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Top Tip List

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Gain practical tips to enhance your personal and professional life, from advice about job seeking to tips on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

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Essential Networking Techniques for Thriving in a New Role

Six networking tips that can help build your professional network while navigating new environments.  

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Navigating the Waves of Data: A Journey of Growth and Learning

I learned many things in my co-op journey but some of the most important lessons that I learnt came from those working alongside me. Here are a few of those things that I learned from others, shared with you. 

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Discover Your True Self: 7 Tips to Develop Unwavering Self-Belief and Authenticity

Take chances as you never know what opportunities may arise. Meet Priyanka Das, a Beedie Co-op student who’s working with SFU’s Communication and Marketing department as a Digital Resource Assistant. Learn more about how she landed her current co-op and other opportunities such as the CEOx1Day finalist by being authentic and believing in their abilities.

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Work-Life Balance and Productivity While Working From Home

Unlock the secretes to thriving in your upcoming remote Co-op! Here are some tips and tricks that I found helpful from my experiences working from home for WorkSafeBC. 

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7 Goal-Setting Tips to Start a Semester Off for Success

Are you struggling to set your goals for the semester? this blog is here to help.

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4 Ways to Stay Balanced During Summer Term

Taking classes in the summer can present some unique challenges. With warmer weather, exciting events, and endless opportunities for fun, it's easy to get swept away in distractions. Finding a balance between academic responsibilities and personal well-being is important. Here are 4 ways to help you prioritize so you can balance and enjoy everything the season has to offer:

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Overcoming a Slump: Becoming the Main Character of your Story

Ever wanted to feel like the main protagonist in a movie? Here’s your reminder that you already are one!

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Prolonging Motivation Post Midterm Season

A rather underrated discussion is how difficult it is to keep your motivation intact throughout a four-month long semester. Especially after mid-term season when we start to lose that that adrenaline of motivation. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated!

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How to Make the Job Application Process Easier on Yourself

Elina experienced challenges while applying for Co-op during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the end of her degree. Follow these tips on how to successfully find a job placement–with less stress!

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Academia’s ‘Among Us’: A Guide to Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever doubted your academic ability or questioned your belonging in an academic setting? Check out these tips on how to overcome imposter syndrome in academia. 

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Relearning to be a Commuter

Looking for ways to make your commute more interesting? Here are 5 tips to become a more efficient commuter.

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5 Steps to Have a Successful Midterm Season

Julia shares a 5-step guide for having a successful midterm season. Enjoy, and get studying!

Office
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Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Office Hours

Showing up to office hours can benefit you in many ways. The next time you think about skipping maybe take another moment to consider the positives!

Managing Time
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5 Popular Time Management Strategies

Want to get ahead of the mid to late semester crunch time? Here's some tips on how you can become an expert time manager.

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How to Battle Your Imposter Syndrome at Your Job – and Win!

Welcome to your first Co-op job! You showed your stuff at your interview and wowed your future employers with your knowledge and experience. You come into your first day and that’s when you realize: you don’t know anyone at all, and everyone looks more knowledgeable and more mature than you. Keep reading to see a few tips that Claire has for you to battle your imposter syndrome and win!

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5 Tips I've Learned as Digital Communications Specialist on Video Editing

Video editing can be hard. And while this video won’t turn you into an editing master, it can hopefully provide you with some information to make the job easier. Being a third-year Communication student with a passion for creating, Brianna Tsang shares 5 tips and tricks that she has learned throughout her 8-month Co-op placement with FCAT (Faculty of Communication Arts and Technology) as a Digital Communications Specialist.

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How to Boss Your First Work Term and Get an Extension

Landing your first work term can be a lengthy and challenging task, but the work doesn’t stop when your get that offer letter. Navigating your first day, and even first term can be tricky. Continue reading to see four tips that helped me make the most of my first work term and helped me turn my 4-month placement into an 8-month one so hopefully, you can too.

