Did you know 96% of CGA Alberta’s 347 newly designated members in 2012 enjoy positions like CFO, Vice President, Controller, Senior Manager, Director and Team Lead? Did you know these 414 new CGAs are employed with such organizations like EPCOR Utilities, Telus, ATB Financial, Agrium, Deloitte, Alberta Health Services and Talisman Energy? Alberta CGAs work in great jobs, enjoy great salaries and have great careers.
Find out why enrolling into the CGA Program of Professional Studies NOW will benefit you – contact us today! www.cga-alberta.org
We see more than numbers. We see success.
We’ve got a lot in common with accountants. We work off our assets too! Think you have what it takes to take this magazine to the next level? Do you want to gain experience in the print industry or add some great design or content pieces to your portfolio? Are you capable of managing a team with strict deadlines for producing results? With turnover around the corner, Lazy Faire is looking for the best and brightest to fill the following Editor positions: Editor-in-Chief - currently held by Kirsten LePage (klepage@ualberta.ca) Design Editor - currently held by Julian Ng (julian.kinsman@gmail.com) Content Editor - currently held by Alex Manolii (manolii1@ualberta.ca) Come to our Information Session on February 6th at 5:30p in BUS 3-10 to learn more about each position and the application process. Can’t make it to the Info Session? Why not send one of the Editors an email - they’ll gladly fire off a reply, or maybe even grab a coffee with you (if you ask nicely). 2
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Editors’ Note A Message from Your Editors
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BY KIRSTEN LEPAGE, ALEX MANOLII & JULIAN NG THE EDITORIAL TEAM
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ere we are, already in the second month of the Winter semester! Yes, the time of love is upon us as Valentine’s Day approaches and brings along with it countless midterms and projects, and the all-too-short release of Spring Break; but, for those of you looking to stay on top of the exciting events at the Alberta School of Business, the Lazy Faire team brings to you yet another issue for your procrastinating pleasure. We begin this month’s issue with an introduction of some individuals behind the scenes at Lazy Faire who have been key pieces in our magazine’s success through their content, design and other creative contributions. Next, we explore what every student should have on his or her bucket list for the semester, ensuring that cold weather and the number of bricks that line the walls of the Winspear library aren’t the only memories you will take away come April! We then continue on with more of our reoccurring features, starting with our Community Center which showcases the impressive mission of the 5 Days for the Homeless team to support homeless youth in Edmon-
ton by “going homeless” themselves (see page 10 to learn more!). In the Clubs’ Corner, you’ll find the University of Alberta Human Resources Management Association (UAHRMA) who will give you the low-down on their increasingly popular annual conference taking place next month. Finally, in our Student Spotlight, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Lazy Faire alumnus, Lance Chung, who has progressed from LF content editor to a big-time contributor to Sharp Magazine in Toronto! To conclude our February edition, we’ve compiled a guide to the many majors and minors at the Alberta SoB, hopefully to provide some direction on where exactly each combination can really take you. We’ve also had the opportunity to sit down with two current BComm’s, Paul Kan and Narissa Ramji, who share their experiences as interns with Walmart and explain how you could soon be in their shoes! We, the Editors, hope you enjoy the work of our talented content and design teams this month. Have a happy February and see you next month!
I FEB STUDENT POLL
What was the most awkward interview experience you ever had?
Head over to lazyfairemagazine. blogspot.ca and answer the poll for a chance to win a gift card for campus vendors and be featured in next month’s issue of Lazy Faire!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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14
Lance Chung
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Getting to Know the Lazy Faire Team
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Clubs’ Corner: UAHRMA
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BSA Elections
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Student Spotlight: Lance Chung
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Tips for Better Public Speaking
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Major & Minors: Combos That Work!
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“Before Semester’s End” Bucket List
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Walmart’s Internship Opportunities
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5 Days for the Homeless
Lazy Faire’s own previous content editor talks to us about his up-and-coming career
Majors & Minors
What’s a good major & minor pairing for you?
