp to sport and skill development. A student can get reduced rates on all of these.” Consistency and an attainable goal in fitness will keep you from giving up in the first few months of school.

Nutrition

As far as eating healthy goes, the university food choices can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Ragush’s tips were directed especially towards those students who are living in residences. “You need to make the healthy choices at the cafeterias. It is easy to choose chicken fingers over salad, but you need to consciously make the right decision. If you plan well, it is easy to eat right.” There are also clubs through the student union that promote nutrition. Check them out at the clubs fair. Consistency and moderation are important when you consider nutrition goals. Do not diet like crazy for a few weeks and then let yourself go for another two as the fluctuations are not good for your body.

Another Tip

The final link to keep off the Freshman 15 is to watch your drinking. It is acceptable to enjoy your time at school, and for some, that involves a bit of alcohol. But be wary of all the empty calories you put into your body with a few too many drinks!

If you are interested in any of the classes mentioned above you should check out the Campus Rec week of welcome. From September 12-14 you can try out a number of the classes to see which ones you enjoy the most! For more info on Campus Rec visit http://www.campusrec. ualberta.ca

19

20