Centennial College

School of Business

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ASSIGMENT –

COOP / EMPLOYMENT PREPAREDNESS

Jose Miguel Miranda Massaro

Student Code 301254534

Professor

Prof. Chanel Williams

Ontario, Canada

September 2022
INDEX
Introduction...........................................................................................1

Part 1: Explore Self...............................................................................2

Part 2: Explore Occupations................................................................8

Part 3: Explore Labour Market..........................................................10

Part 4: Explore Companies..................................................................19

Part 5: Elevator Pitch...........................................................................21

Part 6: Smart Objectives......................................................................22

Part 7: Career Mission Statement.......................................................23

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1 Introduction
The following paragraphs will describe my career opportunities and what do I think
about my career path. I will manage to use the tools that were taught in class to make
this journal as informative as possible.

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2 Part 1: Explore Self
In this part I took some personality tests and I will be giving my opinion for each one
and at the end taking everything into account I will make some observations of what I
think about myself and compare them with the results.

2.1 Personality Test

This part was really accurate as it shows how I think. It mentions that military
and management positions will fit into my personality results. I was a management
consultant for living and a volunteer firefighter. The Peruvian Fire department works as
a military force. Because of this, I think is a good approach to what I chose

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2.2 Interest Results

The first 3 aspects describe how a consultant should be. In this kind of business,
management consultants have to organize a group of people and make decisions even if
they are in a hostile situation. Also, they need to be supportive because projects always
involve challenging deadlines and touchpoints with clients. Finally, being investigative
is a must as large and hard to digest information and data is always in our working
environment to give useful insights to clients. Again, this is an accurate result of what I
chose to perform in Peru.

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2.3 Values Results

Management consulting is always goal-oriented to show how professional is the

team. It needs independence because project managers are alone with their team
members far away from the consulting firm. In addition, some recognition is needed for
promotions, as an old saying says: “Partners and Senior Managers need to know what
you do to remember that you deserve to be promoted”.

2.4 Success Factors Results

I did not understand to much this part. This does not give me a summary or a
chart to get the information.

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2.5 Assessment Results
Occupation (Click for Description) Personality Interests Values Career Cluster JOB ZONE ?
Farm and Home Management Advisors          Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 5
Natural Sciences Managers          Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 5
Chief Sustainability Officers          Business, Management and Administration 5
Education Administrators, Postsecondary          Education and Training 5
Instructional Coordinators          Education and Training 5
Instructional Designers and Technologists          Education and Training 5
Range Managers          Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 4
Soil and Water Conservationists          Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 4
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes          Business, Management and Administration 4
Auditors          Business, Management and Administration 4
Wind Energy Project Managers          Business, Management and Administration 4
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare Center/Program          Education and Training 4
Financial Analysts          Finance 4
Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts          Finance 4
Personal Financial Advisors          Finance 4
Legislators          Government and Public Administration 4
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners          Hospitality and Tourism 4
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers          Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 4
Water Resource Specialists          Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 4
Lodging Managers          Hospitality and Tourism 3
Funeral Service Managers          Human Services 3

In the list are included “Financial Analyst” and “Auditor” that are part of my
career experience. This means I am on the right path.

2.6 Internal Factors

 How do you feel about these results? Did you change or re-do the results after
the first attempt? Why or why not?

I think they are pretty accurate as they match with my career experience. I did
not change my result because I am in the same page.

 Give a brief summary of what these results mean to you.

In opinion, they are just a reaffirmation of a decision that was made years ago.
They match with my expectations and because of my experience and age there is
no other path to take that to be a business man

 Share two example stories of when you applied these skills or personal strengths
in a workplace or academic setting?

Being a consultant is hard but rewarding. I had to demonstrate my independence

at the covid 19 pandemic when my manager had to take medical rest. I managed
to complete our tasks without the manager showing up and it because my team
was supportive, we did it professionally.
As a consultant, we have to be very social to establish a good relationship with
our customers. On time, we had a complicated customer that did not cooperate
with the consulting session. And my manager knowing that I am really easy

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going asked me to talk to our customer. As a result, we became friends and she
accepted to cooperate with us.

