Company: RBC
Position: account manager, trainee in business banking
Employed: one year
Where did you go to school? What program did you attend?
I attended the University of Guelph. I did my undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in agriculture. Originally my major was animal science but I ended up switching over to agriculture economics in business. It was a science degree with a business focus. After graduating, I decided to do an MBA. The University of Guelph had a good MBA program and since I already knew I liked the school and the professors, I decided to do my MBA there.
What drew you to your current field?
The Royal Bank has, as I see it, a really nice brand image and they have good opportunities in the area I enjoy working in. My passion was and is finance. I really enjoy finance and operations and the Royal Bank has both of those opportunities tied to it, so I figured it was a nice place to start. Finally, I know they usually have opportunity for horizontal movement within the bank.
What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job?
Be proactive and make sure you get in front of people. Face-to-face contact is important and while you don't want to be pushy, you do want to make sure that you get noticed. Be able to effectively market the skills you bring to the table. Also, following up is very important. Don't just be comfortable with somebody saying, 'Thanks, we'll look into it.' Follow up. Being persuasive and vigilant in your job search with your various opportunities is important. A job search is a competition, whether it's between you and other students or other potential employees. You have to do whatever you can to get your face in front of them and to provide not just the skill set they're looking for, but also the right drive. Lastly, do your research. When you're researching the company, find out whatever you can about the interviewer or your potential unit so you can understand what their corporate culture is like. Being able to integrate well with the corporate culture is a very dominant factor in your daily life. jp
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