Humber Graduates Share Their Expertise

Last Friday Humber College was proud to host the annual Grads Give Back event at the North Campus. Humber College marketing students attended the event to gain industry insights and professional advice from past Humber College marketing program graduates. Humber College understands the importance of students remaining up-to-date with industry trends and opportunities; as such, Humber frequently makes these types of opportunities available to students. to further expand knowledge and learning out of the classroom.

The event featured insights and experiences from seven graduates within various industries:

Presenter #1: Zac Stanley- Digital Agency

Presenter #2: Dylan Morrow- Sales Account Management

Presenter #3: Natasha Persad- Social Media Marketing

Presenter #4: Lakshmi Mani- Office Administration

Presenter #5: Marc Boileau- Digital Agency

Presenter #6: Grace Vanden Heuvel- Retail Marketing

Presenter #7: Steve Lorini- Social Media Marketing

Each presenter shared his/her own personal insights and experiences since they graduated from Humber. Throughout the event, each speaker touched upon a few common areas including: education, job search, employment and future opportunities. Three key topics came to light:

1. Job Search

Nearly each of the speakers touched upon the issues, challenges and opportunities associated with searching for employment. One of the most apparent messages pointed out that applying for a job should be taken seriously. It is not simply a passive activity that you do while sitting on the couch watching a movie. Similarly, the presenters stressed the importance of getting out there and pushing through the clutter to find a job that truly suits your skill set and abilities. The most common sources that the graduates used to find jobs include: monster.ca, careerbuilder.com and the school employment centers.

2. The Transition

Managing the transition between college life and professional life can be very difficult for many students. Zac Stanley and Marc Boileau discussed the importance of managing the differences between school projects and work projects. Marc explained that the main issues within the transition are due to the increase in the level of stress and responsibility that new graduates face. Similarly, Zac stated that, “Everyone likes to have fun, but once you start working; it’s a different type of fun.” Both the graduates clarified that you don’t have to put your social life on hold - you simply have to alter it to suit your new professional life.

3. Be Realistic

Being realistic in finding your first job was one of the main points that appealed to me. Marc Boileau did an excellent job in conveying the importance of setting strong but realistic job search criteria. Marc says that the most important aspect is to, “Get your foot in the door,” even if it requires taking a job that pays less or has longer hours. If you are able to get started within your industry, then you are a step in the right direction. In addition, Steve Lorini not only agreed with Marc but he also explained the importance of taking advantage of the various opportunities and contacts that are available.

Overall, the event was a huge success. I would like to extend a very special thank you to the returning graduates for sharing their personal insights and industry expertise. If you have the opportunity and are able to attend the event next year, I highly recommend you do so. Not only will you gain insights into career options, but you may also uncover new trends and opportunities to kick start your professional life.