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SPRING CLEANING!

Our team is doing some spring cleaning starting with user accounts. Login using your CAS credentials for instructions. We appreciate your speedy action so we can move onto other new and exciting initiatives over the summer.

Welcome to the

OLC!

BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

Join the community using your SFU CAS account.

Join the community using your SFU CAS account. Then, complete your registration by clicking on your name located in the top right corner of the page.

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Share Your SFU Story 

Have a story to share about your time at SFU? Add your voice to the ever-expanding gallery of community stories on our SFU Stories page! Take about 15 minutes to reflect on your experiences at SFU, including, but not limited to, involvement in clubs, student unions, peer mentorship, and work opportunities. Share your story to educate, inspire, and connect the SFU community. Submissions are welcome year-round, from all years and faculties.

Everyone has a story! What's yours?

SUBMIT

VOLUNTEER STORIES

 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Join our team

The OLC is looking for volunteers for various positions that have a range of time commitments including content creators, editors, UI/UX developers, and website testers. Positions are open for all students hoping to gain valuable experience in writing, website development and management, task and time management, collaboration, communication, and more. There is no deadline to apply as we recruit year-round!

APPLY
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NEW VIDEO SERIES

Job Search in a Pandemic

New episodes of Career Conversations from SFU Career and Volunteer Services are released every Tuesday on the OLC. Tune in see your most burning questions about the world of work, volunteering, and career exploration answered by guests from diverse professional backgrounds and organizations across Canada.

Episode 3 features Kristina Lee, Director of the IT Division at Impact Recruitment. You don't want to miss her expert tips for job searching during the pandemic and how you can best show off your soft skills to employers.

Watch
person laughing

NEW VIDEO SERIES

Job Search in a Pandemic

New episodes of Career Conversations from SFU Career and Volunteer Services are released every Tuesday on the OLC. Tune in see your most burning questions about the world of work, volunteering, and career exploration answered by guests from diverse professional backgrounds and organizations across Canada.

Episode 3 features Kristina Lee, Director of the IT Division at Impact Recruitment. You don't want to miss her expert tips for job searching during the pandemic and how you can best show off your soft skills to employers.

Watch

NEW POST

Activism Burnout: An Interview with Registered Clinical Counsellors

In light of the increased visibility of injustices around the world, taking a stand and contributing to social justice is becoming more prominent in our everyday lives. As you learn and advocate about different injustices, you may experience activism burnout with added stressors such as balancing work, personal life, school, and extracurricular activities. SFU Health Peers interview Counsellors at Health and Counselling Services for advice.

Read

NEW POST

Why You Should Consider Submitting an SFU Story to the OLC

SFU Stories on the OLC are short-form, Instagram-style, narrative stories that help to build a welcoming SFU community. No matter how big or small, every story has something to offer. Share your story today!

Read

NEW POST

I’m Starting a Minor Late Into My Degree... Now What?

One of our OLC team members, Brianna Tsang, shares her experience of deciding her minor in her 3rd year at SFU. "The knowledge and genuine connections made throughout this process has been an amazing experience and opportunity to have."

Read

NEW POST

Social Media Addiction & Screen Fatigue: A Survival Guide for Jobs in Social Media

When it comes to social media and digital marketing positions, it’s easy to be blinded by the positives. After all, many Communication majors are fascinated by digital marketing and algorithms— and if you’re a digital native, creating social media content might already be second nature to you. Whether you manage social media for your organization or create external content, there are a few bonuses to consider.

Read

NEW STUDENT PODCAST

On the Spot with the OLC

The OLC team is extremely excited to introduce a brand new podcast titled On the Spot with the OLC. Your hosts, Mehtaab and Terae, discuss important topics revolving around community, engagement, education and overall life advice! Within these 12 episodes, your hosts aim to bring a well rounded perspective to a variety of topics as they believe they can provide insightful knowledge about what it's like to be an SFU student. Please make sure to have a listen!

Listen to Episode 1: Creating Community at SFU

NEW PODCAST ON THE OLC

StudioBytes

Welcome to Studio Bytes! A podcast inspired by the energy of the SIAT Studios and the memories students make in those spaces. This podcast invites Alumni back into the studio and we get to learn about their experiences at SIAT and their lives after. In Episode 2 meet SFU Alumni Marie Cheung who shares her experience at SFU, her life post SFU and her time in Europe

Listen to Episode 2: What is Service Design?

