ODay 2014 by Atrium Media Group

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The “Welcome” Issue /DEAN’S Message/ I am delighted to welcome you to the School of Business & Economics (SBE) at Laurier! I have just completed my second year as Dean of the School and I continue to be impressed by what I see and the students and alumni that I meet. Over the last year, I have also had an opportunity to talk to many of the companies that recruit at the School and to see our programs and graduates through their eyes. All of them have told me how pleased they are with the quality of the education provided by SBE and with the knowledge and skills of our graduates. Over and above the academic skills, they tell me that they prize the positive attitude and collaborative spirit of the SBE graduates that they hire. You are now part of one of Canada’s best business and economics programs. During your time here the School will provide you with numerous opportunities for both personal and professional development. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities available to complement your in-class education. Get involved in student clubs, competitions, community organizations, etc. Find ways of pursuing your interests and passions and developing new ones. Use your undergraduate experience to expand your horizons. You will be among the next generation of business and community leaders. Take this incredible opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills that will help you to excel in these roles. This is an exciting time for you to be a student at Laurier. You will be here when substantial new investments will be made in your educational experience. These include our new building which will be completed in spring 2015, as well as new study-abroad and co-op opportunities. There is much to learn, much to discuss and much to do. Our goal at Laurier is to inspire lives of leadership and purpose. Make our goal your goal! Good luck to all of you on this great adventure! Micheál J. Kelly, PhD

/SBE PRESIDENT’S Message/ To returning students: Welcome back! To new students: welcome and congratulations on choosing Laurier SBE, Canada's BEST business school. My name is Evan Little and it is my honour to serve as your School of Business & Economics Students' Society (SBESS) President for the 2014-2015 academic year. SBESS is an organization that is dedicated to enriching your university experience through its 20+ SBE clubs & associations and through its wide range of events that take place throughout the academic year. Your four years at Laurier will go by extremely quickly, which is why it is absolutely essential to soak in as much of the experience as possible while you have the chance. The Atrium Magazine serves as an indispensable resource to keep you in the loop with what's going on in the SBE and includes many key tips for getting the most out of your time here at Laurier. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of all the magazine and Laurier have to offer this coming year. I wish all of you the best of luck and a great term! Evan Little

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/PRESIDENT’S Letter/ Your journey starts here. Then it twists, turns, and even goes backwards; that’s just how it works. But remember, first year will be one of the most memorable years in your life and every year after that will be even better. Right now you may or may not have a final destination in your mind, and as frightening as it may sound it may or may not be where you'll end up. The reason for that is fairly simple; you only know a fraction of what is possible. That is why you learn, learn more and never stop learning; that is how you discover your true potential. As we said, it sounds frightening… we’ve been in your shoes and we implore you to do one thing this year: do something new. Read your textbooks, go to class, and take advantage of the abundance of opportunities surrounding you. We have a campus full of organizations that share the same passions as you. Go out there and discover them! As our dear friend Drake once said, “when’s the last time you did something for the first time?” The destination may be ambiguous, so try and focus on the journey. Andriana Vinnitchok & Mawadda Basir Co-Presidents

/EDITOR’S Desk/ Marking the end of a journey and the beginning of another, the first year at Wilfrid Laurier University leaves a lasting impression on students for years to come. Undoubtedly confusing at first, this new and vibrant environment brims with an ever-expansive repertoire of challenges and opportunities. Finding our place and our calling in the SBESS community is a daunting task, but as architects of our own future, only we can determine and build our foundations. In this issue, we celebrate these opportunities and challenges as we attempt to shed light on all that Laurier has to offer. We wanted to outline the amazing accomplishments of our very own Laurier students (some of whom were still in first year at the time). More importantly, we wanted to paint a picture of your potential, a glimpse of what you could accomplish here at Laurier. You’ll hear from highly successful and quickly growing student associations, established Laurier alumni, and Golden Hawks who have made some noise in the SBESS community. With these resources, we hope you find your place and add on to Laurier’s legacy of achievement and excellence. Daniel Chen Editor-In-Chief

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INSIDE LAURIER

sPOTLIGHT: SBESS CLubs

By Eric Luong

â&#x20AC;&#x153;DECA strives to be the leading, innovative extra-curricular program for secondary school students in Ontario by creating professional partnerships and experiential learning opportunities that allow students to develop confidence and demonstrate leadership in the business community.â&#x20AC;? 6/Atrium Magazine Oday 2014

