September 2018

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Alberta School of Business

SEPTEMBER 18’

13

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT PARIS MORIN

FA S H I O N >>

E X T E R N A L R E L AT I O N S

Where can you get the best back to school sales?

Meet Alberta School of Business’ Dean, Joseph Doucet.

8

17

L F R E V I E W S >>

>>

CLUBS CORNER

>>

An introduction to the 27 clubs offered by Alberta School of Business.

14

L A Z Y C H AT >>

Lazy Faire reviews University of Alberta’s best libraries.

21

Resume tips with a School of Business student advisor.

24

Last year across Canada we hired 100 new business grads. Find out why a Xerox Agency is the right next step after graduation.

Findyourxfactor.ca ©2014 Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved. Xerox®, Xerox and Design®, and Ready For Real Business are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Xerox Canada Ltd. is the licensee of all the trademarks.

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTSâ„¢

Social Media

STay lazy. stay cONNECTED. >>

website

<<

FACEBOOK

<<

INSTAGRAM

<<

TWITTER

<<

WWW.LAZYFAIRE.COM

>>

LAZY FAIRE MAGAZINE

>>

@LAZYFAIREMAGAZINE

>>

@Lazy_Faire

3

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

4

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

>>

7

FASHION Where to Get the Best “Back to School” Deals

>>

8

FYI Confessions of a 4th Year Business Student

>>

9

THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT Graduating in 4 Years VS. Extending Degree

>>

10

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Paris Morin

>>

12

EXTERNAL RELATIONS Meet the Dean: Joseph Doucet

>>

14

CLUBS CORNER An Introduction to all 27 ASoB Clubs

>>

16

GUEST ARTICLE Megan Keirstead

>>

18

LF REVIEWS The Best U of A Library

>>

20

LAZY CHAT Resume Tips with School of Business Student Advisor

>>

23

SOCIAL STUDIES What Kind of Job can you get with a Business Degree Around the World?

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIPS

>>

SELF CARE 101

>>

A GUIDE TO STAYING ORGANIZED

>>

19 21 22

I

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Editor’s Note

5

t’s September again and we know what that means...time to get BACK TO BUSINESS. Each new year brings new opportunities for growth and exciting experiences, and that applies to all of us at Lazy Faire too! This month’s theme - back to business - is centred around inspiring students to get involved, find new interests, and take advantage of all that their faculty has to offer. Through collaboration with other business clubs, we are proud to feature events put on by the various clubs in business that help to provide students with that fulfilling well rounded

university experience. We are excited to be collaborating as Co-Editors-in-Chief this year, and to be putting out articles that are interesting and beneficial to all students in business. On behalf of the Lazy Faire team, we welcome you, dear reader, to join us on this 8-month journey of memories, pictures, and opinions that our team is excited to share. Read on!

Rodvie Barnachea

RODVIE BARNACHEA Editor-in-Chief

Haya Masri HAYA MASRI Editor-in-Chief

CONTRIBUTORS

VALERIE LEOW VP Editorial

ALEX HO Photographer

DENISE NGUYEN Writer

JOANNA FADDOUL VP Art & Design

KATIE FITZGERALD VP Editorial

AUSTIN YEE Photographer

TYLER KEFFER Writer

SHANNON WONG Designer

ELIZABETH JUN VP Marketing

DIANE JEON Photographer & Writer

CLEO WILLIAMS Writer

MELANIA ANTOSZKO Designer

ERICA WEE Social Media Director DYLAN WEE Suits LF Director & Photographer

BETTY VO Designer

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

>>

KATIE FITZGERALD VP Editorial

<<

Describe yourself in five words.

Energetic, Ambitious, Creative, Passionate, Thoughtful What's your favourite hobby?

Long distance running and Videography Best study spot on campus?

Quiet Room in Van Vliet building

>>

AUSTIN YEE Photographer

<<

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Easy-going, relaxed, reliable, friendly, open-minded.

What’s your favourite hobby?

I really enjoy playing volleyball.

I taught myself how to play by watching YouTube tutorials.

Teamwork is crucial in volleyball, so I’ve learned to both lead and work well in a team by playing volleyball.

What's your favourite movie quote?

"You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are going to find it at all" Dead Poets Society

Best study spot on campus?

During the school year, I like to look for quiet spots around CCIS. However, during finals, my friends and I like to study together in a classroom. That way we can study together and keep each other from procrastinating.

Why did you join Lazy Faire?

To meet like minded students within the university as well as improve on and utilize my writing skills.

What’s your favourite movie quote?

“Life’s simple. You make choices and you don’t look back.”

Han Lue | The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) Why did you join Lazy Faire?

I joined because I wanted to practice more photography and meet new friends. I had known some of the Lazy Faire members before I joined, and they highly recommended me to join because of the fun and dedicated team.

>>

Meet the Team

DIANE JEON Photographer & Writer

<<

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Conciseness = Not My Strong Suit.

What’s your favourite hobby?

Hiking.

Best study spot on campus?

Winspear computers, second last row. Large desk and monitor, plug-in for laptop charger, and pin-drop silence.

Oh yes.

What’s your favourite movie quote?

"How are you gonna be a revolutionary if you're such a traditionalist?" - La La Land (2016).

Why did you join Lazy Faire?

I wanted to provoke thought among the Faculty of Business community.

6

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

The Worth of a Business The inherent value of a college or university Degree. degree has been on a gradual decline as the percentage of the population holding at least an undergraduate degree has been inversely increasing over time. This is only exacerbated by the fact that, in today’s world, degrees are no longer a guarantee to a raise or promotion at work, much less a job to begin with. No longer the infallible investments they might have once been, modern students who are considering pursuing an undergraduate education must now weigh the considerable time and money that need to be sacrificed in order to obtain their desired academic certification against the risk of said investment actually paying dividends in the future.

