Liette Masse graduated from the Bachelor of Tourism Administration program in 2019. She got here again as a mature pupil as a result of she needed an undergraduate diploma on her resume to enrich her intensive work expertise. She now works as Supervisor of Donor and Alumni Relations at VIU.
This weblog collection shares the tales of VIU alumni to assist encourage the following era of learners. On this weblog, Liette shares extra about her profession path and why getting her undergraduate diploma was so essential in addition to some recommendation to assist present VIU college students get career-ready.
How key was schooling in profession development?
It was not key within the first 10 years of my profession, however later there have been a number of instances the place I knew I wasn’t progressing as a result of I did not have my undergraduate diploma. I am from Ontario and after I moved right here, the job market was extra aggressive. That is one thing I share after I converse to college students within the diploma program who’re considering whether or not or to not do the undergrad diploma. Do it now. You’re already within the zone! Coming again in your thirties to do a level is tough, however it’s doable. I labored full time and went to high school full time. It was laborious work. The opposite cause I ended up going again to high school wasn’t simply in order that I may advance into administration in my profession, I used to be additionally in search of a change.
Inform me about your profession development.
I began my profession within the non-profit trade, then I ended up in municipal parks and recreation. I made a decision that I needed to get into first-level administration, so I enrolled at VIU. I discovered a job on campus within the Athletics and Recreation division. I additionally did a few completely different contracts in varied departments on campus. Considered one of them was within the Alumni Relations workplace, within the position of Alumni Relations Coordinator. After ending my diploma, I utilized for the Supervisor of Donor and Alumni Relations place.
What elements of your background have been essentially the most useful?
I’ve achieved numerous neighborhood improvement work and it would not matter what I used to be doing for work, I used to be all the time concerned locally and dealing with completely different organizations to implement applications, and that is what landed me on this workplace. Partaking alumni and dealing with donors, I’m nonetheless doing that neighborhood improvement piece for VIU.
What incentives are there for staying in the identical job?
After I began at VIU, I did not wish to go away the establishment. I like being in a post-secondary setting. We even have good advantages and a very good pension. We have now the choice of dividing up our work week between working from house and from the workplace, which supplies us flexibility and helps with work-life stability.
What sorts of experiences would you encourage folks to have earlier than coming into this area?
A lot of expertise working with completely different stakeholders and neighborhood teams is essential previous to coming into this kind of position. Networking and being concerned are essential. Ideally, it could be nice to be paid contemplating the current inflation state of affairs, however I additionally assume it will be important for college kids to realize volunteer experiences. It is essential to have the designation, however having real-world expertise is essential.
For those who had been conducting a job search in the present day, how would you do it?
Having an up to date LinkedIn profile is extraordinarily essential. It is essential to keep up a web based presence and I extremely advocate that. Previously, networking and phrase of mouth helped me to seek out jobs.
Do you understand profession switching as a foul factor?
Profession switching simply means development. I’ve taken one thing from each single job I’ve had to assist me with my subsequent one. We’re a brand new workforce in our workplace. Some have come internally from different departments, and a few externally. The transferable expertise every candidate has introduced have been driving our workforce to its full potential. I might say it is a good combination.
What recommendation do you might have for college kids who wish to keep on and work for VIU as you probably did?
Keep linked, tackle any alternatives that come your means, be a part of committees, become involved. Do not simply come to VIU to go to class. Get entangled locally. That is what helped me acquire the positions I’ve been lucky to carry right here.