Over 29 million Canadians depend on Interac solutions every day to move their money safely and securely. We’re a small but mighty team of 350+ employees and each of us plays a critical role in ensuring we deliver our best for Canadians.
The Interac Up Close series gives you an inside look into what working at Interac is like. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the talented people that work at Interac, or you’re considering working at Interac yourself, we hope you enjoy reading our staff stories.
What is your name and job?
My name is Chingtien Chang and I’m a Marketing Coordinator at Interac.
You were hired through the Interac Recruitment Challenge at Elevate TechFest where we invited individuals to submit creative job applications for a year-long rotational position. Would you be able to provide more information about that experience?
The Elevate Recruitment Challenge was an event hosted by Elevate and the Interac Diversity & Inclusion team. The event was divided into three rounds:
- A panel interview where candidates spoke with Interac representatives from each department participating in the rotational program.
- A virtual interview with Mark O’Connell, President & CEO of Interac Corp., where candidates recorded timed answers after viewing his pre-recorded interview questions.
- A behavioral survey for all candidates to learn more about their working styles.
Throughout the event, I had the opportunity to meet Interac employees from various departments and witness the company culture firsthand. It was such a fun experience and I loved the overall vibe of the event. I felt so comfortable talking to everyone I met, which was the key reason I accepted the offer from Interac.
What did you learn in your year as a rotational program associate? What did you learn about yourself during your rotational year?
This position was my first corporate role so there was a steep learning curve, especially in the beginning. When I started in my new associate role, I sometimes held myself back from sharing my thoughts and opinions because I felt inexperienced. Since then, I’ve learned the value of being vocal and involved in conversations whenever I can.
What does a typical day at Interac look like for you now that you are on the Marketing team full-time?
My day starts with checking our social media channels, responding to any messages or comments, and reviewing our posts to see what the reception has been like. Then, I will outline the tasks for the day and respond to emails. My other daily tasks vary depending on the projects I’m working on, but most days I’m in a few meetings and have some documents to review. To wrap up my day, I’ll do a final check of our social media channels again.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Interac’s culture stood out to me during the Elevate Recruitment Challenge, so it’s no surprise that my favorite part of the job is the people I work with! I really appreciate that Interac has a friendly culture. I love that the marketing team is very tight-knit, so we all know each other well and get along.
You are also on our Diversity & Inclusion Council. How did you get involved in that?
The first rotation I completed in the program was on the Corporate Governance team, and many of those people were also part of the D&I Core Team. They invited me to join a few meetings and when I rotated into Marketing I asked to stay on the D&I team. I loved what they were doing and really wanted to stay involved.
What comes to mind when you think about your journey at Interac?
The main thing that stands out to me about my first year at Interac is that it happened in 2020. It was a crazy year and we needed to make many adjustments to adapt. It is comforting to know that I have a very supportive community around me. The uncertainty forced me to learn and adapt quickly, which definitely helped me grow as a professional.
Where would you like to see your career grow at Interac?
I would like to continue growing in my role within the marketing team. I’m excited to get involved with more projects and campaigns and to take on more responsibility. Since community management is a big component of my role, I specifically want to learn more about social media marketing.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I’ve been to 20 countries: Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, England, Croatia, France, Spain, Portugal, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, USA, Germany, and of course, Canada.
What makes Interac a unique place to work?
I think Interac is a unique place to work because we’re a much smaller company than people may think, despite being such a household name. We have a ‘start up-like’ culture.
Interested in learning more about life at Interac? Click here.
Ready to apply for one of our open positions? Click here.