Students engage in developing case analysis and presentation skills, attaining the ability to “think on their feet.” DECA takes technical knowledge from lectures and allows students to apply them to handson situations, while also being able to get a glimpse of multiple industries to develop their career direction. This past year DECA Laurier won SBESS 2014 Club of the Year and DECA University Chapter of the Year. Every year DECA Laurier hosts a mandatory inhouse case competition where members undergo a crash course on succeeding in cases. It is a full-day event involving local speakers, networking and case competitions against other members. Executives and peers judge and provide feedback on presentations, with the focus geared towards preparing members for the Provincial competition in January. This is the flagship event of DECA where university chapters across Ontario gather for a weekend at the Sheraton Center Toronto Hotel. For the last three years the DECA Laurier has had most or tied most for medals, prevailing to be the strongest chapter in the most recent years. Last year was also the first sustainability case competition, a collaborative effort alongside Enactus Laurier, which will be hosted again this year. Co-Presidents, Alvin Poon and Carmen Fong, are working on a new event this year called the “Achieving Excellence Conference”. Scheduled in October, the conference will invite JDCC, DECA University, and the School of Business and Economics Alumni specialising in case competitions to act as mentors to approximately 80 delegates as they work through

various cases. “We are hoping to give delegates a different look at cases, allowing them to figure out what they like and don’t like under our strong mentorship.” Those interested in taking on a more prominent role can apply to be a First-Year Representative, with applications opening early in the semester. As part of the official executive team, they will be present in all meetings and will contribute to DECA Laurier’s development. “DECA Laurier is something you have to join to get the full university life. We like to focus on the journey instead of the destination; developing our delegates and providing unique personal experiences through our new mentorship program,” says Alvin Poon. For more on information sessions and involvement, visit and like DECA Laurier’s on Facebook, follow DECA on Twitter @DECALaurier or visit http://www. decaatlaurier.com/. //// By Katie Pufall

“Startup Laurier strives to empower students to explore and pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.” Startup Laurier, formerly known as LITC (Laurier Innovation and Technology Club), is an entrepreneurship club on campus that links students with the startup community in Waterloo. “Whether it be starting your own business, working for a startup, or wanting to learn more about entrepreneurship, we give students the tools and resources they need to find out if entrepreneurship is something they want to pursue,” says Paiam Roustaian, President of Startup Laurier. The club offers many events both on and off campus including workshops, speaker series, and competitions. Their large-scale off-campus event is the Entrepreneur Exchange held at the Communitech Hub in Kitchener, where current startups and business leaders come together to share ideas and make valuable connections within the startup community.

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Startup Laurier also hosts the Laurier Entrepreneurship Competition. The year-long venture helps students polish their startup ideas through progressive planning phases. Teams are evaluated by a panel of executive judges to determine who continues, with the winner last year being awarded $8,000 and a total of $10,000 in prizes.

“These events put you in the mindset of critically analyzing your own business, and also provide great life lessons. You meet like-minded individuals and business professionals, and these connections can even provide employment opportunities for the future,” advises Paiam. Last year, three regular attendees of their events were hired for internship positions at startups they met at Startup Laurier events. Startup Laurier is open to all Laurier students. The Advanced Membership is $20 and includes 10% off food purchases at FRITES, a Startup Laurier t-shirt, and Startup Laurier gear. Members also have access to all club resources and connections with other startup companies in Waterloo. Startup Laurier is also hiring students for executive club positions in marketing and human resources, communication, and more. For students looking for a way to get involved, Paiam offers this advice: “Leverage your passions. If you’re interested in a certain field or industry, try to make it work for you because getting involved is so much more enriching when it’s with something that you are passionate about. Pursue your passions and leverage that in other areas of your life.” For more information visit the Startup Laurier website and follow them on Facebook. ////