Despite this, business and management related courses and degrees remain popular choices for university and college students to undertake. As they lay a solid foundation of a plethora of future career paths and instill more transferable hard and soft skills than their peers who graduated with other degrees may have.

A concentration in accounting offers the choice between either the direct “number crunching” itself, or a more managerial track instead.

Financial planning and wealth management career opportunities can be found in insurance companies, investment firms, banks, etc.

Consulting jobs will allow one to delve into an array of different sectors, where one can utilize an outside perspective to solve a firm’s problem in terms of finance, management, efficiency, or any other issues. Excellent communication and Written by Valerie Leow

Social Studies

7

time management skills, flexibility, confidence, and a fierce drive to succeed are key to working in a sales roles in most companies. Marketing and advertising lend themselves well to both business-minded and creative types alike, as the two are required in tandem to successfully reach a business's target customers to promote either a product, an idea, or the company itself.

Work in nonprofit management is less likely to come to mind when attempting to brainstorm possible business careers off the top of one’s head. Yet, it provides a unique management challenge whereby one has to learn to make the most of limited resources. With regard to nonprofit management, specializing in fundraising also allows one to still make a salary while also working towards a larger social cause whose values align with one’s own. Last but not least, entrepreneurship is a viable option for business students with a strong understanding of the various aspects of running a business, coupled with a passion for something, be it an idea, product, service, or the like.

It should be noted that the skills one learns throughout their business degree are applicable to a wide variety of industries and future career prospects, thus making business graduates vastly versatile employees. Thus, a business graduate has the power to make their degree relevant to many more careers beyond the limited scope of the aforementioned traditional business careers, through playing to their individual strengths, pursuing their passions or interests, and gaining the relevant exposure to and experience towards - their field of interest.

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Fashion

8

Where can you get the best "Back To School" sales?

The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to try new things – including new looks. Going to the mall to look at the latest trends seems like the obvious thing to do, but if you’re not sure what you’re looking for or where the best sales are happening, the mall can be a tiring and expensive trip. That’s why the best back to school deals are found outside the shopping mall.

1.

Online shopping gets the job done faster and provides you with more selection than a physical mall would. While fan favourites like Zara and H&M have online shops, there are also sites like Boohoo and Asos that don’t have stand-alone stores. In most cases, online stores offer you a one-time discount code for signing up with your email, which is nice, especially if you’ve been eyeing something expensive. In addition to the aforementioned stores, there are also sites like Zaful, SheInside, and Choies that sell things for relatively low prices, but come with the disadvantage of looking their price in most cases. When buying pieces from these sites, it’s good to stay away from fabrics like chiffon or thin knits because they don’t look right when they’re cheaply made, and need to be handled with more care than, say, a basic cotton tee.

In any scenario, shopping online provides an easy way to filter through hundreds of items to find exactly what you’re looking for in a short period of time.

2.

If searching a little harder and looking closely at what you’re getting doesn’t bother you, then going to a basic second-hand store like Value Village or Goodwill is also a great way to find deals. Thrift stores are always handy to find great men’s denim pieces and tees. It can also be exciting to look through the racks and find something unexpected. Whatever style you’re going for this season, there’s always a back to school deal waiting to be picked up.

3.

Go consignment shopping. A consignment store is a curated second-hand shop that has higher quality pieces than the average thrift store.

Consignment is perfect for finding good brand named pieces at a good price, and since all of the items are screened before being accepted into the store, there’s no risk of accidentally buying something with a hole or stain. The Red Pony, located on 109th Street, is the closest consignment shop to the U of A, and carries both men’s and women’s clothing.Vespucci is another consignment store in the city that gets dozens of new items daily. It rotates between Fall/Winter and Spring/ Summer, with each seasonal category of clothing going on sale as its respective season ends. Unfortunately,Vespucci only carries women’s garments, but it’s still definitely worth checking out.

Written by Cleo Williams

Designed by Melania Antoszko

CONFESSIONS

of a Fourth Year Business Student

I think that the first thing many business students identify with when someone asks, “Why did you choose to work towards a BCom?”, is the certainty of getting a professional job after graduating. Our answer to the inevitable follow-up question of, “What would that job be?”, then, is often everyone’s favourite cop-out: consulting. Consulting — reputable, sexy, and ultimately as tangible as the cliches used in the industry itself. But let’s not try to boil the ocean here.

Though I’m also guilty of wanting to pursue a consulting career without really knowing what it entails, this article isn’t meant to ridicule the consulting industry, nor shame students who want a career in consulting. It’s not even really about consulting to begin with. In truth, what I just addressed is the common journey of a business undergrad — being pulled in multiple directions without a true aim beyond glitzy titles and ambiguous aspirations. I want to highlight a personal grief and gratitude from blundering like this through the beginning of my BCom to bring reality to the idealists and idealism to the realists. Brace yourselves for this deep dive.

Grief: Not taking advantage of the building block fundamentals first-year classes provide (BUS 201 included).

Easily one of the most sleep-depriving classes you’ll take, BUS 201’s key takeaways are the planning and analysis done outside of the classroom. Being thrown into a business case dissection and new venture creation with your peers is great initial training for entrepreneurship and scaling up a company. With these two concepts rising as long-term economic drivers for Edmonton, presenting recommendations for a corporate problem or a business plan, in a relatively safe environment, is something I wish I hadn’t taken for granted.

