GCSC

Carter Grant

Company: Shopify Plus
Position: E Commerce Consultant

How did the GCSC open up doors for you to connect with Shopify?

I was fortunate enough to make it to the Top 25 of the GCSC, where I had the opportunity to present in front of some of Shopify’s executives and recruitment team. In turn I was able to show off some of the hard and soft skills that I had learnt throughout University and give them a live presentation of what I could do. I have also had opportunity to connect with Shopify at networking events held during and post competition. Really, without the competition and the opportunities that come with it, I would not have been able to network and connect with Shopify.

Why did you decide to get involved with the Great Canadian Sales Competition?

I first joined the GCSC last year when their team came to a Ryerson leadership event, where learning about the competition was incorporated into the day. After making the Semi-Final Round I had the choice to continue competing or not. After learning about the GCSC it was a no brainer for me to compete - there were so many opportunities to network with some of the companies that I wanted to work for after graduation. After the Final Round I spoke with Sheila, GCSC Director, and told her that I wanted to get involved as much as I could in the competition this year - I saw so much value and there was no way that I wouldn’t join again.

Do you have any advice for students looking to land jobs for when they graduate?

I have two pieces of advice. First, when you are looking for a job take a moment, step back and think about what your soft and hard skills are, and figure out what the career opportunities align with those skills are. My second piece of advice is don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and consider career opportunities that you might not of before. There is a ton of competition for the career opportunities that you are introduced to in school and unfortunately not enough spots for everyone. If you are willing to expand your horizon there will be more opportunity for you to land a job for when you graduate.