Most writers don't begin their careers in professional communications by getting a science degree, but Hafsa Siddiqui has used her unique background to her advantage.
For most of her undergraduate degree in Biology and Forensic Science, Siddiqui didn't plan on working in professional communications. It wasn't until she helped write a book in her final year that she began considering a new career.
"As part of my program, I got to co-author a book, and that whole writing process piqued my interest. I had a really good time with it. After that, I started looking into careers like medical writing," said Siddiqui.
After searching for programs that would allow her to hone her writing skills, Siddiqui decided that Humber's Professional Writing and Communications (PWC) graduate certificate program was the best place to pursue her new passion.
"This program had a work placement which was really important to me. It also had training in professional communications, while other programs mainly focused on writing only. Outside of writing, the PWC program trained me in things like social media marketing and video production, which are valuable skills today," said Siddiqui.
The PWC graduate certificate program is a three-semester program that teaches students how to be effective communicators in the dynamic communications industry. In addition to the professional writing courses, students must accumulate 400 hours of real-world experience in a work placement. For her placement, Siddiqui found a position with Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC), a nonprofit organization that funds and publishes research on mental health in Canada.
Siddiqui felt that her science background made her a good fit when she started her new position.
"If I didn't have my science background, working with a research organization would have presented a much higher learning curve. My familiarity with science and research made explaining our data to the public a lot easier," said Siddiqui.
Communicating complex ideas to the public was an important part of Siddiqui's job, as her primary responsibility was to create content for MHRC's social media.
"I took care of the social media. That included everything from drafting the copy with hashtags to posting at optimal times, as well as creating the visuals for the post. I also had prior experience with graphic design, which came in really handy," said Siddiqui.
Even though she was a perfect fit for the role, Siddiqui said she still had to learn a lot when she started her position.
"There was a lot to get done, lots of deadlines. At first, it was kind of like merging onto the highway, but once you're in, it's smooth sailing," said Siddiqui.
Sarah Murphy, manager of grants and studentships at MHRC, was impressed by Siddiqui's work ethic and was excited to see what value she could bring to the organization.
"Hafsa brought tremendous enthusiasm, a positive attitude and a great willingness to learn and contribute to her internship," said Murphy. "The strong foundation she got at Humber was augmented by these outstanding attributes that cannot be taught. As a result, she stood out quickly and gained a reputation for quality work delivered."
"I very much recommend that employers give students opportunities that will help them grow and evolve in their careers. Internships are excellent opportunities to not only apply what has been learned in the classroom but to experience the dynamics of a workplace, teams and project execution. We are helping to develop new grads into highly capable, collaborative team members by giving them real experiences in a workplace," said Murphy.
Siddiqui attributes some of her success to adapting to the fast-paced environment at MHRC with the excellent time management skills she developed while in the PWC graduate certificate program.
"Originally, I thought I'd be overwhelmed with the responsibility, but my experience with juggling various projects and deadlines in the program showed me that it's actually sort of fun," said Siddiqui.
Siddiqui also felt that Humber helped prepare her for other aspects of the professional world.
"I developed a lot more confidence as a professional at Humber, especially through learning to set boundaries and knowing my worth. I learned a lot about how to carry myself in the workplace through hearing my classmates share their personal experiences and advice," said Siddiqui.
Due to her hard work and professional communication skills, Siddiqui signed a full-time contract with MHRC following her internship and is ready to immerse herself in an exciting industry.
"I definitely see myself continuing in health or medical communications. I've gained really valuable experience at MHRC; everything I've learned will serve me well into the future," said Siddiqui.
Learn more about the Professional and Writing Communications graduate certificate program.