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Communication

Communication

The bridge connecting you to success.

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Welcome

Welcome to Communication, one of the most integral professional skills anyone can further develop. Because communication is one of the top skills an employer is looking for, the following stories show how you can strengthen your communication skills, confidently convey your thoughts, and excel in any professional, academic, or personal setting. As you scroll through, you will be able to see how communication comes in a variety of forms such as interpersonal, non-verbal and intercultural, but is also the foundation of other important situations such as networking, public speaking and marketing.

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Overcoming Cultural Pressures in University: A Personal Journey

Read Henna's story on how she overcame career pressure and her journey of career and interest exploration!

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The Introvert’s Struggle: Conveying Your Ideas

You have ideas to share, but you can’t bring yourself to interject. Sound familiar? It might be a confidence issue, fear of being wrong, or an unwillingness to seem impolite. Even though conveying your ideas can seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be. Read about Chantel's journey with public speaking in this article. 

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Is Co-op Worth Delaying Your Graduation?

Practical experience isn't always gained in the classroom. Sure there are labs and projects, but nothing tops a real workplace environment. If you’re second guessing participating in co-op because of delaying your graduation, this post is for you! 

Cheryl
A Beginner's Guide to Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a great tool for managing social media platforms and can be incredibly helpful on the job! Cheryl shares a few tips on using the program for Hootsuite beginners.

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I Did a Work Term Extension and So Should You!

Accepting a job with SFU International Co-op, Christy only expected to complete a four-month work term. This all changed when she was offered a work term extension. If you’re considering whether or not you should accept a work term extension, Christy has three big reasons why you should. 

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The Way You See The World: Culture and Communication

Communication and interaction are fundamental parts of everyday life and a person’s ability to communicate and interact has a major impact on their well-being, happiness, and success. In this post, Akanksha shares her own experiences at the intersection of culture and communication.

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Alumni Spotlight: Laurie Dawkins

Like a modern day Goldilocks, Laurie Dawkins, a Communication Co-op alumna, spent many years trying out various roles to find the one that was just right. Now, as an award-winning, senior communications professional, Laurie shared how her experience with SFU Co-op shaped how she approached her career.

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The Cover Letter Blind Date

We’ve all been there, wanting to impress our cute blind date -- feeling great in the moments when the conversation flows – and not so much in the moments when it stalls out.

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Come Witness the Annual Indigenous Success Stories Event

SFU First Nations Student Association (FNSA) invites you to come and witness this annual event. Indigenous storytellers will share their journeys of success, expressing the adversity and perseverance faced along the way. Don't miss this chance to engage in the SFU Indigenous community as well as those closely connected to SFU!

Taylor Mckinney headshot
Why Apply to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

It is a very exciting time to get involved with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)! Taylor shares her experience working at INAC's Yukon regional office and how she gained valuable skills while learning about Yukon First Nations, government and life in the North. 

Marianne Ignace
First of Traditional Languages Apps Ready for Testing in New Year

Marianne Ignace has an ambitious plan. Within the next five years, she hopes to have developed language-learning apps for speakers and learners of some 12 First Nations languages in B.C. and Yukon.

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Indigenous Literature Series: Lee Maracle

Read about Indigenous scholar and author, Lee Maracle's book, "I Am Woman".

Cover of the book, The Fourth World
Indigenous Literature Series: Grace J. M. W. Ouellette

Grace J.M.W. Ouellette's book, The Fourth World: An Indigenous Perspective on Feminism and Aboriginal Women's Activism.

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Indigenous Literature Series: Janice Acoose

A summary of Janice Acoose's trail blazing book, Iskwewak kah’Ki Yaw Ni Wahkomakanak: Neither Indian Princess Nor Easy Squaw.

Portrait of Ashley
Working on a Tiny Communications Team

This summer, Ashley Gregerson landed her dream co-op position as the Communications Assistant for the City of White Rock. Here, she worked as part of a small communications team consisting of only two staff. Ashley shares what she learned and what you can expect joining a tiny Communications Department.

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University Bocconi Campus Abroad Class

Read about her opportunity to take BUS491: Diversity Management with Professor Paola Profeta from University Bocconi and how it gave her more perspective about diversity in the workplace.

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A Celebration with 1,000 BC Tech Stars

In my work term with BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA), I had the opportunity to help plan and organize the company’s biggest event of the year, and it just so happened to be BC’s biggest and longest running technology awards celebration.

The author
How to Write an Awesome Cover Letter

Applying for jobs can seem tedious and through my experiences, I have compiled six tips that can help you improve your results and get noticed!

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My Tech Journey Started After The www.

I am a Lefty, a techy, and as my coffee mug says, a “hawt geek”. This is what I can proudly say after finding myself through my first co-op placement. On day one, I thought I signed up for work, but what I really signed up for was a second family at Left of the Dot Media Inc. 

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What I Learned From Going Back to Kindergarten

I spent a year working in a special needs kindergarten classroom and learned endless career and life skills to help me work towards my goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist.

Carlie
Connections, Connections, Connections: The Keys to Getting the Most Out of Your Co-op

Thinking about doing a co-op? Read about Carlie's co-op journey and how this experience has taught them the value of connections. 

Brett
Technical Writing: A Day to Day Work Flow

What is the role of a technical writer? And what do you do working as one? Communication Co-op student Brent Restivo answers these questions, outlines the workflow of a typical technical writing project and takes you step-by-step through an actual on-the-job scenario.

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5 Reasons to Write a Co-op Reflection for the OLC

You might have noticed some amazing co-op stories written by your fellow peers on the OLC, but have you ever considered sharing your story?  Here are five reasons why you should write for the OLC.

 

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Improve Your Writing With Five Simple Steps

Whether you’re pursuing a career in writing or not, excellent writing and communication skills are often at the top of the list for job qualifications. Here are five simple steps to drastically improve your writing and set yourself apart from other applicants in a highly competative job market. 

Nick in Barcelona
Teaching English Abroad: Skill Improvements for Any Career

Have you ever wanted to live and work abroad but could “never” find something career related? Well, in my opinion, what you “could not find” might actually be right in front of your eyes. There are countless opportunities for students to live abroad while teaching English. You just might be surprised at what occupational skills you might be able to extract from such a position. Have a read of my article to find out.

Thompson Community Centre
My Fitness Journey

Kenneth Moy is a Kinesiology student who spent his co-op placement at Thompson Community Centre. Read on to find out what he learned after four months as a fitness professional.

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Navigating a Naturally Extroverted World: The Introvert's Guide to the Communication Workplace

Being a Communication major, people tend to automatically assume you have this gargantuan, larger than life personality, and that you’re just a natural people-person. But what about those of us who are, what some might call, introverts?