This is where it all begins. Four SFU Health Sciences Co-op students share their incredible journey to India as they land in Mumbai, one of India's largest cities. Along with some new friends, Lindsay, Martyna, Silvia and Christine take a quick tour of Mumbai before heading off to Kolkata.

"So, if I don’t have a plan, do I just sit around and wait for stuff to happen?” You might ask. “How am I supposed to know what to do if I don’t know where I’m going?” Is another one I sense a lot of in my work with students.

Google+ is the latest and largest social media platform trying to compete with Facebook and Twitter. So is learning the ropes of another platform worth the effort?

Heard of Movember? It’s a fundraising movement for prostate cancer research in which men (mo bros) and women (mo sistas) alike dedicate the month of November to growing a moustache. In other words, it’s pretty much the best thing ever.

Have trouble writing a resume to land that dream job? Never fear the OLC is here! We've all been there and we have tons of resources to bring your resume from 'meh' to 'wow'!

The students gather to and fro
A vibrant quivering mass
Their thoughts are laden, heavy things
Of textbooks, schedules, and a new U-Pass

I don’t much like talking to strangers. I have great conversations in my head with myself, but when it comes to vocalizing my brilliant, eloquent thoughts to other people, I often end up garbling the words into something near unintelligible.

There’s no denying it – people see and understand the world differently, and it’s only a matter of time before perspectives clash, right and wrong get mixed up, and feelings get hurt. But it’s pretty clear that different people handle conflict uniquely.

As this blog’s editor, one of the many joys I get to experience is the annual inundation training of those of our wonderful volunteers who aspire to contribute to the blog. I get to discuss things like “what makes a good blog article” and a few of the basics of good, simple online writing.

Conflict. Why oh why do you plague us so? You are an inevitability – it’s just a matter of time before someone or something disagrees with someone else, and they’re suddenly in a position of deciding between actions towards resolution, mediation, antagonization, or blissful ignorance.

Offering up your time and skills for a cause you believe in can also benefit your career. There is great value in putting yourself out there, to discover what you love doing, or to expand on your skills doing what you love.

It was a pretty straightforward account of how knowing what are strengths are can help us to build on and expand those strengths into new areas.  The problem, of course, is that this viewpoint presupposes that you actually do know what your strengths are.

We’ve all heard the phrase “comfort zone.”  We’ve probably all been told at one point or another to get outside of it, too. But what exactly does that mean?  We can make all sorts of fancy diagrams and models to illustrate the concept, but does that really do justice to lived experience?

Earlier this year, five SFU students traveled to Cape Town, South Africa with the Light and Love Home organization to support humanitarian projects in the township of Enkanini. They recently spoke to the OLC to share their story with us.

What is the fastest way to getting noticed by a company you wish to work for? Use and expand your network.

In today's competitive market, job searching has become more and more difficult. Read on to find out how you can use social media to connect with recruiters and companies to find your dream job.

What if you could score your dream job? Through a lot of hard work, dedication, and determination, Canucks.com writer Derek Jory did just that when he landed himself with the career he had dreamed of since he was a little boy.

Do you worry about making the transition from a student to a full-time employee? Well stop fretting and read on to find out how SFU alumnus Karen Sum transitioned from a Canucks intern to a full-time Canucks.com website coordinator.

What is your fear? Is it fear of… Heights? Taking risks? Making mistakes? Something else? Answers will vary but one of Yat's biggest fears is making mistakes. However, despite this fear of mistakes, throughout several Co-op work terms over the last couple of years, he has had his share of experiences making them. Read more to learn about Yat's mistakes, and how to learn from yours. 

The C.A.R.E. SFU Global Travel Award Program has funded air travel for students volunteering abroad with not-for-profit organizations since 2010. 

Hate giving in-class presentations? Looking for ways to improve your public speaking skills? Here are 3 easy steps to ace your next presentation!

Canada is definitely one of the best countries for hockey and snowboarding, but did you know Canada is also a land of opportunities for entrepreneurs.

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!

If you have a passion for hockey and can afford to work without a weekly pay cheque (a $1000 honorarium is provided at the end of the term), then applying for a Co-op job with the Vancouver Canucks could prove to be an unforgettable experience. Landing a coveted internship isn't easy, but if you're up for the challenge, read on and you could soon be calling yourself a Canuck.

Ronil Desai’s eye opening journey through his first co-op position with Teekay Shipping Corp. Attending university involves many deadlines and countless interactions with fellow students and professors, not to mention a constant effort to prepare students to succeed in the workforce......

Have you met people in your life that have ample talent but struggle with motivation? Back in middle school, Yat was never a bright student. Like Bunko, he put too much emphasis on thinking inwards and constantly exerting energy towards tasks that were not producing positive results. Yat has since learned a lot, and is wanting to share his wisdom with you: 

When Yat was younger, he did what everybody – parents, teachers, counsellors – told me to do. Like Johnny Bunko, he was trapped into doing something he didn’t want to do. He focused on the wrong courses and exerted my energy on things that did not inspire or motivate me. Read more to find out how Yat found his path in university. 

In the summer of 2008, Yat worked 40 hours a week while going to school with a full course load. Managing time was essential to getting things done, but everyone has struggles with time management. Read more to find out the lessons Yat learned while reading the book, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

“Help, Learn, & Discover” is an organization that gives university students the opportunity to volunteer abroad and build homes for the poor in Ecuador, while gaining useful work experience – particularly for biology and pre-medical students. There are three programs you.. can choose from

While my dad and I get along really well, we don't talk a whole lot - besides the fact that we live in different cities, I'm pretty sure we share a dislike of small talk.  I think we share a lot in common actually, and understand each other quite well.  So, despite our infrequent chit chats, my dad's been a big influence on a lot of things in my life, not the least of which being my career development.

I and the whole staff at work attended a training last week on a "narrative" method of career counselling led by Mark Franklin, the practice leader of a company called Career Cycles.  It's inspired me to write a bit about narrative therapy in general, especially as it applies to career development. 

There were a lot of messages that I grew up with, whether it be from my parents, peers, or the all-encompassing influence of the media.  One of the ones that sticks with me most to this day, and I'm not sure where it comes from, has to do with self-sacrifice.

Hi.  It's me, Dave - I was one of the smiley, energetic people handing out popcorn last night when you came up to visit SFU for our open house, "Info Eve."  Congratulations, by the way!  It's a pretty cool experience to be offered acceptance to any university, let alone the top Canadian comprehensive school as ranked by Macleans.  So, you've got good reason to feel proud of yourselves.  I really could see that on a lot of your and your parents' faces last night.  Way to go!

Will your resume catch the attention of an employer? Marcia Shimizu, a SFU Co-op Coordinator reviews three key points to consider when creating your résumé.

A routine is one of those things in life that can be either a huge relief or a giant burden.  I know that I tend to oscillate between those two feelings, generally dependant on whether or not I have an established routine in my life at the time.  I think that for the most part, we’re creatures of habit. 

Leif Stroman shares his amazing  high-tech co-op experience, working in Whistler for Recon Instruments. As the only software engineer for Recon's new Transcent goggles, he was able to influence major product decisions from start to finish (which included plenty of mid-air and mountain-top testing!)