Login to Provide your Feedback!

Did you know that each landing page on the site has a feedback section for logged in users? We use this information to discover and fix issues, consider site improvements and addition of new features. Our tech team is focused on feature improvements this summer, so share your input to direct changes to the OLC.

LOGIN

ABOUT

Our Learning Community

SFU's Our Learning Community has an incredible range of content created by and for the SFU community. This includes diverse and authentic stories, which show a range of inspirational knowledge sharing happening between students, as well as handy tools that help with learning anywhere and everywhere you are.
 
Discover how you can contribute to our ever-expanding learning community.

 

CONTRIBUTE
9200
Members Joined

 

2199
230
Projects Created

 

88
Series Compiled

 

EXPLORE

Recognizing that our SFU community members are versatile storytellers, the new OLC has expanded how you can tell your story. Come take a look by exploring into this brand new range of content curated by our editors; this includes Blogs, SFU Stories, Videos, and Podcasts. And remember, no matter where you are in your learning journey at SFU, we want to hear your story! Learn more on how you can contribute to the OLC.

 

 

EXPLORE
A person flexing
Blog
Just Like Bunko: Learning Strengths

Everyone has weaknesses. But its focusing on your strengths that grant you success in life.

a phone screen showcasing Amazon stocks rising
Blog
Get Your Side Hustle On: A Student's Guide to Part-Time Work

As she puts it, grad student Srijani Datta has been a student for most of her life. To support her love of academia she has worked as a reporter, tutor, translator, transcriber, and content writer. Develop your own side-hustle with her tips. 

A woman standing with a cardboard box on her head
Blog
How to Navigate Student Mindset Traps

When students enter their first or second Co-op work term, there can be a risk of falling into student mindset traps. These are the habits we pick up as students that are detrimental to our professional performance and development. Read on to learn more about how Bowen learned to avoid student mindset traps after four Co-op semesters working for three different companies.

READ

LEARN

SHARE

CONTRIBUTE

Videos

Read

Learn

Share

Contribute

There is so much to explore on the new OLC!

So, browse around and have fun with the new learning and storytelling tools. Found something not working?

EXPLORE

Recognizing that our SFU community members are versatile storytellers, the new OLC has expanded how you can tell your story. Come take a look by exploring this wider range of content including Blogs, SFU Stories, Videos, Experiential Learning Experiences, and Podcasts. And remember, no matter where you are in your learning journey at SFU, we want to hear your story! Learn more on how you can contribute to the OLC.

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THE LATEST

Catch up on the latest and freshest content from the SFU OLC. You're bound to find a fresh new perspective, the most current advice, and recently published stories that are sure to inspire you.

 

 

THE LATEST
five people smiling from the Love Your Neighbour club
Blog
Love Your Neighbour

This week's SFU Club of the Week is the SFU Chapter of Love Your Neighbour. Here's a spotlight on this club that has expanded to offer local and international opportunities for students.

2 men having a conversation at a table
Blog
Interviews

Are you a Computing Science Student about to be interviewed?  Dylan shares interview tips, personal anecdotes, and learn how to prepare yourself for your next interview.  This is part two of five.

Hand pushing a button
Blog
A Push To Commit

Not sure what career path you want to take? Computing Science Co-op Student, Cody Santos, was not sure either.  Read about his first co-op term at Mobidia and what he learned because of his experience there.

the author's portrait
Blog
Meet Dylan

Meet Dylan, a fourth-year computing science student at Simon Fraser University with over a year of co-op experience spanning two large companies: SAP and Electronic Arts. He shares his unique perspective on Computing Science Co-op and offers advice for students on topics such as interview techniques and software engineering tips.  This post is part one of four.

SFU students looking at their laptop
Blog
A Letter to A Reader

Why do you volunteer? There are many reasons why people volunteer for both professional and personal reasons. This is a personal article on why I volunteer at specific organizations. 