 Did you find something surprising about yourself or your future career goals?
Does your motto sound like you? Why or why not?

My motto sounds like me specially in the “This decision is supported on a

logical base?” I usually make this kind of question to me and to my coworkers
to know if I am using the correct ideas in my head.

 Did you learn about possible new careers you had not thought of? Explain

No so much, because I am already in the path of business analyst, which

appeared in this test as a possibility.

 How do you think your personality type will affect you in your workplace?
Working in teams? Having strict deadlines? Working overtime? Holding an
authoritative role? Other? Explain

I think that logic is a good kind of result as it does not give time to other things
than goals and objectives accomplishment. In order to get the things done I
strongly believe that a team needs a realistic person as they always try to use the
experience to decide. However, there is a lack of “out of the box ideas” when
being logical.

2.7 External Factors that affect my career choice

 Age
I am not too old but, I wouldn't drastically change my career because of age
because it would take time that I no longer have.

 Business needs
If I notice that there are special certifications that improve my resume and are
strongly sought after by recruiters, I would manage to get one as soon as
possible.

 Family
If my family is in need and it demands lots of time, I will be limited with not too
much time or do home office

 Money
It is a limiting resource

 Country of residence

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Lima, my hometown would have easier ways to get a job if I quit Canada but I
will not have the income I am looking for if I quit.

2.8 Personal Branding

 For my resume, I think combining my extraversion with my logical skills would

be a good start. Using words such as “Handles change easily”, “Involves people
easily” and for thinkers I would use “Objetive” and “Good at critical analysis”
to get more visibility.
 For my resume, I will always add my volunteer experience because I think
recruiters will have a good point of view about a person that was a volunteer
firefighter
 For my networking, I think just being me, as extravert as I can be, is going to
work for me. I have the skills to establish a good relationship with people based
on trust
 For the interview, as I said, just being me is good. But I will need to control my
voice volume, sometimes it is strong
 In addition, for an interview, in my experience, people listen more to a person
using dark colors rather than bright colors.

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3 Part 2: Explore Occupations

3.1 Which two occupations did you select as your top two choices? Why these?

Administrative Services Managers and Financial Managers because of my

previous experience as a management consultant.

3.2 Which of the two occupations fits your personality, interests, values, and
skills best,and how do you feel about pursuing that occupation.

I think being a financial manager keeps my idea of being a financial consultant

and the skills needed for that are the one I am currently developing

3.3 Which career cluster is this occupation in?

In finance but I would say that I fell it is more of Business, Management and
Administration

3.4 Are there similar occupations in the career cluster that you may be
interested in? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

By the position name they are out of my field of study like education or farms
industries.

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3.5 How much preparation is needed (Job Zone)?

A degree related to industrial engineering, administration or maybe economics.

Then some on-the-job experience and finally a CFA certificate to demonstrate the skills
needed for this kind of positions

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4 Part 3: Explore Labour Market
4.1 Labour Market Research

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4.2 What does this information tell you about these occupations?

First of all, Financial Managers are more demanded than Production Managers
but in the other hand, qualifications, for the first one, are not too difficult to get. In
addition, Financial Managers get more income than the other.

4.3 What do the Quick Facts ratings mean?

How much money they can earn, how in demand were those type of positions

4.4 What skills and knowledge in demand do you feel you currently possess and
which do you feel you will need to develop more fully? How might you
develop your skills and knowledge for this occupation before you are hired,
and to help you get hired?

I think I have all from the specialized list but in the software skills I need to
improve in accounting software or maybe some SAP basic knowledge.

