Spring was just warming up when Victoria Palmer arrived in Toronto. She wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect so she was relieved when her first day in the small downtown office went well. More days went by and with each challenge, each new task, her confidence grew.
That鈥檚 the power of internship.
Getting with the program
Victoria set these events in motion a few years earlier, when she decided to move from Vancouver to Halifax for university. 鈥淚 wanted to experience the East Coast,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檇 never been.鈥�
She was headed for Dal鈥檚 Bachelor of Management program and chose the Entrepreneurship and Innovation major so she could focus on marketing and develop the skills required to own a business. Victoria enjoys the way it challenges her creatively. 鈥淭he people I interact with on a daily basis are big thinkers 鈥� outside the box thinkers 鈥� which is really valuable to me.鈥�
When Victoria heard about the Bachelor of Management Internship Program she knew it would look great on her r茅sum茅. (鈥淚鈥檇 get valuable work experience and still graduate on time, so why not?鈥� she says.) Then an opportunity with the global bespoke tailoring company LGFG Fashion House came up and Victoria jumped at the chance to see what the industry is like from the inside.
Fashion forward
Victoria spent eight months in the Toronto office progressing through roles that included direct sales and corporate partnerships. 鈥淒uring my internship, I was mostly on the sales side of the business. It was a challenge for me but it was great because it got me out of my comfort zone. It also solidified my career direction. I learned I鈥檓 most interested in fashion merchandising or retail buying.鈥�
While working with LGFG, Victoria had a chance to travel to Manilla, Philippines for their bi-annual conference where the company鈥檚 leaders motivated each other with the secrets of their success.
鈥淭ravelling to Asia was incredible. I鈥檇 never been that far from home before. I was nervous but I鈥檓 so glad I took that opportunity.鈥�
Great experience
Now that she鈥檚 experienced it, Victoria thinks more Bachelor of Management students should get involved in the internship program. She鈥檚 currently working with Management Career Services to help get the word out.
鈥淭here aren't a lot of students who participate in the program and it baffles my mind,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was great for me. Both the internship and the internship prep course have given me skills that I can use every day.鈥�
Victoria will graduate this spring and hopes her network connections and industry experience will help her get a career started in fashion buying and merchandising. But the value of the experience goes beyond what she can put on a r茅sum茅.
鈥淚'm most proud of who I've become since the internship. Had I known I was going to be cold calling or approaching prospects on the sidewalk, I might not have applied. But by just doing it, I've really grown in confidence. I'm more expressive and outgoing. My peers, colleagues and family members have all commented on the positive changes related to my more outgoing personality.鈥