Students in a classroom
Blog
What Volunteering Can Do For You That Classrooms Can't

Academics are certainly important, but volunteering can certainly help you in other aspects of your life, both personally and professionally. Nicola explains some key benefits to gain from volunteering.

View of Hancheon Elementary School where Corina taught
Blog
TaLK in Korea

Third year Business student, Corina Inigo, shares about her co-op experience with Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK).  She discusses what TaLK is all about and also shares personal anecdotes from her teaching experience. 

Shot of a police building from an aerial view
Blog
Accounting with the RCMP

Joey Mak: Fighting crime one journal entry at a time. Business student Joey Mak worked an eight month co-op with the RCMP, gaining enriching experiences. From processing salary reconciliations to conversing with officers at the Pacific RCMP Headquarters with a little bit of database management and programming in the middle, this co-op experience had it all.

Student meeting with an advisor
Blog
Employability Skills You Can Gain Through Volunteering

How does volunteering help your employability? Kim goes through a few of the top skills that you can gain from volunteering that will also help you as a working employee.

logo of Her Campus at Simon Fraser University
Blog
Campus Chapter Spotlight: Her Campus SFU

Are you looking for opportunities to share the pictures you have taken? Are you interested in developing your writing skills? Are you curious about writing for a magazine? Learn more about Her Campus, an online campus magazine, and how it got relaunched this year!

Picture of person look at the apps on their phone; instagram, facebook
Blog
The Social Media Network (SFUSMN)

This week, Emily features The Social Media Network as the SFU Club of the Week. Read about how their activities aim to increase students' professional social media prowess!

view of town in germany
Blog
My Co-op in Germany

Hubert Tam shares about his experience in Germany working at SAP.  Hubert is a 7th year Business student who spent 3 co-op terms at SAP.

Headshot of Ashley
Blog
Be Social! 5 Tips on using Social Media for Business

Will your workplace require you to tweet? Ashley explains how to run social media accounts for a business.

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Blog
The Payoff of Perseverance

Raymon Gulati faced his fears by interviewing with BlackBerry, landing a fantastic job, and learning that his talent & skills could successfully overcome what seemed to be his biggest obstacle.

Andrea Bajcetic
Blog
Taking on Progressive Projects

Andrea takes on the non-profit world as a Community Services Assistant at the Progressive Housing Society. 

Group of SFU students posing in a corridor
Blog
Consulate Communication Builds Connections

Diana completed her first Co-op work term with the Mexican Consulate in Vancouver. Read on to find out how this experience has enhanced her skills! 

Nicole in front of a poster at work
Blog
Inclusion Illuminates Work Experience

Political Science student Nicole shares about her experience doing marketing communications work for Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI), a non-profit that supports over a thousand individuals with developmental disabilities.

Meghan Ogden at a information desk
Blog
Developing an Understanding of Non-Profits

Meghan shares the benefits of working at a non-profit based on her experience at the Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

IAT 499 Graduation Project
Blog
Dream Internship Follows Less-than-glamorous Co-op Placement

Nick Doering was not looking for a co-op job at SFU, but soon discovered that his work at SFU’s SIAT department was a great first step to landing a position at a high profile company.

Jordana in front of Posabilities banner
Blog
The Other Side: What Employers Want to Hear During an Interview

While completing her co-op with posAbilities, Jordana Fridman had the opportunity to observe the other side of the interview process. Here's her insight into what employers are really looking for.

Jill in scuba diving gear on a boat
Blog
“I Never Dreamed About Having a Job Like This!”

Read about Jill's summer co-op with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where she spent her time scuba diving, documenting algae and invertebrate species, hanging out with sea lions and possibly having the best summer ever!

laptop screen with lines of code
Blog
Working in Tech for the Non-­Technical

No experience in the tech industry? Break in anyway! Communication and Economics Co-op student Terence Chu shares tips he learned firsthand as a Technical Writer for Ericsson, a multinational Swedish telecommunications corporation.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Poster
Blog
My Experience Volunteering as an In School Mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Anju recounts her experience as an In School Mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley, and what she learned about herself and others.

