Backpack to Briefcase industry nights give A&S students and recent graduates window into different career paths

December 17, 2024 by Coby Zucker - A&S News

Arts & Science students and recent graduates gathered in Hart House to network and gain insight into the job market from alumni across a range of fields during the recent Backpack to Briefcase (b2B) industry nights.

The mid-November receptions — Careers in Science and Careers in Humanities and Social Sciences — included a number of local alumni who spoke about the diversity of career paths available after graduating with degrees from A&S.

“The alumni are incredibly welcoming,” says Evan Shen, a second-year student studying history and diaspora studies as a member of Innis College. “If you’re interested in coming to one of these events, I would highly recommend it.”

Marco Falco, a partner in Torkin Manes’ Litigation Group, served as the keynote speaker for the Humanities and Social Sciences reception, and Julius Lindsay, the director of sustainable communities at the David Suzuki Foundation, was featured on the Science evening.

Marco Falco chats with students.
Careers in Humanities and Social Sciences keynote speaker Marco Falco chats with students. Photo: Diana Tyszko.

Lindsay, who earned his honours bachelor of science in 2006 as a member of New College, spoke to the value of getting your foot in the door. He began working in sustainability after leveraging his math background and reputation for hard work to put himself forward for a position unrelated to the job for which he’d originally been hired.

“They knew I was a good worker, and they trusted me. They came to me to do that work, and I grew that into my career,” says Lindsay. “Understand the solutions and the skills you have or are developing, and how they transfer to different industries and different work you could be doing.”

Falco earned his honours bachelor of arts in 1999 as a member of St. Michael’s College, followed by a master of arts in English, and a juris doctor degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. He spoke to the assembled students and recent grads about his background in the arts, which became the foundation of his success when he pursued a law degree.

“Your humanities degree will set the stage for your career success,” Falco says.

He also commended students for taking the time to attend the b2B event.

A group of people read around a table.
The b2B Careers in Science and Careers in Humanities and Social Sciences industry nights took place in mid-November. Photo: Diana Tyszko.

“It takes immense courage as students to break out of your comfort zone, meet people you don't know, perhaps even attend this event by yourself, all with the aspiration of learning that as art students, your degree is valuable and important,” says Falco.

Falco and Lindsay were among dozens of alumni volunteers who took time out of their day to advise the A&S students and recent alumni.

“When I was here, I found these events really helpful for figuring out what I wanted to do next and just hearing about different paths,” says Annesta Duodu, who earned a honours bachelor of arts in 2017 as a member of Victoria College. “Being able to provide students with a similar opportunity is always exciting for me.”

“I think it's important for students to come to events like this, get to know new people, learn networking skills, understand there are a diverse range of activities they can do outside of an academic institution,” says Amanda Giancola, who earned her honours bachelor of science in 2017 as a member of St. Michael’s College. “If I can play a part in broadening some student's perspective, I'd like to do that.”

Alumni also emphasized that no matter what students study, they will have transferable skills moving into the working world. An often-repeated sentiment among the many successful alumni is that they initially struggled with direction out of university but found it later and were successful, thanks to their A&S degree.

The message resonated with many students struggling to find a career trajectory that aligns with their own interests.

Julius Lindsay speaking.
Careers in Science keynote speaker Julius Lindsay delivers his remarks. Photo: Coby Zucker.

“I have no idea what I want to do, but it's going to be something that helps our communities,” says Abbhinav Murali, a third-year math and political sciences double major and member of St. Michael’s College. “Staying open minded about different fields will help me actually grow into what I’m interested in.”

Zacharia Agostino, a fourth-year student at Victoria College studying human biology and Italian, also came to a b2B event in 2023. He connected with an alum, and the two are still in contact — it may even lead to a job opportunity.

Agostino was reassured by what alumni had to say about life after graduating.

“We're all students,” he says. “We’re stressed about our marks, stressed about applications to grad school and jobs, but once you get that first opportunity, it's less about that and more about who you are as a person.”

Categories