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Working for the Sun: 3 Tips for a Strong Interview

The day before an interview tends to be the most anxiety-inducing, especially as a Co-op student. Maybe it’s because you really want that specific position, have little professional experience or generally have social anxiety in new and uncomfortable situations. With a little reflection on my interview process, I came up with three tips to hopefully calm your nerves before, during and after your next interview.

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Five Ways That Co-op Helped Me Build My Self-Confidence

Having self-confidence has consistently been a goal of mine to achieve. And for a long time, I would get scared at the thought of pursuing Co-op positions as I thought that it would surely make me feel less confident about myself. But little did I know, my experiences in Co-op have been one of the biggest factors in building my self-confidence.

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Full-Time Co-op, Part-Time Artist: It Can Be Done!

I’m a student at SFU and on top of that, though, I’m a freelance creative. I do a bit of everything. As my first Co-op work term approached, I got nervous. I was terrified, frankly, that I would have to stop creating if I wanted to pursue full-time work. Keep reading to learn about how I learned to balance working full-time and being a freelance creative. 

A person typing on a computer.
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5 Email Etiquette Tips Every Employee Needs to Know

You probably know that dreadful feeling you get after opening an email that is so long your finger gets tired from scrolling. While the process of sending an email may seem intuitive, there are many considerations that should be made before hitting that “send” button. Therefore, I present to you, essential email etiquette tips every employee should know.

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Six Tips to Make the Most of Your Undergraduate Degree at SFU

The undergraduate experience is what you make of it – whether you volunteer, do research, join Co-op, or just go to class. Read on for more tips on how to make the most of your time at SFU.

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Protecting Work-Life Balance when Working in Non-Profit

“Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life” has been attributed to several thinkers: Confucius, Mark Twain, and Marc Anthony. Regardless, this sentiment is unrealistic.

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4 Reasons Why You Should Do Your Co-op with the SFU Co-op Program

Wondering what's it like to do a Co-op term with Co-op? If so, check out Sarah's experience working as the Digital Design and Communications Assistant for the SFU Surrey Co-op Programs, where she had had the opportunity to work with four different Co-op programs!

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7 Ways to Add Fitness to Your Routine

Are you trying to put wellness into your routine and not quite sure where it fits? This article by SFU Recreation tells you some tips and tricks on finding ways to get started

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What I Wish I Knew When Seeking Co-op Jobs

During my semester of scouring through SFU’s myExperience portal for jobs, I had to learn a lot of things the hard way, which probably led to me getting a job pretty last minute. But I don’t think I’m the only one who has fallen into the trap of destructive habits that creep through the cracks on the road to success. Below is a list of things I wish I had known when I started seeking for Co-op jobs that I hope will help other Communication Co-op job seekers.

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7 Ways to Have a Successful Meeting With Your Supervisor or Team

A big meeting is coming up at work and you have no idea how you will contribute in a way that is meaningful. Jacky went from anxious to ambitious during his co-op work term as a Student Researcher, learning the ins and outs of leadership and proactive participation in team meetings. Here are his 7 tips for preparing for your upcoming work gathering.

Taylor
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What Worked, What I Could've Done Better and Lessons Learned While Working From Home

Taylor's seen the highs and lows of working from home and is here to tell you all about what worked and what didn't as he supported Vancouver Coastal Health as a Junior Business Analyst. Read on to learn from his carefully thought-out tips and tricks for making the most of a remote work term.

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3 Reasons to Consider an 8-Month Co-op

In the process of searching for a Co-op job, you may be thinking “an 8-month co-op seems so long, so a 4-month position is probably the way to go”. Read on for Marilyn's reasons why an 8-month Co-op can be so much more rewarding. 

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Five Co-op Work Terms: What I Learned Along the Way

Five co-op work terms might sound like a lot, but it was definitely a valuable journey for Winnie. Read on to learn more about Winnie’s Co-op journey as she transitions from her student life to work life, her takeaways from these positions, and her final thoughts on the Co-op program

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