“Success in a career is largely attributed to the pool of information or ideas you have garnered over the past. [...] Even a simple interaction with one person can transform a year-long research work and result in a breakthrough. [...] Everybody has one way or the other passed through some hurdles in their career development. This can be as a result of the lack of materials available, or even the lack of financial aid. However, good networking with high-profile individuals from the same career path can serve as support whenever there is any eventuality at any time. These high-profile individuals can help you manage your challenges effectively by either giving you advice or linking you to the right financial support. Networking is the key tool to growth in a resourceful career. [...] The self-confidence that has been built over time can help put you on a positive spot whenever you interact with like minds in your career. This also gives you an opportunity to excel well during interview sessions for a job opportunity.” - Miller Cole, 2019

Networking for Tomorrow is a rapid-style networking event created to connect students to industry professionals from companies such as IBM, Deloitte, and L'Oréal. Taking place on November 21st, the Telfer Business Journal was granted exclusive coverage of the experience.  

The event was held at the Canadian Museum of Nature at 4 pm, spanning two floors. Attendees received a warm welcome from the events team and were provided a nametag with a lanyard to identify themselves. They could access complimentary beverages and snacks, with paid soft drinks and alcoholic options. The washrooms downstairs included accessible gender-neutral bathrooms, with an elevator leading to the second floor as an alternative for those unable to use the stairs. The tall tables and tight spaces between them would have made navigating the event difficult for those with mobility issues. The blue lighting and jazz provided a comfortable evening ambiance, with two of the recruiters dancing to the music at one point! Almost all the attendees were present by 5 pm, an hour after the start of the event. There were six student badges left on the table at the entrance, indicating about 145 people inside the venue, resulting in a 96% attendance rate. The ticket price, the opportunistic nature of the event, and the successful marketing campaign were likely contributors to this.

Networking for Tomorrow's claim to fame, and what sets it apart from other networking events, is the format. Before the event, attendees were given a list of fields that interested them and, based on these choices, were paired with recruiters. They were assigned groups of around four students each, from different years of study and majors. They had 10 minutes to speak at each table, where two recruiters would ask questions and answer students. In total, students would speak to 12 recruiters in one hour.

Before the start of the event, I had the chance to speak to Kaylee Press and Adam Douglas, who were representing the Ottawa Senators. Douglas, who holds a Master of Human Kinetics from uOttawa, commented that he “thought it would be a good opportunity to hopefully either reconnect or share my experiences with some of the interested students tonight,” expressing a feeling of wanting to give back to the school. In terms of connecting with the organizers of the event, Adam stated that he thought “everything was pretty straightforward in their communications. After [he] jumped in with Kaylee and communicated directly with the organization, [AETSA] was helpful… the information they sent my way was very helpful and informative and helped me know what to expect getting here and that’s why everything is super smooth.” He also confirmed that they would be interested in repeating the experience in the future as part of their recruitment efforts for their internship program and to stay well-connected with the Telfer community.

Furthermore, I had the chance to speak with Doug Spencer, the Career Centre Manager at the Telfer School of Management. He expressed enthusiasm for the event’s success and highlighted that there were many recruiters present. Spencer mentioned that this event’s setup removes the pressure of the competitive environment that can be seen in most networking events. By giving attendees a set amount of time to ask and answer questions, the manager found that the stress was reduced for both students and recruiters. He also pointed out that students can meet employees from companies they otherwise would not know about, and how important it was for first-year students especially to get networking experience right away.

Amaury BRUGEROLLE de FRAISSINETTE the current president of The Association étudiante Telfer Student Association, emphasized how proud he was of the event, having prepared for it since May. He hopes this event can be considered an upgrade from last year’s office tours, where students were invited inside company offices, allowing them to meet new people and maximize the number of opportunities they would be able to get. The president explained how mixing first-years with older students in groups helps new students feel less pressured to speak with company representatives, as entering a networking environment among older individuals can be an intimidating experience.

At the end of the event, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Accenture consulting representatives. As a 4th-year HR student, I had some students asking me if it was beneficial to bring resumes to a networking event. I decided to pass this question on to the Accenture recruiters, who mentioned that although resumes and business cards are informative and can show some initiative, they generally prefer if students reach out over LinkedIn. To paraphrase one representative, even when he looks at a resume, he tends to only remember the person’s name. However, when someone is connected in person or online, he mentioned that he remembers the face and the questions asked, suggesting that attending networking events is an opportunity to connect with potential applicants directly. One recounts how he was not aware of networking events during his undergrad in engineering and would have loved to experience Networking for Tomorrow as a student.

Networking for Tomorrow successfully created a welcoming and innovative environment for students and recruiters to connect meaningfully, breaking down traditional barriers often seen in networking events. The event's success will allow for further innovations for students looking to develop their careers.