Like many other socially-driven millenials in our society, number-heavy and dollar-oriented classes were also areas I was reluctant to put effort in. *makes face at intro level accounting and finance classes.* Although, I realized a little too late that these areas are where many nonprofits and social enterprises falter. If a local NPO dependent on charitable donations experiences an economic downturn, what will their next budgeting strategy be? If an environmental startup wants to launch a new eco-friendly product, how will they present the measurements of wealth to potential investors? Truly, I would go back in time to tell first-year me that if you’re even remotely interested in creating positive social change, understanding how much your ideas will cost and how they will affect the economy is your competitive

Gratitude: Being pulled in multiple directions.

business and the other in political science, I realized that the latter provided training I would not have received as vigorously as I would have in the former. For one, I found that the critical thinking required for cross-analyzing three 30-page articles on postcolonialism within a week is surprisingly transferable to identifying gaps in business cases. Understanding the political climate we live in also emphasized the subtle nuances to keep in mind when navigating economic decisions. Staying informed on current events made for great conversations too, and certainly expanded my network beyond the business faculty.

Granted, my multi-faculty experience is just the tip of the iceberg. I think the business curriculum can do much more in terms of incorporating greater interdisciplinary collaboration. My dream would be ensuring that continuous interaction between disciplines is on the faculty’s agenda — biz kids collaborating with comp sci kids and engineers, fine arts folks with graphic designers, and parties in ALES specializing in agriculture, food sciences, and renewable resources. Could you imagine the amount of tech solutions, creative campaigns, and research-supported environmental programs that could be generated?

This brief grief and gratitude piece was merely my own experiences thus far, and only represent a drop in the bucket in terms of advice within the business community. As you begin or continue your BCom journeys, I encourage you to also build upon a strong foundation, expand and diversify your networks, and think beyond these red brick walls.

edge in this world.

The more hands I had in more cookie jars revealed the importance of interdisciplinary learning. With one hand in

Written by Diane Jeon

Designed by Melania Antoszko

THOUGHT VS THOUGHT: Graduating in four years vs extending degree

Graduating in Four Years

During their youngest years, most kids developed some form of an idea on what they wanted to be when they were old enough. Whether that was saving lives as a firefighter, becoming a world-renown writer, mastering the art of cooking, or simply shuffling papers all day in some over-heated office, each of us had a passion we could call our own. Although our passions may have been unique to each person, as we grew older, most of us came to the similar realization that our future careers might require a postsecondary education of some sort – be it a diploma, a degree, a masters, or even a doctorate – in order to fulfill the passion we’ve held onto from such a young age.

Now that we’ve entered adulthood, it is exciting to soon be able to start the career of our dreams. Even if that dream has changed throughout the years, it’s a good feeling to get started on something that you – hopefully – find enjoyable. So why would you want to wait any longer to pursue the employment opportunities that will arise the second you obtain your degree? The answer is simple. There is no reason to wait or further extend your degree.

They already take long enough as it is, and you’re only getting older (if you haven’t yet noticed). The best time to finish your degree is on time, in four years. No more, no less.

Say you want to travel around the world, or simply take a break for a while before going into the workforce – that’s completely fine. But, obtain your degree first. Don’t hold off postsecondary. Once you’ve taken time off, despite what you may think at the time, it is not that easy to get back into the routine of constant studying and sleepless nights. Once you have your degree, there is nothing to stop you from taking that much-needed break.

Although it can be one of the biggest challenges mentally, physically, and especially financially, it’s most definitely worth the payoff. The people you meet, the networks you create, the knowledge you gain, and not to mention obtaining the dream-job you’ve had in mind since what feels like forever, it all makes it worth the time to get it done right in four years. Whatever dreams you may have, whichever degree you end up choosing, the only way to best seize your future sooner, rather than later, is to take the route that is four years to graduation.

Written by Tyler Keffer

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Thought VS Thought

11

“A degree isn’t everything.”

Now, that’s a daunting thought for some of us looking for a job, isn’t it? Just because I have a major in this and a minor in that, am I necessarily going to be working in something related five years from now?

Here’s a hint: not in this economy.

As much as I wish I had Raven’s psychic powers from That’s So Raven, I don’t know exactly where my degree will take me. It’s the 21st century, and the developed world is moving faster than ever. Values and priorities change with each generation, and that includes the reformation of traditional expectations.

Maybe placing outdated standards on today’s students isn’t such a good idea after all.

That being said, the pressure to graduate “on time” isn’t worth the adversity faced for the sake of meeting an imaginary deadline. (However, if you need to complete a certain amount of academia in a restrictive timeline as a prerequisite to another life accomplishment, then by all means, you do you!)

extending degree

I’m at the university for a purpose, and that is to learn. By that, I don’t mean “learn” as in reading the textbook and memorizing flashcards. The definition of “learning” – just like the concept of traditional life achievements – has changed in the last two decades. It spans from exploring the professional workforce to embracing a personal identity. The opportunities to learn have presented themselves over the course of my journey to obtain a piece of paper called a ‘degree’. But, guess what I’ll be carrying with me down the road into the future? Not my degree, but my knowledge, mentality, and expertise – none of which a walking-textbook can recreate.

The significance of a degree lies in what you make of it, not how well you scored on your finals or where you stand on the curve. Whether it be before or after that scroll lands in your hands, you’re always going to be learning.

There are plenty of reasons to be extending your degree – more so to enhance your overall university experience – and they are all perfectly valid. Some people change their mind about the direction they want to head in and change their field of study. Others take a semester away from courses to focus on other priorities, like mental health or family. The U of A offers the Co-op program and other equivalents that ultimately delay graduation in exchange for valuable work experience. Additionally, many full-time students end up finding it more manageable to study for just three or four courses per semester, rather than attempting to take a full course load.

As our favourite teenage icon Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” There is no time like the present. Sometimes, what we really need is to take a moment to catch our breaths in the midst of the stress and growing up. And for some people, that means taking it slow.