By Daniel Chen

“Our mission focuses on promoting equal opportunity and continuous learning. WILL strives to provide leadership skills, resources, information and support needed to succeed in today’s professional environment. By embracing knowledge from experienced speakers, the Waterloo community and our peers, we encourage growth without any boundaries.” WILL has workshops geared towards developing soft skills for the professional workplace. In past years, workshops have focused on proper interview techniques and negotiating skills to leverage salaries. The club provides awareness on discriminatory issues faced by women in the workforce and provide solutions to overcoming them. For incoming students there are numerous networking opportunities and executive positions open. Marda Wysocka, President, advocates WILL as “a community within Wilfrid Laurier University like no other. This is a network of like-minded, goal-oriented and driven individuals who support you, becoming family and friends.” The club has seen significant growth in social media presence, having nearly doubled Facebook presence from last year. Last February, the club successfully launched their first annual conference last year, “The WILL to Succeed”, during which the CEO and Founder of Sleep Country Canada, Mayor of the City of Waterloo and individuals from Deloitte, TEKsystems, CIBC Mellon and Marsh Canada visited.

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The full day conference focuses on social issues in the workforce, as well as industry insight, with an opportunity to network with the speakers afterwards. This year, the conference is set to be held in January. WILL has three speakers every year, providing members a chance to network with successful female executives, at each event, in a professional environment. Last year, WILL hosted the CFO of TD Bank and executives from Unilever and Citigroup. This year, the speakers series will take place in September, October, and in the winter term. WILL is looking to fill executive roles in various areas this semester: marketing, human resources, finance, external relations, and events. There are also plans for a new WILL networking event in November, allowing members to speak one-on-one with professionals in a “speed dating” scenario. ‘It’s a smaller and intimate networking event, different from the traditional large and intimidating environment. We want to encourage personal interactions, without waiting in line to speak with representatives,” says Marda. To find out more about positions and dates for information sessions, visit and like WILL on Facebook, follow WILL on Twitter @WILLaurier, and visit their website at www.willaurier.org. ////

The Laurier Economics Club (LEC) aims to bring awareness in the importance of economics in daily business. John Pehar and Brittany Chan, Co-Presidents, are revamping the club under their leadership with new ideas and executive members. As all first year and second year students are required to take economics, LEC will be holding quiz bowls for EC120 and EC140; promoting friendly competition as well as prizes and giveaways. They will also be hosting upper year economics workshops as well, having tutors provide additional guidance, tips and advice on how to approach these academic courses. For the upcoming year, LEC will be hosting regular monthly speakers which will provide members with insight and networking to individuals in the economics field. Look forward for John LeBoutillier, President of Unilever Canada, coming in to talk about his experiences in consumer goods. On Saturday February 7th, 2015, the club have its first ever Economics Conference, involving speakers and trending topics within economics. It will be a one day event with attendance available to Laurier and Waterloo students, as well as anyone else interested. ‘There is so much value in knowing economics. It helps to understand how certain global events can impact the world. You don’t need to be an economist to appreciate and understand the economy” mentions John. LEC looks to provide both the academic support and real life application of the concepts the courses at Laurier teach. Look forward to this upcoming year as the Laurier Economics Club expands its horizons and takes on larger opportunities to provide value for SBESS students!

By Daniel Chen

“To build a network of students passionate about economics as well as create awareness about the importance, relevance and necessity of economic knowledge.” 9/Atrium Magazine Oday 2014

For anyone interested in the information sessions, or in applying as marketing representatives or members of executive team, visit and like Laurier Economics Club on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @ LaurierEconClub. ////

WELCOME TO YOUR CAREER CENTRE

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very year Laurier’s Career Development Centre conducts a graduate survey which compiles employment and continuing education statistics of all graduating students across every faculty, into a published online report.

In 2012, 83.8% of BBA respondents found employment post-graduation with an average starting salary of $48,561, 12.9% chose to pursue further education and 2.6% were actively searching for employment. Last year, 83.3% of BBA respondents had employment with an average salary of $50,161, 11.9% pursued further education and 3.7% were looking for employment. We sat down with Jan Basso, Director of Co-op Education and Career Development, and Lisa Favero, Manager of Employer Relations and Recruitment, to discuss the resources available for students. The Career Centre offers approximately 600 workshops and events annually including Resumé Writing, Cover Letter Writing, and individual appointments with career consultants. These services support the development of your skills and abilities necessary to achieve your career goals. Career consulting can be a worthwhile experience in helping you better define your interests, and how they translate into a career. In addition to the services offered by the Career Centre, Jan Basso mentions the benefit of, “strategic volunteering.” She continues to elaborate by asking students to, “think of potential careers you are interested in and take advantage of volunteer experiences to develop skills and clarify career decisions.” The Career Centre co-sponsors two large fairs each year at RIM Park in Waterloo with the University of Waterloo, University of Guelph and Conestoga College. The Career Fair on September 24th, 2014 is focused on promoting full-time career opportunities. The Job Fair on February 4th, 2015 is focused on all types of employment opportunities including fulltime, contract, summer, part-time and co-op. Each fair attracts over 2,500 attendees and 175 employers such as Sun Life Financial, Imperial Oil and Toyota Canada. They are the largest fairs of their kind in the country. Workshops are available at the Career Center specifically to prepare for the Career and Job Fair which focus on how to present yourself and how to network effectively. Students also need to be aware of the importance in being able to recognize and articulate the transferable skills they possess. Transferable skills are developed both in and outside the classroom,