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Walmart
Paul Kan and Narissa Ramji share their recent internship experiences at Walmart
COMMUNITY CENTER - COVER FEATURE
February 2013 EDITOR - IN - CHIEF
Kirsten LePage CONTENT EDITOR
Alex Manolii DESIGN EDITOR
Julian Ng SENIOR CONTRI B UTORS
Garry Deng Kristine Gu Sherin Kayat Braden Lauer Eileen Lee
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Jessica Lee Rachel Lee Louis Liu Gabriel Nunes
P HOTOGRA P H Y
DESIGN TEAM
ONLINE DIRECTOR
Colleen Do Shirley Du Ruby (Jing Ru) Gong Eileen Lee Felicia Liang David Ton-Lai Bonnie Truong Jenny Truong Jenny Wang
THANKS TO
Josh Le Ella Lin Carissa Tham
Alberta School of Business University of Alberta CONTACT US
lazyfaire@live.ca
Kristine Gu P RINTING THANKS TO
Diana Wyley Xerox Canada P U B LISHED B Y
Business Students’ Association (BSA) bsaonline.ca
LazyFAIRE
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BBTC Weekly Public Speaking Meeting
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BBTC Public Speaking Meeting
Reading Week Rocky Mountain Business Seminar
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BBTC Weekly Public Speaking Meeting BSA Candidates Forum
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BBTC Weekly Public Speaking Meeting BSA Elections Nominations Deadline
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UAMA Lunch and Learn
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Reading Week Rocky Mountain Business Seminar
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BSA Info Session: Job Interviews & Resumes
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Reading Week Rocky Mountain Business Seminar
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BSA Election Campaign Ends
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BSA Election Campaign Begins
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Reading Week Rocky Mountain Business Seminar
BSA Elections
BEA Nation to Nation UARC Real Estate Night
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Reading Week Rocky Mountain Business Seminar
BSA Elections
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Saturday
EDGE Competition
Friday
EDGE Competition
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
want more detail? Head over to bsaonline.ca for full event descriPTIONS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, CLUB INFO AND MORE!
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BEA Speaker Series
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EDGE Competition
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LazyFAIRE GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM
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very issue this year, the Lazy Faire has chosen to feature a few members of our hardworking Lazy Faire team. Each month they all play a major part in rolling out the wonderful 20 pages that you are holding in your hands, whether by conducting the interviews, writing the content, designing the pages, or taking the wonderful photos that add life to the magazine. Most importantly, they are interesting Business students! After reading more about them, we hope you’ll agree!
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BY SHERIN KAYAT, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY SHIRLEY DU, DESIGN DIRECTOR
Garry Deng
J e n n y Wa n g
Kristine Gu
Senior Contributor Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am a third year student majoring in East Asian Studies, minoring in Marketing (I’ll bet you didn’t even know there was an East Asian Studies major in Business). My interests include keeping up with the Hallyu Wave and spending my free time in Cameron Library (if you want to get to know me better, buy me a taro-flavored bubble tea then we’ll talk). The main reason I joined the Lazy Faire is the fact that I really enjoy writing. I’m the kind of guy who could write a ten-page essay AND have fun doing so! Without a doubt, this will be among my best experiences from my undergraduate years.
Design Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m currently in my first year of Business as a Marketing major. I love animals! I have both a dog, Charlie, and a cat (Meow-Mi, who I was going to name Angel until I found out she was anything but). I have one older brother who graduated from the Engineering Faculty. As I am majoring in Marketing, I thought that designing for a magazine would help me develop important skills for future employment. Also, unlike competitions, the Lazy Faire magazine allows me to display my skills in print. All in all, it’s a pleasure to be a part of the Lazy Faire team!
Senior Contributor Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m in my 4th year, majoring in Business Economics and Law, and preparing to finish my undergrad degree this semester. Aside from school, my interests lay in photography, graphic design, and coding. Social networking and photo sharing websites are an addiction. Writing has always been an interest of mine; having participated in various writing competitions, I actually never had an opportunity to dabble in journalistic writing until I found out about the Lazy Faire. It’s been an amazing experience and I feel that I have learned a lot from my team members— my motivation is my team!
What is your biggest pet peeve? Most people don’t realize this to be my pet peeve, but it bothers me very much when I see my first name misspelled as “Gary” instead of Garry. Honestly, is it really that hard to type in that one extra ‘R’? Whenever this happens, I like to make myself feel better by taking random letters out of other people’s names. Don’t judge. 6
What are your plans after graduation? After graduation - of course this is all contemplative since I can’t predict the future – I’m thinking of working as a flight attendant for a few years. It’ll give me the opportunity to travel and experience the wonders of the world before real life responsibilities weigh me down. After that episode in my life, who knows?
Tell us something about yourself people would be surprised to know. I love learning languages, and I am conversational in Chinese and Korean (and a little bit of Japanese) but six years of French has done little for me.
Photographer Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am in my first year of Business as a Marketing major (my minor will be in either Psychology or English). I am also the VP Events for the University of Alberta Photography Club and recently joined the Precious Women (a fledgling but passionate club on campus!) team as Treasurer. I grabbed the opportunity to join the Lazy Faire photography team this Fall because I wanted to become more involved with the School of Business. It’s also a great opportunity to improve my photography skills. Furthermore, I see this as a way of giving back to the community – the School of Business community in this case. Tell us something about yourself people would be surprised to know. I was born in Edmonton, but grew up in Singapore. I think that everyone with the opportunity to live in another country—whether for work or an exchange program amongst other reasons, not just for a short vacation—should grab that opportunity because the experiences and insights you gain from it are invaluable. You’ll have a new-found appreciation for things previously taken for granted, and appreciation is a golden virtue to have!