Written by Denise Nguyen

Designed by Betty Vo

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTSâ&#x201E;˘

Student Spotlight

PARIS MORIN

Paris Morin is a fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student with a major in finance and a minor in accounting. She is an ambitious go-getter that, not only has an entrepreneurial spirit, but also has a love for scuba diving. Throughout her time at the University of Alberta, she has volunteered with Safe Walk and participated in many business case competitions such as: CPA Case Competition, HKUST CICC in Hong Kong, and UNICC in Spain.

This month, we chatted with Paris about overcoming fear, finding balance, and making the most out of the university experience.

12

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR INCOMING SCHOOL OF BUSINESS STUDENTS? Be open to opportunities. We all have different standards of how organized we want to be with our lives, but make sure you aren’t stuck on one path. You never know when another door will open and your whole life will change, so just be receptive and open minded.

inspiring as well. A good reminder to the incoming students is that they are really going to have to test themselves and come up with ideas that they didn’t think they were capable of. I think they just have to believe that they have the skill set right now to do well in BUS 201.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SCUBA CLUB?

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR The Scuba Club was where I learned to embrace UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE? fear. I had a scary experience when I was first learning to scuba dive, and it was the Scuba Club Take advantage of your electives; there are so that helped me push that fear away. I jumped many really cool courses at the U of A. For exright in and went on a week-long Bahamas trip ample, I took a Latin American course and it was with the club, where we went scuba diving at the best course I’ve ever taken. It’s a great idea least four times a day. It taught me that if you are to take some electives outside of the Faculty of afraid of something, the best way to get rid of Business to expand your horizons a bit. that fear is to just do it. Be sure to find a support network that can be there when it gets hard to Next piece of advice I have is to find the things break through that fear. that you are interested in and worry less about your resume. At the end of the day, an experiHOW DO YOU BALANCE SCHOOL LIFE WITH ence is an experience, and you can always take EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES? something away from it. In addition, if you are starting to get comfortable within a certain club I believe that no matter what you do, you will or extracurricular activity, try finding something always make it work. It goes back to choosing that is the next level up from that. Let yourself be what you say yes and no to. When you find uncomfortable. things that you care about and that relate to who you truly are, balancing things gets a lot easier.

WHAT DO LIKE BEST ABOUT BEING THE If you are struggling to find balance, look at what COURSE COORDINATOR OF BUS 201? feels like a chore and reflect on that. It is also okay to take a breather. The world is not going I love BUS 201 because it reminds me a lot of my to fall apart because you turn your cell phone off experience with Junior Achievement. I think what for two days; everything is going to be just fine. is really engaging about the BUS 201 course is Take time for yourself when you need it and go to that it’s a 500-person class and inspiration really bed early. is everywhere. I think that it’s a course that is truly meant to be challenging, and a great way to test your limits.

What I am really excited for this year is seeing the ideas that students have and how they execute them. That sense of accomplishment that students will have at the end of the term is really Written by Katie Fitzgerald

Designed by Melania Antoszko

™

In your second 5-year FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS appointment of being the Dean, how do you think the Alberta School of Business has changed and what is your vision for the future?

In terms of career development, how do you think incoming and current business students can take full advantage of the opportunities ASoB provides?

[Students] may have heard me say many times in Business 201 that if they just go to class, they only receive half of the benefits of the educational opportunity that they have here in the School of Business. We have a large number of clubs – 27 under the umbrella of the BSA – and a large number of opportunities for students to engage in, interact with, learn from, work with, and meet. All of that is fundamental in developing the breadth of learning and really contributes to the development of the person as a whole, as opposed to just the assemblage of fundamental skills, which is what you learn in class. [Fundamental skills] are great and important, and you need to go to class and do well. But if you don’t develop all of the other sides, such as presentations, networking, building a case, and managing an event, then you really are, I believe, short-selling yourself and doing yourself a disservice. I do everything I can to convince students at every turn to take advantage of all of those other opportunities that I think are very important and necessary for people to do in order to be successful in their careers.

meet the dean

>>

I think that we’ve changed in a few different ways. One is we’re much more engaged with external stakeholders, including alumni and employers. We’ve done a great job of reaching out to people who are, or should be, involved with the school. Employers and alumni are important, but it’s important that we connect to the business community. To that end, the student clubs who invite business leaders to be judges, say at competitions, or invite people to speak at events such as RMBS or NEW. Those are really important – so that’s one change. A second change that is still in progress, and is also very important, is how we’ve begun to do a lot more with different learning technologies to sharpen or make crisper our teaching environment to the benefit of learning to our students. Related to that, and to the first point, we’ve invested a lot in career preparation. We like to say to the students that we focus on career preparation, as opposed to job preparation, because we know that our current students or recent graduates are going to move through a lot of different jobs or positions in their careers and they really have to be thinking thoughtfully and purposefully about career development while they’re with us. And I’ll say one more that I think is important. In the last five years, we’ve really grown our focus on entrepreneurship and we’re going to continue to grow that even more so.

We have eHUB and we’ve collaborated together with a lot of different faculties and students from across the university.

In the coming years, we want to bring entrepreneurship even more into our undergraduate program. The program is still going to be a Bachelor of Commerce – not a Bachelor of Entrepreneurship – but it’s going to provide more opportunities for students. Whether they want to become entrepreneurs and create their own firm or not, it will help them to become more flexible, more nimble, more innovative, and, at the end of the day, more productive in their chosen careers, if they have more of an entrepreneurial mindset.

14

External Relations

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

What would you say sets apart the U of A’s Faculty of Business from other universities’ business schools?

We have, in Canada, a number of great universities, and also a large number of very good universities, so there are a lot of other options for students to pursue, in terms of a business education. I think that our business school is very connected to our business community, which I believe is really important. We value and build upon these connections that allow students to integrate into the workforce and learn from business leaders who come into the classroom.

