Mary Kane
On the cusp of the next step in his career path, Scott Weatherhead is calm and collected. An honours student in marketing from the Telfer School of Management, he has just landed a position to coordinate the work of 15 guides at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France under the auspices of the Department of Veteran Affairs.
“I worked as a guide for four months at Vimy last year but the call came of the blue when they offered me this new position to manage the guide program,” says Weatherhead who graduates in June.
Offering support and guidance to students will be second nature to Weatherhead who has been a student mentor for Career Services at the Student Academic Success Service (SASS) since his second year at uOttawa. As a former participant on international exchange programs in Italy and Hungary through the Telfer School of Management, he will also have an understanding of the new student guides who come from across Canada to work and live abroad.
“As a student mentor, Scott had and continued to develop skills that all employers are looking for such as good interpersonal skills and a strong sense of responsibility. He is a good role model for students seeking support and resources towards their career development,” says employment specialist Claire Cayen of SASS.
Weatherhead, a native of Owen Sound, Ontario, jumped wholeheartedly into university life from day one. During his first weeks on campus, his Frosh Guide told him about the Rotaract Club — a service club for students and young professionals affiliated with the Rotary Club. “This year, we’ve raised $3,500 towards building a school in India and a new project in Tanzania,” says Weatherhead, who went on to serve as club president for a term.
In addition to his studies and his role as a student mentor, Weatherhead has also been working as a guide on Parliament Hill. For some, the pace may seem hectic but taking advantage of the extra-curricular activities and the opportunities at the University of Ottawa, particularly his experience at Career Services, has given Scott a firm direction. “I wouldn’t have had all the skills that I’ve learned — getting my resume ready, preparing for job interviews, and being familiar with the whole idea of setting a career path.”
