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These are the stories from those who have been through it all: Co-op, post-graduation life, and internships. Browse through the Job Search topic to learn more about exploring your career options, acing your interviews, and creating stand-out job applications

Ivy Choi
The Pre-Interview Pep-Talk You Never Knew You Needed

Landing the interview is a big and the first step towards experiences that will help you throughout your working life. Here are some of Ivy's top tips on pre-interview preparations. 

Sharon Huang's portrait
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. 

TRIUMF particle accelerator
A Penny in a Sea of Sheldons: My Co-op at TRIUMF

You see a job posting, you read the description, you become interested. You apply for the job, you get interviewed, then you get hired. Now what? Anh Vu, shares how she learned the ropes at TRIUMF. 

Pat Chaisang standing in front of SAP's sign
Five Easy Hacks to Excel at your Co-op!
SAP

When it comes to an experience of a lifetime like an internship, the one question we ask ourselves over and over again is “how do I make the most out of this experience?” In this blog, I would like to share with you five game-changing strategies that you can start implementing at work!

Matvei Rudenko
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.

an elephant with a speech bubble
Four Years of University: Quantity of Time vs. Quality of Experience

There are lots of reasons that can scare you away from taking more than four years to finish university. What if your friends finish early? What about the cost? While these are valid concerns, remember that university is a chance to gain experience. 

a person drinking coffee holding a pen and a notebook by her laptop
The Job Hunt: Survival Skills

While the decision to look for a job might come easily, getting a job that you really want might not. Looking for that perfect job can often be an arduous and protracted process. Learn how to financially survive those long weeks or months with these tips. 

Dumbells, a tea kettle, eye mask
The Job Hunt: Self-Care

Looking for a great job can be taxing on your mind and body. Srijani Datta, shares tips on how to keep it together during a long and difficult job hunt.

Student studying
5 Practical Study Tips for Learning Efficiently

Studying does not have to be painful nor require enormous amounts of time and effort. Discover how to become a more efficient learner with these five unconventional study tips. 

girl smiling looking to the side while food is behind her on the table
Familiar, Yet Not So Familiar

International Co-ops aren't the only way to submerge yourself in a culture.  Gurleen shares her co-op experience through which she gained a new perspective of her culture right here in Vancouver.  

a cup on the desk that says "Hustle"
4 Steps to Prepare for Graduating University

If you’re steps away from graduating, read on to see how I prepared to make the post-graduation world less intimidating.

a basketball goal went in
#Goals: Lessons from Bo Sanchez

Having a goal allows us to take aim and move forward. Jien, shares lessons in goal-setting from Bo Sanchez's How to Conquer your Goliaths, and offers her own personal experiences of goal-setting and achieving. 

Puneet
Learning by Doing: How Co-op Puts Theory Into Practice

Puneet Sran shares her experience from her most recent co-op with Verathon: "As someone who never imagined being an engineer, I have been extremely fortunate to work in such a technical field, among highly intelligent individuals". 

johnny bunko comic
Right Versus Wrong: Career Lessons from Johnny Bunko

Success does not follow a linear path and neither will your career. Jien shares some fundamental lessons from "The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need.", while also reflecting on her own personal experiences learning these lessons. 

William
New Opportunities in a Changing Canada

A co-op semester at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) allowed International Studies student, William Reid, to learn more about Canada's relationship with Indigenous people. Read more, here. 

a woman holding a mug that says "like a boss"
Too Legit To Quit (Your Job, That Is)

How do you know if a job posting is legit? After applying to over 100 jobs, Jien has a few tips to help you decode that job posting. 

Science equipment
Five Things the Average Science Co-op Applicant Doesn’t Know

"It’s normal to not hear back from interviewers." Wait, what?! Science student, Richard Hsia has some sage advice to ease your mind and sharpen your competitive edge in your co-op job search. 

Mouataz
A Short Guide to Finding Your Passion

Veteran co-op student, Mouataz Kaddoura, shares valuable lessons learned from co-op terms with Avigilon, MENRVA, Biomedical Research Lab, and Shield-X Technology.

the author's portrait
How to Rock the 9 to 5 Lifestyle

Transitioning from student life to a 9-5 working lifestyle can take a bit of time. Luckily, Jamie has a couple of tips to help you quickly adjust and help you make the most of it!

Three people posing in front of the SAP logo
Insights Into Working with a Global Tech Firm
SAP

The tech sector is one of the world's fastest-growing industries, making it the perfect place to launch a career. But where does that leave students with non-technical backgrounds? Following a coveted internship with SAP, Beedie student, Kevin Ng, shares his experience of working with a global tech firm. 

Three women standing in front of a tree.
Dress to Impress: Tips for Creating a Budget Friendly Workplace Wardrobe

The transition from student to working professional isn’t so easy. While this new chapter in your life can be overwhelming, having an impressive wardrobe can do wonders for your confidence and sense of professionalism. 

a laptop screen showing the text "Go Get It"
5 Reasons Why You Should Move for That Co-op Position

Ever spotted your dream co-op position on MyExperience but found out it was on the other side of the country? Or worse overseas! Srijani Datta, is here to tell you about why you should, in fact, relocate for co-op. 

Picture of books
Dr. Stresslove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My English Degree

I was almost finished the semester, and I realized one tiny detail: I hated all my classes. This is the tale of how I followed my heart into an English degree, a network of professional contacts, and endless career possibilities. 

Mark smiling for the camera in a metropolitan area
Why Co-op Makes a Difference: Instead of Chasing, I’m Being Chased

Have you ever wondered if extending graduation to take part in co-op is really worth it? Find out by checking out Mark's final co-op reflection as he looks back on four co-op terms. 

Defne smiling
8 Reasons Why 8 is Better than 4

Beginning your journey with SFU Co-op can seem daunting at first, especially if you start with an 8-month Co-op but don't be afraid of it! Check out these benefits you'll get from doing an 8-month Co-op rather than 4-months. 

a girl sitting on the floor with her arms and legs crossed
The Perks of Failure

We are often told to succeed, but what happens when we fail?  In this blog post, Amy shares her personal story of overcoming failure and how it might not be as terrible as it seems.

Ali and her team on the soccer field
How I Ended Up Working for the BC Lions

Beedie Business student, Ali Najaf shares his extraordinary journey from not knowing anything about the Canadian Football League to working with one of their best teams - The BC Lions.

the author and her colleagues
How Taking a Research Course Can Open Up Your Career Opportunities

As we all know, Communication classes can be quite heavy on the theory side, and unfortunately, it’s probably never the best idea to whoop out your extensive knowledge of semiotics and Marxism in a job interview. So how do you bridge the gap between academia and industry? 

a phone screen showcasing Amazon stocks rising
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.