Building websites and confidence
By stepping outside her comfort zone in data analytics and leadership roles, Carole Hanna built independence and learned the importance of clear communication.
Carole Hanna, a third-year Information Technology Management student, reflects on how managing demanding tasks and stepping into unfamiliar roles helped her develop her confidence and strengthen her résumé.
Carole’s co-op journey
Business development co-ordinator, LVM Tech, Mississauga, ON
She made 200 daily calls to CEOs and managers to sell global positioning systems (GPS) tracking with artificial intelligence (AI) dash cams. Carole’s goal was to reach 10 meetings a week and get clients to continue with the company’s services.
Website developer, U+ Education, Markham, ON
She utilized hypertext markup language (HTML), cascading style sheets (CSS) and JavaScript to create websites and troubleshoot when technical problems arose. She also analyzed information from Google Analytics and tracked the website’s performance, such as the number of clicks and impressions, to make improvements.
Data analytics training supervisor, U+ Education, Markham, ON
Carole was responsible for creating 140 hours worth of data analysis and website development training for 80 volunteers. She created a report to track progress and identify services in need of improvement. Carole’s contributions were so impressive that her employer nominated her for the Co‑op Student of the Year Award.
Q&A with Carole
What would you say has been challenging about co-op?
“Applying to jobs while also going through midterm season is a struggle. There's so much to keep up with all at once. I would have interviews on top of two midterms on the same day. There's a lot of time management that needs to be implemented to stay on top of everything.”
“When it came to co-op itself, I had responsibilities I wasn’t very comfortable with. My manager expected me to do training and talk to the volunteers alone. I had to put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone to improve my confidence.”
How did you deal with work pressures and deadlines?
“Something I’ve learned about deadlines is that pressure usually comes from uncertainty rather than the workload itself. When I feel that pressure building, the first thing I do is make the problem smaller and more concrete. I identify one task that would move the work forward the most and start there, instead of trying to mentally juggle everything at once.”
“For example, while balancing my role as a website developer and teaching assistant, there were times when multiple assignments, development tasks and student requests all landed in the same week. Instead of focusing on the volume of work, I focused on momentum by finishing one meaningful step at a time. Once the first piece is done, the pressure usually drops because the work starts moving forward. I’ve found that approaching deadlines this way helps me stay calm and focused, allowing me to maintain the quality of my work during busy periods.”
“Additionally, being able to communicate my struggles with my manager definitely helped me manage my workload. At the end of the day, I tried my best to organize my time but with so many responsibilities, it wasn’t always easy.”
What advice could you offer to students who are searching for co-op positions?
“Don’t get discouraged, the first co-op is always the hardest to get. I applied for about 170 roles for my first co-op term and got two offers, which isn’t bad, but it was so much effort to push out that many applications. Thankfully, my ratios improved during my second and third co-op search. It's hard at first, but it does get better and looking back, it's so worth it. I would advise students to keep persevering and putting effort in every application they send out as that is the best way of increasing their chances of securing a co-op.”
What would you say has been the most rewarding part about co-op?
“I would like to be a data analyst and transition into a project or product manager in a technological company, all while using my acquired data analytics skills. Since I have worked in data analytics while being a supervisor, I believe my co-op experience will help me get exactly where I want to be! If time allows, I would love to be a part-time web developer. I never knew I liked web development until I tried it.”
“Being in a co-op program is incredibly rewarding because it allows me to discover my interests through real experiences. I get to have experiences I wouldn’t have been able to have if it wasn't for the co-op program. For example, I know, as a 20-year-old, I would not have been in a position to manage and teach data analytics to people aged 12 to 30. This helped me build a strong résumé.”
What's next for you?
“Hopefully in my next co-ops I get a data analysis or management position, as I think that's where my goal lays. When I meet people with so many experiences, I tend to compare myself to them since they seem more advanced even if they’re in the same year as me. I plan to be successful at school on top of being content with where I’m at and what I'm doing without comparing myself to others.”