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Blogs
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
Are you an international student that feels like there is a wall that stops you from moving forward? Are you trying to improve your language level, but feel embarrassed communicating in English? You're not the only one. But there are people who are reaching their goals. Find your inspiration and become one of them.
Have you landed an International Co-op work-term and begun preparing for your semester abroad? Surely, you have done your research and are aware of the cultural differences and nuances between where you are going, and your home country? If you haven’t, have no fear! This article is meant to help you understand the basic tips and tricks to adjust to the cultural differences in your new workplace, making your transition much easier.
Morgan Karugaba shares his journey of how he overcame the challenges of uncertainty, by stepping out of his comfort zone.
In this article, SFU Psychology graduate Ravi Bansal shares her experiences of participating in the Hellenic Studies Field School in Greece. Ravi’s travels encouraged her to become involved in the SFU community, opening up an opportunity to attend the Education without Borders conference in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
There are a lot of things your international student friends have never told you. From depression to pressure to stereotypes - life isn't always easy when you are studying abroad. Read an international students take on life overseas.
The holidays are a time for fun and festivities, but the feeling of being homesick can also creep in during this time. Here are some steps to help you through it!
Job hunting is never easy. This is especially true when you are an international student with no Canadian experience. Follow Alireza's tips and tricks on how to navigate around this barrier in your search for meaningful work.
Mario Fong travelled to Hong Kong to join the HSBC trainee program through International Co-op. Dropping everything to live in a new country provided him with personal and professional experiences he won't soon forget.
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!
As an undergraduate student, Spencer Chen excelled with a GPA of 4.21 and received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards. She also sought diverse research and community service opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the SFU community.
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.
Bachelor of Sciences graduand Charity Mudhikwa hit the ground running when she came to Canada in 2018 for university, dedicating her undergraduate degree helping SFU students and the community at large.
Since its launch in 2005, the Students for Development (SFD) program has been supporting Canadian university students' participation in internships in developing countries and emerging economies. Isabel went on the SFD program in Summer 2011 where she worked with ICO (Instituto de Capacitacion del Oriente) in Bolivia.
New to Vancouver? Discover 4 spots Lauretta discovered in her adventures around the city.
Who doesn’t love travelling? Summer is just around the corner and with that comes the time to make our travel plans a reality. Have you ever thought about travelling as a way to boost your career?
Learning how to effectively communicate in a new work environment can be difficult enough, but add a language barrier and things get even more complicated. Here are Julia's top tips for overcoming language barriers in the workplace.
“Gosh Roop! Are you really an international student? But you do not speak with an accent. Wow, I would have never guessed that.” Through anecdotes and introspection, Roop shares a compelling narrative of the struggles of why International students face challenges due to language barriers and biases.
Looking to maximize your time abroad and integrate with locals, but nervous to take the first few steps? Read on to learn how Kendra broke through their personal barriers, and the advice they have for future travellers to make the most of their work term overseas.
Jacky is a fourth year Business Student who spent his co-op in Beijing China. Read his interview to discover what his co-op abroad was like. Jacky covers preparing for the work term, work life, and living abroad.
Still not sure if co-op is for you? Chetachi explains why co-op was such a valuable experience for her and what it was like to work in the corporate world during her Economics co-op work term.
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.
The Latest
Learn how those years of recreational sports can help you land the job of your dreams!
Nervous heart palpitations, a piercing adrenaline rush, and a case of the stutters; like many Co-op students on their first day at work, I had just been asked to present an introductory speech in front of my colleagues.
First impressions are important, especially in the workplace. Your employer will be judging you based on how you present yourself – at all times! It may seem scary, but I’ll show you how to ace that first meeting!
Pamela Plantinga, BPK Behavioural Neuroscience student, took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to a paid trip abroad and augmented it into a self-directed short-term dual internship experience in Nashville, Tennessee before going further abroad to Europe.
Worried about the difficulties you may face while trying to communicate in a foreign country? I hope these 5 tips can be of some sort of encouragement! 화이팅!
As a person living on campus, Shayne was looking for ways to get involved with SFU and ended up finding leadership opportunities that took her from her dorm to all around Vancouver! Read about her experiences with SFU Residence and Housing!
For this week’s Club of the Week Spotlight, Janelle interviews Niyanta, president of SFU Passion Club. Learn more about the club which provides various self-development workshops for young women!
Samantha went to Japan through the Canada Japan Co-op Program and worked at Kao Corporation as a co-op student. Find out what it took for Samantha to settle into her life in Japan.
Celia Walters is creating some great content in her marketing role at TPD™ - an international Workforce and HR Solutions company! Check out the latest installment of her series on how to answer the most challenging of interview questions.
On the one hand, being a Big Sister can lead to great potential benefit for the youth, but on the other hand, perhaps you’re worried if you would make a great Big Sister. Here is Evelyn's take on the matter.
There are many benefits to joining an Executive Board, here are five you might discover at SFU or beyond!
Do you feel like you have control over your life? Do you feel empowered as you walk out the door to conquer whatever comes your way? I have a secret to share with you and the good news is that it’s incredibly simple. In this article I share how to be productive, how not to focus on being busy, and why that is important.
You have an excellent layout and consistent format to your resume. Your design elements are eye catching while still being subtle and appropriate for the job. All of this will be of no use if your content is not reflective of someone who has taken the time to fully explain his or her skills and experiences.
Ever wonder what an interviewer is thinking during your interview? Here’s Bernice to give you a sneak peek thanks to her experience on an SFSS hiring committee!
Figuring out your dream career can take several years as you try new things, meet interesting people and learn more about yourself. After five years in an established career, co-op became a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to start over, change career lanes, and gain amazing work experience as a Student Engagement Program Coordinator at SFU.
When I had the opportunity to attend the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC/BC’s) Communication Planning 101 Workshop, I jumped at the chance to learn a little more about strategic communication and writing a communication plan.
Finding out about an incurable genetic disease is definitely a game changer. With the right attitude it can be change in the right direction as I was able to get involved with CNIB (Canadian National Institute For The Blind) and support a new community of inspiring individuals.
Jennifer Johnson is a 4th year business student concentrating in Marketing with a Corporate Social Responsibility Certificate. She reflects on what it was like to work at CGA-BC and CPABC as a Marketing Assistant where she worked on large scale event planning.
Job searching? Starting out in an industry? Switching careers? Exploring your options? There are many reasons we need to do company and industry research in our professional lives. You may need these skills when exploring new industries or fields, creating a job application or preparing for an interview.
Jeremy Wong, founder of Mancakes Bakery, is living proof that for entrepreneurs their phone is their office and their office is wherever they are. I had a chance to catch up with Jeremy recently and hear about his journey and future plans to revolutionize the dessert industry.
Can you tell whether a job will be one that helps you wake up happy or one you would eventually dream of quitting? There are actually some telltale signs that can help you understand the job and company culture to give you a better idea of the fit.
Have you ever considered working for a small firm? Nick Pochailo, a fourth year business student spent eight months working in a small firm and realized he reaped many benefits from a small firm that he might not have at a large firm. Read on to find out why you should consider a small firm for your co-op.
Read about Harpeet's co-op experience as a Therapy and Office Assistant at DesLauriers Chiropractic Group Inc and find out how this experience has helped them gain valuable lifelong skills.
Daniel Paulino expected to be the intern that got coffee for the office. He surprised everyone, especially himself when he developed top-performing software and wrote a research paper in his eight-month co-op at Genome Science Centre. Find out how he did it.
Did you know that according to some statistics, up to 33% of managers know within the first 90 seconds of an interview whether or not they will hire someone? Learn how to ace your interview from beginning to end with these 8 great tips.
Looking to maximize your time abroad and integrate with locals, but nervous to take the first few steps? Read on to learn how Kendra broke through their personal barriers, and the advice they have for future travellers to make the most of their work term overseas.
Are you looking into working abroad for your co-op? Business student, Candice Woods shares what she learned in her co-op and how to combat homesickness based on her experience working in Barcelona, Spain for her co-op.
There is no exam to test you on these skills, no research paper to write or case study to examine – yet these skills are incredibly important to your future role as an employee. Can you guess what skills we are talking about?
When Ian first came to SFU, Ian was a student in the Biological Sciences program. After their first year, they realized that they didn't just want to study living organisms, they wanted to learn about the human body. So at the end of their first year, they found themselves transfering to the Biomedical Physiology program.
Next in the SFU Club of the Week Spotlight, Emily interviews Jordan and Sandali, co-directors of SFU Dance Marathon, an event to raise money for BC Children's Hospital.