Vlad Tkachenko
Blog
What I Learned During my Co-ops at RIM and SAP

Vlad Tkachenko is a 5th year Computing Science Student who spent 2 co-op terms at RIM and 2 co-op terms at SAP. He shares what he learned and some tips for success on the job.

a coach in the fighting ring
Blog
4 Reasons to Become a Coach

Coaches. We have had them since we were five-years-old in sports, academics, or life. Throughout the years, we learn from other people, and this has had an influence on who we become. This is an article on reasons to become a coach. 

Picture of calculator beside a graph
Blog
Getting Ready for Math-Related Classes in the New Semester

Many university classes require a lot of math and problem-solving. Eric Cai, an SFU alumni currently working in statistics, shares his top tips on how to excel in these challenging courses. 

Christie Atkins at HydroOne
Blog
Advice from a Corporate Communications Guru

Starting a new co-op position can be stressful and overwhelming at first. Communication Co-op student, Christie Atkins, shares workplace transition advice from her mentor, Melissa Fast.

YMCA Open House
Blog
My Co-op Experience: Be Open to the Unfamiliar

Are you having a hard time landing that ideal Co-op job? But, what is ideal? Explore Jeanie’s experience this summer at the YWCA Health + Fitness Centre.  She shares her experience about how a job description might not stand out at first, but can lead to a stand-out placement.

Messy desk with a laptop and papers
Blog
How to Work, Study, and Volunteer at the Same Time

If you're finding the prospect of working and volunteering while being a student daunting, don't fear! Hear from two SFU students leading busy yet productive lives.

Volunteering makes your future easier banner
Blog
Taking On More Challenging Volunteer Roles

Challenging volunteer positions require more time and effort, but they can also be important stepping stones in your career path. Check out what Nicola says you need to be successful in a more difficult volunteer position.

Students discussing at the campus
Blog
Strategic Volunteering: Lessons From a Mature Student

Averyl from SFU Public Square shares some insights from experiences volunteering, and has created this list of tips to help you get the most out of your volunteer positions!

group of students sitting in a circle, discussing
Blog
UNICEF SFU

In this week's Club of the Week, Emily takes a look at UNICEF SFU, and interviews their current President, Katie Mai. Read more to learn about UNICEF's activities on campus!

Jacky smiling, with a view of China to the right
Blog
My Co-op in China

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.

People on a kayak
Blog
Timeline

Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU.  In this four-part series she discusses the creation of the Sacred Trust Initiative (STI), with the purpose of stopping the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.  This is the first post of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Sacred Trust Initiative Series.

Scenery
Blog
Friends and Allies

Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU.  In this four-part series she discusses the creation of the Sacred Trust Initiative (STI), with the purpose of stopping the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.  This is the second post of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Sacred Trust Initiative Series.

Ship cargo on water
Blog
Kinder Morgan

Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU.  In this four-part series she discusses the creation of the Sacred Trust Initiative (STI), with the purpose of stopping the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.  This is the third post of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Sacred Trust Initiative Series.

People on a kayak
Blog
Implications

Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU.  In this four-part series she discusses the creation of the Sacred Trust Initiative (STI), with the purpose of stopping the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.  This is the fourth post of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Sacred Trust Initiative Series.

Children holding hands and playing in front of a hut
Blog
My Time At Destiny Reflection/Foundation

Nicole Molinari is a Health Sciences BA student who shares her experience working in Kolkata, India, where she worked with Destiny Reflection/Foundation, an organization that works to empower survivors of human trafficking and at-risk women.

A woman in business attire smiles confidently for the camera in Blusson Hall.
Blog
Samples Required - 5 Tips for Showcasing your Work

As a first-time Co-op seeker with little real-world work experience, it can be daunting to read the words ‘work samples required’ in a job posting. Here are 5 useful tips for showcasing your work at your next interview.

Julia smiling
Blog
Working Abroad: Overcoming a Language Barrier in the Work Place

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.

Indigenous women graduates
Blog
Language Revitalization

Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU.  In this four-part series she shares how Indigenous women are the keepers of language and discusses various issues and topics around language in the Indigenous community.  This is the fourth post of the four part series.

Christina with her friends
Blog
Language Maintenance

Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU.  In this four-part series she shares how Indigenous women are the keepers of language and discusses various issues and topics around language in the Indigenous community.  This is the third post of the four part series.