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EMPOWER YOUR FUTURE

  • Ready to explore where your degree can take you?
  • Interested in making a positive impact on your community or the world?
  • Want to tackle real-world challenges, like the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Welcome to the new Career Ready Changemaker Program, a unique experiential learning opportunity designed to help you maximize your degree. Whether you're just starting your academic journey, or are preparing for post-SFU life, this free program is your bridge between classroom learning and a meaningful career. 

Classroom to Real World Impact

  • Identify how you might positively contribute to some of the challenges in our world - leveraging your unique experience, education and interests.
  • Build changemaking skills that are in demand across all industries, while engaging with like-minded students from diverse degree areas!
  • Earn a resume-boosting Certificate of Completion, along with recognition on your Co-Curricular Record, an official university document that tracks your leadership activities.

Experiential Learning, On Your Terms

  • Develop skills and experiences to compliment your degree by completing two activities from a selection of events, workshops, in-class presentations,  career advising or online courses.
  • Set your own pace with this self-directed program - plan to spend 3-5 hours over one or more semesters.

“The program allowed me to discover my mission statement...provided me with resources, and allowed me to build skills and confidence to be able to network like a pro.”
- Jaskiran Punni, 3rd year Biology Major, Health Sciences Minor

How to Complete the Program

Complete a Changemaker Foundations activity and a Changemaker Experiences activity, with the flexibility to do them in any order. Then, fill out a short program reflection form to receive your recognition!

1. Changemaker Foundations

Explore your future opportunities, and the ways you could leverage your degree and experiences towards what feels meaningful to you! To meet the Foundations requirement, attend either a workshop OR a career advising session:

Book a One-to-One Career Advising

Book a chat with Career Educators Jill Eddy or Amrit Mundy in Surrey, Burnaby or remote via Zoom. Call 778-782-3106 and mention the changemaker program. We'll help you explore pathways, and provide personalized ideas and resources to help you 

Attend a Drop-In Career Advising

Come by SFU Career and Volunteer Services during drop-in hours to touch base with a Career Educator! This is an opportunity to chat in a casual environment, with no need to pre-book an appointment. We'll help you explore your possibilities and provide resources for next steps. Drop-in sessions start January 31, and are offered until the end of the semester:

  • SFU Burnaby - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 2-3pm at Maggie Benston Centre 0300 (bottom floor of MBC) 
  • SFU Surrey - Thursdays 2-3pm at Student Services, Room 2538 - Ring the doorbell upon arrival

Workshop

Career Building for Changemakers - Global Perspectives Workshop
Tue, Jan 30, 4:30-6pm 
Global Student Centre (AQ 2013), Burnaby Campus
Join the Global Perspectives version of our popular Career Building for Changemakers workshop! Discover ten career building strategies to prepare you for life beyond SFU. Open to all students, with helpful ideas and resources for those seeking to leverage their international experiences, including international students, inbound exchange students, students returning from study / work abroad, and refugee and newcomer students. 
Learn more and register

2. Changemaker Experiences

Select from various opportunities to connect with employers, build skills and engage with peers. To meet the Experiences requirement, you have the option to either attend an in-person event OR complete a self-paced Canvas course:

In-Person Events

SFU Career Festival
Tue, Feb 6 – Wed, Feb 7, 10am-4pm

All of Academic Quadrangle and Saywell Hall, Burnaby Campus
Come spend an hour or two checking out SFU’s largest career, volunteer and grad school fair. Explore career, co-op, volunteer & grad school opportunities from 95+ organizations and join our career-themed games and activities. Visit our site for event details, list of exhibitors, preparation tips and more.
Learn more and register

Career Workshops
Attend any workshop by SFU Career and Volunteer Services, whether in-class or on your own time. 

Building Resilience Climate Action Night 
Thu, Jan 18, 4:30-7pm

Student Union Building, Room 4200, Burnaby 
Featuring Indigenous Ethnobotonist T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss, join Embark Sustainabilty for an evening exploring climate action and drawing inspiration from the ecological resilience around us.
Learn more and register

Beyond Screens Community Kitchen 
Thu, Jan 25, 5:30-7:30pm

Student Union Building Community Kitchen, Room #2125 – Burnaby
Join Embark Sustainability, SFSS Women’s Centre and ReclaimTech SFU for an evening exploring the ways online recipe sharing impacts the way we preserve, share, remix and (re)connect to cultural recipes over a delish mix of Ukrainian & Chinese foods.
Learn more and register

Global Café - Bringing my Strengths as an International Student to My Job Search
Thu, Feb 1, 12-2pm

Global Student Centre (AQ 2013), Burnaby
Join the Global Café for facilitated circle chats to meet new international friends across faculties, discuss helpful tips relevant to being an international student, and enjoy refreshments! This chat will be facilitated by Amrit Mundy, Career Educator and is a perfect space to ask your questions and gain new perspectives. Hosted by International Services for Students
Learn more and register 

Journaling our Ecological Grief
Mon, Feb 12, 11:30am-12:45pm

Embark Studio, Student Union Building (SUB 1310), Burnaby 
Join SFU's Ecological Chaplain, Jason Brown, and SLC Writing Services Coordinator, Julia Lane, for this opportunity to connect with one another and process our individual and shared ecological grief. At the end of this workshop, participants will be invited to embark on a photographic/journaling experience and, if they wish, share back with the group to nurture deeper connections.
Learn more and register

