Patrik Baghdassarians

Year of Graduation: 2010

Universities: Schulich School of Business (Class of 2014) and George Brown College (Class of 2015)

Programs: BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) and Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management

Working towards/ finished an undergrad degree in: Business Administration

Work Experience: 3+ years of experience in Human Resources, specializing in Recruitment, Labour Relations, Compensation and Talent Management. Currently at University of Toronto advising the Office of VP Operations on HR matters.

What you have learned about your field of interest/ what was good or bad about the pathway choices you made: Human Resources is a rewarding field with multiple areas of specialization, which gives individuals the flexibility to explore different career paths depending on their areas of interest and strengths. Currently I am a Generalist, providing support to business units across multiple areas of HR. I recommend those interested in the field to start their careers as generalists to explore the different specializations and to understand how they work alongside one another. Continuing my education after my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration was one of the best decisions I made in my career. The post-graduate certification program in HR at George Brown College not only offered relevant knowledge, but it also opened up several doors, including a co-op placement that provided hands-on experience in a professional work setting. Ergo, I recommend all students, regardless of their areas of interest, to explore various paths into a particular profession.

What advice do you have for the current AP students: Don’t stress too much about the future; take the time to research your areas of interest and pick a program that best positions you to follow your desired career path. With that said, a lot can change while you are in school, and even after when you are in the workforce.
Personally, I gained a lot of knowledge and relevant experience as an unpaid intern while attending George Brown College. Therefore, I recommend keeping an open mind and looking for opportunities to explore different career paths while in University/College.