Research is important because the more we know, the more we understand what we should be doing. And it’s particularly important to research the career you want, and the college you want to go to in order to get there. But at the same time, it’s possible to pick something that turns out not to fit you. If that happens, there’s nothing wrong with changing tracks to find a career and education that truly suit you. Aviral Parashar went through a few career changes after realizing electronics engineering wasn’t his thing. The funny thing is that research itself would become his career, as he found his niche in Marketing Research at The Business School. His decision not only connected him to the career he wanted, but also led him to a position at the College itself, where he helps provide the data we need to make informed decisions about where we go. Here’s how he got there.
Changing Careers
"I was an electrical and electronics engineer before I started working in the market research industry," Aviral says. "Quickly, I realized engineering wasn't my thing, so I did my master's in marketing communications from India."
"It was a master's in marketing communications," he adds about the program, "which is mostly about how ads and marketing campaigns work." But even that wasn’t really where he wanted to go, and he’d still need further education to get there.
"That's when I realized that market research was something which helps brands create marketing campaigns, advertisements, new products, and stuff like that," he continues. "So, I joined a market research company. I worked there five years before eventually coming to Canada to study Marketing, Research and Analytics, because I just wanted to get that specialization in the field. That’s how I landed in Canada and joined the course."
Going where the jobs are
Moving all the way to another country to finish his education may seem like an odd decision, but for Aviral, it made perfect sense.
"Since I was working in India with North American clients," he explains, "I thought, why not go to North America and work with them directly? I also realized that studying there would make it easier to understand the Canadian job market and the Canadian market research industry." And as for why he picked Centennial College’s program?
"I gave Centennial a preference because it was in the Greater Toronto Area," he says, "and I realized how important the location could be. Eventually, you have to get a job here, and you cannot get a job without networking with people in the hot spot that is the city." In addition, the co-op component sealed the deal.
"I look at co-op as the entry or a gateway to the Canadian job market," he says, "because I thought if I get into co-op, then I'll definitely get into the job market, and that's why I chose Centennial."
Experience is important
His Centennial College Business School program gave Aviral plenty of chances to earn real-life experience through practical projects, and eventually, a co-op placement.
"My very first exposure was a research capstone project where we had to tackle a real-life problem," Aviral says. "They asked us to pick a company which was facing a business problem, research it, and come up with a hypothetical plan that would help the business."
Practical experiences like this also taught him skills that he continues to use at his job today.
"The basics that I saw and learned there are easily implemented in my day-to-day work because those form the basic core principles of any kind of research," he says. "Really, nothing that was taught in the program went unused." And as for how he got that job? It all started with the co-op component that had brought him to Centennial in the first place.
From Co-op to Career
"For my co-op, I got into the Data, Analytics, and Research Office at Centennial," Aviral says. "In that office, I did what a research analyst would do." DARO plays an important part in the College’s operations.
"We do the research and analytics work for Centennial College," Aviral explains. "We work with multiple stakeholders within Centennial College and also coordinate with external research agencies that help us conduct research projects for the College."
"It was a great entryway into the Canadian job market," Aviral says about the co-op. "I realized that I'm studying at Centennial, and doing a co-op there would be the cherry on the cake, because these people know me and I know this place. I got to network with people who were working in the office during the co-op, but beyond just networking and gelling well with people, I think it was about applying what I studied at Centennial, along with my past experience." And after three and a half months of co-op, it turned out he had a job waiting for him. Here’s how he did it:
"During my co-op, there was one thing on my mind," he says. "If I work well, if I network well here, if I show my skills, and don’t just idle during my co-op, they'll realize how good my skills are, they'll see how good I am at work, and eventually I'll be able to land a job here. Fortunately, I was at the right place at the right time. When my co-op ended, I was initially accepted as a part-time research analyst. But three months down the line, when a position opened, I applied. The feedback that I got was that they liked how I could bring a new, fresh perspective into my reports. I was successfully able to showcase my skills to them, and they were happy to take me as a permanent employee after that."
Don’t be afraid to change tracks
If there’s one piece of advice Aviral has for other students, it’s to really consider whether they’ve picked the right career, and to not be afraid to change it up if they realize they don’t like the path they’re on.
"I see students who realize their career is probably not the thing for them," Aviral says. "So, the very first thing that I would suggest all students do is to sit and think through what is right for them. If you don't make the right move at the very beginning, you could go into a career where you’re not supposed to be. So, definitely knowing what you want to do, and what you don’t want to do, is very important."
"And once you are there," he continues, "you just network with people, go out, learn all the new skills. You just keep checking what's evolving in your particular industry; LinkedIn is a great source for that. Just connect with people, see what they're doing, and keep track of all the new tools that are coming in the market so that you can build upon those skills and stay qualified for jobs."
A last bit of advice? Centennial College takes care of its alumni, and you shouldn’t be afraid to look to the school itself for employment.
"I see many people who say that because I had past experience in my industry, in my field, that's why I got a job so easily at Centennial," he concludes. "But that's not the case. Centennial College, from what I've seen, is very happy to take alumni in whatever job openings they have, be it entry-level, admin, support, faculty or staff."