We hosted Mike Derry from Canadian Natural Resources in Calgary on October 20, 2021. Mike works in Talent Acquisition and Campus Programs, where he supports their Campus team and the student and campus programs at Canadian Natural. Mike discussed how Canadian Natural sources their young talent, and how Canadian students and young professionals can stand out on the job search.
The first thing we learned is that Canadian Natural sources their co-op students and regular employees months, if not an entire year in advance. It is most common that someone would find a co-op position a year prior to the start date, especially if they already work within industry or Canadian Natural. Approximately four months out is when all of the remaining jobs are posted, so get searching in January at the latest if you want a job in May!
Mike also gave us a few quick tips for getting an interview. First, put all of your documents (resume, cover letter, transcript, etc.) in a single document so recruiters only have to see one file. Only include a cover letter if it’s great!
Second, use the cover letter and resume to highlight your interest in the company and enthusiasm for the role. Mike recommends that a resume and cover letter paint a “storyline” of the potential employee, so relate all of your experience to the position.
Third, personalize your cover letter to a person, position, or department you are applying for.
Finally, prepare for the interview by making a list of possible questions and answers. Be ready to showcase your passion, and compose some answers to the classic questions, like, “tell me about yourself.” Interested in learning more about how to stand out? Check out our Youtube for the entire session, or head over to LinkedIn and Instagram for the highlights!
John from Lucky Strike energy joined us to discuss being an entrepreneur in oil and gas. John has impressive experiences as a CFO/CEO/Director at multiple energy companies, giving him the skills necessary to start his own energy company with several partners.
He explained that the energy business is not dying, we just need to change how we do business, and that’s what Lucky Strike does.
Being an entrepreneur is not easy; many technologies and businesses will fail, so it’s important to have a good idea of what you want the company to accomplish and where you want it to go.
John predicts that new technology and youth will dominate the market in the coming years because we need new ways to solve new problems.
Much of what John spoke about was the importance of knowing yourself and your market. It’s important to not rush your business, but also be prepared to move quickly when opportunities present themselves. There is a heavy emphasis on having solid relationships and a network that can get you where you want to go.
John also stated that reputation is everything, both in personal and professional settings. It’s essential that (aspiring) entrepreneurs know to differentiate their skillset and networks–meet new people, be honest about what you know (or don’t know), and learn your space and purpose within a business.
This is a must-watch session for anyone wanting to start their own business!
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