Due to the unprecedented situation surrounding COVID-19, many students are struggling to adapt to their new work environment. Thuy An continues her story of how COVID-19 has impacted her life, and how she adapted to working remotely in another country. Read on to find out more about Thuy An’s remote work journey.
Co-operative Education
The impact of the coronavirus has been felt by everyone across the country but how has the experience been for coop students? Thuy An shares her story on how through proactive thinking from loved ones and support from coop coordinators and supervisors, she was able to book a flight home to join her family while making the necessary arrangement to work remotely.
Have you stopped commuting to work? No more walks to your favourite local coffee shop? Stuck at home working on your tiny laptop? Maria and her team are figuring out new ways for effective communication your teammates while staying sane. She realized that she's not the only student struggling while undergoing the shift. To learn more about the resources that helped Maria turned her hectic reality a bit more manageable and enjoyable, read on.
After two short months since April first started her co-op position in Toronto, the pandemic hits. She would choose to make the same decision of moving out of town for her co-op term even if she was given a second chance. Read more to find how she transitions to remote working, and what lessons she gains through her experience working from home.
This was Ethan's second co-op semester and it started off similar to their first. Little did they know, this work term would be completely different. Having already had experience in an office environment, things went smoothly as Ethan picked up their work tasks in stride. However, the first couple of months on the job flew by compared to what was yet to come. Read on to find out more!
Thinking about doing a co-op term but not sure how to have a successful experience? Starting a co-op term for the first time can be daunting. Here are a few tips to make the best out of your co-op opportunity.
Mental health is integral to your growth in the workplace; which Elvina expands upon in her unique and enlightening experience as a Marketing & Outreach Assistant with SFU Health & Counselling Service. Read on to find out how it is important to look after your well-being while being motivated and productive in your workplace.
How would you explain co-op to high school students or how would you explain your journey to discover your career path? While a co-op student, Julie was asked to participate as a panelist for high school students visiting Teck Resource Limited. She shares her experience as a panelist and co-op advocate in this Q & A summary.
"There's a phrase in Israel, "buckle up your elbows" which means that it's time to hustle. This is exactly what brought me to the place where I'm writing to you right now." -- read Kim's story and learn how you can achieve anything with enough courage and motivation.
"So how do you overcome that voice inside your head, telling you that you’re not good enough and that it’s only a matter of time before someone finds out you’re a fake?". Read Josh's story to learn how he overcame the imposter syndrome during his internship as a designer for IBM.
Joining a student club is an excellent way to develop transferable skills! Olivia shares how her campus involvement not only helped with skill development and securing a co-op position, it eased the transition and helped differentiate Olivia from her peers. In her own words: "If you want to be one step closer to finding your dream co-op, I suggest starting with community involvement!"
"I walked in excited (and of course, nervous) for the first day of my co-op term at Allocadia. Fast forward to eight months later, I can say, with every inch of confidence in my body, that I have never felt more accomplished, more confident, and more resourceful". Read Sharan's story to see how he developed his career in a data-driven marketing industry.
Make an impact by breaking ground with new ideas and spearheading new proposals. Taking Initiative can have a long-lasting impact on one’s career. Read about how I jumped out of my comfort zone and directed the start of the Active Rehabilitation program in a multidisciplinary medical clinic.
While many skills transfer from the academic to the work world, last-minute submissions and all-nighters simply won’t cut it at top-notch companies. Marina condenses all her experience in her co-op assignments with some valuable tips on efficient project management.
"In the workplace, change is often chosen for us." Read on as Jessica shows how a change in workplace personnel can have a big effect on you personally as well as professionally.
What happens when you are six courses away from graduation but unsure of what to do after? Aleisha reflects on her rationale for extending her degree to do some soul searching and professional development before embarking on her next big adventure, post grad life.
Convinced that you need to work at a large company for the ultimate experience? Think again! Darren emphasizes why choosing a small or mid-sized firm will add more variety and substance to your co-op experience.
Accepting a co-op internship, especially internationally, can be tough but once you earn the opportunity it can be a wonderful learning experience. Nikita was accepted for a UX design internship in Amsterdam and faced some unforeseeable challenges. Read on to find out some of the key lessons that Nikita took away from her experience.
Paul takes us on his journey as a Software Systems student and how a field trip helped to inspire him to greater heights eventually, helping him to land his dream job. His journey highlights the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity given to us as students.
"Learn. As students, we hear this word a lot in school, but what does that really mean in the working environment?" Read on as Travia delves into her personal experience of growth in the workplace.
Have you ever considered travelling alone? Does it make your nervous? Well, you are not alone. There are many benefits to travelling alone and what better way to experience another country and culture than through a short-term International Co-op term? Read on to learn some tips & tricks when travelling alone.
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.
Are you looking for an International Co-op with a not-for-profit organization? Are you torn between finding a job you like and something that pays well? Are you wondering whether you will be able to gain valuable skills and knowledge from working for a not-for-profit? Continue reading this article for more information about how to look for International co-op opportunities with not-for-profits, funding scares, and takeaways.
You have seen the emails, read the posters, heard the presentations. The question remains, is International Co-op worth it? Is it worth the planning, cost, and time off-school? Well, you will have to continue reading to find out.
