Jim Voudouris graduated from UofT in 1987 and has been in the workforce for almost forty years. He is now Associate Financial and Life Insurance Advisor for Raymond James Ltd. The advice this alumnus gives Caitlin in episode five of the Econ Job Search Podcast takes the long view of career building, but it is also infused with references to the importance of self-care and self-improvement.
Department of Economics: Jim talked about the legacy studying at UofT left with him. His remarks about learning humility here and his advice; “you’ll never be perfect, so don’t beat yourself up with negative comments about yourself,” is an important lesson. What have you learned about staying positive while searching for a job?
Caitlin Zhang: Staying positive isn’t very difficult as long as I keep engaging with society, staying updated with current local and international news, chatting with friends about the job market and exchanging information, attending career events, and exploring different career paths. Jim shared many pieces of advice that resonate on a deeper level, and I’ve adopted several of them, like reading more interesting books and spending more time in nature. Have faith in yourself and try out different ways to gain new experiences.
DOE: Another striking aspect of the conversation with Jim covered advice about staying true to your core values and working in a field that fulfills a practical need as a path to personal fulfillment. Has that helped you through this time of being in-between university and work?
CZ: Certainly! After chatting with Jim about why he started his career in finance and what has kept him in it for so long, I started thinking about how I can build a career based on the kind of fulfillment I want. Jim values being intellectually challenged through his work, as well as experiencing new environments and collaborating with new team members when starting a new position.
This made me reflect on decisions I’ve made in the past, like why I joined a particular student club, or why I want to apply for this job position. I want to pursue a path that is full of challenges, challenges that push me in how I communicate with others, how I manage stress, and how I continue to find excitement in my work over the long term.
DOE: Jim also talked about how he tried out different roles in the finance industry for the first fifteen years of his career. What has advice like this taught you about thinking long term?
CZ: It’s challenging for me to think about jobs and careers in the short term right now. But in the long term, I don’t necessarily hope to live or work in complete comfort. I enjoy new experiences, a fast-paced and dynamic environment, so I want to embrace challenges and focus on problem-solving. These are expectations I will set for myself in the coming decade.
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