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/FEATURE/ By Daniel Chen through extra-curricular activities. “Many employers look for students who are not only successful academically, but in extra-curricular activities where they have further developed their leadership potential,’ says Lisa. She also observes that employers often value soft skills as much as technical skills. The ability to deal with people effectively and communication efficiently, are key. “The group work you did or will do in school? These are pivotal in developing your ability to work in a team, collaborate, and present which carry forward into your professional life,” explains Jan. Remember that all your experiences engage certain skills and are of value, but it is important to, “help employers make the connection between those experiences and the skills you have developed. For example, people often develop exceptional communication skills through work as a server or a customer service representative,” says Jan. Each year over 5,000 students book appointments in the Career Centre, and they are noticing a steady increase in the number of first year students coming in. It is important to get started early and have an idea of your plan over the next four years. Build the personal brand you want employers to see, treading carefully on what to publicise through social media. For students in their final year of study, the Graduating Student Employment Service assists students in securing employment after graduation. The program starts early in September and runs until June. Many employers, such as investment banking and accounting firms, are here early in September, therefore be aware and prepare accordingly. These employers conduct approximately 30-40 Employer Recruiting Sessions in September and October, which allow them to network in-person with prospective candidates. For students who are planning to continue their education, the Career Centre offers individual advising appointments and the Graduate / Professional Education Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2014. It gives students the opportunity to connect with over 70 institutions across North America. For additional information including the event calendar, visit the Career Development Centre or website at www.wlu.ca/career or like the Facebook page at Career Centre - Wilfrid Laurier University. ////

AMG Blackbook.

Opinion:

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE To FIRST YEARS ? Atrium Media Group set out on a mission to find the best advice from upper year students for incoming first year’s through our twitter feed. Here are some of our top responses.

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Home Profile Fi n d People Setti n gs Help Si g n out

ATRIUM MEDIA GROUP

Get involved. If you don't, you will regret it. @krishnaaggarwal Make use of prism resources, school activities, and manage your time wisely to keep/increase your gpa. @timothyli The task seems daunting, but it is 100% achievable. Try hard, study hard and find some time for fun. Before you realize, it will all be over! @gennarosantoro Keep an organizer and constantly update it to make sure you do not fall behind in school. @syedzaidi Prioritize, focus on what you think is important. Take advantage of on campus resources. @luluyin Complete the most important tasks first and leave enough time everyday to do the things you love. I like to play sports 13/Atrium Magazine Oday 2014 and hang out with friends. @alinoor

Name: Atrium Media Group Location: Wilfrid Laurier University Web: sbeatrium.com Bio: Atrium is the official magazine of #Laurier’s School of Business and Economics. Grab yourself a copy today! #WLU #SBE 165 247 434 Following Followers Tweets

Trends #IceBucketChallenge #atriummediagroup #morty’s #lauriersbe #waterloo #phil’s #TimHortons

Never compromise your health. Sleep, eat, and exercise. @adriannoronha Use this time to try new things and discover yourself. Don't let anything limit you or hold you back. "Somedayâ&#x20AC;? is not a day of the week. Do it now! @natashachapayil Take advantage of your professor's office hours. Profs are people too; they have sympathy for those who are struggling. Professors can really open up your eyes to new possibilities within your program that you never even thought of. @tinavanaarsen Don't Overcommit. Start with school and a couple extra-curriculars, and add more if you have the time for it. @zarajafari Make sure you go to class! Not all classes post notes online and even if they do, they're not enough to prepare you for the assignments/evaluations. @ammarkhan Make sure to use "ratemyprofessor.com" when selecting electives, because bird courses might not be so birdy, and hard courses might become a breeze. 14/Atrium Magazine Oday 2014 @andreeafatu

