Meet Stephanie Cohen: One of Our 30 Faces of YES
Stephanie first joined YES in 2016 as she was stepping into the workforce for the first time. Given her lack of experience, she faced real challenges, especially during interviews. That’s when she turned to YES for guidance, seeking the right support to navigate her job search and launch her career on the right foot.
Through YES one-on-one counselling and workshops, Stephanie strengthened her applications and built lasting confidence. She received hands-on support with CV development, interview preparation, understanding the job market, and even sharpening her French communication skills for the workplace. With the steady guidance of her YES employment counsellor, she was able to tackle each challenge and turn every lesson into progress.
Today, Stephanie is a senior Marketing Communications Specialist at Bell, showcasing how consistent support and guidance can lead to great outcomes. She knows that YES truly believed in her potential, and that support didn’t end when she landed the job. Her story shows that building a successful career isn’t just about finding the right role, but about having the right support behind you.
Interview with Stephanie
What brought you to YES, and what were you hoping to achieve at that time?
In 2016, I was fresh off an internship in doing social media at a startup, and I was looking to enter the job market. I was having some difficulty, and when I saw that there was an organization that specifically provides assistance to the anglophone community, I wanted to try them out in hoping that it would provide me with some guidance on my job search journey.
Can you tell me about some of the challenges or goals you faced when you first connected with YES? Was there a particular moment or obstacle that felt especially significant?
One of the challenges I faced was that I was not very experienced in the interview process, as well as the job market. I also was able to polish my CV, which helped me significantly moving forward. I had done everything on my own, so having someone there to help was a relief.
How did YES support you in overcoming those challenges or moving forward in your career, business, or artistic journey?
My career counsellor, Ellen, made all the difference. She never made me feel like I was doing something wrong, she just knew I needed a little push, and provided that. Anything from interview advice, job market trends, CV tips, she was always there to give the best advice. And I know if I pick up the phone or send her an email today with a question, she will still be there to answer.
Were there any tools, workshops, or insights from YES that made a lasting difference?
I participated in a few French language workshops, which really helps when it is your second language. The workshops that I attended were more focused on “corporate” language, which I needed at the time to be able to properly communicate effectively with my Francophone colleagues.
Where are you now in your journey, and what achievements or milestones are you most proud of?
I am currently a Marketing Communications Specialist at Bell, and I have been with the company for almost 5 years, which is my longest tenure at a company. It does not only speak of my growth and success as an employee and communicator, but it also speaks to company values. When you feel like your voice matters, and are surrounded by colleagues and leaders who care, your success will follow.
Looking back, is there a particular moment or success that stands out as a turning point?
There have been some ups and downs in the job market in my career, however, the best thing I have done for my growth is to learn from each step in the journey, especially the downs. Once you figure out what works and what doesn’t work, you will understand exactly what you want to achieve in your career.
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