And, of course, many business schools do this. It doesn’t make us unique, but for someone who’s interested in the Albertan economy, and for someone who’s interested in the entrepreneurial spirit of Alberta and Northern Alberta, this is a great place to be. I’d add to that: that our faculty is as good as you would find at any of the great universities in Canada. They are world class; we attract world class faculty. We do our best to hire them, and retain them, and that global level of excellence translates into fantastic learning environments and great teachers who can bring their expertise from global preeminence into the classroom. The last thing that I would add is that we are a great business school within a great university. We have a fantastic Faculty of Engineering, a fantastic Faculty of Arts and Department of Economics, and a great and growing expertise in artificial intelligence and computer science. That helps nurture a really dynamic and productive environment within the university that rubs off in different ways in terms of economic development, intellectual development, and creation of intellectual property.

That presents a lot of opportunities for students. There’s some places where you can go to school, but there aren’t a lot of opportunities for fulfilling employment. Some of our students go to Vancouver or New York for jobs and that’s great if they want to do that. I think the benefit of a dynamic ecosystem is really beneficial for students because you can learn a lot here and find really satisfying employment in Alberta.

Written by Cleo Williams

>>

External Relations

joseph doucet.

Which part of the 2018/19 school year are you the most excited about?

There are a lot of interesting activities on the horizon. One is plans for a significant revision of the undergraduate program that will take a couple of years to bring forth. It's really exciting to be looking at our program and recognizing our numerous strengths and things that we do well, but also thinking about how we can make improvements. A second one is: the school is in the process of developing a strategic plan for the next five years that is going to talk about specific objectives for teaching and learning, for research, and for our community engagement.

I’m really excited about bringing that to fruition because that is going to provide direction for the next five years. One of my important goals continues to be enhancing the school’s position within the university and within our economic ecosystem here in Northern Alberta. My desire is to make sure the school remains a leader in Alberta, and a leader within Edmonton and the University of Alberta.

I think that it is exciting for students to know that they’re in a place that, not only gives them a great education, but aspires to set the tone and the direction of, and be a full participant in, the economic well-being for all of us.

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

15

What are your interests outside of business education?

My wife and I have a lovely 11-yearold golden lab named Kenya. I enjoy meeting students and I try and get to know as many students as I can.

Amongst the many priorities that we have as a school and that I have as Dean, being present to students, connecting to students, and listening to students is always one of the really important parts of my job, and quite honestly one of the things I enjoy the most. I love going to RMBS and to the NEW conference, and I love dropping in and seeing students do the Not-For-Profit case competition. I try as much as I can to be connected and present to the students.

CLUBS CORNER

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Clubs Corner

16

The Alberta School of Business offers 27 clubs to be a part of. Personally, I’ve been a member of four of them. When I first started out in business, I honestly thought that I’d be part of zero. I was too shy. “What’s the point of a club?” “No one would want me.” But then I realized that there was an opportunity available. Let’s stop being shy. Let’s see why people want to join a club. Let’s make these clubs want to have me on their team. For you, dear reader, find that reason why you would want to join.

Is it personal development? Clubs provide that. Is it learning to deal with responsibility? They have that too. For people already on clubs, think about what’s the number one thing you’ve received from your experience. I think, if you do decide to join a club, that the team aspect is the most valuable. You’ll all work for a common goal – whether that’s a case competition, a huge dinner, a speaking event, or producing a magazine every month. But at the end of the day, you learn more about yourself more than anything. You’ll see how you are with deadlines when other people depend on you. You’ll see what type of people you work best with. You’ll be put in situations that you’re uncomfortable in. Honestly, being the only one speaking to a large group still shakes me a bit. But I know that I’m way better doing it now than when I was a couple years ago. Do your research with clubs.

Figure out what interests you. With 27 clubs, there has to be one out that suits you. You’ll be a better you by the end of it.The peak of recruitment season usually occurs during September and March/April. Here is a list of clubs available for you to join.

Alberta Energy Challenge

Alberta International Business Competition

AIESEC

Alberta Not for Profit Association

Club De Commerce Bilingue

Business Leadership Cooperative Education Association Students’ Association

Alberta JDC West

Lazy Faire Magazine

MIS Club

Business and Beyond Toastmasters Club

Strategic Management and Organization Club

Rocky Mountain Business Seminar

Written by Rodvie Barnachea

University of Alberta Real Estate Committee

eClub

Business Exchange Association

Business Finance Association

EDGE Business Competition

Interdisciplinary Consulting Association

Network of Empowered Operations Women Management Club

Enactus U of A

University of Alberta HR Management Association

University of Alberta Accounting Club

5 Days For The Homeless

The Piggy Bankers

University of Alberta Marketing Association

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Cooperative Education Students Association

17

September Events

>>

<<

The Cooperative Education Students Association (CESA) is a student-group aimed towards providing additional resources and support to students currently enrolled in or simply interested in the Cooperative Education Program. CESA offers practical and applicable workshops for skill-building, as well as events that allow for networking between students and professionals within the community. CESA provides students with increased opportunities to advance their professional development and explore the benefits of the Cooperative Education Program.

The Top of Class (ToC) Etiquette Dinner is CESA’s principal event of the school year, traditionally led by a professional etiquette coach. This year, on October 4, 2018, will be CESA’s 12th annual ToC event to focus on developing students’ professional dinner etiquette over an interactive multi-course meal with corporate sponsors and guests. Incorporated into the event are many opportunities to practice and improve one’s networking skills with professionals and peers. A section of the evening will be dedicated to a question-and-answer period through an Employer Panel, allowing employers to share their unique workplace cultures and the characteristics that make their own individual teams successful. Through a fun and stress-free dinner environment, students will be able to directly connect with the evening’s sponsors and guests.

This event will be an excellent chance for students who are currently job searching to get to know various companies and their recruiters.

