One of the biggest advantages of Centennial College is how it helps you navigate the job hunt process through programs that get you involved with employers. And there’s no better way to get involved than through a Centennial College program with a Co-Op component, which gives you real-life work experience while you’re still a student, and the opportunity to test-drive a career. One such co-op student is Maliha Patel from our Business Administration - Finance program, who got to learn about the tools and aptitude it takes to start a business career with her placement as a Tax Associate with accounting firm KPMG. Here’s what led to Maliha’s success in choosing a career path:
Coming to The Business School:
“I first decided I wanted to go into finance when I took many business-related courses in high school that I really enjoyed,” Maliha says, “and felt I could make a career out of it. It really opened my eyes to a whole other field that I never thought I’d pursue.”
“I chose Centennial College because of the wide variety of programs that are offered, and because of recommendations from friends and family,” she adds. “I chose this specific program because I wanted to do something in the business sector, however I was not set on exactly what path I wanted to take. In this program I get to learn about the various elements of finance like retirement, accounting and taxes.”
The program’s practical experience:
A Centennial education is about teaching you the practical skills you need to get hired. The idea is to give you a dry run of your future career in a safe environment where you can make mistakes and learn from them.
“Outside of co-op, my favourite thing about the program has been learning about the different life stages from a financial perspective,” Mahila points out, “how each stage is planned for, and what can be done to better prepare for future financial matters.”
Make no mistake, her absolute favourite thing has been the co-op component: “I am able to get a glimpse of what a career in tax would look like, which I really enjoy,” she says.
Finding her Co-Op Placement:
When picking a co-op position, you still need to apply as if it were a job. We can help you to set it up, and our Career Services and Co-Operative Education department can help you with steps like making a professional resume, submitting applications and interviewing effectively.
“Career Services and Co-Operative Education has really helped me in finding my co-op job,” Maliha says. “I was also able to use the various tools on Experience Centennial, like the interview and resume tools. Additionally, my Co-op Advisor helped me in perfecting my resume and preparing for interviews.”
“Experience Centennial has really been the key to my job search success, as there were constantly new job postings that I was able to apply to,” she continues. “Additionally, the resources and staff members helped me in creating the best resume and cover letter, which helped me get my current job. “
On the job at Co-Op
During the co-op portion of a Centennial College program, you’re practicing your job in the type of place you'll eventually be working.
“A typical day at KPMG would start at around 8 am with me checking my emails for any new tax returns assigned to me,” Maliha says about her time on-the-job. “Then I would continue working on returns that I may have from the previous day, and start new ones. I would sometimes have a meeting with my performance manager about my workload, and if I had enough work assigned to me. We also have occasional coffee breaks to get to know the other team members in our work pods.”
What’s next for her
“After graduating from my program, I am hoping to get a full-time position at an accounting firm, preferably with KPMG as a tax preparer,” Maliha says. “I enjoy preparing returns. Although they can be challenging, I learn a lot from each one, and get better with the more returns that I do.”
“To students looking for work, I’d say take advantage of all the services Centennial offers related to job searching,” she concludes, “and reach out to Career Services and Co-Operative Education if you have any concerns or need help.”
Taking a Co-Op program at Centennial College helps you build a portfolio of skills and experience before graduating, and make informed decisions about the career through field placement experiences. To learn more about the co-op programs available at Centennial College, you can visit the link above, or email coopapplication@centennialcollege.ca.