TODAY

“I sold all my belongings to buy a ticket, packed everything and just left.”

A travel plan to a career in human resources

Khody Bonas

WHEN KHODY BONAS ENROLLED in the Pre-Health Sciences program at King Campus in 2009, she knew it was the responsible decision that would eventually help her find a career as a registered nurse practitioner. But responsibility—and parental influence—didn’t translate to passion, and after a year Khody felt the program wasn’t the right fit and chose to travel instead. With no structured plan, she purchased a one-way ticket to backpack across Australia.

“I sold all my belongings to buy a ticket, packed everything and just left,” she says. “I thought I’d get one ticket, see how long I could stay, and decide from there when to come home.”

Between couch-surfing and sightseeing, Khody spent her time working at hostels, which peaked her interest in the hospitality sector. “People started telling me I was good at serving and welcoming guests and that’s when I started seriously considering it as a career option.”

After returning to Canada, Khody’s experience abroad helped secure a team lead position at Canadian Tire’s head office for the reception and executive concierge team. Although she found her niche (hospitality in a corporate environment), Khody wanted a larger role in human resources (HR) management.

“I needed credentials in order to successfully move up,” says Khody. “So I made the decision to return to school and applied to Seneca’s Business Administration-Human Resources program.”

Now in her third year of the program, Khody juggles four part-time jobs, two of which relate to hospitality, at a hotel and non-profit organization. “A typical day for me starts at around 5–5:30 a.m., get to school at 7 a.m., attend my classes and work for either the Markham Recreation Council or the Student Services department,” she says. “My third part-time job starts at 3 p.m., and I work from home for my fourth job, as an HR coordinator, in the evening.”

Khody has since changed her perspective on planning. The program has taught her to think proactively rather than reactively. Post-Seneca, she plans on starting her career either as an HR coordinator or an HR generalist and obtaining her Certified HR Professional designation. She believes travelling and taking a gap year are essential before transitioning to a postsecondary school, especially for those unsure of their future.

“If someone told me I’d be in HR five years ago, I wouldn’t have thought about it,” she says. “But travelling led me to do what I love.”