4.5 Are you surprised or did you assume this type of information?

I knew that financial managers are more in demand because in my country

happens the same. But I did not know how much they can earn in Canada

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4.6 Job Bank screenshots

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4.7 Expertise list

4.8 What obstacles are standing between you and these occupations? How might
you overcome these obstacles? Explain.

I think the hardest one is to get some Canadian experience. I have been in many
interviews here in Ontario and many of the hiring managers asked for it. One time I got
a call form one saying that I was the last option because the ones with Canadian
experience did not have my skills for the job and I had a negative answer to his
proposal. Moreover, maybe I should take some time studying for the CFA exam to
prove my Finance knowlegde

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4.9 Is there good prospect in the Toronto area for this position? Where are the
best prospects? Identify two regions in Canada with good, 3-star prospects

British Columbia and Quebec

4.10 Are salaries listed for this position in line with your expectations? Are the
salaries listed in line with your needs?

Well, they are because looking into my future budget that’s more than expected
for all my needs

4.11 Explore a few of the related job titles and related occupations. Are there any
other related job titles or related occupations that might be more
appropriate to pursue after graduation? Explain

No because finance related job are pretty the same so they might have the same
on demand skills or qualifications.

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5 Part 4: Explore Companies

5.1 What does the company do?

As they wrote in the ad: “Uline is North America's leading distributor of

shipping, industrial and packaging materials. We're a family-owned company known
for incredible service, quality products and same-day shipping of our huge in-stock
inventory. With over 8,500 employees across 12 locations, it's time you joined Uline.”

5.2 Who are the customers or clients of these companies?

Firms that need packing materials for their own products like boxes or similar
products. This company list some of their customers as follows:

 CFB Borden Base Supply

 Dolman Brandt Pools Ltd
 Havre Vert Biologique
 Hubberts Industries
 Preet Janitorial Ltd
 Uptick Apparel

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5.3 What kind of reputation does each company have?

It seems that is a big company with more than 10 locations around Canada so I
don’t think they have a really bad reputation.

5.4 What are the potential benefits and disadvantages of working for each of
these companies?

Maybe the experience as a first advantage but as this company is not

international, I think I would not stay too much time working there.

5.5 How do the company values, mission, or goals align with yours?

They want to make long term partners so they can exceed expectations with
their customer service and quality products.

5.6 Do you feel you would be a good fit for the company and job, now, or after
you graduate? Why or why not? Explain.

I don’t think I could fit right for too much time because I have been in
consulting projects and I get a little bored when on the same field everyday for the rest
of my life. Consulting is like a one month project in which you have the same customer
or the same type of business for just one or two months

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6 Part 5: Elevator Pitch
Hi! I am Jose Miranda a former Big 4 Management Consultant and a volunteer
firefighter currently studying at Centennial College in Toronto.

My Industrial Engineering degree combined with training and experience as a

Management Consultant provided me with skills for a well-done financial analysis and I
am very passionate about big data analysis and searching for efficiency opportunities.

Now, I am looking for new professional opportunities to show my skills and

grow in Canada.

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7 Part 6: Smart Objectives
7.1 Personal Improvement and development

Study to get a CFA Certificate by the end of August spending as low as it allows
me to spend to get educational support for it

7.2 Finance

Keep more than 100 CAD every month for the next 2 years to reach a vehicle
loan to buy a car to stop using the bus in the winter

7.3 Professional

After the strategic management course in centennial college, communicate with

a hiring manager form EY Vancouver to ask for an interview and get Senior Consultant
Job by the end of November 2023

7.4 Family

Get married on May 13 in Peru with my girlfriend and start a family in the next
2 years

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8 Part 7: Career Mission Statement

My career objective is to find a job in EY Vancouver as a Senior consultant by

the end of august using my knowledge and the new skills acquired in Centennial
College to make a good brand of myself. Then save money for 3 years to get an MBA
in a top Canadian University and get a senior manager position in EY

My personal objective is to recover from my broken leg to ask for a volunteer

job as a firefighter in the next 2 years.

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