So you want to be a Marketer? /FEATURE/ By Hayden Moffat “Begin with the end in mind; have a plan,” says Shawn; a lesson he learnt from Stephan Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. When Shawn MacLeod, current general manager for Mars Canada Ltd., decided to come to Laurier, he had a plan. From the first day he would be focused in on business, participating in an engaging community and learning functional skills to begin his career on the right path. Throughout his career, Shawn has worked at wellknown companies, such as Second Cup and S.C. Johnson. His diverse experience within different functional areas of business has allowed him to excel in his current field of consumer packaged goods. When asked what inspired him to pursue a career in marketing, he recalled a speech given at Laurier from the former president of P&G, Tim Penner. “Tim talked about what it meant to be a marketer in consumer packaged goods; a general manager and president in consumer packaged goods; and how his education at Wilfrid Laurier enforced his dream. It’s because of him, I was inspired to live my dream,” shares Shawn. Wilfrid Laurier has many guest speakers who are invited to share with students their struggles and triumphs in the business world. This connection to the working world has inspired many people, including Shawn MacLeod, to find the field of work that makes them happy. But what makes Shawn MacLeod happy? There are four aspects of his life he endeavours to fulfill each day: family, career, personal development, and community impact. He points out that number three and four can sometimes be difficult.

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“I didn’t get involved early enough. I started working right after graduation and didn’t leave time to get cultured.” He now dedicates an abundance of time to community projects through organizations like United Way and Habitat for Humanity. In a routine day, Shawn MacLeod oversees the entire business. His ultimate hope is to achieve three goals: create value in the business, create value in people through engagement, and leave the world a better place than it would be if Mars Canada was non-existent. As a manager, he has to make sure that his employees’ all have a common objective and that they are clear of the expectations set against them. Shawn stresses the importance of creating a connection with people and valuing the work that they do each day. “People have to go to work every day with their head and their heart, if they don’t then you will lose in the marketplace.” In terms of marketplace trends within the consumer packaged goods industry, Shawn believes the outlook is positive; with a shift towards convenience, health, and the overall value of products, there are limitless opportunities to grow and innovate in the market. Innovation on the frontier of data mining techniques and data collection technology has exponentially expanded the amount of information available. To truly become successful in the consumer packaged goods industry, Shawn stresses the development of cross-functional skills. By working in highly uncomfortable positions in other functional areas, he was able to gather a diverse set of skills that allowed him to develop into the effective leader that he is. In his opinion, leadership and listening skills are critical for young individual to possess. “You cannot do it all by yourself. you need to be a leader and you need a good team.” Develop these skills from to beginning, with the amount of available time in university, to prepare for the real working world. The crucial advice Shawn shares just scratches the surface of what it means to be a successful marketer in the world of consumer packaged goods. The most important advice he has for incoming and current students is to “be curious, find your passion, and make sure it matches your hunger”. ////

Laurier Outside The Box Questions for:

Brandon Chow and Andrew Paradi Cofounders of Teknically 2nd Year BBA

q &a

What inspired both of you to start Teknically? Brandon and I were childhood friends but we ended up going to different high schools and lost touch. I ran into Brandon during O-Week and found out he had already started his own IT hosting company and it had recently been acquired! I had done freelance video production and web design throughout high school so it was great to catch up. After seeing how well we worked together at StartUp Weekend at Communitech later in September, Brandon came to me with an idea he was working on. This idea became Webplio and we co-founded Teknically to build it. Can you tell me a bit more about Webplio, what problem does it help people solve? In our previous businesses, we had worked with many small business owners and so many of them were lost when it came to managing an effective website. Website analytics was confusing; they didn’t know the terminology, how to interpret the numbers, or how it affected their bottom line. With Webplio, we can take all of an owner’s website data, process and algorithmically analyze it to show them powerful insights and recommendations. Instead of going through hours of confusing analysis, owners can login and in 5 minutes understand their website performance.

