The new generation: how F&S gears students and new grads for success
Getting a foot in the door for your first job can be challenging. The hurdles are many: not having enough (or any) professional experience, transitioning into a new field, or moving to a new country.
Facilities & Services provides diverse valuable work experiences that help students and new graduates start their careers, whether it’s through work-study, co-op, or the Operations and Real Estate Partnerships Professional Experience Program (OREP PEP).
Read about how F&S supported four students and recent alumni on their career journeys.
Electrical Engineer Assistant Muhammad Adeel (photo by Charlie Sun)
‘I feel supported by F&S in every way, honestly’
Muhammad Adeel completed his bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering in Pakistan before entering the University of Toronto’s Licensing International Engineers into the Profession (LIEP) program in June 2022.
He’s completing this certificate with the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering as well as working as an electrical engineer assistant at F&S.
Adeel discussed experiencing culture shock after observing all the differences between Pakistan and Canada, even in electrical engineering.
“I feel supported by F&S in every way, honestly,” said Adeel. “My supervisor, Keith Foster, has helped me a lot by guiding me through the learning process.”
“If you want to see what you’ve learned during university implemented in a practical sense, F&S is the right choice for you,” says Adeel. “The expanse of learning is truly limitless, and I really appreciate having such a supportive department back me while I explore getting into the field.”
‘I got my first work experience through F&S’
Yu Jing Tey received a Bachelor of Information from U of T this year and has four years of work-study experience at F&S. She began as a digital media assistant at the Sustainability Office and recently transitioned to a full-time product designer position at F&S.
“My UX/UI role during my last year of work-study was my first official work experience as a UX designer,” says Tey. “I really value this experience in the sense that I got to work on tangible problems in a real-world setting. Even though I started off without a lot of experience and confidence, my team was super supportive, which allowed me to develop my own approach as a designer.”
“My team gave me a lot of control and trusted me to execute big projects. I’m grateful for this trust because it allowed me to explore many ideas and develop my own process as a designer.”
‘I created a tangible impact in my community’
Antony Ndugi has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering from U of T and started working at F&S a year after graduating. He started as a data analyst in July of last year and has since progressed into a process analyst role in July of this year.
As a process analyst, he works with different groups to analyze current business processes, identify areas of improvement, develop new processes, and oversee their implementation.
“There are so many opportunities and a lot of room for advancement at F&S,” says Ndugi. “I’ve progressed into a different role within a year, which is testimony to this.”
When asked about the most rewarding aspect of working at F&S, Ndugi replies with “the focus on providing service to a community. I can feel that F&S is focused more on impact in the community rather than profit, and it’s very rewarding to see that positive impact in real-time.”
‘I have never seen any other department support students the way F&S does’
Mezba Mahtab has a software engineering degree from U of T and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management. Mahtab started off as a co-op student in his third year of undergraduate studies and was offered a full-time position in software development following his graduation in 2002. He worked with F&S for 10 years before moving to another role. In 2022, Mahtab returned to F&S as a senior software developer.
“I have never seen any other department support students the way F&S does,” says Mahtab. “My team was always super supportive and worked around my busy schedule when I was getting my MBA.
“F&S is exceptional at furthering the development of students by giving them room to grow.”
“I especially feel lucky to have developed such a deep connection with the initial team I worked with,” says Mahtab. “We remained close friends when I was away from F&S, and they even came to my wedding.”
As one of Canada’s Top Employers for 2022, U of T boasts outstanding workplaces as well as great room for career advancement. F&S has a diverse array of positions available: from communication to digital media, and engineering to web design, guaranteeing a way for students and new graduates to get involved.
Talk to us about potential work experience amongst a network of supportive and dedicated professionals!