C ARISSA T H A M
Bonnie Truong
Eileen Lee
B RA D EN L AUER
Design Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am in my second year of Business. I spent 2 years in General Arts before deciding to go into Business because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Currently, my major is Human Resources and I’m minoring in Management Information Systems. I actually joined the Lazy Faire team unexpectedly last year. My sister was in the Lazy Faire and, wanting to see what it was like, I sat in on one meeting. Afterwards, I expressed my interest in joining Lazy Faire and that was that. I started doing content first before moving on to do design. It’s awesome seeing something that you’ve done in print!
Senior Contributor and Design Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hmm where do I start? First off, I’m an Operations Management Major and I’m in my 5th year of Business. This semester, I’m finishing my last co-op term and hopefully will be graduating in December. I joined the Lazy Faire team because I was interested in writing articles and the Lazy Faire provided the perfect opportunity for it.
Senior Contributor Tell us a little bit about yourself . My name is Braden Lauer. I graduate this semester as a Business Law & Economics major with a minor in Accounting. I joined the Lazy Faire team for two reasons: I really enjoy writing (this is a unique way for somebody in the Business faculty to write more stylistically) and I wanted a gateway to getting involved. Lazy Faire helped me to start networking among my peers and I love it for that!
What is your biggest pet peeve? I guess it would be when people do not clean up after themselves. It’s a common courtesy to tidy up a place you used so that the next person does not have to deal with your mess – which is gross (I’m talking food bits and what not).
What are your plans after graduation? My plan after graduating is to do a lot of travelling! My next go-to destination is France. What is your biggest pet peeve? I just cannot stand it when there are slow walkers in HUB (have you not seen this long building before where you go to school 8 months a year!?) Stop dawdling and get a move on! If you are one of those people, please understand that my death stare IS directed at you.
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I ELECTION TIMELINE
LEADERSHIP, A LASTING EXPERIENCE, TEAM BUILDING SKILLS, ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DEMOCRATIC VOTES YOU WILL TAKE PART IN, CANADA’S EQUIVALENT OF A ROMNEY/OBAMA RACE.
Jan 30: Nominations begin Feb 4: Deadline for nominations Feb 6: Campaign period begins Feb 8: Official candidates announced Feb 11: Candidates’ Forum Feb 13: Campaign period ends Feb 14-15: Elections
Who will you vote for? The student body will vote for 7 candidates on February 14-15 to see who will serve as the BSA Executive for 2012-2013. The nomination process requires only 20 signatures from your peers, as long as you will be in the School of Business for the following school year. If you wish to be a part of this amazing experience, drop by the BSA office hours or email the current executive, found online at bsaonline.ca.
Tips for Better Public Speaking
Looking to brush up on your speaking skills? Look no further! Lazy Faire brings you some of the top tips on how to be successful when speaking in front of a crowd.
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BY GABRIEL NUNES, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY DAVID TON-LAI, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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Preparation: Be prepared for what you are going to say. This is a vital step in the public speaking process. If you don’t know what you plan to say ahead of time, your words may come out scrambled and you will look unrehearsed. It will pay off if you are familiar with what you are going to say before you say it.
ing a novice speaker to a well-refined expert. Body language techniques such as making eye contact with your audience and smiling often can show to others that you are comfortable and make you appear confident. Try throwing some gestures into your speaking as well, as these tend to enhance your speech and can keep your listeners interested.
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Oral communication: Oral communication is important because it is the way in which you deliver your message to your audience. It is important that you clearly articulate your words and use the correct volume when speaking. By doing this you will be able to effectively communicate what you are trying to say and it will make you look like a public speaking professional.
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Body language: Did you know that over 90% of communication is non-verbal? This is why perfecting your physical communication can take you from be-
Practice: Practice makes perfect. A great opportunity to practice your public speaking skills on campus is with the Business and Beyond Toastmasters Club! The club gives you the chance to work on your public speaking in a positive atmosphere with others who also want to improve. There is a Toastmasters meeting every week on Monday at 6 pm in room BUS B-09. We definitely recommend that you attend in order to develop your speaking skills.
Your “Before Semester’s End” Bucket List
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BY GARRY DENG, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY JENNY WANG, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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e all know that one friend who makes New Year’s resolutions every single year, but never keeps it for very long (well, maybe more than just one friend). To the brave soul out there who’s aiming to get a six-pack and straight A’s, I say “Good luck to you!” – I failed miserably with this New Year’s resolution last year. Not all resolutions are hard to keep though. Below is a bucket list of things that all Business students should try to do during this semester. And… the best thing about this list? It’s a lot easier to get done than getting straight A’s. So what are you waiting for? Set some goals and see what you can accomplish before the end of the semester!