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How has the Laurier LaunchPad helped you in all of this? Laurier Launchpad offers both programs and classes for entrepreneurs. You get paired with your own mentor and have access to the management team. They take a step back and examine your business as a whole, bringing their own perspectives from industry experience. You also are working at Communitech which is the coolest place to work in Waterloo. It’s a great contrast between the awesome old architecture and the amazing innovation happening there every day. All of it starts to rub off on you. What would you say are the most useful traits to have as an entrepreneur? You definitely have to be hardworking. You need to understand the end result is what you put in. If you really want to succeed, you have to give it 110%. You also have to be willing to recognize when you might no t be the best person to finish this task. Know and play to your strengths and leverage other people’s strengths. We all are different and we all have something to bring to the table. Tell us about the pros and cons of being a student entrepreneur. I’d say being able to apply some of the things you learn in class and actually see if it works in the real world. This isn't New Venture, this isn't introduction to business; this is actually a real business that you're building. If you fail it’s not lost marks, you’re playing in the big leagues so the stakes are higher. It can be really demanding - there are some really long weeks but at the end of the day you still make time for what’s important. It’s been a really exciting ride so far!" Do you have any advice for students coming into university or thinking about starting their own business? Entrepreneurship isn't for everybody, and that's fine. Don't be afraid to think that maybe your calling is in accounting or in construction management or retail. Not everybody has to be the CEO, you just have to find where you fit and how you can bring value to other people. ////

Questions for: Nathan Shantz

Part-Time, Multilingual Adventurist 4th Year BBA Graduate What are your plans upon graduation? I am going to travel to South America for four months. It’s been on my mind for a while, and I’ve already bought my one-way ticket. Why did you decide on a ‘one-way’ trip? For me, I looked at the typical path most students take on after school. Typically it’s straight to the workforce, start with a base salary and work your way up. What’s flawed is by working right after university, you cannot get back to life; travelling or vacationing or figuring out yourself. I wanted this experience before work. But you do get two weeks of vacation if you were working too. Yes, however to fully experience the world two weeks is not close to enough. I declined my full-time job offer because I think we have a very rare opportunity. There are no obligations, no job or no family to worry about when you graduate whereas once work starts, responsibilities and stress start to pile up. I want to take a chance of this time to go and see different places in the world, learn languages, absorb the culture and explore the great beauty of the places in the world. Two weeks is nothing.

q &a

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Are you scared of what might happen if you decide to stay in South America? Not really, my goal right now is to get a job in South America, preferably Mexico City or in Brazil at a finance position. It’s my dream but if I were to receive a call tomorrow offering me the job I’m looking for, then I’d likely say yes. It’s hard to think about what it is I’m giving up and everything I’ll be leaving behind but I would still do it. When did you decide on committing to this? What is it that influenced you to travelling for four months? It was an ongoing decision making process for me. Really, I can speak to my Costa Rica travel experience and how that was able to shape my decision (which I didn’t realize until after). My roommate and I decided to travel right after our first co-op work term at UBS Securities, with no plan whatsoever. We met a person on the bus who ended up working for Amazon at the call center and we stayed over at his place where I learnt to speak Spanish. I had asked him how to say a Spanish word in my dictionary of phrases, and it led to us spending our entire trip with his family. I saw how families there are making a fraction of what we make in Canada, living happy with a house on the beachside and filled bellies. When I came back to Canada, I started thinking that ‘wow...there’s more to life than this.’ After that I went to South America and applied to Laurier International for an exchange in Spain. Those experiences helped me make my decision right now, and open up my eyes. Is there any advice you have for incoming students? If I could redo my university experience, I’d take advantage of the time I had because there’s only a limited amount of time after you graduate. Seek your passion and explore new things. Take breaks between exam periods and do something with that time whether it be social impact projects or travelling. The image Canadians have with the rest of the world, with respect to safety and poverty can be blown out of proportion. Experience the world yourself. ////