Community Kitchen: The Joy of Adaptation
Thu, Feb 29, 5:30-7:30pm
SUB Community Kitchen, Room #2125 – SFU Burnaby
For this event, we’ll be exploring how to make tabbouleh or marinara sauce, two recipes which make very different use of tomato, onion and garlic. This February, SFU SVSPO, SFU DNA, Embark Sustainability and the SFSS Women’s Centre are teaming up to discover how a community of care can adapt to fit people’s differing needs, abilities and circumstances, and explore adaptation as a joyful part of cooking that allows us to unlock new possibilities and create fulfilling meals!
Learn more and register - space is limited

Climate Cafe
Thu, Feb 29, 11am – 12:30pm

Room 7200 in the SFU Burnaby Library
Take part in SFU's first Climate Café, a regular event that will provide a safe and reflective space to chat about feelings and worries about the emerging crisis. Hosted by SFU's Ecological Chaplain, Jason Brown. 
RSVP

Seeds of Sovereignty: Indigenous Food & Culture
Thu, Mar 7, 5:30 – 7:30pm
SUB, Room #4200 – SFU Burnaby
Embark Sustainability, in partnership with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Association, will have passionate speakers explore the rich history of Indigenous food traditions and the ongoing struggle for food sovereignty. Come hungry for knowledge and food and get ready to dive into the vibrant world of Indigenous culture, cuisine, and the fight to decolonize our food systems.
Learn more and register

Embark Sustainability Career Night
Thu, Mar 14, 6:30-8:30pm
800 Robson Street Room C400 Vancouver
Embark Sustainability, in collaboration with the Centre for Climate Justice UBC and the Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions, proudly presents Climate Career Night: Land-Centred Livelihoods. Discover your path in climate advocacy at Climate Career Night! Connect with pros, enjoy catered refreshments, and ignite change. RSVP now!
Learn more and register

West Coast Virtual Fair
Tue, Mar 19 and Wed, Mar 20
SFU Burnaby
West Coast Virtual Fairs is a collaboration between SFU, UBC and UVic. You will find plenty of interesting opportunities no matter what faculty and program you are in! Visit digital booths at this online career fair to discover career, co-op and volunteer opportunities, explore graduate school and professional development programs and connect with recruiters from different companies or organizations! Pre-book sessions starting on March 12, Fair takes place online on March 19 and 20! Sign up early to receive access to the Fair Platform and reserve your sessions!

Fair Prep Workshops
Need help to prepare for the career fair? Check out these workshops offered by our event partner, University of Victoria, open to all SFU, UBC & UVic students and alumni:

IMPORTANT: By registering for one of these Fair Prep workshops, you are consenting to share your personal information (name, email, institution) with our colleagues at UVic.

Outdoor Climate Cafe and Forest Walk
March 21, 10:30am-12:20pm
Food Forest Learning Space by TASC 1 (weather permitting)
Join the first outdoor Climate Café, part of a regular series to provide a safe and reflective space to chat about feelings and worries about the emerging crisis. Hosted by SFU's Ecological Chaplain, Jason Brown, this event will be held outdoors in the Food Forest Learning Space and include a contemplative forest walk after the discussion. As this event is weather dependent, please RSVP ahead of time so you receive any  updates.
Learn more and register

Garden Therapy
March 21 - October 24 (Register for any session)
Group Room 3 (MBC0307) & Embark Learning Garden
While self-care can help with reducing the effects of stress, horticulture therapy (garden therapy) activities offer a fun and comforting way to achieve a similar outcome. You can pair the act of planting, maintaining, and harvesting with therapy concepts that cultivate personal growth and resiliency in this series facilitated by Tricia-Kay Williams, an SFU Registered Clinical Counsellor.
Learn more and register 

* Additional events will be shared here throughout the semester, so be sure to check back! If there are events you think we should add, please get in touch!
 

On-Demand Canvas Courses

I’m Graduating. Now What?
Ready for new directions? Our digital career course will help new graduates successfully transition from school to work.
Learn more and register

Returning from Abroad
If you are returning from a study or work abroad experience, this course will support you with the transition back and leveraging your experience towards future goals. 
Learn more and register

Resume Creation
Check out this one-hour resume workbook with videos and activities to learn how to create a resume that stands out. 
Learn more & register

Cover Letter Writing
Do you have questions about writing a cover letter, or are not even sure what a cover letter is? This self-directed course will put you on the path towards writing great cover letters.
Learn more & register

Receive Your Recognition!

You're free to complete this program at your own pace—whether that's in a day, a week, or over several semesters! Just join in on one Changemaker Foundations activity (like advising or a workshop) and one Changemaker Experiences activity from the lists above. Then, wrap it up by filling out this quick program reflection form below, and you'll earn your Certificate of Completion and Co-Curricular Record credit.

Program Reflection Form

Are You Faculty or an Instructor?

Book an in-class career presentation for your course, and help your students earn this credential! We help students connect your course to their future aspirations through classroom presentations on areas such as: changemaking, the UN SDGs, exploring careers, how to gain experience, networking, industry and job trends, work search, resumes and LinkedIn. 

Questions? Contact Us!

Reach out to Jill Eddy, Changemaker Lead & Career Educator at jill@sfu.ca.