Disclaimer: The content presented in this series of blog posts showcasing job reviews and personal experiences represents the individual opinions and perspectives of the contributors. These viewpoints are based on their own unique experiences in their respective professions or workplaces. The information provided within these posts is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources and viewpoints when evaluating career choices or making decisions related to employment.
Welcome to the Job Review series of the blog where we will explore a wide range of jobs and careers in Canada directly from people working there. I reached out to my friends and connections to talk about their jobs and answer some questions to help you guys get an insight from first-hand experience.
This one is from a friend who is working as a Vendor Revenue Clerk. Haven't heard about such a position before? Well, let's dive into some details and see what she has to discuss.
Job title: Vendor Revenue Clerk
Department: Finance and Accounting
Company: Pinnacle
Where did you hear about the job?
I heard about this job through a temp agency called Pinnacle. This company has several departments like HR, Finance and Accounting and labor. They adjust their job search on basis of the client’s qualifications and interest.
How did you get this job?
Right now I am working for the client of Pinnacle, the North West Company. My agent at Pinnacle connected me with the Vendor Revenue Department Manager and we had an interview. I successfully passed the interview with the client and was hired to fill the role immediately.
What skills or qualifications if any are essential for success in this role?
A bachelor’s degree in related field is a must. Since, I graduated in Business Administration and majored in Economics, my academic background was an asset. I had also acquired several management experiences from my past roles like Director at CMC Manitoba which helped me a lot. This is a finance position, so I work on excel 90% of the time. It is very crucial to be proficient in excel as you will have to make tons of reports in weekly basis through excel. Also, other computer skills and emailing skills are must. The position I am currently working is a corporate role, so the only source of communication is either through emails or MS teams. Either way, you have to maintain a professional tone and maintain a professional email etiquette.
What does your typical day look like ?
A typical day in this role is like every other corporate role. I have a department head and I report to him. I have to email vendors and fulfill all the criteria they are asking for. We issue invoices so it is very important to be detail oriented. There is zero room for mistakes because some invoice agreements are tens and thousands of dollars. Once the Vendor Revenue Clerk issues an invoice and it passes through the AP dept there is no room to correct the mistake. Hence, the typical day can sometimes be a little stressful as like I said you have to stay alert, focused and detail-oriented at all times.
What are some of your job responsibilities?
Most of my responsibilities include taking some work loads of my senior. As a temp, it is your responsibility to help out the company as you were hired to fill in the emergency need of the company. I am assigned several tasks by my senior, no one really keeps a track, but they do expect you to finish your assigned duty as soon as possible. It is a multi-task job so sometimes I answer emails, call vendors, make invoice agreements and fax and save cheques issued. I basically sort all the mess and try to make things easier for my manager and senior so that they can focus on tasks that are most important and require immediate attention.
What’s your most and least favorite thing about the job and/or company?
The most favorite part for me is that I am usually working by myself. Once a task has been assigned and you’ve been trained, they expect you to work on your own. There is no micro-management all they want is efficiency and result. I have worked in retail for four years, so this was exactly the kind of job I was looking for.
However, every job comes with a little flaw. The least favorite part about this job is that if you want to succeed and get promoted, you have to learn to socialize and get to know people. Like I said earlier, this is a corporate role, there are hundreds of people working in the same building and if you want to climb the corporate ladder you need to learn how to make small talk with everyone around you. I struggle at making connections and talking with strangers, but I noticed that people who make an effort to do so will not only succeed but others also help you when you mess up.
What’s the management like ?
The management style is pretty simple. We have a senior finance Manager who overlooks all the department of finance. Vendor Revenue is one sub-division of finance department. I only have to report to the manager of Vendor Revenue.
My manager is very nice, but his schedule is tight so sometimes there is little to no communication. Everyone is very helpful, however before asking any question to make sure that you have tried your best to get the answer on your own.
What are some tips you would like to share for candidates applying to similar positions?
There are seven tips and tricks that really helped me get this role.
First thing first, you always need to be sure of yourself. You need to do all your homework i.e. do research via linked in or other platforms and try to build connections. During university there are tons of opportunities to meet the professionals, please participate.
You need to make good connections in linked in. However, please be aware of the multi level marketing schemes. When I was desperately seeking for a job, I took the liberty of posting my job search online and sadly the only responses I got were from scammers. These scammers say they run companies and offer financial services but will deny to give any further information. Please do your research, do not ever trust anyone. If someone connects and wants to know more about you or offers you a role out of no where, always do your research. Search their company name, look at reviews in Glassdoor and other platforms.
I know as an international student it seems impossible to find someone to help you out but that’s when these agencies like Pinnacle and Mercer’s Bradley come in to play. There are several interviews you need to pass before you are hired by these agencies but once you are hired, they will try their 100% to find you the best suited job. These jobs might be temporary but may even turn into a permanent position. So, always give your 100%, people will constantly monitor your abilities and capacity.
Always make sure to be well assured of your resume. You need to be very confident of the contents of your resume. Be confident but also leave some room for constructive feedback.
When you give an interview make sure to thank the interviewer for the opportunity. I know it sounds a little desperate, but you have to make a positive impression. I have always heard back from the interviewers I sent a thank you message to. However, do it professionally.
Always follow the rules. If you are going for an interview, make sure you have a professional attire. And if you have a dress code even more so you must follow the rule. Remember, your attire speaks volumes about your impression. You always must want to make a professional appearance regardless of your role.
Be positive and do not lose hope. Keep applying for jobs and keep building connections with people. Never underestimate yourself and the rest should be fine.
Amazing tips!! Trust yourself people. You can definitely make your way through it. Like she said, make connections, talk to people and network.
If you have more questions about this role, you can leave a comment and I will get the information to you.
Thanks for reading and stay inspired!
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