Name: Andrew Amell
Year of Graduation: Summer 2013
Degree: Commerce specialization in marketing
Relationship Status: Single
Profession: Account Executive at Opin Software
Favourite colour:Â Blue
Favourite Fruit:Â Pineapple
Favourite movie:Â The Titanic. If I could go back in time and get a first class ticket knowing I would die, I would.
Your go-to restaurant as a student?
Father and Sons – I’ve spent thousands and thousands there.
What is the most awkward date you’ve ever been on?
It was my first Tinder date. We were having wine at Social (everyone knows the second cheapest is always the best bottle) but she would bully me and make fun of me! She was mean. She was a professional like me, you would think that she would of been nicer. For example, she said to me “You can never trust a sales person, they’re scumbags”! Needless to say, I drank that bottle of wine real quick.
How were you involved on campus as an undergraduate student?
I was very involved in Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity by being on the executive council and holding high visibility chairs. I also helped organize business society events. However, I always wished I had been more involved with my faculty since I’ve realized the importance of networking.
Do you find that being a part of the Greek community helped you once you graduated?
Joining a Greek organization gives you the confidence to go out there and improve your networking skills. There is a good sense of community amongst Greeks post-grad. It doesn’t matter the letters, we’ll help each other out. I don’t want that to define me though so I don’t put it on my LinkedIn profile. Â
What is the biggest difference between what you expected from working life and reality?
How consistent it is post-grad. The Monday to Friday work schedule… I didn’t expect it to be so repetitive. Also, you can’t screw up on the job or else it’s your company on the line. It’s also very important to like what you do or it’s going to be a rough ride. Don’t approach it by looking for money. The latter will come quickly afterwards once you find what you love to do.
Do you prefer working for the government or for the private sector?
Private! Government isn’t bad, but there’s too much bureaucracy, you can’t get good ideas going. The ball rolls better in the private sector.
What advice would you give your undergraduate self?
There’s the saying “It’s not the grades you make, it’s the hands you shake”. Network more. It takes years to grow and maintain a network. You need to see them over and over again. After, people start calling you for favours and the rest follows. Also, get a job during your undergrad. It doesn’t matter if you don’t need the money. Get paid or unpaid experience. You learn important soft skills.
Who is your role model?
Steve Jobs. I’ve always been interested in technology, though I didn’t even own an Apple product. Steve Jobs approached the business with a marketing perspective. As a marketing student, I really appreciated that.
What is your short-term goal?
My New Years Eve resolution is to fully pay off my student loan. It stops you from taking the risks you need to take for your career. Make it go away; get a second job if you have to.
What has been your biggest professional accomplishment so far?
Playing a critical role in a startup and being able to see it grow into an established company. Everyone feels a sense of pride and reward working there, which is why it’s better working for a growing company than a declining company.
When hiring, what do you look for in an employee?
Experience, attitude and soft skills. Show your vibrant personality- you need to be able to mesh well with the group. I never have and never will look at marks. If they only brag about their marks and they don’t have any experience, I won’t give them the job. I made that hiring mistake once and the person couldn’t make a decision if his life depended on it. It’s not the grades that matter, it’s how you apply the knowledge you learned in class.
How important is our virtual footprint when applying for jobs?
Very. You get googled (I’ve seen some weird stuff) and if you don’t have LinkedIn, I probably wouldn’t give you an interview. If you want to be found, create a LinkedIn profile. I’m personally moving towards deleting my Facebook account and just sticking to Twitter.
Any last words of wisdom you would like to add?
The main question people ask me is how to get that first interview. Your resume is your first point of contact. Keep it simple: One page, attractive, not a novel and don’t lie. 6 seconds is the time you have to sell yourself before the employer moves on to the next resume. I recommend using BrandedCV.