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Job Search

Welcome

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

Road sign with a question mark
Back to the Future: Career Edition

If given the opportunity to go back in time, based on what I have discovered interning at SFU Career Services, I would offer my younger self three pieces of advice. Hopefully you can also learn from my experiences and have a smoother transition. 

2 men having a conversation at a table
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
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.

Students in a classroom
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.

Student meeting with an advisor
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.

Triumph person cheering
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
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
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! 

IAT 499 Graduation Project
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
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.

Vlad Tkachenko
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
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. 

YMCA Open House
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
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.

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

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.

Portrait of Christina
Lost in Technical Translation: How to Succeed in an Unfamiliar Environment

We’ve all been put into situations where we have felt lost, unsure, or unfamiliar with our surroundings. Here are a few tips to help you make the best of a new or unfamiliar corporate environment.

Seagull on a beach
Using Your Vacation to Develop Your Career

Statistics professional Eric Cai used part of his recent vacation to learn Python programming, and found it a great way to further his skillset while keeping his mind sharp. He encourages students to consider devoting part of their next vacation towards professional development.

Interview Illustration
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.

William Thomas
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.

Evgeny and colleagues
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
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. 

image of the author
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
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
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.

Sam
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
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! 

Logo images Evengy created
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! 

a work space set up with a big computer screen
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
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
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.