□ 1. Get some new business attire. For guys, get yourself a new tie; another suit wouldn’t be a bad idea
□ 4. Participate in a business competition. What’s cooler than being able to participate in a business competition
either. For girls, you can never go wrong with a classic black pencil skirt. The point is to add some versatility and variety to your business wardrobe. Just because we’re Business students doesn’t mean we can’t experiment with our business casual and professional wear, so go and see what works for you! Tip: your outfits should always be tailored/fitted.
with your friends? Nothing! Before the end of the semester, gather some friends and enter into a business competition you find interesting. Just remember not to focus too much on winning; there’s so much more you could get out of just experiencing the many aspects of a business competition. Although getting first place would be pretty darn neat too.
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Don’t be that person who hasn’t updated their resume in years. It doesn’t hurt to always have a good idea of where you stand in terms of your work experiences and cover letter writing skills. This semester, look into improving or perfecting yourself in these areas; you’ll thank me someday in the future. Luckily there are services on campus to help students with this; be sure to make use of them!
Because why not? Every issue, the Lazy Faire team will pose a question for our readers and all you have to do is send in your answer for a chance to be chosen and featured in the Lazy Faire magazine! You will get all the honour and glory – just imagining it gives me goose bumps. Refer to previous issues to see the interesting answers other students have come up with in the past!
2. Perfect your resume and cover letter writing skills.
5. Submit an answer to the Lazy Faire Student Poll!
□ 6. Add your own goals to the list. □ 3. Join a student club. Designing your own business card, compiling a list of reliable referI’m sure all of us have heard at least a million times about how valuable it is to join a student club. The combination of people you can potentially be connected to through a student club is endless and it could really help in widening your network both now and into the future. For those who are already part of a club, keep up the good work! For those who are looking to join their first club, I hear the Lazy Faire team is a great first place to check out.
ences or even going on exchange; the list goes on and on. Don’t limit yourself to the things on this list: add your own goals as well!
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FEATURED STORY
5 DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS V
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BY JESSICA LEE, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY JENNY TRUONG, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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riginally started in 2005 by the U of A’s very own Commerce students, 5 Days for the Homeless is now a national
campaign reaching universities in almost every province. Each year, students from the School of Business and other universities sleep outside for five days (on campus). With only their sleeping bags and the clothes they have on, these individuals go without showering, food or money. Despite these conditions, however, these students are still expected to attend all their classes. Although nothing can fully equal the feeling of being homeless, these students do have to go through a lot during the grueling 5 days – all, of course, for a good cause. All donations collected this year will be going to the Youth Empowerment and Support Service (YESS), which is an Albertan non-profit organization that strives to help youth who face difficult situations. Besides the money that is being raised, students also increase the awareness of homelessness – a growing issue in today’s society. Not only was last year’s event a success, students were able to exceed their goal of $25,000 by $3,000! Fortunately enough, we had the opportunity to interview Maryna Vysotski who is taking the lead with the 2013 installment of this event:
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved with 5 Days for the Homeless?
How has your perception of the growing issue of homelessness changed, as you got involved in this event?
I am a 4th year Human Resources major. Since my first year at the School of Business, I have always looked up to the 5 Days for the Homeless cause. I think it’s a great local charity event that can truly make a difference in the lives of homeless youth in Edmonton. After watching this campaign for the last couple of years, I felt it was time for me to get involved and give it my all during my final year at the School of Business. Originally coming from a fairly poor socioeconomic background in Ukraine, it seemed as though I never had a chance to make a difference there and I thought this was my chance to make a difference in Edmonton instead. I feel extremely fortunate to live in Canada, and this issue hits close to home, which is why I interviewed to take the lead on the project this year!
After visiting the YESS shelter, I think my team and I further realized how being “homeless” is not really a choice, but a matter of circumstances: it could have been you or me out there in the streets looking for somewhere to belong. It was sad, yet eye-opening to know that 76.5% of youth that come through the YESS shelter have faced some kind of abuse primarily from their parents or caretakers, and become “homeless” to escape that negative environment.
What were the main motivations behind 5 Day for the Homeless? 5 Days for the Homeless exists in order to raise awareness for youth in need. Lots of them come from difficult backgrounds and don’t have anywhere to go or anywhere concrete to turn to. When that happens you can either take a bunch of wrong turns or try for a different course all together. Our goal is to give marginalized youth the opportunity to get on the right track to success and give them hope for their future.
I understand that this event started at the U of A, and is now successful at a national level. In your opinion, what do you think the reason for all this success was? I think people realized how good of a cause this actually is. Prior to this initiative, something like this never really existed - students helping students. The media has also been great in helping us gain national exposure; we now have over twenty participating schools where they have their own provincial nonprofit organization they can donate to.
What is the most challenging part about planning this event? Any visions you see for this event in the future? My biggest challenge right now is getting donations in order to attain our goal as well as approaching sponsors. YESS is currently struggling with donations and I hope that this event will be able to make a difference for the organization. Of course, another challenge that my team and I will face is sleeping outside in -16 degree weather. It’s important for me to keep everyone motivated, especially when we’re all cold, “homeless”, and have school on top of it. My vision is that this event keeps getting bigger and bigger. We have come a long way from the original goal of just $500 in 2005 to our current goal of $30,000. My only hope is that 5 Days continues to grow.
What’s going to be different about 5 Days for the Homeless this year compared to previous years? This year we are trying to get a title sponsor, which we have not done before. Additionally, we are also doing a bottle drive and holding a silent auction, where companies are able to donate not only monetary items but non-monetary ones as well. Another thing that is different is that everyone on my team (besides myself) is a first year student here at the SoB – they are all eager and excited to participate in this event. Finally, we are trying to achieve our goal of finding out exactly what YESS will be doing with the donations and trying to connect to this event on a more personal level.
Finally, how can students get involved and contribute to 5 Days for the Homeless? This event would not be as successful without people helping out throughout the 5 days: we will need as many volunteers as possible. These volunteers go all around campus doing class room runs. As well, donations tables will be set up in the busy areas on campus (SUB, CAB, etc.). Students can also get information from some of our social media tools such as our Facebook page and Twitter account and can help by spreading the word as much as possible about the event and the cause. Here come my shameless plugs....LIKE us on Facebook (5 Days for the Homeless-Edmonton, AB) and follow us on twitter (@5Days_Edmonton)!
Without a doubt, 5 Days for the Homeless has proven to be a growing national success that has truly been able to change perspectives on the issue of homeless youth. As business students, we cannot be more proud of the fact that our faculty has played such a key role in promoting this important community cause. The event runs March 10 to 15 this year, so if you see these 6 students outside or maybe in one of your classes, be sure to take the time to listen to the cause and contribute! 11
CLU B S CORNER
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CLU B S ’ CORNER
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University of Alberta Human Resource Management Association
BY RACHEL LEE, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY BONNIE TRUONG, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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s any Business student knows, student clubs play a significant role in contributing to and enhancing the quality and scope of our university education. Whether it is through a speaker series, networking opportunities, case competitions, conferences or everything in between – student clubs create value for Business students. All this rings true of UAHRMA – the Faculty of Business student club that specifically targets students with an interest in the Human Resources field. For this month’s Clubs’ Corner, we interviewed Laura McDonald, the President of UAHRMA, and Courtney Huchulak, VP Conference, for some insight into UAHRMA and their HR conference that will be happening in March.
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Briefly tell us what UAHRMA is all about. UAHRMA is a student-led organization founded in 1996 that aims to connect the HR majors in the Alberta School of Business with professionals in the corporate world. We try to connect and bridge the gap between the real world industry and school. One of the more recent initiatives that really promotes this goal is the UAHRMA conference in March. We currently have 100 members and joining UAHRMA is free. What is your vision for this club? Where do you see UAHRMA going? I see UAHRMA connecting more with the students, especially all of the HR majors and minors. We are a fairly small group and, since not a lot of people choose HR as their major or minor (when compared to other majors), my goal is to create that wellconnected support system, whether it be through more events, member nights, etc. Tell us about some of the projects that are going on at UAHRMA at the moment and some projects you plan to have throughout the year.
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Coming up later in January is the speaker series which will feature our alumni, corporates, and a professor who will all share their experiences in the field of HR.
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As well, on February 28th we have a project with CAPS for an interview information session, as well as a resume building seminar. This event will provide the do’s and don’ts of interviews and resumes, as well as one-on-one feedback with someone directly from CAPS.
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We also have an ongoing mentorship program that personally connects students with a mentor with real world experience in the corporate world. The registration is at the beginning of the Fall term for this program so it will be available in September for anyone that is interested.
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And of course, we have our UAHRMA conference in March.
Tell us some details about the conference in March. What is it and what do you hope to accomplish through this conference? The UAHRMA conference is a conference held annually. This year the conference will be hosted from March 9-10 at the Ramada Conference Centre on Kingsway Avenue. The purpose of the HR conference is to give students more knowledge about the HR field – though students learn many things from the classroom, we want students to hear the professional perspectives and application of concepts outside of the classroom.
This year we changed the focus by adding new interactive twists to our workshops. The interactive part of the workshops will allow attendees to learn the skills hands-on. As well, we’re trying to reach out to more schools by contacting every school in Canada. We have some interest from some of the major schools, so we’re hoping to have more out of town delegates this year. As for delegates, we’re expecting around 100 delegates for the 2 full days of the conference. The delegate fee is $50 for the earlybird price (Feb 4-8) and $60 for the original price. Delegates can pay in front of the BSA office or online. There will be different workshop topics such as ‘What you want from your employer’, ‘Recruitment’, ‘Performance Management’, etc. These workshops will be very useful to not only the HR majors and minors, but also to non-HR students. We tried hard this year to get a wide variety of HR professional speakers and I think it’s important for everyone to learn about HR since everyone is going to be hired by HR at some point. We have the conference information night on January 31 for anyone who would like to find out more information. Please tell us one accomplishment that you achieved this school year and one goal that you want to achieve by the end of this school year. One accomplishment is the amount of members we have. They may not all be HR majors but the interest in HR from both within and outside of the faculty has grown tremendously this year. One thing that we’re trying to do this year is trying to expand the conference in March. Making the conference more interactive and lengthening the conference to 2 days are some of the things we’ve been working on in order to make this conference a bigger success. What are some of the things you did differently this year that contributed to your recent success? The resume building and mock interviews concepts were brand new this year. While there are services at this school that do provide it, I think having a student club with that accessible feature helped many students get involved with UAHRMA. What would you like to say to the Lazy Faire readers? Come see us at our events, come to the conference and we look forward to meeting anyone who is interested in HR. We’re always here to answer any questions and get rid of any stereotypes about HR!
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\ STUDENT S P OTLIGHT
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BY LOUIS LIU, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY FELICIA LIANG, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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very month, the Lazy Faire team features one University of Alberta School of Business student or recent graduate with extraordinary achievements and accomplishments in our Student Spotlight section. For February’s issue, we invited U of A School of Business graduate, former Lazy Faire content editor, and Sharp Magazine’s current Associate Online Editor and Social Marketing Manager, Lance Chung to give us a taste of his experiences out east, as well as a look at how his various commitments within the School of Business helped him achieve success following graduation.
Hey Lance, welcome back to Lazy Faire! Please tell us
ensuring that we are always engaging with our readers, net-
about yourself!
working with industry leaders and cultivating our brand.
I graduated in December 2011 with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Retailing. During my academic career, I tried to be involved in as many different areas as I could. Within the SoB, I was part of the Lazy Faire team as a writer and content editor for two years. On campus, I was also a coordinator for the U of A Student’s Union Student Life and Events Committee, and within the larger community I assisted with Western Canada Fashion Week. Currently, I am the Associate Online Editor and Social Marketing Manager at Sharp Magazine, a national men’s lifestyle publication based out of Toronto (think Esquire or GQ, but Canadian). I have a range of responsibilities at the magazine, but they primarily consist of curating content with my team of writers and interns that is both informative and consistent with our brand positioning. I also manage all of our social media platforms,
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Your current position at Sharp Magazine as an Associate Online Editor and Social Marketing Manager is extremely interesting. How were you able to procure this position? Social media is an incredibly fascinating subject that has become crucial in today’s social and corporate landscape. Seeing the magazine as a business with tremendous growth potential in the Canadian market, I applied and was accepted as an intern. As a part of my academic requirements, I wrote a research paper on social media and how the magazine could utilize it to their benefit (something that they had not explored at that point.) Long story short, I made myself useful and worked my way up!
In what ways did your School of Business educa-
With regards to your involvement with Lazy Faire,
tion (any courses, professors, or opportunities)
how has that benefited you in terms of your cur-
and any club/extracurricular activities help you
rent career path?
achieve success?
Obviously the writing and editing aspects of my Lazy Faire
The biggest lesson I’ve taken away from school is the im-
responsibilities were beneficial. Being able to manage a
portance of identifying and understanding your customer,
team of writers, handle deadlines and last minute changes
as it will really dictate the type of product you put out (in
helped as well. I think, however, the best skill that I have
our case, content) and the ultimate survival of your com-
been able to take away from it all is learning to always be
pany. Of course, it’s something that is a lot easier said than
aware of what’s happening around you. As content cre-
done and is a constant work in progress. Customers to-
ators, you must develop an ability to observe and com-
day are a sophisticated group of people, so there’s always
ment on current events. Coming up with new and creative
something new to learn about them that will help you bet-
angles for stories to present to an audience is no easy
ter meet their needs. Academics aside, business school has
task, so that was a good introductory experience for me.
also really taught me the value of the hustle. Networking is so crucial, especially in my industry where it’s not just what you know, but who you know as well. It’s an art form that business students must learn to craft if they want to take advantage of opportunities that may come by in the future.
