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Welcome

Being one of OLC's classic storytelling tools, blogs are crafted by SFU Community members which include the everyday student as well as expert voices. This is where we share touching stories, resourceful advice, and insightful knowledge with each other. In keeping with the OLC vision, the following blogs are created by and for students, so why not contribute to the OLC today?

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INTERNATIONAL

 

Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience

 

Kaylla
Staying Productive While Working Remotely for a Health Authority

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.

The Latest

 

THE LATEST
Cat with its eyes closed
Why Does Rejection Hurt So Much?

No matter how well you've prepared for it, rejection hurts on a gut-wrenching , tear-jerking scale. Why does it hurt so much? Perhaps more importantly, how can we deal with it? Dave proposes two conceptualizations of rejection, and some tips for dealing with it to go with each.

Volunteers banner
Volunteer for Aboriginal Not-For-Profits in Vancouver

Volunteering is an excellent resource for gaining job experience, exploring career options and giving back to the community. As Indigenous students we may want to volunteer for organizations that support the betterment of Aboriginal communities, which is why I've compiled a list here.

Picture of christina and her family
Applying for Graduate Studies

While applying for graduate school I had absolutely no clue what to do. I assumed that everyone knew what they are doing except me so I found myself feeling inadequate. I started to doubt my abilities and second-guessing my decision to pursue a degree. However, after a little research I realized that it isn’t so difficult after all.

Direction post with path as the destinations
You Can Only Plan So Much

What are your plans for the future? Does this question make you cringe? Don't worry: you're not alone. The pressure to have our future plans all figured out can be overwhelming. But the truth is, we don't need to have it all figured out. How can we predict the future when it's always changing?

Toy pulling a sled
Christmas: A Great Time To Accelerate Your Job Search

It's understandable to look forward to a relaxing break during the winter holidays, one that will be devoid of any intellectual effort. However, I encourage you to reconsider: treat this as an excellent time to jump ahead in your job search! Here's the story of how I made the most of my holiday job search.

Portrait of a student
Looking Your Best on LinkedIn

What makes a great LinkedIn profile photo? We use examples from student photos taken during the BIG Fair to illustrate tips on how to look your best in your LinkedIn profile.

a girl drinking coffee during Christmas time
Using the Holiday Spirit Towards Your Career

Have you ever thought of how the holidays can help your career? The hustle and bustle, holiday gatherings, and gift-giving are all aspects that can be applied to expanding your network or even get you a job for the new year.

News article of bc public service
Myths and Tips of What You Can Do In Government

There are many myths that are prevalent about working in government, whether it is at the federal, provincial or municipal level. But do these myths actually hold any truth? Read on to find out more, and to also discover a fantastic event opportunity to network with government representatives from all levels!

Indigenous Student Success Banner with Marissa
Indigenous Student Success: Marissa McIntyre

Marissa McIntyre grew up in Cloverdale, BC. She is currently a second year student here at SFU with a double major in First Nations Studies and Psychology.

Nalaga O'brian
Haida/Kwakwakw’wakw Artist and Business Owner, Nalaga

Haida/Kwakwakw’wakw artist, Nalaga O'Brien's inspiring journey as she starts her own company and finds her life's purpose.

Fuji mountain on Unsplash
Ritik's Japanese Co-op Adventure
Ritik had a pretty amazing time in Japan while on his International Co-op term with BOSCH. The projects he worked on may have been classifed, but the fun he had sure wasn't, and he's here to share it with you.
Picture of someone working on a laptop
Microvolunteering: Volunteerism for the Modern Student

What is Microvolunteering? How can you participate? Kelly shares the answers to these questions and sheds some light on this fairly new activity.

two people sitting across from each other with their laptops open
Informational Interview: A Powerful Career Exploration and Networking Tool

Interested in learning more about a particular career path? Hoping to expand your network? Looking to practice for job interviews? An informational interview might just be the thing you need!

Picture of a heart
Loving Your Job vs. Loving Youself

Should our most important values be fulfilled by the job we do? Anything less tends to be viewed as "just a job." The result is predictable: a bunch of unsatisfied people who think they should be in more fulfilling jobs. Dave argues it's better to love yourself than your job.

Person working on homework with a calculator
Tips on Studying Effectively

Finals season is coming up, and so is the daily intake of caffeine by students – you know who we’re talking about. Exam stress is a natural part of life that everyone will face at one point or another, but there are ways to ease the amount of stress - read on to find out more!

