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Things That Went Wrong for Us
Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Workplace Success, Startup, Student Success

Sometimes, things don't go as well as expected when launching a start-up business. David explains in Part Three of his blog series just what went wrong and what fellow peers should look out for if you're also interested in developing a business.

Cartoon characters working
How It All Started
Co-op Reflections, Personal Development, Tech and Innovation, Startup

Interested in starting a business but don’t know where to start? Don’t know if you can handle it because you’re a student? David has gone through it and succeeded in some ways while failing in others. Learn from his experience in this blog post so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

Cartoon characters working
How It All Started
Co-op Reflections, Personal Development, Tech and Innovation, Startup

Interested in starting a business but don’t know where to start? Don’t know if you can handle it because you’re a student? David has gone through it and succeeded in some ways while failing in others. Learn from his experience in this blog post so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

Cartoon characters working
How It All Started
Co-op Reflections, Personal Development, Tech and Innovation, Startup

Interested in starting a business but don’t know where to start? Don’t know if you can handle it because you’re a student? David has gone through it and succeeded in some ways while failing in others. Learn from his experience in this blog post so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

Cartoon characters working
How It All Started
Co-op Reflections, Personal Development, Tech and Innovation, Startup

Interested in starting a business but don’t know where to start? Don’t know if you can handle it because you’re a student? David has gone through it and succeeded in some ways while failing in others. Learn from his experience in this blog post so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

two people talking over zoom with masks on
How to Stay Productive During a Global Pandemic
Co-op Reflections, During the Work Term, Life Balance, Professional Development, Student Success, Workplace Success, Professional Development, Workplace Transition, Working Remotely

Nikolina was one of the many co-op students who had to learn how to adjust to new working conditions during COVID-19. In this article, Bikolina shares with us some tips for finding productivity during a global pandemic. 

Person staring at two trails in a forest, separated by trees
Choosing a Co-op Offer Over Permanent Employment: How I Did It
Co-op Reflections, Career Exploration

Vicky Leung is a Business Co-op student who found herself having to choose between the allure of a permanent position at a start-up company, which did not match the job description, and a Co-op position that was everything she imagined. Read Vicky’s 3 pieces of advice when making difficult decisions in the co-op program. 

A hand holding a stick note
You Design, They Hold Stakes, We Make Cool Things: Becoming a Great Designer Is Simple, Right?
Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Workplace Success
As Karen points out, students of the Interactive Arts and Technology program have been through years of design school! Designers know how to use Adobe Suite like a pro, and know to bring their A-game to the table every day, proposing fascinating new directions and brand-new visionary ideas. While designers are hired to learn and bring some ‘fresh perspectives’ to their co-op workplace, read on to learn how they can overlook some key parts of the everyday designer.
Kaylla
Staying Productive While Working Remotely for a Health Authority
Co-op Reflections, Working Remotely

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.

sun peaking through the trees
10 Tips on How to Navigate the Hiring Process: An Insider's Perspective
Your Next Co-op, Seeking, Career Exploration, Interviews, Professional Development, Student Success, Communication

Nisha’s second work term as a curriculum and programming assistant on a hiring committee for Career and Volunteer Services made her realize that with so many qualified candidates, decisions are sometimes based on the tiniest details. Here are Nisha’s 10 tips for how to stand out from other candidates and the reasons why employer’s value them.

Ka Yiu Cheng
6 Tips You Should Know Before Your Next Virtual Interview
Student Success, Life Experience, Personal Development, Workplace Success, Seeking

From trials and tribulations from countless interviews during her Co-op seeking journey, Ka Yiu Cheng shares some tips on how to crush your next virtual interview. 

Ka Yiu Cheng
6 Tips You Should Know Before Your Next Virtual Interview
Student Success, Life Experience, Personal Development, Workplace Success, Seeking

From trials and tribulations from countless interviews during her Co-op seeking journey, Ka Yiu Cheng shares some tips on how to crush your next virtual interview. 

Ka Yiu Cheng
6 Tips You Should Know Before Your Next Virtual Interview
Student Success, Life Experience, Personal Development, Workplace Success, Seeking

From trials and tribulations from countless interviews during her Co-op seeking journey, Ka Yiu Cheng shares some tips on how to crush your next virtual interview. 

Cast members from Ned's Declassified Guide
Bakhtiar's Declassified Co-op Survival Guide
Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Workplace Success, Working

Bakhtiar Yaqub has decided to formally appoint themselves as the designated Ned Bigby of Simon Fraser University. Read for tips on surviving your work term from Bakhtiar's Declassified Co-op Survival Guide!

From left to right a lamp, laptop, and a stack of books are next to each other on desk
Advice on Adulting Your Co-op Term
Co-op Reflections, Life Balance

Working a new 9-to-5 can come with a pretty steep learning curve, especially if you hold on to your university-student habits. In his article, Gryfin tells us his tips for adjusting to his co-op placement (and adulthood). 