How much are you enjoying your current work position? I love what I’m doing. My job allows me to work in an industry that I have always wanted to be in. It also gives me the abil-
B
ity to be creative and has really allowed me to meet some
Academics aside, business school has also really taught me the value of the hustle. Networking is so crucial, especially in my industry where it’s not just what you know, but who you know as well. It’s an art form that business students must learn to craft if they want to take advantage of opportunities that may come by in the future. - Lance Chung
Sharp Magazine Associate Online Editor
incredible people. Also, I love Toronto! The amount of diversity and opportunity here is inspiring and quite motivational. Thanks for your time Lance. Any closing pieces of advice for current Business students? If I could give advice on the interview process, it would be to show enthusiasm and knowledge of what you’re talking about. These are the things that I look for when interviewing my own intern candidates, as they show me you have a genuine interest in the company (which leads to better qual-
I
ity of work) and know enough to contribute to the brand. I understand that your participation in “MARK 465 - Internships” was particularly beneficial for you. Please elaborate and give us some insight into your experience with this particular course. In today’s competitive market, having a degree is simply not enough. I knew that gaining workplace experience would be crucial for obtaining any kind of job after graduation, so I applied for the internship program at the SoB. Having not been too interested in the employers that were being offered though, I decided to make my own opportunities and looked around the marketplace to see what else
MARK 465 - SCHOOL OF RETAILING INTERNSHIP
Practical application of marketing and related business skills and theory to a problem or issues addressed during a period of 13 weeks of summer placement in a sponsoring retailing or services organization. The internship includes preliminary instruction and requires, under the supervision of the Faculty, the presentation of a project report to the sponsoring organization. Prerequisites: MARK 301 and consent of Department.
I could find, which eventually led to a position at Sharp.
15
MAJORS AND MINORS Combinations That Work!
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BY KRISTINE GU, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY COLLEEN DO, DESIGN DIRECTOR
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hroughout our undergraduate career, many of us face the sometimes challenging task of choosing a major and/or minor. With 16 major areas of concentration currently available for study at the University Of Alberta School of Business and the option of an external faculty minor, this can be daunting process. Even after a year of testing all the available options and gaining a greater understanding through introductory courses, it can still feel like you’ve only grazed the surface of each area of study. If you pair this uncertainty with the technicalities of university course credits and prerequisites, it does not come as a surprise that this can be a very overwhelming and intimidating job; however, don’t fret! With numerous online resources, your peers, and in-person advisory at both the Business Career Services and the Undergraduate Program Office, you are surrounded by information and advice from those with the experience and understanding that’s needed to make a sound decision. In general, it may be beneficial to first research a career you are interested in and work your way backwards. Others may find that selecting a flexible major/minor like Accounting or Marketing can open doors to many paths. Still, there are combinations out there that seem to work! They are often time-tested and proven to be effective by the success of alumni and graduating students. So where can a student turn for such information? Below is a general reference guide to the School of Business’ most popular majors and potential minors (more detailed information can be found on the University of Alberta BComm website):
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mAJORS AND MINORS
Accounting and Finance: Like many other majors, Accounting and Finance are heavily laden with technical information and the application of rules and standards that surround business operations. Consider a Management Information Systems minor to help you gain an understanding of standard and widely used programs and applications, or pair it with an Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise major to better manage a family business or your own start-up. Accounting and Finance minors can complement any other major as the skills and tools acquired from these courses are widely applicable in many settings. This is a great place for anyone to start their search for a suitable major and minor combination. Business Economics and Law: This is a unique major to the School of Business that combines two interesting topics, and examines both economic and legal aspects of business. In particular, those interested in the area of international business should further research into this field. This is also a feasible area of study for those in Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise or Natural Resource, Energy, and the Environment because it explores both historical issues and modern legal developments dealing with property rights, contracts, sale of goods, etc. International Business, East Asian Studies, European Studies, and Latin American Studies: With a unique selection of courses available, these majors are catered to those
interested in international business and trade. Whether you’re interested in managing accounts internationally, acting as a trade analyst, or pursuing the career of an international trade officer, understanding the laws and economics that are the foundation of international markets is extremely important. Consider a Business Economics and Law minor and focus the courses from this concentration around international topics. Management Information Systems: In the age of technological advancement and progression, a MIS minor can successfully complement any program or stand alone as a valuable major because of its applicability to many different business settings. Consider a Strategic Management and Organization, Human Resource Management, or Operational Management minor; merging topics in management and information systems can help you explore the control of production, a firm’s human resources, or other areas of management. Marketing: This area of study encompasses both technical and abstract work; capturing both the study of human psychology and research and surveying techniques. Marketing is a worthwhile major on its own and a very popular, creative and practical minor for those that may be studying such topics like International Business or Retailing and Services.
In the case that you’re still unsure as to where your interests may lie or if you’re deciding between a few options, use your free electives that can include senior business courses to further delve into what each field of study may entail. Not only will you be able to better sequence the other required courses, you may uncover an aspect of a field that you may not have considered before or gain insight in careers that may not have originally interested you. Take an active role in planning your long-term academic and professional career: plan your courses, seek advice on post-graduate studies, and commit yourself. Make sure you have the credits that are required and that you understand the process of changing a major/minor and how these changes may affect your future work terms and graduation. While choosing a major and/or minor are big decisions, don’t view it as locking yourself into one field for the rest of your academic and professional career. Instead, by applying yourself to a major area of concentration, you are acquiring a degree of expertise and preparing yourself for a vast selection of professional designations and positions. More importantly, you are developing a unique set of learning habits and a flexibility that will propel you in any direction you would like to go — after all, learning does not stop after graduation. 17
Walmart’s Internship Opportunities For this February Issue, Lazy Faire had the opportunity to meet two School of Business students who were able to participate in the internship program offered by Walmart over the past year. Narissa Ramji is a 4th year student majoring in Retailing and Paul Kan is a 5th year Marketing major. We also met with Christina Mah who is a former Bcomm student and is currently the University Liaison for Walmart. Her position entails student recruitment and promotion of the opportunities available at Walmart. We asked these three individuals about their different experiences with Walmart and the various ways for Business students to get involved.