Picture of Season at SFU
Volunteering To Transition Into A New Culture

A profile on international student and third year psychology major, Rainy Yumeng Jiang, and how community engagement and volunteering has helped her adjust to Canadian culture.  

Vincent's coworkers
Working at Intel: Embedded Systems Engineer

Looking to expand his horizons, Vincent takes on a co-op opportunity that isn't directly related to his field of study. Read on to find out how he overcomes these challenges! 

Point of view inside a train going through a tunnel
Future Careers

While current career options at present may not always look great, there’s a lot to look forward to in the future. New fields are being developed almost every month, and new opportunities in a range of disciplines seem to be popping up fairly frequently – so what does the future hold?

person infront of police officers
Anti-Fracking Protests

I write this in the aftermath of the explosive media wave that happened on Thursday October 17th, where I sat glued to my computer in shock at what was taking place across the country with my brothers and sisters. This peaceful blockade, set up as an example of unwavering Indigenous determination to protect our traditional territories and way of life, was under attack. My entire world was shattering, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

Commmunity members
Metis Nation of British Columbia Annual General Meeting

On the 28th of September 2013, myself, Laura Forsythe and Loryn Blower all attended the Metis Nation of British Columbia Annual General Meeting in Richmond BC. It was a beautiful venue, small and intimate for the important proceedings and cultural connections that were taking place within.

Graphic depicting Christina's first day at work
5 Tips for Success in the Workplace

There are cultural differences between us that can often be misunderstood and affect our success in our chosen profession. An article in the Globe and Mail, entitled, 5 Tips for Women in the Workplace, gave a few excellent pieces of advice for those of us moving onto a career.

Inclusive poster banner
What Does it Take to be an Aboriginal Inclusive Employer?

"I think that in many ways, there is still so much confusion surrounding Aboriginal people and culture. I know many people are often afraid of doing or saying something offensive, so instead of asking questions and being open, they shut down and stay away." Christina shares how employers can be more inclusive for Aboriginal recruits.

Quote: "Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't"
An Education

I have discovered that learning from others, is the greatest way to avoid making mistakes; and listening to others with the intention to truly understand, is the greatest way to gain a real education; after all… “An education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he/she learned in school”.

People attending a conference
The 3-Minute Co-op Competition: Day Two

On October 7th and 8th 2013, WIL hosted SFU's first Three Minute Co-op Competition. 31 students presented on their Co-op experience, competing for cash prizes. Read a recap of the final 15 presenters.

Mirrored image of a person in a helmet and black jacket
Doing It Right: Know Your Employment Rights

What do employment rights issues look like? Issues of discrimination, harassment, and unpaid wages are a few well-known examples, but you might be surprised to learn how subtle and seemingly commonplace many employment rights infractions are. Here are some situations you might want to be prepared for.

Lucia and two colleagues
An Interview with Lucia Vasani: AIESEC Student and BIG Fair Coordinator

AIESEC student, Lucia Vasani came to SFU to assist in planning the 2013 BIG Fair. She shares her reasons for joining AIESEC and why she thinks the annual fair is a great opportunity students should be taking advantage of.

Picture of a four leaf clover
Creating Your Own Luck

Navigating the job market today is not an easy task. Application processes are becoming longer, qualifications that you may need are becoming greater, and there’s sometimes not as many jobs available at some times of the year. But there are ways to overcome all this, and it's not even that difficult.

Woman sitting in front of camera
10 Tips on Answering Interview Questions Effectively

Interviews are challenging yet predictable. You know that you will be asked a series of questions so that the employer can get to know you better and determine if you are a good fit for their position. We put together 10 tips to answer these questions effectively.

Two people in a meeting
Giving and Receiving Feedback

Many people struggle with providing helpful feedback. You don’t want to be too positive, ignoring possible errors, but you don’t want to crush the other person’s work either. To help, we’ve put together a quick list to help you give and receive helpful feedback.

 

Picture of Spock from Star Trek
Uncertainty: Boldly Go Where Many Have Graduated Before

Do you have mixed feelings about graduating from SFU? Do you find yourself putting on a brave face when talking to others about your future career? Don’t suffer in silence! Be the change and welcome uncertainty into your university experience.