Ramiro Chamorro

Q: Briefly describe your current position and responsibilities, including challenges/rewards. How did you go about your job search upon graduating -- what strategies were most successful and why do you think you were hired?

Current: Support Rockstar, FreshBooks

Previous: Rental Management Supervisor, Enterprise Rent-a-Car

Upon graduating, I made EXTREME use of RGES and U of T job fairs. I found my Enterprise Rent-a-Car position via a U of T job fair. I then rose quickly to management within the first year, and was handling accounts worth over 1 million dollars by the end of my second, with a desk job at corporate.

I then went back to school for a post-graduate certificate, and then found my new position at FreshBooks by posting all over FaceBook saying that I need a job. I created an Event, saying that anyone that helps get me an interview, gets a reward, and if someone helps me get hired, they get a BIG monetary reward. Julie from Vestiigo reached out to me, and through Vestiigo, I found FreshBooks.

Q: List the key positions you have held since graduation, and any post-graduate degrees/diplomas you earned after graduation. If applicable, list any other ways you are involved in your profession or in your community (member of a professional association, involved as a leadership volunteer, etc).

• Management Trainee, Management Assistant, Assistant Manager, Rental Management Supervisor @ Enterprise Rent-a-Car
• Human Resources Management post-graduate Certificate @ Sheridan College
• Support Rockstar @ FreshBooks

Q: What personal characteristics/skills are most important for success in your job/field?

Interpersonal skills (helps with sales, communication, conflict resolution, customer support, team building, management), strong work ethic and ability to learn quickly.

Q: During your university career did any key experiences assist you in making your career choices? If yes, how so? (Internships? Extern Program? Volunteering? Student clubs? Summer job? Mentorship?)

Not so much. I could have joined more academic clubs, and did way more networking. Internships would have been essential as well.

Q: What have been the keys to your success? What advice would you give to students who wish to pursue a similar career path? If you had the chance to plan your studies and your career path again, what would you do differently (if anything)?

Be good at what you do. Know people. Be social.

I got two internal promotions not only because of my strong performance, but also because I knew the managers already, before the interview. Knowing them beforehand did help, as well as having such a good rapport that 3/4 of the interview was about sports, their family and what we did over the weekend.