Career leaders are a team of University of Waterloo undergraduate and graduate students who provide one-on-one supports through same day, 20-minute drop-in sessions. These drop-ins cover multiple topics including résumés, cover letters, interviews, work search and further education. Registration for all drop-ins begins at 8:00 a.m. daily.
Meet our career leaders
Daphne and Emmanuella
Daphne (she/her) and Emmanuella (she/her) are Team Leads, where their role includes mentoring the career leaders and supporting our CL's drop-ins. Both Daphne and Emmanuella completed their undergrad degrees at the University of Waterloo.
Emmanuella completed my undergraduate degree at UW in 2023. Alongside being a Team Lead, she occasionally facilitates further education appointments. She never imagined that she would be a career leader one day, but life tends to be full of surprises... She has always had a interest in helping people and thought that joining the CCD would be a great opportunity to do something different - within her learning zone - and provide support for her fellow peers. She enjoys using her free time to watch Throwback TV shows (anything from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s), making origami and reading historical novels. She also has a tendency to use 1920s and 1930s slang every once in a while.
Nimish
Hey, my name is Nimish (he/him) and I'm an employment support career leader for the CCD. I'm doing my Masters in Engineering from the department of ECE, here at the University of Waterloo. Outside of school, I spend my time Swimming , Hitting the Gym, and helping people Find and Buy their dream car. I also love trying new food so if you need or have any restaurant recommendations, let me know!
Binuki
Hi! My name is Binuki (they/them). I’m in my 5th year of Social Development Studies (co-op), specializing in Diversity & Equity, and Education. I’ve been at the CCD for 2 years now, surrounded by so many folks who care about students here at UW. As a career leader, I'm constantly learning new tools and ways to support students feel more confident in their career journeys. This is also my last co-op term, where I'm a training and engagement specialist at the Office of EDI-R. In my free time, you'll find me travelling, capturing moments on film, or boxing!
Shreya
Hello! My name is Shreya and I am in my third year of Environment and Business. I am a career Lleader at the CCD. Other places you might see me on campus are doing campus tours as a Student Ambassador, boothing at the library as a Library Ambassador, or at SLC managing the Thrift Store! I truly want your experience at the CCD to be the best and for you to walk away feeling supported! We'll get along if you love shopping, travelling, & being outdoors.
Celina
My name is Celina (she/her) and I’m a 3B Economics and Business, minoring in Human Resources Management. I am an Employment Support career leader this term with CCD. For my past co-op experiences, I’ve worked for University of Waterloo as an Alumni Engagement Associate, and Miovision as the Marketing Coordinator. I have experiences working in both academia and tech industries, with a strong interest in marketing. I joined the CCD career leader team because career counseling has always been my interest, and providing support the UW community is something I love to do! In my free time, I love watching basketball and journaling.
Shweta
Hi! I am Shweta ( she/her ), an employment support career leader at CCD. I am a graduate student in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. I did my bachelors in engineering in India and worked in the power and electric industry for 3 years. I became a career leader to give back to the university community and contribute positively to the academic experience of my peers. I enjoy spending time in nature, playing badminton, binge watching thrillers and exploring new places to eat!
What do you love about being a career leader?
"The career leader program has taught me invaluable skills that I use in my professional career and my everyday life. The amazing people I work with are collaborative, supportive, and act as mentors by sharing their knowledge. Being a career leader has truly been an enriching experience!" – Celina Deosaran, past career leader
“Working as a career leader has been extremely rewarding, especially as a Masters student looking to combine theoretical study with practical experience within the university setting. Through working with students to improve their résumés, cover letters and interview skills, I’ve gained valuable advising experience and have even improved my own self-marketing techniques! I have no doubt that my time spent as a career leader will be invaluable to my career post-graduation, and has given me the tools to “leverage” what I have learned in class in a more practical way. I encourage all those who are looking for part-time work and interested in helping other students succeed to consider lending their talents to the Centre for Career Development - you won’t regret it!” – Justine Fifield, past career leader
"Being a career leader is a great experience. It provides you with the opportunity to meet and individually help fellow students from the university, as well as become more adaptive and quick-thinking. Due to the fast-paced nature of the drop-in sessions, you learn how to quickly prioritize issues as you aim to give students the best possible advice in a short amount of time. As a result, not only do the students walk away better equipped to take-on co-op and job applications, you also take away valuable skills that can make your own work habits more productive and future job applications more impressive." – K. Yourie Kim, past career leader
“As a career leader, I had found my passion for helping students. I loved helping them discover more about their skillset, about things that make them unique, and how we can transcribe that all onto paper for others to see. It’s fulfilling to see them leave with more self-confidence and new approaches that they didn’t consider before. I feel humbled to have been a stop on their road to learning and self-discovery!” – Katie Lien, past career leader
“Through this role, I have solidified my own strengths and career direction by having the chance to practice as a helper. I continue to learn skills at the CCD around time management, listening and navigating how to best assist the students. Additionally, I have learned communication skills by carefully directing students to the various CCD resources available to them. I have found my experience as career leader invaluable. I enjoy interacting with students and additionally, my fellow Career Leaders, who are an admirable bunch of scholars in various disciplines and stages of life.” – Sarah Manninen, current career leader
“I really enjoy the one-on-one interaction with students. In particular, I like helping students identify skills and abilities that they weren’t able to see or express before seeking advice, and, while the process of uncovering those skills can be difficult, when a student understands a new framework for expressing their unique set of gifts, I am glad to have been a part of their learning.” –David Thiessen, past career leader
