Alumni Digest / U of T / People /
First jobs begin before the offer
Recent U of T graduates describe how side projects, student clubs and carefully chosen conversations helped them find their first roles.
Caitlin Zhang interviewed alumni for a podcast before beginning work at Sun Life.Photo: Johnny Guatto
The context
Where the work begins
Caitlin Zhang started a podcast to ask alumni what they had done with their economics degrees. Those conversations helped her practise interviewing, while networking at other events led to an adviser role at Sun Life. Computer engineering graduate Leo Li built experience through student clubs and a co-op before receiving an offer from Red Hat.
The takeaway
What follows
Tanya Kaur Talwar took a more targeted route: she read a professor's research before writing about their shared interests. She now works in OISE's Mathematical Thinking Lab. At UTM, Valentina Bravo's work-study experience and a proposed careers newsletter preceded her role as a career readiness coordinator. Each found useful opportunities while still exploring what suited them.
Source reporting
First jobs begin before the offer
Original summary by Alumni Digest, based on public source reporting. This independent publication is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Toronto. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.