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So You Want To Apply To The Co-op Program? /FEATURE/ By Daniel Chen Wilfrid Laurier was the first post-secondary institution to offer a business co-op program in Ontario, beginning with 23 students on a work term in 1976. Today it has the largest business degree co-op program in Canada with approximately 1,400 work terms annually. In 2013, there were 719 business and economics students who applied for admission to coop and 381 were selected. The employment rate was 100% for the fall 2013 work term, 96.5% for winter 2014 and 96% for spring 2014. Karen McCargar, the Associate Director of Co-operative Education, manages the department for co-op programs in arts, science, business and economics, including double degree and graduate programs. We sat down with her to clarify the process to apply for co-op and what business and economics students can leverage to improve their application. Students have to meet the minimum overall GPA requirement in their first year (including elective courses) in order to be eligible for an admission interview. Applicants are selected on the basis of four criteria: previous work experience, extracurricular activities, grades and performance during the interview. “Highlight your experience in the interview. You need to talk about it as we do not assess your resume during the discussion”, advises Karen. From her experience, she has found that some students have the mindset to concentrate solely on their academic achievement. To be considered for co-op, students need to demonstrate continued involvement including paid work experience and extracurricular activities. Build and develop leadership roles and continue to work during the summer after first year.

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“However, I don’t think co-op is for everyone. There are many great opportunities available at Laurier. Students can ensure their success by working with the Career Centre, developing a good plan and building their resume,” advocates Karen. Students admitted to co-op participate in a variety of workshops and sessions tailored for them. Completing a taped mock interview with a senior student gives them the opportunity to receive feedback on their performance. An intimidating experience, but as Karen notes, many have never had their interview skills assessed. “Students are able to see how they come across and receive immediate feedback on what they need to improve.” The Co-op Department has implemented a new work/ study sequence in response to increasing competition and a tough job market in the summer, which allows some business students to delay their first work term until the fall (after they complete the first half of third year during May to August). The new sequence also provides an opportunity for Certified Professional Accounting (CPA) firms to hire students for an eight-month term from September to April, enabling students to train and build their skills before the busy winter season. Volunteer opportunities are available through the mentorship program where senior students share their personal experiences and insight with new students. There are also opportunities to participate on the co-op student advisory committee and to represent the co-op department during Laurier days, talking to high school students about what the school has to offer. ////

F A Q By Alexandra Cui

A question to all upper year students: how did you apply to jobs on-campus? I can't seem to find much information on the different sites. Any info would be much appreciated! Applications are online at these sites!

Student Union website: http://social.wlusu.com/jobs Career Centre/ Navigator: http://navigator.wlu.ca International Student Work Experience Program (ISWEP): http://navigator.wlu.ca/career/employers/jobs/on-campus/international.htm

Of course, the good ol’ resume in hand and a smile works too! Laurier Work Study Program: http://www.wlu.ca/ page.php?grp_id=2548&p=22122 *This is an opportunity for students who qualify as having financial need. A non-exhaustive list of on-campus jobs: Terrace, Dining Hall, Second Cup in the library, Tim Hortons, International News Stand, Wilfs, Student’s Union, Athletic Complex, Laurier Bookstore, Proctoring, U-desk, library.

“Does anyone have notes for __________?”

Oneclass.com, among various similar websites, is a great resource to get notes for classes you’ve missed.

“For the first week of classes, you don’t need to go to your labs/tutorials, right?” It will vary with the class so it’s a good idea to check with your professor beforehand.

“Can you buy the aplia code [code for an online supplementary resource] separately from the textbook? I can't find just the aplia code on the bookstore website Access codes can be purchased from the bookstore at the cash register. However, unless you can find a used copy of the textbook for a very low price, it is almost always a better deal to purchase the package which includes the textbook and the access code.

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“Once you order your books online from the Laurier bookstore, when and how do you get them?” There is a pickup window beside the bookstore where you can retrieve your books.

“What is an iclicker? Can you use the same one for more than one class?”

It’s a device that allows you to participate in lectures by imputing answers to questions your professor provides. It only needs to be purchased once and it can be used for all of your classes.

“ I applied to OSAP but it hasn't finished yet, do I just pay my tuition and then OSAP will reimburse me?” If your OSAP covers your entire tuition and you opted to send your funding directly to the school, you can wait for it to complete processing; any late payment charges will be reimbursed to you. However, if your OSAP funding does not cover your tuition in full, you must pay the difference before the deadline in order to avoid interest charges. Another option is to pay your tuition before the deadline and your OSAP will be deposited into your bank account when it comes through.

“How do I opt out of the health/dental care?”

Check out https://www.studentvip.ca/wlusu/ select opt-out in the side bar. ////

23/Atrium Magazine Oday 2014

24/Atrium Magazine Oday 2014