Nazli Bostandoust, a post-baccalaureate student majoring in international business, had the opportunity to do a remote co-op position as a learning strategist for TRU’s Orientation and Transition team during the summer. Bostandoust’s co-op position allowed her to assist her department in creating virtual spaces that were welcoming for new students.
Hailing from Iran, Bostandoust’s remote co-op experience was not just her first time working remotely—it was also her first time working full-time in Canada. With the added challenge of adapting to the working world in a new country, Bostandoust shares the top three skills she learned from the experience:
- Mix it up. “Another aspect of the remote work was the convenience of staying at home,” Bostandoust says. As nice as that flexibility is, she found switching between sitting outside or inside was something she needed to constantly do “to keep (herself) engaged and fresh while working.”
- Build connections virtually. Communication came into play her very first day. “The first challenge was building a good connection with my colleagues, especially because we did not have a chance to meet in person.” It took her a full week before she was able to navigate through her shyness from being the new person at work.
- Ask, adapt and accept. It was important for Bostandoust to ask questions and accept support from the people she was working with. “After a few weeks and with the support I was receiving from my supervisor and colleagues, I adapted myself with the new experience.”
Looking back at her experience, Bostandoust encourages everyone to try a remote working experience if given the chance. “You will gain skills that you wouldn’t think about.”
Head over to the Career and Experiential Learning website to learn more about TRU’s co-op program.
