From Experience to Employment

Student Profile: Michaela Mitchell

by Nicole Laidler

After graduating with a college degree in commerce in 2020, Michaela Mitchell found employment working remotely for a digital agency specializing in the automobile industry. “It was fun, but it was 100 per cent remote,” she says. “Growing up, I never envisioned myself working from my living room. It was quite isolating.”

"I’ve always loved writing and was interested in strategy and communication. I wanted to talk to people!"

Wanting to build on her digital marketing skills and leverage her outgoing personality, Mitchell decided to pursue a post-degree Diploma in Public Relations from Western Continuing Studies. “I’ve always loved writing and was interested in strategy and communication,” she says. “I wanted to talk to people!”

Offered in-class or online, the 10-course diploma can be completed in one-year, or over two-years as a part-time student. Mitchell studied remotely and continued working full-time while she pursued her educational goals. “All of my classes were in the evening, which was fantastic,” she says.

"Coming from a college background, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to succeed at Western Continuing Studies, but I’m very thankful that I did it."

Having juggled two part-time jobs while in college, Mitchell says she was used to setting priorities and managing her time wisely. “Now that I’m no longer a student, I find myself looking for things to do because I’m so used to working and then going home to do school work,” says Mitchell, who graduated from in early 2022.

In addition to learning how to conduct market research and develop and execute a communications plan, Mitchell says the Public Relations diploma curriculum improved her writing skills. “Like many people in my age group, I used a lot of abbreviations and exclamation marks, or my writing was very formal,” she notes. The PR program taught her the specialized techniques needed to write everything from a press release to an email.

"At the end of my four month practicum at Ivey, there was an opening for a full-time position."

The program also included a four-month work integrated learning placement where students could hone their skills and build their professional network. Mitchell applied for and landed a placement as a Communications Intern at the Ivey Business School at Western University.

“At the end of my four month practicum at Ivey, there was an opening for a full-time position,” she says. Today, she works as a Marketing Specialist at Ivey, with a focus on the HBA program and the campus store.

"I was fortunate to find a permanent position from my practicum. The program gave me this opportunity, and opened the door to my career."

“Coming from a college background, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to succeed at Western Continuing Studies, but I’m very thankful that I did it,” she says. “I was fortunate to find a permanent position from my practicum. The program gave me this opportunity, and opened the door to my career.”

Explore Our Post-Degree Diploma Programs 

Post-Degree Diploma Programs are designed to provide students with specialized knowledge, skills and experience to differentiate themselves in the job search process. Diploma programs are designed to complement an undergraduate degree.

Michaela Mitchell is a graduate of our Diploma in Public Relations program.