Archive for the ‘Professional’ Category

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Summer Job

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

I’ve got a summer job now. It took a long time and one of my future “Tips” will talk about the summer job process. I’ll be at Research In Motion. Job Description:

The PMDP is a three-month intensive training program where MBA interns will work on challenging product management projects within several key RIM divisions. Working with the best in the mobile communications industry, PMDP interns will learn firsthand the development and execution of product launches for new BlackBerry products and services. All interns will develop relationships and integrate with internal engineering and technology groups. Working alongside a Product Manager, interns will receive coaching, mentoring and opportunities to explore a future career at RIM. Interaction with senior-level executives, networking social events and off-site development days, will enhance your overall internship experience.

Sounds cool to me… I’ll be looking for a place to stay in Waterloo from June to August (the position doesn’t start until June so I’ll have a month off).

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Exam Time

Saturday, February 24th, 2007

Classes are over for Q3. Earlier this week we did a “simulation” assignment in Strategy. Basically, it’s a computer program that simulates the job of trying to sell the idea of Six Sigma to an organization. You have various tactics you can apply and you have to try and get the executives/top management on board. It was kind of fun to do and once you figure out the underlying algorithm it becomes easy to predict what to do and how to sell your idea in the organization—I guess that’s the learning point; learn the “algorithm” of the organization then you can sell you idea… So gather information!

Studying always sucks but at least this quarter we have a break in the middle of exams rather than 4 or 5 exams back-to-back-to-back-to…

Interesting tidbit: When I start getting bored in class I start to doodle on my notes. This is great in two ways:

  1. It’s entertaining to look at. Apparently boredom yields creativity.
  2. I know when I stopped paying attention in class and know that I have to read the book for this section. :)

I recently interviewed for a job with RIM. It sounds like a really cool job but they are hiring from schools all across North-America and competition sounds stiff. I’ll let you know what happens.

After exams I’m heading for a little vacation (as shown on my personal blog). It should be a good time and I’ll snap lots of pictures to post. After the trip I have to start up the job search again…

Anyways, enough procrastination… on to watching star-trek. :)

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Yawn

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

I’m finding this quarter’s material in general to be less interesting than the previous two quarters… Here’s the skinny:

  • Managerial accounting – We spent 20 minutes talking about y=mx+b. Ouch. Sometimes I miss diff eq… but then I slap myself.
  • Macro econ – Interesting discussions but the concepts seem very simple. This might be because I took a macro course back in my undergrad. The most difficult part is remembering things like: environmental regulations came in about 1973 or a possible reason for high GDP growth in the US (and not the rest of the world) is because it was isolated to the IT industry.
  • Strategy – Important material. Useful stuff. It just doesn’t seem as interesting as the previous quarter. A lot of reading.
  • MCV – Important material. Useful stuff. I just don’t see the thread that connect the entire course together. Yet.
  • Finance – Death by excel. Voodoo magic.

I have nothing to report on the job front since the jobs I really want haven’t gotten back to me yet.

This upcoming week is going to suck. We have 3 group assignments due. Now you could say that we’re just slackers and should have gotten to work earlier but allow me to defend my group by saying:

  • We don’t get one of the assignments until tomorrow.
  • We didn’t get another of the assignments until a few days ago.
  • We don’t know how to address the third assignment until this Friday.

Yeah.

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Quote from Finance

Monday, January 22nd, 2007

Finance proffs seem to make a lot of funny quotes. I’m not quite sure why:

Lets say you’re adding a new high-return, low-risk stock to your portfolio like GM. Wait, no, not GM.

In other news, the first of my friends @ Rotman just got a summer job. Congradz are in order… I also need light a fire under my ass to actually submit my job applications. ;)

Posted in Professional, Random Thoughts | 1 Comment »

Finding reasons not to write this paper…

Wednesday, January 17th, 2007

… So… I guess I’ll post something.

I had a mock interview with IBM today. It actually went very well. The woman interviewing me told me I did great except I should:

  1. Play up some of my other interests some more because she found them very interesting.
  2. Find a nice way to say “I left my previous job because the opportunities to advance were limited.” I think that is “niced up.” I probably said something different in the interview but I can’t remember.

If you hadn’t guessed, the job searching period has arrived. It’s actually starting to eat a lot of my time despite my decision to avoid info sessions (usually 2 a day) like the plague and only to apply to jobs that I’m very serious about—so far that’s only 4 jobs. Hopefully this strategy will allow me to get a job and keep my sanity/GPA.
Speaking of GPA, marks came out. I’m happy. ;)

I guess I’ll also take this procrastination period to provide my initial impressions of the classes this quarter:

Biz finance - YIKES! The proff. just threw a bunch of stuff up on the wall yesterday and I had no idea what he was talking about. He was apparently giving a review. This does not bode well. Seriously though, I have no idea what to say about this class yet. More details when I can do the whole EBITDA-depreciation(1-tax rate)-Investments thing.

Strategy – This could go either way. In the first-half we focused on deciding on a strategy. In this half we’re focusing on how to implement that strategy. I think that implementation is the more important (and far more difficult) part of strategy. It should be interesting to learn though.

Managing Customer Value - I’m not quite sure what this course is about yet. It seems to be a little bit of promotions, a little bit finance, and a lot of bit of work. So far we’ve only touched on how to use “customer value” to value a company with no profit.

Managerial Accounting – This course seems like it’s all about cost allocation. Stimulating!

Macro Economics - I almost fell asleep during the first class. ’nuff said.

Well, that’s what I think about the classes after the first session. The information I provided isn’t very valuable. Meh… it’s my blog and I’ll waste bytes if I want to, bytes if I want to, bytes if I want to…

Posted in Academic, General, Professional | 1 Comment »

Half-way through Q1

Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

It’s a little scary to think that I’m half-way through Q1. We actually have covered a lot of material already and it’s only been 2.5 weeks since class started.

I’ve kind of gotten a workflow figured out. I try to do most of the readings/work for the week on the weekend and during the week I focus on the classes/tutorials/info sessions/workshops/group work. There really is a lot to do but I haven’t fallen flat, yet. I’ve even managed to get a little partying in. :)

I’ve also started to look at summer job opportunities.

Nothing else to really report. I do have a cold—that is somewhat noteworthy, right?

Until next time.

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