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BY EILEEN LEE, SR. CONTRIBUTOR DESIGNED BY EILEEN LEE, DESIGN DIRECTOR
First of all, how did you find out about the internship program at Walmart and what was your job position within the company? Narissa: I found out from the Marketing 465 course. During the intro seminar, Walmart was there and I wanted to gain some experience within the company.
P: Our Internship Coordinator kept in touch every two days. Also, we would talk with head office through conference calls. We had access to everyone in the company and for my projects I was able to reach out to the home office in Toronto.
How has this experience added to your degree?
Paul: I found out about this through Placepro when I was searching for a coop opportunity.
N: What I learned will carry with me forever. I was able to apply what I learned in class. For me this is a career and what I want to do.
What kind of skills did you develop while working at Walmart?
P: My experience with Walmart is the top reason why I got my after-grad job. During the interview I was able to use my experiences from the internship to answer every question. It has been one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had.
N: One of the skills I developed was my leadership ability. As an Assistant Manager in-training, I learned what worked for my coworkers and what worked for me in order to evolve my leadership style. P: The skills I learned were time management and the ability to prioritize. It was a unique position where no one tells you what to do. You need to think of what your priorities are and manage from there. I also developed my leadership skills through managing the frontline group which consisted of many different ages. Lastly, I improved my critical thinking skills. Walmart is a large retailer where things are changing constantly. Most of these changes are unexpected and we have to change our plans accordingly to deal with situations as they come in a professional and efficient manner.
What was your perception of Walmart before your internship and how has your work with the company changed this perception? N: I didn’t know what the work environment was like or that there were any growth opportunities within the company. Once I began working at Walmart though, I discovered that it was a big family and team environment. There are many growth opportunities and you are able to discover what you like to do and what you don’t like within the company. P: I’ve never done retail prior to this. My perception was that it was a place for part-time jobs and only students or moms with spare time worked there; I never thought of it as a place for university graduates. My perception changed 180 degrees after the internship. The landscape of retailing is exciting and there are many opportunities. It moved the direction of my career and influenced me when I was looking for my post-grad job.
In your opinion, what are some key areas that you liked about the company? What are some key areas the company can improve on? P: I liked the fast pace and challenging environment. You are always thinking on your feet and there are many aspects to look out for. There are 3 values that Walmart follows and takes very seriously: service to the customers, respect for the individual, and striving for excellence. One of the things that could be improved on is work-life balance. There is always something to do and you could end up working long hours. It’s an important aspect of life that university students need to balance.
Many people do not perceive Walmart positively. What is the company doing to change and improve its image? Christina: That is actually one of the major goals of my position. I want to show students that Walmart is a possibility after graduation and to break perception. I want give them a realistic idea of what a career at Walmart looks like and not what is heard in the media.
For students who are interested in this internship program, how do they apply? C: Job postings will be up on Placepro starting on January 21st until February 18th. The job posting for Marketing 465 will be up on February 1st. The internship will be 4 months long from May to August and will be in Edmonton and surrounding areas. An ideal candidate will be someone who is in their 3rd or 4th year preferably. We are looking for someone who is creative, driven, independent, and has a passion for retail. Students can also contact me at cmah01@wal-mart.com.
What is your advice for students who are interested in doing this internship but are unsure? P: You don’t have to like retail, but if you want a really rewarding opportunity then this internship is for you. You’ll be learning skills that you won’t be getting anywhere else. N: You get to see retail in a big scope through district, regional, and home office levels. P: Also you get to see competitors and vendors such as Nestle, Kraft, and Pepsi. No matter what your major is you will be getting something from this experience.
If you are interested in Walmart and this internship position, be sure to check out the job postings and their corporate website: www.walmart.ca.
N: I liked how there was an open communication within the store and with home office. Walmart will try and cut costs but give the savings back to customers. They are also eco-friendly and give back to charity. For areas of improvement, Walmart needs more females in their managerial positions, which they are working on.
What kind of support did the company offer to you during your internship? N: Our Internship Coordinator was always there for me as well as the mentors in our store. I sat with the manager twice a week and we did store walks. Also the regional office provided a lot of support. If they didn’t have the answers to our questions they would redirect us to the appropriate person.
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From Left to Right: Narissa Ramji, Paul Kan, Christina Mah 19
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