Professional Title:
Office & IT Coordinator
Can you share your career journey and how you arrived at your current position? Please include education, volunteering, work experience, etc.
I've always been a people person and love working with people. Straight out of high school I continued to post secondary. I went to Fanshawe for Child and Youth Work and then continued to Western for Childhood in Social Institutions and Thanatology (amazing program if anyone is wondering). While at Fanshawe, I did 3 separate placements. These placements included one at an elementary school with TVDSB, Cross Cultural Learners Center, and Vanier Children's Mental Wellness. Once I finished school, things took a turn as my Internship I was going to take was cancelled due to Covid. I then moved to a different city and tried to look for a job there. It was tough during Covid to find what I was looking for. I then came across (what was suppose to be a short term job) at an Engineering Consulting Firm as an Office & IT Coordinator and have now been doing this for almost 2 years and I love it. I never thought I would be in this career path, however life isn't about one straight path.
What motivated or inspired you to pursue this field?
The field that I am in now was brought up to me from a friend that works in the same company. But what motivated me to start working at my now job was all of the amazing things that I heard about the company, how great they treat staff, and how friendly people were.
Were there specific challenges or obstacles you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
I think sometimes it can be challenges to have so many tasks all happening at the same time. I am a firm believer of notes and sticky notes to make sure I can track down all of my tasks and due dates to help keep me organized. Sometimes it can be easy to get side tracked with other tasks that come my way.
What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my job is definitely being able to work with a diverse group of people from all sorts of job roles. People that I work with joke that I am the "glue that keeps the company together" and I could not agree more. I get to work with everyone in my role and I think that makes me feel that I am valued and that I play a key role within the company.
What advice do you have for someone starting in this field?
It's important to be organized and have good communication skills. It might also be good to enjoy working with people since that is what the role is all about!
Are there specific skills or qualities you believe are crucial for success in your profession?
As I mentioned above, being organized, knowing how to communicate efficiently with others. Another skill that you might benefit from is knowing how to multitask and being able to switch from one task to another.
How do you stay current in your field, or do you engage in ongoing professional development?
I'm always looking for more ways to grow and learn within my company. I've been with this company for almost 2 years and have already got 2 promotions. It's not just about the job title and how much money you take home, it's about growing your mind and your career and taking on new challenges!
Did you have any mentors or role models who influenced your career choice?
I cannot say that anyone was a role model for this career choice, however I do think of my Mom when I think of my job. She works in a law office and we use some of the same programs at work that make me think of her. She is a hard worker and I think that being in this type of career field takes a certain person.
If you could go back and give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don't rush into post secondary school if you do not know what you would like to do in the future. Don't think that just because you have a diploma/certificate that you are stuck doing that type of job. Take your time, learn, grow, really think about ALL of the jobs out there, not just the jobs that you learn about after taking those career testing questionnaires they make you take in high school.
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