Corporate professionals attending this event will gain value in establishing their corporate presence early within the University of Alberta community, by fostering valuable connections with some of our school’s top students and potential recruits.

Network of Empowered Women Conference From sharing stories with 99 like-minded delegates and engaging in mindstimulating breakout activities, to listening to influential women in business, the Network of Empowered Women conference left me feeling inspired by the people I met, hopeful for the future, motivated to pursue my goals, and provided me with useful tools to continue to pave my professional and personal development journey.

I enjoyed listening to valuable perspectives on topics like work-life balance, personal branding, standing out in a competitive field, the importance of continuous learning, and how to climb up in an organization among others. The best part was that the speakers were from various backgrounds and brought different ideas to the table - it enabled me to create my own views based on what resonated with me the most. We were also able to pick our top choices for topics and speakers we wanted to listen to, which helped create an experience that was catered to me! Because of this, I strongly believe that anyone can benefit from attending the NEW conference no matter what you are studying, what gender you may be, whether you are in your first year or about to graduate, want to focus on scoping opportunities for the future, create a reliable network that you can leverage later on, challenge yourself by putting yourself out there, or just to make new friends and experience something different for a weekend!

Might I add… the beds are incredibly comfortable, the food is TO DIE FOR, Chateau Lake Louise is the most beautiful, Instagram-able venue and this is an opportunity to flaunt your best business professional outfits - what’s not to love?!

- Mathilda Lambert, 2018 NEW Delegate

>>

<<

2019 Conference Dates: March 21 24, 2019. Save the date!

Location: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Applications open on September 1 and will close October 31. Stay tuned on Facebook for application information and release!

Fall Info Session Date: Thursday, September 27, 2018. Hear about more in-depth conference details over some free pizza. What’s better than that?!

Connect with us on social media via the platforms listed below: Facebook: Network of Empowered Women (NEW) Instagram: @ualbertaNEW Website: www.ualbertanew.ca Twitter: @ualbertaNEW LinkedIn: UAlberta NEW

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

T

he fact that I was leaving for a whole year didn’t feel real until I started to pack.

It didn’t feel real when I was accepted to the partner institution in Marseille. It didn’t feel real when I booked my flight. But for some reason while I was trying to stuff a whole year’s worth of clothing into to one backpack, it hit me.

I sat and stared at my mom’s old backpack. This chunky blue bag was the one she used to travel in the 80s. She lived off its contents for years at a time. She was the one who convinced me going for a whole year was a good idea. When I tried to channel her adventurous spirit all I could think was: how on earth was I supposed to fit an entire year’s worth of stuff into one bag? I had only travelled solo once for 3 days to Montreal. It didn’t matter if I stuffed that pack with the exact right items, I would not be prepared for what was ahead.

Arriving in my new town I felt more at ease. Within a week, I had already met my roommates and a group of new friends that I still have today. I was the only one from UAlberta at my school in Marseille. At first this made me nervous because I was really on my own but it turned out to the best thing. While most people stuck with groups of friends from their school I had the freedom to branch out. Since the workload was light and Written by Megan Keirstead

Guest Article

we worked mainly in groups, I made most of my friends in my classes. At KEDGE, classes were mainly with other international students so most of my friends weren’t from France but I got to meet many people from all over the world.

After making friends, the real >> adventures really began. When you are in a new place it’s easy to fill you time with exploring. As weekends filled up, I knew I had made the right decision to stay longer. Not only did I have more time to visit more places but I also had time to experience my own city. Having that extra time to simply live in Marseille really made it feel like home.

While packing up to go home; I had the same feeling as when I left. Trying to shove all the things I had accumulated back in that same blue backpack, it hit me again. I was going back to Edmonton for real. It didn’t feel like going home, it felt different.

I remembered Mic from the exchange office telling me about reverse culture shock and how I would change as a person. At the time, I thought it was super cheesy. But it was true. While living in Marseille for a year, it had become my home and leaving felt the same as arriving.

It took a while to settle back into life in Edmonton but I wouldn’t have changed anything about my exchange. Spending a year abroad was easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

Megan Keirstead: A YEAR ABROAD

18

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Professional Development Tips

19

5 Tips on how to grow professionally during university

1

2

3

4

Grow your network.

As cliché as it sounds, a great way to grow your professional network is through networking events. There are events occurring all throughout the university, as well as within the city, each week. In addition, you should try to utilize your LinkedIn account. This platform can be a good way to make connections, as well as find possible jobs and volunteer opportunities. Finally, business is truly about who you know. Your network can help you with future job offers and give you possible sources for references. Be sure to be open minded and get to know new people every chance you get throughout your time in university.

Learn extra skills outside of the classroom.

University is a great way for you to learn skills that can help you navigate through your career in business.

Yet, there are many things to learn that can’t be fully taught in school. Amongst your busy school schedule, it might be hard to find time to take outside courses. However, you could look into taking them during your summer break or during your reading weeks. Striving to learn skills outside of school can benefit you immensely because it gives you a unique set of experience and knowledge to take with you into internships, as well as into full-time positions once you are done school.

Get involved within the university.

Joining clubs and volunteering within the university is not only a exceptional way to gain valuable experience, but it is also an awesome way to meet new people. Building your network within the university can, not only enhance your overall university experience, but it can help you down the road as well. Ultimately, the people you meet while you are at school will be the ones you graduate with and/or even work with. In addition, creating a strong community and support system can be a great way to help you get through the many stresses that come with being a student.

Volunteer for associations outside of the university.

The benefit of volunteering with associations outside of the university is that you gain diverse experiences.

Additionally, many different associations provide the opportunity for role promotions over time so you can gain more responsibility. It is also a fantastic opportunity to, not only network with business professionals, but also push yourself out of your comfort zone.

5

Find a professional mentor.