In this first part of the series, Troy Liu sits down with the senior policy asdivsor at the Privy Council Office (PCO) to gain insight on the challenges of the role. Read on to see what adivce the senior policy advisor gives on professional development, and work-life balance.
In part two of this series, Troy Liu gets the chance to attend a meet and greet with the Clerk of the Privy Council and the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session. Read on to learn what the Clerk had to say on the importance of prioritizing, good judgement, stiving for excellence, and professionallism.
Working in a professional finance position can be challenging as it involves precise budgeting and planning, dealing with multiple projects simultaneously, and making big decisions. Read to learn Ricky's top tips on how to overcome such obstacles and succeed in the workplace.
"I realized that as time went on, I was having difficulties connecting and adapting to this new culture I believe this sprouted from the strong language barrier and my inability to communicate with most of my co-workers". Read Aileen's story about how she overcame culture clashing and engage in intercultural communication.
In my first semester, I had no idea what type of co-op position I was looking for. This was somewhat stressful, but what helped was keeping an open mind to a range of positions, and taking a chance!
Coffee breaks provide an opportunity to take your eye away from the screen, gather your thoughts, and the chance to network with colleagues. For a project to be successful, it is vital to be able to work well with others while managing your own workload. Terry explains how coffee breaks can help you build relationships and bonds with colleagues!
Looking to succeed in Co-op while making the most of your experience? Natalia shares the best lessons she has gained her during co-op experience, and explains how to stay on top of your tasks while still enjoying the experience and having fun!
"It's two hours past lunchtime, and you're starting to feel it - you slowly start to doze off." — Read 5 tips from Bessie that will help you to avoid the mid-day crush.
After doing a co-op for a start-up, Margaret Leong shares 6 reasons why you should do it too! Read the article and find out why working at a start-up can be so rewarding.
Ever wondered how academic work and practical application can overlap? Ivan reflects on his co-op experience on how the work environment provided him with an opportunity to sharpen his technical expertise and social skills. His experience captures how a co-op term can be helpful in shaping one’s future career.
A lot of students going through their co-op terms have the same fear – as a student, how should one cope transitioning into an office environment with smart and experienced professionals? The simple answer to this issue is to be confident!
Considering whether you want to work at a small company or a large organization? Try out both! Enjoying the support and intimate company culture while working at a small company, I was worried about my work going unnoticed and a lack of communication at a large organization. Find out how wrong I was!
My two-year roller coaster ride through Intel: A year after embarking on Intel’s newly acquired startup company, the project was shut down and a few members of the team, including myself, were lucky enough to be transferred to a different Intel group. Here’s my experience working in a startup vs working in a large corporation like Intel.
After reaching the end of her first co-op semester, Amanda, a Business co-op student, reflects on her experience and shares tips on how to find a position that is best suited to help you achieve your goals.
SFU's Health and Counselling Services are offering incredible services and events to help students deal with the stress and anxiety that school life brings. So why aren't more students taking advantage of these services? Mutinta, who worked with Health and Counselling Services , brings awareness to many of the awesome resources Health and Counselling Services provides.
Ever wondered what it would be like to work with the Royal Canadian Mountain Police? Well, Hayley is here to share with us top 5 lessons they've learnt during their co-op experience with the RCMP!
To do or not to do? In this article, Thuy An talks about the pros of the co-op program and how it can benefit your future career.
You know when you go to another country on vacation and everyone is speaking a different language? That’s the way it kind of feels walking into a new job and you are by far the youngest in the room. Everyone seems so educated, knowledgeable and probably old enough to be your parents. But don’t worry - I’ve (kind of) successfully learned how to navigate this intimidating world of adults and I’m here to share my awkward experiences to minimize yours.
If you ever wondered what it was like working at a small to a mid-size accounting firm, read on for a few insights from my first co-op work term!
Is working in an unfamiliar industry scary to you? Don’t know what to prepare before working in a co-op? Read on to find out more.
For three years I worked part-time at TD Canada Trust as a customer service representative and eventually a personal banking associate.
"I cried the day I heard that I had won the CBC Radio Peter Gzowski Internship" — Sonya shares her story on how she ended up being an intern at CBC Radio and why it's so important to not give up on your dreams.
What many students may not know is that it can be very disheartening to apply for jobs at first. You may not receive many responses. It feels almost as if all the positions you want have already been filled.
When I first started at PCL as an Administrative Student, I was slightly disappointed.
Procrastination became a close friend of mine and by the end of the semester, I was burnt out but relieved that it was all over. Then the cycle would repeat itself for another four months.
Curious how to run social media for a company out of your expertise? Take a look at Cristyn's article, where she reveals the best approaches to social media management and get ready to work in the field!
“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up” - Les Brown
Getting Through the First Month of Your Co-op: How do you prepare for a new work term? And how do you survive the first month in a new co-op position? Business Major Anca Zgreaban shares five tips for easing smoothly from a study semester into a working term.
Working in a technological industry as a non-tech student is much more exciting as you might have thought of it. Hilda shares her experience and debunks three myths about this niche.