JUSTIN CHO

What brought you to KPU and your program of study?

I joined KPU in 2011 after spending my first year at SFU. I hadn't adjusted well from high school to post-secondary education, and I didn't feel like the "big" universities really did a lot to set their students up for success. After switching majors from a BA in Criminology at SFU; I decided to go to KPU as it was local to my city (Richmond) and I learned that they operated with smaller classroom sizes (similar to secondary school).

It was an adjustment for sure, but I quickly found my passion in HR and pursued my BBA in Human Resources, with the Co-op option.

Can you briefly describe your current position and your main day to day responsibilities?

I'm currently working as a Talent Acquisition Partner and my main responsibilities day to day are to support the business with everything pertaining to strategic recruitment initiatives. From building and enhancing our recruitment processes, sourcing/headhunting talent, to enriching our employer branding/presence within the local Tech community.

A lot of my day to day comprises of partnering with my hiring managers to best strategize how to best fill their requisitions and also supplementing that with outbound sourcing efforts.

Which skills, knowledge, or experiences from KPU have been most valuable in your career so far?

The most invaluable experience from KPU was definitely the soft skills that I learned from my professors in my 3rd and 4th year classes. They didn't simply regurgitate textbook knowledge at us; but rather challenged us to apply the theory in a real life workplace environment (either via case studies, mock role plays, etc).

The next best thing was taking part in the Co-op program. I highly recommend this to all students who are still in the midst of their academic journey. Given the nature of my role, I know better than most, just how hard the job market is for new graduates and entry level candidates - particularly in the tech sector. Having co-op experience to differentiate your profile from the masses who only have an academic background is a big step in the right direction.

One common theme that I share with a lot of students/fresh graduates that I speak with at Career Fairs is that I always encourage them to find internships/co-ops because that's the best/easiest way to get themselves through the door with a company. Hopefully you can show your value/skills during said internship and then they would hire you back full time, as a result.

What advice would you give current KPU students who want to build a successful career after graduation?

As noted above - co-op placements are going to be the biggest game changer for you. If you're nearing graduation or have freshly graduated - I highly recommend you seek out companies that offer internships and chase those opportunities first and foremost; in parallel to your regular efforts.

Don't give up - keep persevering; there's also a big element of luck and timing involved when it comes to a job search, so I would just encourage students to keep their spirits high and to keep showing up. Sign up for as many networking events as possible; reach out to industry professionals over LinkedIn to see if they'd be willing to give you some guidance over a coffee or even potentially taking you on as a mentee.