Building a Career Through Connections: Deepti Mhaske’s Journey in Newfoundland and Labrador
Finding Opportunity Through Preparation
For Deepti Mhaske, building a successful career in Newfoundland and Labrador was the result of preparation, persistence, and a willingness to connect with people long before graduation. Today, Deepti works as a Student Development Officer for Cooperative Education at the College of the North Atlantic. In this role, she supports students as they prepare for and complete their co-operative education placements across the St. John’s region. Her work allows her to guide students through career development processes while helping them gain valuable workplace experience.
Turning Experience Into a Career
Before transitioning into career development, Deepti had already established herself as an experienced recruiter. While pursuing her master’s degree, she continued working full time, balancing academic responsibilities with professional commitments. As she explored opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador, she became increasingly interested in helping others navigate their own career journeys. This led her to shift from recruitment into career development, where she could combine her industry knowledge with her passion for supporting students and job seekers.
The transition was not immediate. Deepti began preparing for the local job market nearly a year and a half before graduation. During that time, she researched employment trends, explored career practitioner positions, and worked to better understand the skills and qualifications employers were seeking in Newfoundland and Labrador. “I started my job search one and a half years before my actual graduation date,” she explains. “I was trying to understand the job market and the job titles here in Newfoundland and Labrador for career practitioner roles.”
The Value of Mentorship and Networking
When reflecting on the resources that had the greatest impact on her success, Deepti points to two key factors: mentorship and networking. Through Study and Stay NL, she gained access to a mentor who helped her better understand the local labour market and expand her professional network. At the same time, she actively built her own connections through community engagement and networking opportunities. These relationships proved invaluable during her job search. When interviewing for her first career practitioner position with the Women’s Resource Development Corporation, her mentor happened to know someone connected to the hiring process. Combined with recommendations from her own professional network, that connection helped open doors and strengthen her application. “My mentor knew the person I had interviewed with, and that connection, along with recommendations from my own network, helped me get my first job as a career practitioner,” she says. For Deepti, the experience reinforced the importance of relationship building and community engagement.
Overcoming the Challenges of Entering a New Labour Market
Like other international graduates, Deepti faced challenges when transitioning into the Newfoundland and Labrador workforce. Understanding local job titles, workplace expectations, and employment pathways required time and effort. Rather than waiting until graduation to begin her search, she took a proactive approach. By researching opportunities early and building connections throughout her studies, she positioned herself to enter the labour market with confidence. Her experience demonstrates that career success is often built long before the first job offer arrives. Among all her experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador, one memory stands out: “People actually recommended me for jobs,” she recalls. For someone entering a new professional field and a new community, those recommendations meant more than career advancement; they represented trust, recognition, and acceptance. “It was a big deal for someone who was an outsider in that field at that time.” That support helped affirm that she was not simply living in Newfoundland and Labrador but had become part of its professional community. Study and Stay NL further strengthened her connection to the province by introducing her to people, opportunities, and networks that extended beyond the classroom. “It helped connect me to the community,” she says. Today, she continues to support students as they prepare for their own career journeys, sharing many of the lessons she learned along the way.
For current international students
Deepti’s advice is straightforward: “Go out there in the market, show up for events, start talking with people, and most importantly, start building meaningful connections with people.” She believes that networking is about much more than collecting contacts; it is about creating genuine relationships that can support both personal and professional growth. According to Deepti, those connections can make all the difference when navigating a new labour market and building a long-term future in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Power of Community
Deepti’s story highlights an important lesson for international students: success is not built alone. While hard work, preparation, and professional skills matter, meaningful relationships often become the bridge between opportunity and achievement. Through mentorship, networking, and active community engagement, Deepti transformed her student experience into a rewarding career. Today, she is helping the next generation of students build their own pathways to success, strengthening Newfoundland and Labrador’s workforce one connection at a time.