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Scroll through and catch up on the latest from the SFU OLC. You're bound to find a fresh new perspective, the most current advice, and recently published stories that are sure to inspire you. Content is created by the SFU community.
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Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience
Working from home is a common reality for many Co-op students in the past year. Working from home while working for a Health Authority in the thick of the pandemic is a tremendous experience Kaylla went through last year. Take a look at how she learned to stay productive in these uncertain times.
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Hallelujah — midterms are finally coming to a close! Perhaps you breezed through your exams like a swan gliding through water, declaring “Einstein” to be your middle name. But if you’re like the rest of us ‘poor unfortunate souls’, your exam experience resembles more of a paper plane ramming into a wall and crumpling sadly to the ground.
We highlight the experience of Elena Barbir, Chemical Physics major, in the RISE program which has sent her to Germany. RISE is a dynamic summer program that offers undergraduate students from Canada, USA and the UK in an opportunity to receive work experience in research labs for a period of three months.
Martyna, Lindsay, Christine and Silvia share their visit to the Archana School for girls and what they have learned from this invaluable experience.
As the girls further their learning experience in Kolkata, they come across new findings and lessons everyday - either from each other or from their new surroundings. In this entry, Christine shares her thoughts on a Gender and Health seminar the group participated in and how that has helped her develop a better understanding of Indian culture.
Your palms sweat, your head's buzzing, and you've got those butterflies in your stomach. Sound familiar? You've been struck with a case of interview anxiety. But have no fear as these tips will help you make your interview slide!
Grammar police can be annoying. Infuriating, even. Yet, I can’t help but feel a small triumph whenever someone exposes themselves as actually caring about proper spelling and grammar.
After Justin and Samantha decided to create Career Friends, the rest was history. They have kept each other on track while job-hunting post graduation. Read Justin's story about his experiences after graduating in 2002, and how he overcame the challenges of finding full-time employment.
The BC Public Service is hiring! If youre considering applying for a position with the BC Public Service or have an upcoming interview with them, read on to learn about their interview tips and strategies.
The interview process can be a very intimidating and overwhelming process for many job applicants. The stress of being in the hot seat can make even the most composed interviewee melt under the pressure. Interview anxiety can be tamed and even prepared for with the help of an understanding and insightful SFU Student Advisor...
There are many factors that make a successful interview, but by far the most important is preparation. It seems simple, but it's not necessarily easy. Preparation is not only being able to answer the standard questions, but also being able to convey how outstanding you would be in the organization.
Everyday, the media informs us of new global issues arising in different parts of the world. We think about how troubling the situation is for a little while and then go on with the rest of our day. In most cases, this is where the story ends.
Meet the girls! Martyna, Silvia, Lindsay and Christine introduce themselves here by telling us about their hobbies, their likes and dislikes and what they love about India so far. Get to know them and follow them on an arm chair journey around India!
The references you choose ensure your work history comes up smelling like roses and is crucial to obtaining a job offer. Do they love you, or do they love you not? Learn how to pick your references and stop plucking the petals.
We all have our own sets of biases and preconceived notions, but unless we experience things first hand, they are merely based on conjecture and not facts. Martyna is here to break down some common misconceived perceptions about India by providing a comparison between horror stories she's heard from friends before leaving and the true reality of living in India.
Several days ago, I was able to visit Cherington Place with my friends, a nursing home located in Surrey. Our task was to keep the elderly company, so we made them cards and cookies, and prepared performances to keep them entertained (offering our time, treasures, and talent).
From working at RIM (Research In Motion) for a year before graduating, SIAT convocation speaker Simon Kwok shares the bits and bytes of his Co-op work experience as an interaction designer in Toronto.
Looking to find out more about Destiny Reflection and all the opportunities they have to offer? Here are some details on who the foundation is, how they came about and what their plans are for the future. Come take a peak!
This is where it all begins. Four SFU Health Sciences Co-op students share their incredible journey to India as they land in Mumbai, one of India's largest cities. Along with some new friends, Lindsay, Martyna, Silvia and Christine take a quick tour of Mumbai before heading off to Kolkata.
"So, if I don’t have a plan, do I just sit around and wait for stuff to happen?” You might ask. “How am I supposed to know what to do if I don’t know where I’m going?” Is another one I sense a lot of in my work with students.
Google+ is the latest and largest social media platform trying to compete with Facebook and Twitter. So is learning the ropes of another platform worth the effort?
Heard of Movember? It’s a fundraising movement for prostate cancer research in which men (mo bros) and women (mo sistas) alike dedicate the month of November to growing a moustache. In other words, it’s pretty much the best thing ever.
Have trouble writing a resume to land that dream job? Never fear the OLC is here! We've all been there and we have tons of resources to bring your resume from 'meh' to 'wow'!
The students gather to and fro
A vibrant quivering mass
Their thoughts are laden, heavy things
Of textbooks, schedules, and a new U-Pass
I don’t much like talking to strangers. I have great conversations in my head with myself, but when it comes to vocalizing my brilliant, eloquent thoughts to other people, I often end up garbling the words into something near unintelligible.
There’s no denying it – people see and understand the world differently, and it’s only a matter of time before perspectives clash, right and wrong get mixed up, and feelings get hurt. But it’s pretty clear that different people handle conflict uniquely.
As this blog’s editor, one of the many joys I get to experience is the annual inundation training of those of our wonderful volunteers who aspire to contribute to the blog. I get to discuss things like “what makes a good blog article” and a few of the basics of good, simple online writing.
