Professional Development and Careers

Ensuring that MFI (Master of Financial Insurance) students are well prepared to successfully transition from university to the professional world is a cornerstone of the MFI program. A full schedule of professional development training both as a group and 1:1 support is embedded within the program. There are many opportunities to hone these skills throughout the program and interact with professionals from a wide range of organizations within the industry. This exceptional support continues throughout the program and beyond graduation!

Here is some of the support provided by the MFI Program to build professional skills:

• Professional Development Series
• Application Documents (Resume & Cover Letter)
• Practice Your Interview
• Culture, Connections, & Communication in the Workplace
• LinkedIn & using social media
• Networking 101

MFI Mentorship Program

The MFI Program has established the MFI Mentorship to provide a semi-formal platform to facilitate the social connection between the current MFI students (Mentees) with MFI Alumni (Mentors).
The aim of this program is to further engage our alumni who have completed the program and embarked on careers in finance, insurance, and/or fintech industries by sharing their skills, knowledge, expertise, and experiences of completing the MFI Program and starting out in the professional world.

Our partnership organizations are continually growing however to date students have been placed in organizations such as:

Take a look at some MFI Alumni!

Guest Lectures

As part of the MFI curriculum industry leaders are frequently invited into the classroom throughout the term to deliver guest lectures on various topics of interest. This is an invaluable part of the curriculum where MFI students learn about trends in the industry.

Check out this sample of interesting talk titles from partners who have participated in the program to date.

In addition to the formal guest seminars industry professionals frequently donate their time and expertise through:

• Mock interviews
• Panel discussions
• Networking events
• Field trips
• Coffee chats

MFI Fall Reception

During the fall term, the MFI Program hosts an annual reception to launch the new student profile book, introduce the new cohort and celebrate the graduating students. This event is attended by representatives from the finance and insurance industry, MFI students and alumni, and UofT Faculty. This provides a valuable opportunity to network with top professionals and researchers in the field.

“On November 2, 2023, partners, friends, faculty, industry instructors, students and alumni all gathered at the historical venue of The Design Exchange to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the Master of Financial Insurance (MFI) program and to launch the “hot off the press” student profile book!

We also celebrated our newest inductees of the MFI Alumni Family, our 2023 graduates and the achievements of the 2023 MFI Award Recipients, Senhao Chen, Boris Migan, Michael Luan, and John Ndolo. Congratulations!

A warm thank you to everyone involved – your support is essential to our success and a special shout out to Warren Cai from Manulife who kindly spoke about his experience working with the MFI Program and hiring over 20 MFI graduates since the program began in 2016!”

Photos

Internship

The culmination of the MFI Program is the summer internship which is an essential and key aspect. The successful acquisition of an internship depends on a students’ willingness to participate fully in the professional development activities on offer and job search process.  As a result, the MFI Program cannot guarantee a placement, however, while students are responsible for securing a summer placement, the Program provides extensive support with Administrators working directly with each student individually assisting in their job search, creating strong application documents, improving interview skills, and considering career options.
To achieve this, the MFI Program:

• creates the Student Profile Book to share with prospective employers to market MFI interns.
• distributes suitable postings to the cohort, some of which are specifically for the MFI students.
• offers workshops, seminars, 1:1 advising and provides many assorted resources.
• facilitates job interviews for students.

Students are not restricted to positions advertised by the MFI Program, and they may apply to any role or organization that meets their interest; however, the position must be approved by the Program Office before accepting.  
Internship Requirements

The internship (STA2560Y) is a mandatory formal course with the following requirements:

• Successful completion of the work-term: minimum 16-week full-time.
• Participation in all professional development workshops and seminars on career-related topics.
• Submission of report.
• Presentation to classmates, faculty, supervisors, and the incoming cohort of students.

Sample Career Titles of MFI Students and Graduates:

Industry Partners Include: