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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.

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OLC!

BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

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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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MESSAGE FROM THE OLC

Thank You for being a Part of the SFU OLC Community

After two decades of sharing educational resources and stories by students, alumni, staff and faculty, the SFU OLC is coming to an end. Thank you to every one of you who contributed stories, shared experiences, and engaged with the OLC over the years. Your participation has enriched our community and made a meaningful impact.

This notice provides you time to save any content you may wish to keep and to revisit the many contributions available. A final closure date will be posted in advance on the site.

Everyone has a story! What's yours?

SUBMIT

NEW VIDEO SERIES

Multilingual SFU

SFU students (graduate and undergraduate,) staff and faculty share their multilingual experience and welcome you to multilingual week at SFU. Do you have a multilingual story to share? Add it to the OLC.

Watch

MESSAGE FROM THE OLC

Thank you for being a part of the SFU OLC community

After two decades of sharing educational resources and stories by students, alumni, staff and faculty, the SFU OLC is coming to an end. Thank you to every one of you who contributed stories, shared experiences, and engaged with the OLC over the years. Your participation has enriched our community and made a meaningful impact.

This notice provides you time to save any content you may wish to keep and to revisit the many contributions available. A final closure date will be posted in advance on the site.

Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience

 

Image of Priyanka Das
Blog
Discover Your True Self: 7 Tips to Develop Unwavering Self-Belief and Authenticity
Digital Resource Assistant

Take chances as you never know what opportunities may arise. Meet Priyanka Das, a Beedie Co-op student who’s working with SFU’s Communication and Marketing department as a Digital Resource Assistant. Learn more about how she landed her current co-op and other opportunities such as the CEOx1Day finalist by being authentic and believing in their abilities.

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

FEATURED

Chinmayee's Picks

Chinmayee's Picks

OLC has things to help students go pro. Having been part of the OLC's technical team and coming from a tech background myself, I tend to skim through tech-related articles first, diving deeper into the ones that pique my interest. I've compiled a list of my favourite finds from the OLC website, considering them valuable assets for fellow students.

Jared's Picks

Jared's Picks

Working as an editor for the OLC has been such a positive learning experience and has help me connect with so many unique and engaging stories. I would like to share some of my favourite pieces that I had the pleasure of working on. Yes, their grammar and spelling is great and their writing voice is very personal but each of these had something special.

Serena's Picks

Serena's Picks

It's been an amazing four months as a Copy Editor here at the OLC. I've had the chance to work on a variety of content, and it's been quite a journey. The OLC is a unique space where students can explore and contribute to a wide range of topics. Choosing my top picks was tough with so much good stuff, but here are three pieces that really stood out to me.

FEATURED

Hustle Culture

Hustle Culture

When should you stop and take a break? How much work is too much work? In this episode of Diving Into the Everyday, join us as we explore what is hustle culture, looking at its rise in exposure, and why a person may feel this pressure to participate.

Experiencing A New Culture In Mexico

Experiencing A New Culture In Mexico

I learned a lot more about myself – new interests, being more adaptable, future ambitions, etc. It was one of the most unique and remarkable experiences in my lifetime.

7 Ways to Have a Successful Meeting With Your Supervisor or Team

7 Ways to Have a Successful Meeting With Your Supervisor or Team

If you are struggling to facilitate or actively participate in meetings, you are not alone, as many students share the same struggle in school projects, student clubs and the workplace.

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
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
11360
Members Joined

 

2227
231
Projects Created

 

92
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 picture of Aslam sitting in front of a window.
Podcast
Building Community
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.

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. 

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
View of BC Cancer Research Center from W 10th Avenue looking North
Blog
Branching Out and Standing Out at the BC Cancer Agency

Working in a huge building can be intimidating and make you feel very small, especially as a temporary Co-op student. Check out what Josh did to make sure everyone in the BC Cancer Research Center knew who he was!

Interview Illustration
Blog
Turning the Tables During Co-op Interviews: How to Showcase Yourself as the Candidate They Want

A lack of confidence can make you feel like you are getting raked over the coals in an interview. Learn what you can do to flip the situation on your interviewers in order to look like a pro and learn what they are really looking for in an employee.

Portrait of Laura
Blog
Applying Communication Skills in the Workplace

Ever wondered how your academic Communication skills stack up in the workplace? Co-op student Laura Tuturas sheds insight into how Communications prepared her for her workterm at ZE Powergroup.

William Thomas
Blog
Ergonomic Exploration

Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology students often find themselves lost in the hazy fog of physiotherapy, med school, chiropractic’s and post-graduate studies.  New graduates can find salvation in a challenging, but rewarding field that calls upon the creative and the technical sides of an individual. Read on to learn about working in the field of Ergonomics.

group of three students having a discussion
Blog
SFU Student Marketing Association (SMA)

In the second part of her series, Emily highlights the Student Marketing Association and how they help students connect with the exciting field of Marketing!

Evgeny and colleagues
Blog
Improving Professionally and Personally

Evgeny not only met his goals professionally at Broadcom, but he was able to improve in more ways than he could imagine - including meeting his personal goals and growing as an individual. In this four part blog series, Evgeny shares with us his co-op experience at Broadcom. 

A painting made by Evengy
Blog
Staying Motivated

Evgeny not only met his goals professionally at Broadcom, but he was able to improve in more ways than he could imagine - including meeting his personal goals and growing as an individual. In this four part blog series, Evgeny shares with us his co-op experience at Broadcom. 

Sam
Blog
The Honest Truth: What it Takes to Land a Co-op Job

After working for a year with Arts and Communications Co-op here at SFU, I’ve seen students land amazing Co-op opportunities, and I’ve also seen students struggle when it comes to following through, and landing the job. Here are a couple of truth bombs from yours truly that I hope will help you buck up and land a Co-op job.

Evgeny and colleagues
Blog
Finding Your Strengths

Sometimes in a co-op position, you might not get tasks that you absolutely love.  Make the most of it as Evgeny did, Evgeny went from feeling this way to having his co-workers ask for his advice! Read about his experience in this four part blog series! 

an ibm logo
Blog
My Second Work Term at IBM

Patrick started his career as an elementary school teacher and now he is completing SFU’s Computing Science Second degree program. Patrick shares his experience of transitioning from teacher to computing science, his first co-op at Malaspina, and here he shares his second co-op experience.

image of the author
Blog
Training for the Role

Leo Ng is a fifth-year BBA candidate in the SFU Beedie co-op program.  He worked at Canada Revenue Agency for 8 months. He shares what it was like to train for his role as a Taxpayer Services Agent.

a CRA directory
Blog
Learning on the Job

Leo Ng is a fifth-year BBA candidate in the SFU Beedie co-op program who worked for Canada Revenue Agency for 8 months. In this article of his three-part series, he shares his experience learning on the job.

tax papers with a coffee mug next to it
Blog
Reflections

Leo Ng is a fifth-year BBA candidate in the SFU Beedie co-op program who worked at for Canada Revenue Agency for 8 months. He shares what training is like, learning on the job, and in this article, he shares his overall reflections on what it was like to work as a Taxpayer Services Agent.

Logo images Evengy created
Blog
My Journey to Broadcom

Did you know the School of Computing Science has a co-op program for graduate students?  Evgeny was thrilled when he found out and because of the program, he was able to land a job with everything he was looking for at Broadcom. Read about his experience in this four part blog series! 

Picture of a man staring out to nature
Blog
Voluntourism (Pt 1): Things To Consider When Pairing Volunteering With Travel!

Have you heard the phrase 'Voluntourism' being thrown around lately? Check out one student's take on what you should consider before leaving the country to volunteer.

a work space set up with a big computer screen
Blog
From Teaching to Computing Science

Patrick started his career as an elementary school teacher and now he is completing SFU’s Computing Science Second degree program.  He shares how he got there and how co-op has been a great help!

image of a developer working
Blog
My First Work Term at Malaspina Labs

Patrick started his career as an elementary school teacher and now he is completing SFU’s Computing Science Second degree program. He shares how he got to the program and how co-op has been a great help!

a panel of recruiters facing the candidates
Blog
I Volunteer As… a Recruit?

Have you ever thought volunteer opportunities can lead to your next job opportunity? One of the best ways to land your next job is to volunteer. This is an article on using volunteer opportunities as a strategic tool to get your next paid position.

Natalie smiling
Blog
Discovering Public Relations: The Beauty of a Practicum

Do you think practicums are not worthwhile? Think again! Natalie did her practicum at Elettra Communications for the SFU PR Certificate and she lists 3 reasons why practicums are worthwhile.

Kay Sze
Blog
Go With the Flow, Opportunity Will Come

As a co-op student you often get a lot of advice about the value of research based or industry based co-op. According to Kay, sometimes we just need to sort out which one suits each individual best. Read on to learn about her experience with both research based and industry based co-op positions.

Volunteering as a Creative banner
Blog
Volunteering as a Creative

There are many creative endeavors that an SFU student can pursue (either as professional or as a hobbyist) ranging from Graphic Design, Web Design, Photography, Film, and so forth.

Clubs day
Blog
Why Should I Join A Club?

Student clubs are a great way to get involved with the campus community! Loren shares her views on why you should join one ASAP!

Picture of a building with the Canadian flag and a sign that says Canadian Revenue Agency
Blog
A Day in the Life of a Taxpayer Services Agent at CRA

Haqikat is a fourth year Business student who worked at Canada Revenue Agency for co-op.  Haqikat shares what training and a typical day looks like as a Taxpayer Services Agent. 