Obtaining a mentor is an ongoing effort; it takes time to get to know them. A great way to initiate a mentorship relationship is to ask someone you find inspiring or motivational out for a coffee meeting.

Furthermore, having the right intentions when developing a relationship with a mentor is very crucial. Try not to make obtaining a job from your professional connection your main goal. Instead, focus on really getting to know them through nurturing the professional relationship.

Written by Katie Fitzgerald

Designed by Betty Vo

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

LF Reviews

20

BEST U OF A LIBRARY Looking for a good space to crack down on studying this year? Say no more - let’s take a look at our four nearest campus libraries.

(Yes, the emphasis on outlet access is real - definitely a make-or-break deal when you study with laptops.)

WINSPEAR LIBRARY

A familiar sight, Winspear Library is home to accessible business resources and located in the Business building.

This makes Winspear a very popular go-to option for business students.

While there is limited seating capacity, if you do manage to snag a seat, you’ll likely be sitting by a fellow classmate. But if you want to discuss that mock midterm with them you just wrote, Winspear isn’t the best spot, especially with its quiet and silent zones.

There are an ample amount of outlets available- if you do find a seat, that is. And if you’re up for fast food, HUB is right around the corner. Overall, Winspear isn’t a bad choice to settle with during breaks between classes.

CAMERON LIBRARY

RUTHERFORD NORTH

Bedbug infestation of September 2017. Need I say more? Just kidding. (Seriously, though. I avoided North for a semester.)

One of the best things about Rutherford North Main is the noise level - quiet enough to focus, but also relaxed enough to recklessly flip through pages. North also has many levels, so there are plenty of options to have some privacy from the noise. Another pro is that Rutherford is attached to HUB, rendering it a convenient stop on the way to BUS building. That being said, Rutherford North has always come clutch for printing things right before they’re due.

However, one thing that stands out is that the entire atmosphere is, in one word, drab. It leaves plenty to be desired, but I’m not sure what it is. Probably outlets.

RUTHERFORD SOUTH

Each with a story of its own, the multiple levels to Cameron Library make it a difficult one to summarize. With 24/7 access to the main floor, Cameron can be the rowdiest at peak times and the most peaceful during those late nights.

The younger sister to North; South’s differences are evident.

South houses both a silent and collaborative space, and the distinguishment between each space is well-maintained (better than Cameron, anyway).

Luckily, if you’re looking to switch up the atmosphere during school hours, it’s just a floor away. The downside is sometimes people forget what floor they’re on, and their respective rules. I mean, do you really expect people to be disciplined on the second floor?

Having made some recent revamps, Cameron overall supplies many outlets and tables. Study rooms are plentiful, and there seems to always be at least one room unoccupied.

However, South’s lack of computers and charging stations makes it the unfavourable option when libraries are getting crowded and batteries are running low. Furthermore, the absence of natural daylight can feel a little uncomfortable for some students, with the addition of hard wooden chairs. The bright (I’m talking fluorescent lighting bright) side is, Rutherford South will always have unoccupied seating, and that you’ll get a nice workout going up the stairs every time.

Another perk is that it’s located right by Panda, Starbucks and Tim Horton’s. But is it just me, or does Cameron always smell like old food?

Written by Denise Nguyen

Designed by Betty Vo

If anything, Rutherford South is a better place to stay for one or two hours than all night to study; I’m not going to lie. But it’s my favourite place for a reason, in all its mediocrity, for its convenient location and the inclination for me to procrastinate.

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Self Care 101

21

SELF CARE 101

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment here - self care is hard. It requires you to take care of yourself, with popular mainstream articles often preaching about doing things that are oftentimes... not so enjoyable. However, chances are that these articles actually contain some useful advice. So maybe it’s time to do things a little differently this year and practice the following self care tips: Sleep Living by the motto, “sleep is for the weak”, might actually

Exercise

be doing more harm than good. Instead, try getting at least

Regular exercise keeps you fit and healthy and helps reduce

6 hours of sleep every night. By consistently getting not

stress. Whether it be a short walk outside, a full pre-planned

enough sleep each night, you’re essentially decreasing

workout at the gym, or attending a local spin class, scheduling

your brain’s overall effectiveness in

in a session at least once or twice a week can actually

span,

information

recall

ability,

terms of attention and

reasoning

skill.

boost your mood and energy, and also improve your sleep.

Staying Hydrated

Taking Breaks

Try treating yourself to a colourful new water bottle, or

Take short, frequent breaks while studying. Even going

adding lemon or cucumber slices to your water - whatever

by the “5 minute break every hour” rule will help with

it takes to remind yourself to properly hydrate throughout

prevention of fatigue or burnout. And once everything is

the day. Even though caffeine is a great way to keep

checked off of your to-do list make sure to schedule in some

you energized throughout the day, it has the potential

“me time” to relax, unwind, and do whatever you enjoy.

to worsen or trigger anxiety - so enjoy it in moderation.

Asking for Help Eating Healthy

Asking for help should be considered a sign of strength,

Maintaining a diverse and healthy diet will both positively

rather than weakness. Simply venting to your friends about

affect your mood and help keep your body in good working

the terrible day you just had is a great way to relieve stress.

order. Remember that a balance of whole grains, fruits,

And there’s no shame in attempting to seek professional help

vegetables, and protein in one’s diet is great. While they

should you require it. Whatever your preferred coping method,

taste delicious, processed foods are high in sugar, salt, and

try to avoid internalizing negative thoughts or emotions until

trans fat, so you may want to limit the amount you consume.

they either explode or implode by proactively de-stressing.

Focusing on self care is especially challenging for students, with our days filled with too much to do and not enough time. It is when we are stressed and pressed for time that we try to cut corners on basic self care, deluding ourselves into thinking we can “make” more time for the things we believe we need to complete by neglecting activities that are vital to our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. However, finding time in your busy schedule for self care is always a worthwhile investment in order to maintain balance and succeed in your school life, work life, and personal life.

