Featured Student: Maddy Dunsmore

"Don’t waste a second of your time in any of your placements.

Your role is whatever you make it and there is so much value to be found in any role if you take the initiative to find it.

Ask for opportunities to learn about different departments or roles and go out of your way to develop relationships with your co-workers and build your network."

What is your field of study?

 I am a Microbiology/Immunology student.

Why did you choose to enroll in co-op? 

I chose to enroll in co-op because I wanted to give myself the opportunity to test out potential career paths and figure out what kind of work most fulfills me.

I’ve always been successful academically and I love what I’m learning in the classroom, but I was having trouble figuring out how to translate that into a career where I could be successful and that was equally as fulfilling.

Which positions did you work during co-op?

So far, I’ve completed one full work term and I’m halfway through my second work term of an 8-month placement in Sales Operations at STEMCELL Technologies. This is my first placement since joining the co-op program and it’s been nothing short of fantastic!

Can you share your favourite experience while in co-op?

This past December I attended STEMCELL’s annual holiday luncheon at the Convention Center with around 1300 other STEMCELLers! I had the opportunity to meet people in person with whom I had been working with virtually for months and it doubled as a ton of fun and an amazing networking opportunity. In that moment I truly felt like a professional and I could see a path for myself after graduation and that feeling has stuck with me ever since!

What was your best achievement in co-op?

One of the most satisfying parts of starting a new role is the point at which you master your job. At STEMCELL, I took ownership of one of my core responsibilities after just a two-week training period and very quickly became comfortable and efficient at it which was a very fulfilling moment for me. I vividly remember my managers telling me that one of the things they most liked about me was that to them I felt like a “fully-baked adult” who they completely trusted to get the job done and didn’t feel the need to constantly supervise. I remember being very proud of myself and it gave me a lot of confidence in my role going forward.

What did you feel most challenged by and how did you overcome it?

My role at STEMCELL involves a lot of communication with senior stakeholders, primarily with senior managers, but also with directors and occasionally VPs – which at first was very intimidating.

Learning how to communicate with people in senior roles in meetings and via email was a skill I had to master very early on, but I did so with practice and guidance from my managers.

I made a point to seek out feedback from my managers anytime I sent an important email or ran a meeting and implemented feedback I received the next time. In doing so, I quickly became more comfortable and more skilled at this until it became second nature.

How do you feel co-op helped your personal growth?

Personally, I am a much more confident person all around than I was before joining the co-op program. I’m more confident not just in my skills and knowledge, but in my ability to be a successful working professional who has value to offer the world.

I’m no longer intimidated by the idea of graduating and not being a student, but rather excited to hit the ground running and forge my own path.

How do you feel co-op has helped your career?

The work experience I’ve gained and the skills I’ve cultivated during my time in the co-op program have been immensely valuable and will make me a very competitive candidate in my industry after I graduate.

Perhaps, even more importantly, is the professional network I’ve developed after just five months. Since day one, I have been very intentional in taking every opportunity I could find to connect with my coworkers and senior management and build relationships that will support my career development, even once I’ve left the co-op program. From these connections, I have found amazing mentorship opportunities, had sneak peeks into different roles across different departments, and developed friendships that I never would have gotten without the co-op program.

What advice would you offer future co-op students?

Don’t waste a second of your time in any of your placements.

Your role is whatever you make it and there is so much value to be found in any role if you take the initiative to find it. Ask for opportunities to learn about different departments or roles and go out of your way to develop relationships with your co-workers and build your network.

Seek out someone who inspires you, then learn about their education and career development to see how they got to where they are today. You’ll find that most people are more than willing to share their experiences and help the next generation of professionals, but it’s up to you to ask for that opportunity.

What are you looking forward to after graduation?

I’ve loved my time at STEMCELL so much that after graduation I plan to return to the organization, using the skills, knowledge and network I’ve developed to secure a role as a Sales Representative.

Published: April 2023