Skip to main content
Communication, Art + Technology › Communication
OLC Student Community Coordinator

Giving Back with Telus
Credit
unsplash.com

If you’ve been following along with my Co-op blog (and if you haven’t been, what are you waiting for?) you may have noticed that I've veered off topic while writing the last two posts. Yes, Tina Fay is fabulous, but that’s not quite the point of this blog.

So if you’ve been eager to hear more about my adventures at TELUS, you’re in luck. Last Friday my team took part in the TELUS Day of Giving. It’s a company-wide event where everyone is encouraged to spend a day (or part of a day) doing something to give back to the community. Finding an event is really easy, there’s hundreds of options listed online, and you just need to pick one and show up.

I spent my Friday afternoon in a storage locker working with some girls from the Arts Club, helping them with their costume inventory. I quite enjoyed sorting blouses from Evita and vests from The Producers, although when it came to sewing labels...well let’s just say that I hope whoever wears the costume next doesn’t tug too hard.

Anyway, the point of this post isn’t to brag about my afternoon of community service, nor promote my lack of sewing skills. It’s about the aspects of a company that go beyond the job description. At both of my co-ops I’ve had the privilege of working for companies that send their employees out to do some community work – sometimes even during working hours. The cost of organizing these events can’t be cheap, not to mention the loss of productive work-hours felt company wide, but they still hold them every year, and I think it says something about the company’s values.

Sending employers out to do some good shows that a company cares not only about giving back, but also puts a premium on team engagement. Trust me when I say that being taught basic sewing skills by your co-workers does something to bring a team together, as does racing to finish the most labels.

I think these things are important when you’re picking the company that you want to show up at every day. While flipping through job postings it may not seem like a big deal, but when it comes to a career, your company represents you just as much as you represent them. So make sure you pick one that says something good about yourself.

If you'd like to hear about something specific from my co-op leave a comment or tweet me at @lizzmoffat or @SFU_OLC. Plus, make sure you check out the rest of my Diary of a Marketing Co-op series.

Beyond the Blog

  • Check out the Communications Co-op Blog, Communique, for more stories like Elizabeth's!

OLC Student Community Coordinator

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Seeking, Work Term Extension

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

picture of glichelle pondering a though
Surviving Workplace Politics

Ever been peeved with workplace politics? Have you ever been a victim of office politics? One student shares her experiences from the workplace with tips on how to survive.

 

person with their head in a book
Responsibility and Success

One of the most memorable parts of my time in co-op was the collection of accidents, errors, mistakes, and mix-ups that happened in the course of working in the laboratory.

 

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections

Painted sign of the sun and blue skies that says "Burnaby"
What Is It Really Like Working For a Non-Profit?

I have always wanted to work at a non-profit organization. While my main objective during my first Co-op term was to gain experience in the Communication field, that goal to work at a non-profit had always remained in the back of my mind. Keep reading to learn more about my experience working for a non-profit. 

Two girls holding custom-made SFU book bag and pencil case
Health Sciences Engagement Improves Lives

After their four incredible months in India, the girls are finally back. This Co-Op inspired them so much so that they have decided to take the initiative to start their own fun-raiser for Destiny Reflection. Read on to find out what they have been doing since they got back and how the experience has changed them. 

Lenses
Changing Perspectives: How Co-op Helped Me See the Bigger Picture

Ornela started university with the intention of going to medical school. However, co-op has helped them see that there are so many possibilities in the field of healthcare. In this article, Ornela discusses their co-op experience and the lessons they learned along the way.