Katie Hewey is a Dalhousie alumna who graduated in June 2021 with a Bachelor of Management and a Certificate in Marketing. 
She currently works at Manulife where she uses the knowledge she gained from her internship to help her excel at her job. Katie cites that her internship with PepsiCo Canada helped her learn the true value of time management. “Being able to know which tasks to prioritize over others, keeping calm and remaining resilient through the challenges is key,” she says, adding that communication is another skill she consistently uses in her current job; from writing concise emails, to presenting in meetings, to speaking up when help is needed.
During her time in the program, Katie utilized job postings on myCareer to secure her 8-month internship as a sales representative with PepsiCo. She also made sure to take advantage of the employer information sessions and events offered by Management Career Services to begin to build her professional network. “Networking at these sessions led me to some great connections and contacts for the future.”
While completing her degree, Katie also decided to pursue an opportunity to work with Management Career Services as Assistant Career and Recruitment Specialist. “Not only did I get to help other students with creating resume and cover letters, but I also learned so much about what employers are looking for and what it takes to be a great candidate for any job,” she says. “I loved being able to help students understand the value in their work experiences and guide them through an experience that I had understood and gone through myself. Being able to share knowledge and see other students succeed because of it was really rewarding.” Katie says that this experience was useful for her own post-grad job search and credits the position with helping her land her job with Manulife.
When reflecting on her biggest challenge in securing a job, Katie says that confidence was her biggest struggle. “I had to learn not to hide behind emails – sometimes calling is more efficient and personal.” If you never put yourself out there, the people you want to notice you may never see you. “I had to push outside my comfort zone to become more confident.”
Katie’s advice for you:
- Use LinkedIn! Keep your profile up-to-date and list as many skills as you have.
- Request informational interviews with companies you are interested in.
- Contact everyone you can think of, the worst they can say is no.
- While on the job, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Although it might seem daunting, a manager would rather walk you through something than have you confused and unproductive.
Pronouns: She/Her
More from Katie:
Instagram: Katie.Hewey
