Karen Baxter
BA 2011: Combined Major, Political Science & Economics
With 8 months of international work experience and knowledge of the ins-and-outs of cross-cultural dialogue under her belt, Arts Co-op student Karen Baxter has gained an impressive range of transferable skills that will set her apart in the eyes of future employers.
Before her Co-op term with the Canadian Institute of Business Technology (CIBT), Karen felt the all-too-familiar knot of uneasiness when considering the competition between Arts students in the post-graduate job market. “I was worried that I wouldn’t stand out amongst the sea of other Arts graduates entering the job market. The Arts Co-op program gave me ‘the edge’ that will hopefully impress future employers.”
Through the Arts Co-op Program, Karen enjoyed a dynamic work term in China with the CIBT as an English Instructor/Development Coordinator. While her responsibilities included teaching, recruitment, marketing and promotion projects, some graphic design work, and an impressive array of other duties within the office, Karen’s interactions with her students and the community at large are what made her experience especially unique. She taught English conversation classes to everyone from young children to university students and post-graduate adults, garnering a unique glimpse into cultural sensitivities and generational and cross-cultural differences while building her communication skills and adaptability in different situations on the job.
Between her work term and finding the time to travel to southwestern China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, Karen still found a way to connect her work term experiences to her academic studies. Currently completing her Combined Major in Political Science and Economics,
Answering the oft-repeated query of “What are you going to do after graduation?” Karen acknowledges that, while she does not have a defined career plan just yet, being able to “gain transferable skills and an understanding of cross-cultural differences” will be extremely beneficial to her future career related decisions.
Karen has two pieces of sound advice for students considering the Co-op program. Firstly, simply “Go for it! It’s the best way to get interesting and rewarding work experience.” Secondly, “Take this program seriously and prepare for all your interviews and job applications – don’t just try to wing it. Treat it is as if it’s the beginning of your career and recognize that it’s a truly valuable resource.”
Karen Baxter
BA 2011: Combined Major, Political Science & Economics
With 8 months of international work experience and knowledge of the ins-and-outs of cross-cultural dialogue under her belt, Arts Co-op student Karen Baxter has gained an impressive range of transferable skills that will set her apart in the eyes of future employers.
Before her Co-op term with the Canadian Institute of Business Technology (CIBT), Karen felt the all-too-familiar knot of uneasiness when considering the competition between Arts students in the post-graduate job market. “I was worried that I wouldn’t stand out amongst the sea of other Arts graduates entering the job market. The Arts Co-op program gave me ‘the edge’ that will hopefully impress future employers.”
Through the Arts Co-op Program, Karen enjoyed a dynamic work term in China with the CIBT as an English Instructor/Development Coordinator. While her responsibilities included teaching, recruitment, marketing and promotion projects, some graphic design work, and an impressive array of other duties within the office, Karen’s interactions with her students and the community at large are what made her experience especially unique. She taught English conversation classes to everyone from young children to university students and post-graduate adults, garnering a unique glimpse into cultural sensitivities and generational and cross-cultural differences while building her communication skills and adaptability in different situations on the job.
Between her work term and finding the time to travel to southwestern China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, Karen still found a way to connect her work term experiences to her academic studies. Currently completing her Combined Major in Political Science and Economics,
Answering the oft-repeated query of “What are you going to do after graduation?” Karen acknowledges that, while she does not have a defined career plan just yet, being able to “gain transferable skills and an understanding of cross-cultural differences” will be extremely beneficial to her future career related decisions.
Karen has two pieces of sound advice for students considering the Co-op program. Firstly, simply “Go for it! It’s the best way to get interesting and rewarding work experience.” Secondly, “Take this program seriously and prepare for all your interviews and job applications – don’t just try to wing it. Treat it is as if it’s the beginning of your career and recognize that it’s a truly valuable resource.”