Written by Valerie Leow

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Guide to Staying Organized

22

You start the school year feeling prepared for your courses, jobs, and other commitments. You have the snazziest bullet journal, email notifications cleared out, and Google calendar updated to the minute. Then, after rolling pass syllabus week, opportunities and their associated stresses come flying out of nowhere and what seemed like an easy-peasy lemonsqueezy year becomes difficult-difficult lemon-difficult. Sound familiar? Truly, this is not uncommon among students, particularly ambitious “yes” individuals within our Business faculty. To help mitigate your risks of overburden and chaos, here are three tips for organization that may actually make this year, your year. Find your tools. And I don’t mean start using seven different platforms. Keep it simple, test things out, and choose one or two methods that work for you. These tools should keep your priorities and timelines in check. Need help choosing? Consider some of the tried options below:

Trello

Notebook

Asana

Description: an online “Kanban” style system - or, a visual workflow platform that stores your tasks and projects in the form of cards and then arranges the cards by category.Purpose: project management.

Description: A small paper book used for recording memos, writing, and sketches Purpose: depends on your imagination Pros: only limited by your imagination Con: also limited to the physical world

Description: a cloud-based team project management software where “tasks” are created to monitor individual components of a wider project. Purpose: task and project management on a group level.

Pros

Pros

Free Is shareable Can be used on desktop and mobile Clusters priorities Offers add-ons like Zapier that causes an action to occur automatically based on triggers you set Offers Power Ups such as Calendar or Google Drive

Cons Can be limited in collaboration features Can be difficult for non-visual learners Can lose visibility as the number of tasks increases Requires the user to have a process in mind already

Guide To Staying Organized 3 Tips You Can Actually Stick To.

Free for groups up until 15 people Intuitive and user-friendly Can be used on mobile and offline Offers project timeline features and calendar mode Offers inbox feature to receive updates and comments on specific tasks Can integrate with Gmail, Slack, Microsoft Outlook, Dropbox, Google Drive, Zapier, and more.

Cons Unable to view all projects and timelines in one place/on one page Can be “too flexible” of an interface Not intended for solely individual use Sends many, many email updates

Find your motivation. This step is usually where students falter. Losing motivation occurs around the second month of the school semester. We often forget that staying organized is a continual process. When motivation is low, so is the capacity to maintain timelines and tasks. Prior to starting any project, it’s important to identify why you wanted to start it in the first place. After identifying it, write it down. Refer back to it during tribulations to remind yourself why you began. This motivation-identification is necessary for school semesters as well. Why are you in school? Why are you in business? Try framing each semester as one out of your eight or nine stepping stones in finishing a degree that will propel you to your next step in life.Find your grace You’re likely going to fail. It’s daunting for me to say this, but I don’t mean you’re going to crash and burn. However, it’s very possible that somewhere down the road, you will stumble or veer off track slightly in the onslaught of the new semester. And that’s okay. Recognizing that failure is part of the process and allowing for buffer time in your plans will set you up more seamless organization, growth, and true success. Good luck this fall!

Written by Diane Jeon

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

>>

Lazy Chat

23

Resume Tips WITH MICHELLE HEIGHT

Why is a resume important and how can it be used to “show off” who you are?

The resume and cover letter act as your ambassador to the company when you cannot be there to represent yourself and are an essential tool in helping employers connect your competencies to their needs. They serve to represent you to the employer and help them see how you can be an asset to their organization. Think of them as a movie trailer that highlights the best parts of your education and varied experiences. If the employer likes the "trailer", they are more likely to want to sit down with you to find out more.

What kind of things set apart a good resume from one that is less good?

An effective resume is more than a listing of your experiences and education. More than a catalog of what you have done, it should show what you are capable of doing. It should convey your potential through your varied experiences by focusing on the skills you have acquired and the knowledge you have gained. This is most successful when targeted to a specific goal: a specific career path, job, company or industry. Generic cover letters and resumes do not generate results.

Is there a one-size-fits-all approach to crafting a good resume, or how should one approach its creation?

Any other general tips or remarks that students can benefit from?

While each resume and cover letter should be unique, the following are some basic recommendations that will help you to be more effective and impactful:

Remember that this is more than a marketing document that is trying to sell your suitability to a potential employer. It is also their first indication of your ability to communicate as a professional. Therefore, it is critical that your application materials be absolutely professional, clear, concise and accurate both in terms of content and presentation. Be authentically you but present your best and most professional self.

· Two pages maximum – no exceptions. · Focus on relevant transferable skills when writing your bullet points for your work and volunteer experience. Show them what skills you gained that you can transfer to a new role and employer. Show tangible results whenever possible, for example: “consistently exceeded sales quotas by 10%”.

Bear in mind that not being selected for an interview does not necessarily mean that your cover letter and resume are not effective.

It may mean that this position or employer was a poor fit for you.

· Include any awards, hobbies, volunteer activities and interests that provide information about your initiative, leadership skills, energy, versatility, or dedication. This is NOT filler – this tells them about who you are when you aren’t working

Finally, ensure your cover letter and resume ARE effective by accessing the resources and advising services available through Business Career Services. https://w w w.ualber ta.ca/business/careerser vices

· Include hard skills such as computer skills, language skills and relevant certifications. You never know what might help differentiate you from the other applicants.

We are here to help you succeed.

Written by Tyler Keffer

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

Last year across Canada we hired 100 new business grads. Find out why a Xerox Agency is the right next step after graduation.

Findyourxfactor.ca ©2014 Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved. Xerox®, Xerox and Design®, and Ready For Real Business are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Xerox Canada Ltd. is the licensee of all the trademarks.