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Startup

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In order to better explain the world of Startups, the following authors have provided their tips and strategies on navigating this type of workplace. You will learn the pros and cons of startups, how to create your own, and how to effectively manage your time and responsibilities. Startup companies are a great place to expand your skill set, as you will often take on more responsibilities outside of the job description. Although their smaller size and close-knit workplace culture can be intimidating, you will have more opportunities for upward mobility, expand your network, and adopt unexpected skills or abilities.

An image of Kelly Chiang
Blog
Transitioning From Study to Work Life

As a fifth year Health Science Co-op Student, Kelly Chiang shares her advice for students interested in integrating valuable work experience with their classroom learning.

Judith
Blog
Working in the Gaming Industry? Here's What I Learned as a Community Manager!

The gaming industry is faced paced and requires you to be on the go, but that's exactly why I love it.

Herman
Blog
Working as a Graphic Design Intern at a Start-Up

Meet Herman Chan, an Interactive Arts and Technology co-op student who has been developing his skillset as a graphic design intern at AGvisorPro, a start-up company with a vision to build the world's most credible independent agriculture network.

Laptop on a desk with hands typing on the keys
Blog
The Art of the Start-Up: Wearing Many Hats

I came into it wanting to learn as much as I could. Somehow, I learned more than I thought I would, including about the changeable nature of start-ups. I’ll always be grateful for the flexible work environment that allowed me to gain experience in things I never dreamed of doing.

woman holding a piece of paper with a laptop in front of her
Blog
Business Development & Sales World for Dummies (and Communication Students)

As a Communication major, I’m comfortable with hearing “the medium is the message”, getting lost in 15-page essays, and wondering why a picture of a pipe is in fact, not a pipe (shoutout CMNS 110). Throw me in a tech start-up in a (remote) business development position and well, I’m a touch out of my comfort zone. Keep reading to learn about my experience working in a business role as a Communication major. 

Three people on a Zoom call discussing a cosmetic product
Blog
Joanne Kim: Working in the Cosmetic Industry as a UI Designer

Ever wonder what it would be like to work in the cosmetics industry as a UI/UX Designer? If so, read more about Joanne's co-op experience with Three Ships Beauty!

An man wearing a green jacket and white t-shirt  is smiling at the camera with trees in the background.
Blog
Patrick Pacunana: Taking Ownership and Flourishing in a Design Co-op Job

Interactive Arts & Technology student, Patrick Pacunana, describes the exciting projects he has been working on as a UX/UI designer at the Vancouver-based startup, Ensightful. 

picture of "VentureLabs" doorway entrance
Blog
3 Reasons You Should Consider a Co-op With a Smaller Company

Unsure of what to expect for your upcoming co-op? Megan wasn't either! Megan, a Business Co-op Student, worked at SFUVentureLabs for 4 months as a Program Administrator Assistant. Previously working in a large government office, Megan was nervous coming into a small sized company for the first time. But, there was nothing to fear as Megan strengthened a lot of skills and learned more about their career path. Read Megan's story to learn more about why you should work for a smaller sized company!

graphic of different job positions at work
Blog
Things That Went Wrong for Us

Sometimes, things don't go as well as expected when launching a start-up business. David explains in Part Three of his blog series just what went wrong and what fellow peers should look out for if you're also interested in developing a business.

Cartoon characters working
Blog
How It All Started

Interested in starting a business but don’t know where to start? Don’t know if you can handle it because you’re a student? David has gone through it and succeeded in some ways while failing in others. Learn from his experience in this blog post so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

A youth sports club
Blog
The Pros & Cons of Working for a Small Non-Profit

Ever wondered what working for a non-profit is like? Further, have you ever wondered what working for an extremely small non-profit is like?In her article, Marisa describes what it was like to work at a youth sports-oriented non-profit where she collaborated with a small team of only three, and lists both the pros and cons of non-profit work. 

Picture of Vanessa Clarke
Blog
Working with Weebly One Day and WordPress the Next

Things move fast in a Co-op. One day you could be working with your favorite application, completely comfortable, and the next, you'll be tasked with learning an entirely new application. This is what happened to Vanessa in her Co-op, and here's how her first placement went, as well as her favorite things about both Wordpress and Weebly - two applications you may also find yourself using in a Communication Co-op.

Graduates throwing their caps into the air
Blog
WildBrain Co-op Award Kick-Starts 30 SFU Student Careers
Naomi Chao never thought it would be possible to intern at tech giants Microsoft, Adobe and SAP before she even graduated. Read on and find out how her co-op experience at Spexi Geospatial helped pave the way to her dream job.
the author with her colleagues during work
Blog
Why Work At a Start-Up? My Co-op Term at Tradable Bits

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. 

Frogplum Solutions Inc. Team
Blog
Read Beyond the Job Description

"When you work at a start-up, literally anything can happen." Anmol takes us into a world where content is born out of chaos, and the landscape is dynamic, creative and challenging.  Becoming an integral part of a new company and seeing your creations make an impact can be one of the most rewarding experiences.  

Sunset viewed from a plane window
Blog
From Tech-E@SFU to Chinese Hardware Accelerator

Mechatronic Systems Engineering student, Ryan Threlfall travelled across the world to build a sleep-wearable that will help millions of habitual snorers. 

A photo of the author standing in front of Granville Square
Blog
Succeeding in a Start-up 101

"This being my first co-op term, I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t know what to wear, how welcoming my co-workers would be or what exact tasks I would be assigned" - Joshua talks about his co-op experience.

Claire standing in front of the SFU building, looking to a distance
Blog
Getting Started in a Startup: My Co-op at Coral Health

Thinking about doing a co-op with a start-up company? Read Claire's co-op experience to find out what it was like!

Sharon Huang's portrait
Blog
Choosing a Start-Up Over a Large Corporation

Are you uncertain whether to pursue a co-op at a large corporation or a small company? Sharon Huang shares why she chose to launch her career at a start-up. 

Matvei Rudenko
Blog
Growing Your Skills by the Hour: Working in a Fast-Paced Start-Up

Read about Matvei's co-op experience at a start-up company and how this life-changing opportunity helped his career development journey.

RADIUS SFU Building in Vancouver
Blog
One-Step Start Up: SFU’s Solutions to Your Big Questions

Ever had a business idea and thought it was worth a shot? These resources can help you transform your business idea into reality.

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