Petronila Michael
MA in Political Science (2011)
- What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?
I am in the volunteerism/Non profit sector. I have worked with Non profits for about seven years. I recently joined the Public Service. My work involves research, analysis, stakeholder engagement and reporting.
- What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?
My biggest challenge was cross-cultural differences around how to apply for work in Canada versus my country of Origin. I also was not aware of the best practices with resume tailoring, networking, strategic volunteering and so forth. I spent nine months sending hundreds of resumes in vain. My breakthrough came when I learned how to customize my application and how to properly prepare for interviews.
- How did you arrive at your current position?
I applied as an external candidate. After working with non-profits for over seven years, I wanted to serve as a public servant. I studied very thoroughly about how to apply for government jobs. I asked people who work in the government to share some tips. I worked very hard on my applications and went through the interview process. The key thing for me was to prepare as much as I could for every step of the process. I finally got hired at Employment and Social Development Canada in September 2018.
- What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?
I would advise that they take their time to learn about the sector they want to join. Learn how to tailor your application to each job. Network as much as possible (use social media tools such as LinkedIn). Try to start by volunteering to build your resume. And never take it personally when you receive a rejection letter. Use it as a fuel to get you to the Yes you are keenly seeking.
Petronila Michael has been involved with Carleton’s Alumni Mentoring program. The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.