Picture of Emily Lam smiling
Just Trying It, Strength, and Balance: The Biggest Lessons From My 1st Co-op Term
Co-op Reflections, Workplace Success

Your first Co-op work term comes with a lot of valuable lessons and take-aways that stick with you throughout your professional career. For Emily, these lessons include just doing it, finding your strengths and striking a work-life balance. Read on to learn more.

Picture of Emily Lam smiling
Just Trying It, Strength, and Balance: The Biggest Lessons From My 1st Co-op Term
Co-op Reflections, Workplace Success

Your first Co-op work term comes with a lot of valuable lessons and take-aways that stick with you throughout your professional career. For Emily, these lessons include just doing it, finding your strengths and striking a work-life balance. Read on to learn more.

Lead Image
Wrapping Up 2020: Our Top 12 Inspirational Blog Articles
Life Experience, Co-operative Education, Professional Development, Personal Development, Mental Health, Working Remotely

2020 has been an unprecedented and extraordinary year. What we at the OLC have been pleasantly surprised by is how inspiring our contributing authors have been. Many of our posts touched on the reality of the pandemic, but they were written from a place of positivity and resilience. To wrap up 2020 at the SFU OLC, we've curated our top 12 inspiring posts and summarized how they can continue to inspire you in the New Year.

Researcher looking into a microscope
How to Get the Research Experience You Need to Kickstart Your Career
Research, Career Exploration, Information Interviews, Seeking, Professional Development, Student Success

Gaining research experience, for many, is the first step to forging a rewarding career path in many fields across SFU. But are you confused about how to get the research experience you need? In this blog, Des’ree shares some helpful tips that help you find great research opportunities.

Person standing on one foot on rock, in front of sunset
Finding Balance: My Experience as a Co-op and Varsity Athlete
Co-op Reflections, Life Balance

Does working 40 hours a week seem tiring? Try adding 15 to 18 hours of strenuous running, weightlifting, stretching and physiotherapy. Carlos takes you through his journey as a varsity track athlete while completing an eight-month co-op with Streamline Athletes.

Two men in suits and ties sitting down, shaking hands
The Most Important Trait to Get You Hired
Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Seeking

Robert's boss shared a key lesson with him about an essential trait that can get one hired. What is that trait and how can you develop it? Read on to learn more from Robert.

Large computer monitor with silver microphone to the right
How I Brought My Office to My Home
Co-op Reflections, Working Remotely

It was confusing figuring out how to work from home on a short notice back in March 2020. Since then, Terry has been learning and reflecting on what really makes a home office productive and what is needed to keep it a friendly and productive environment. Read on to learn more about his insights.

Large computer monitor with silver microphone to the right
How I Brought My Office to My Home
Co-op Reflections, Working Remotely

It was confusing figuring out how to work from home on a short notice back in March 2020. Since then, Terry has been learning and reflecting on what really makes a home office productive and what is needed to keep it a friendly and productive environment. Read on to learn more about his insights.

Person doing yoga on right knee, right arm extended out, and left leg extended back
Overcoming Barriers to Staying Active at Home: Tips and Advice
Life Balance, Mental Health

When surveyed, students reported that the top four barriers to staying active were poor weather, lack of energy, loneliness, and lack of time. Check out the Health Peer Educators’ blog for some tips on ways to combat these barriers and build a healthy routine. 

Person doing yoga on right knee, right arm extended out, and left leg extended back
Overcoming Barriers to Staying Active at Home: Tips and Advice
Life Balance, Mental Health

When surveyed, students reported that the top four barriers to staying active were poor weather, lack of energy, loneliness, and lack of time. Check out the Health Peer Educators’ blog for some tips on ways to combat these barriers and build a healthy routine. 

Man sitting at desk, with hands behind head
What Has Worked So Far With Remote Working
Co-op Reflections, Working Remotely

Remote working is no longer only the future of working but a current-day reality. Matthew provides three of his tips and tricks that have worked for him when working remotely with Student Recruitment and Admissions at SFU.

Six different hands stacked on top of each other, indicating teamwork
The Power of an Introvert as a Leader
Personal Development, Leadership

Can introverts be outstanding leaders? Check out this article from Des'ree in which she talks about what kind of traits introverts have that can be harnessed for leadership roles.

A calendar showing the month of September beside yellow highlighter
Keeping Your Nose to the Grindstone: How to Stay on Track With Your Coursework
Academic Success

Staying productive and on top of your workload is tough but even tougher while studying remotely. Des'ree has some great advice for our readers with a tool that she uses called the Accountability Schedule. As we move into the next semester, check this out and see if it could work for you!

Gabriel's Team
Four Leadership Lessons That Are Critical to Your Co-op Success
Co-op Reflections, Leadership, Personal Development, Professional Development, Student Success

Follow Gabriel on a journey of self-reflection as he shares with us some of the lessons he's learnt while on a Co-op term at Tranction on Demand.

person working on her laptop, sitting on the ground
How to Boost Your Remote Teamwork Experience During the Pandemic
During the Work Term, Workplace Success, Professional Development, Working Remotely, Communication

As a university student, have you been having some trouble making remote teamwork fun and engaging? Des'ree shares what she's learned from her remote semester experience and provides some tips on how to improve the quality of your teamwork experience.