Conflict. Why oh why do you plague us so? You are an inevitability – it’s just a matter of time before someone or something disagrees with someone else, and they’re suddenly in a position of deciding between actions towards resolution, mediation, antagonization, or blissful ignorance.
Offering up your time and skills for a cause you believe in can also benefit your career. There is great value in putting yourself out there, to discover what you love doing, or to expand on your skills doing what you love.
It was a pretty straightforward account of how knowing what are strengths are can help us to build on and expand those strengths into new areas. The problem, of course, is that this viewpoint presupposes that you actually do know what your strengths are.
We’ve all heard the phrase “comfort zone.” We’ve probably all been told at one point or another to get outside of it, too. But what exactly does that mean? We can make all sorts of fancy diagrams and models to illustrate the concept, but does that really do justice to lived experience?
Earlier this year, five SFU students traveled to Cape Town, South Africa with the Light and Love Home organization to support humanitarian projects in the township of Enkanini. They recently spoke to the OLC to share their story with us.
What is the fastest way to getting noticed by a company you wish to work for? Use and expand your network.
In today's competitive market, job searching has become more and more difficult. Read on to find out how you can use social media to connect with recruiters and companies to find your dream job.
What if you could score your dream job? Through a lot of hard work, dedication, and determination, Canucks.com writer Derek Jory did just that when he landed himself with the career he had dreamed of since he was a little boy.
Do you worry about making the transition from a student to a full-time employee? Well stop fretting and read on to find out how SFU alumnus Karen Sum transitioned from a Canucks intern to a full-time Canucks.com website coordinator.
What is your fear? Is it fear of… Heights? Taking risks? Making mistakes? Something else? Answers will vary but one of Yat's biggest fears is making mistakes. However, despite this fear of mistakes, throughout several Co-op work terms over the last couple of years, he has had his share of experiences making them. Read more to learn about Yat's mistakes, and how to learn from yours.
The C.A.R.E. SFU Global Travel Award Program has funded air travel for students volunteering abroad with not-for-profit organizations since 2010.
Hate giving in-class presentations? Looking for ways to improve your public speaking skills? Here are 3 easy steps to ace your next presentation!
Canada is definitely one of the best countries for hockey and snowboarding, but did you know Canada is also a land of opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Ever wonder how it would feel like being an international student in Vancouver? Talk about a reason to party, well coming from a Punjabi family we hardly need a reason to party but if there was ever a decent one, this was it. Read more to find out about Max Shyngs experience!
If you have a passion for hockey and can afford to work without a weekly pay cheque (a $1000 honorarium is provided at the end of the term), then applying for a Co-op job with the Vancouver Canucks could prove to be an unforgettable experience. Landing a coveted internship isn't easy, but if you're up for the challenge, read on and you could soon be calling yourself a Canuck.
Ronil Desai’s eye opening journey through his first co-op position with Teekay Shipping Corp. Attending university involves many deadlines and countless interactions with fellow students and professors, not to mention a constant effort to prepare students to succeed in the workforce......
Have you met people in your life that have ample talent but struggle with motivation? Back in middle school, Yat was never a bright student. Like Bunko, he put too much emphasis on thinking inwards and constantly exerting energy towards tasks that were not producing positive results. Yat has since learned a lot, and is wanting to share his wisdom with you:
When Yat was younger, he did what everybody – parents, teachers, counsellors – told me to do. Like Johnny Bunko, he was trapped into doing something he didn’t want to do. He focused on the wrong courses and exerted my energy on things that did not inspire or motivate me. Read more to find out how Yat found his path in university.
In the summer of 2008, Yat worked 40 hours a week while going to school with a full course load. Managing time was essential to getting things done, but everyone has struggles with time management. Read more to find out the lessons Yat learned while reading the book, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko
“Help, Learn, & Discover” is an organization that gives university students the opportunity to volunteer abroad and build homes for the poor in Ecuador, while gaining useful work experience – particularly for biology and pre-medical students. There are three programs you.. can choose from
While my dad and I get along really well, we don't talk a whole lot - besides the fact that we live in different cities, I'm pretty sure we share a dislike of small talk. I think we share a lot in common actually, and understand each other quite well. So, despite our infrequent chit chats, my dad's been a big influence on a lot of things in my life, not the least of which being my career development.
I and the whole staff at work attended a training last week on a "narrative" method of career counselling led by Mark Franklin, the practice leader of a company called Career Cycles. It's inspired me to write a bit about narrative therapy in general, especially as it applies to career development.
There were a lot of messages that I grew up with, whether it be from my parents, peers, or the all-encompassing influence of the media. One of the ones that sticks with me most to this day, and I'm not sure where it comes from, has to do with self-sacrifice.
Hi. It's me, Dave - I was one of the smiley, energetic people handing out popcorn last night when you came up to visit SFU for our open house, "Info Eve." Congratulations, by the way! It's a pretty cool experience to be offered acceptance to any university, let alone the top Canadian comprehensive school as ranked by Macleans. So, you've got good reason to feel proud of yourselves. I really could see that on a lot of your and your parents' faces last night. Way to go!
Will your resume catch the attention of an employer? Marcia Shimizu, a SFU Co-op Coordinator reviews three key points to consider when creating your résumé.
A routine is one of those things in life that can be either a huge relief or a giant burden. I know that I tend to oscillate between those two feelings, generally dependant on whether or not I have an established routine in my life at the time. I think that for the most part, we’re creatures of habit.
Leif Stroman shares his amazing high-tech co-op experience, working in Whistler for Recon Instruments. As the only software engineer for Recon's new Transcent goggles, he was able to influence major product decisions from start to finish (which included plenty of mid-air and mountain-top testing!)