A photo of the author smiling
Blog
The Secret to Securing Your First Co-op Term: A Reflection On My First Co-op Search And How I Landed My Dream Placement

Kelly is a Communications Co-op student who landed her dream job. She shares how she did this with 5 tips!

Image of Author - she is smiling at the camera
Blog
Surviving the Aftershock of the 9-5: 5 Tips to Transition from Student to Professional Life
5 Tips on making the adjustment from the student schedule to that of a budding, young professional.
SFU K.STORM Logo
Blog
SFU K.STORM

Want to get involved with clubs on-campus? Emily takes a look at K-Storm, a club promoting involvement in Korean Culture to SFU students!

Icons of Facebook
Blog
Application Review

Ever wondered what it would be like to be interviewed by Facebook?  Bradley Sutherland, a recent graduate from SFU’s Interactive Arts and Technology and a specialist in interactive design, was selected to be interviewed by the social media giant.  Bradley shared this 3 part interview experience with the OLC.

Portrait of children posing for the picture
Blog
Celebrating Education with the Nisga'a

I had the pleasure of attending Nisga’a Ts’amiks graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2014 and to meet SFU’s new director of the Indigenous Student Centre.

Kiran smiling
Blog
Great Minds Think Tech: Kiran Basra at Electronic Arts

For Kiran Basra, senior Communication Co-op student, working at Electronic Arts was a unique experience from the get-go. Between re-constructing her job description and fine-tuning her marketing analytics skills on-the-job, Kiran has re-defined what Communication Co-op students can accomplish. 

two computer screens showing a portfolio
Blog
Portfolio Review

Ever wondered what it would be like to be interviewed by Facebook?  Bradley Sutherland, a recent graduate from SFU’s Interactive Arts and Technology and a specialist in interactive design, was selected to be interviewed by the social media giant.  Bradley shared this 3 part interview experience with the OLC.

Aayla Umar on service at the CBSA
Blog
Enforcing Soft Skills

Meet “Student Border Services Officer (SBSO) Umar”, who shares what her co-op was like at the Canada Border Services Agency.

Stacked paperwork showcasing a high caseload
Blog
Learning in Shifts

Jaclyn Marshall shares why students considering a career in law enforcement should consider working for the RCMP as a co-op position.

Ronald Yeung at his workstation
Blog
Safeguarding Canadians

Ronald spent his co-op working at the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy and describes the importance and benefits of working in the public sector. 

Elinor McNamee-Annett at her workstation
Blog
It’s All Related

Elinor worked in the External Relations Department of Parks Canada and explains how this was the right choice for her as an International Studies student.

Picture of Science World and its reflection on False Creek
Blog
How Do Snakes Poop? And Other Curious Questions a Science Facilitator Co-op Student Could Ask You

For her first co-op, SFU Biology and English student Kristina Charania headed to the heart of Vancouver to work as a Science Facilitator at Science World for four months. Read all about her co-op adventures and challenges under the dome!

Picture of a poster on the wall
Blog
The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia

The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia (NCCABC) provides culturally appropriate services to aboriginal people and communities consistent with their needs. 

A clip art image of three faceless people standing next to each other. A person in the middle has a grey face and orange body, while the remaining people have an orange face and grey body.
Blog
Becoming the Leader You Want to Be

Whether in the workplace or at school, we’ve all come across difficult personality types. Read on to find out how you can turn those interactions into positive experiences.

a computer screen showcasing a man holding binoculars with Facebook icons as the lens
Blog
Interview with a Recruiter

Ever wondered what it would be like to be interviewed by Facebook?  Bradley Sutherland, a recent graduate from SFU’s Interactive Arts and Technology and a specialist in interactive design, was selected to be interviewed by the social media giant.  Bradley shared this 3 part interview experience with the OLC.

Emily
Blog
Think Co-op Isn't For You? 4 Excuses You Need to Burn Right Now

As Emily Taylor, a senior Communication Co-op student says, "Reality check: a degree doesn’t guarantee a job. Vancouver communications, marketing and writing jobs aren’t waiting for you in the stands at Convocation. You’ve got to hunt for them, and Co-op is your open door. " Read on for compelling evidence of how Co-op can benefit you - regardless of what you've been led to believe!

Equality vs Justice
Blog
Sensitive Topics: White Privilege

Acknowledging that white privilege exists is the first step to equality and justice for all.

Natalie, author, smiling
Blog
Making the Most of the End of Term Project

Co-op students are required to do either a project or presentation to complete their co-op requirements at the end of their work term.  As a communications student, Natalie did not know what to expect the first time she presented her PowerPoint presentation for her project.  Read on so you can have an idea of what to expect for yours!