Placement Advisor Spotlight: Stephanie Kratz
Tell us about yourself.
During my last ten years as Placement Advisor and throughout my career, I have been energized by helping others in reaching for and achieving their career potential.
I came to Humber with over twenty years of hospitality experience and nine years of progressive human resources experience which has been a perfect match for supporting students in the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management sectors. In my last role as Talent Development Manager at Starwood Canada, I supported three hotels plus a centralized sales force with recruitment and training. I also contributed strategically to Corporate Development Programs including the implementation and oversight of a Management Trainee Program at Starwood’s Canadian Corporate hotels. Through this endeavour, I engaged with and hired many Humber students.
It has been very rewarding to use my previous experiences to assist students, through my current role, in recognizing their true potential and identifying opportunities that help them fulfill their goals.
Why is networking so important and what advice/tips would you give students to make meaningful connections with employers?
Networking can be the key to uncovering exciting job prospects for yourself and getting in front of the people that make hiring decisions. Leveraging LinkedIn can be an excellent way to build your professional network. Use LinkedIn to professionally connect to class guest speakers, join relevant groups and associations, and request informational interviews. These actions demonstrate initiative and an eagerness to learn that set you apart from others. Effectively using tools like LinkedIn can help to keep your name top-of-mind for key industry insiders and can lead to referrals and opportunities to interview.
The WIL Team supports students and employer partners in their Work-Integrated Learning journey. Committed, dedicated and professional, they are key contributors to Humber’s Strategic Plan, preparing career-ready citizens and establishing strong, sustainable collaborations with industry, community, international and alumni partners.
"It has been very rewarding to use my previous experiences to assist students, through my current role, in recognizing their true potential and identifying opportunities that help them fulfill their goals." - Stephanie Kratz