The Latest

There are cultural differences between us that can often be misunderstood and affect our success in our chosen profession. An article in the Globe and Mail, entitled, 5 Tips for Women in the Workplace, gave a few excellent pieces of advice for those of us moving onto a career.

"I think that in many ways, there is still so much confusion surrounding Aboriginal people and culture. I know many people are often afraid of doing or saying something offensive, so instead of asking questions and being open, they shut down and stay away." Christina shares how employers can be more inclusive for Aboriginal recruits.

I have discovered that learning from others, is the greatest way to avoid making mistakes; and listening to others with the intention to truly understand, is the greatest way to gain a real education; after all… “An education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he/she learned in school”.

On October 7th and 8th 2013, WIL hosted SFU's first Three Minute Co-op Competition. 31 students presented on their Co-op experience, competing for cash prizes. Read a recap of the final 15 presenters.

What do employment rights issues look like? Issues of discrimination, harassment, and unpaid wages are a few well-known examples, but you might be surprised to learn how subtle and seemingly commonplace many employment rights infractions are. Here are some situations you might want to be prepared for.

AIESEC student, Lucia Vasani came to SFU to assist in planning the 2013 BIG Fair. She shares her reasons for joining AIESEC and why she thinks the annual fair is a great opportunity students should be taking advantage of.

Navigating the job market today is not an easy task. Application processes are becoming longer, qualifications that you may need are becoming greater, and there’s sometimes not as many jobs available at some times of the year. But there are ways to overcome all this, and it's not even that difficult.

Interviews are challenging yet predictable. You know that you will be asked a series of questions so that the employer can get to know you better and determine if you are a good fit for their position. We put together 10 tips to answer these questions effectively.

Many people struggle with providing helpful feedback. You don’t want to be too positive, ignoring possible errors, but you don’t want to crush the other person’s work either. To help, we’ve put together a quick list to help you give and receive helpful feedback.

Do you have mixed feelings about graduating from SFU? Do you find yourself putting on a brave face when talking to others about your future career? Don’t suffer in silence! Be the change and welcome uncertainty into your university experience.

You've likely received endless advice on how to prepare for an interview, and on just the right answers to give, so we're switching it up with 10 tips on how NOT to answer interview questions.

Natalie faces a new experience in her role as SFU Food Bank Coordinator: Conducting interviews. After only a few short months, she's on the other side of the table, find out how it went.

Natalie's been writing OLC blogs for awhile now, so she was excited to be able to bring her blogging skills to her new Co-op job. Now she's launched the SFU Food Bank Blog.

Lauren turned to international Co-op as a way to continue gaining work experience while exploring the world. Read about her experience working for a high end international hotel chain in China.

For most engineering students, three semesters of Co-op work is a requirement for graduation. Follow Scott on his Co-op journey as he gradually discovers his passions by taking on multiple Co-op opportunities. 

In summer of 2013, SFU Biomedical Physiology student Severin Vaillancourt headed to The Bahamas as a Field Research Assistant with the school's Marine Ecology Lab. He shared recollections of his underwater adventures and more with International Co-op.

The CEO & President of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, Kelly J Lendsay will be speaking to Indigenous students about how the Aboriginal Inclusion network can help you find the right job, the right employer and build a career path that feeds your passion and emphasizes your talent.

Hard work pays off. Read about how Pevisha's dedication to applying to multiple co-op positions finally paid off when Teradici reached out to her! 

Finding a job these days isn’t an easy task. You’ve got lots of cover letters to write, you have to tailor your resume for each position, you have interviews to prepare for, and that’s only covering the ‘mandatory’ steps. But what can you do to set yourself apart from other candidates?

Want to learn more about portfolios and having a professional image online? Check out this blog on building a digital resume and increasing your competitiveness in the job market!

Putting together a wardrobe of work-friendly options can be intimidating, especially if your a student or recent grad with a limited budget. Elizabeth provides 10 must-have items to transform your closet without going broke.

As almost anyone whose spent time in an office can attest, some people just do not know how to dress approporately for their workplace or a job interview. We asked SFU students, staff and alumni to share some of their real-life examples of what not to wear.

"The earth does not need us as we need her. I am grateful for this life and that I have the opportunity to stand with my brothers and sisters." Christina found 50 ways to help the planet for future generations.

The E-Word Blog is a series that features a student perspective on SFU’s various engagement opportunities. Follow our blogger Christina as she tries all that SFU has to offer in her effort to become “truly engaged”.

Discover how to best utilize your online presence to grow your career and network!

Interacting with others happens on a daily basis, whether it is at a business meeting, presentation, or an informal conversation with a friend or co-worker.  Mastering this skill can lead to better relationships between co-workers, friends and clients.

Alissa Derrick is from the Wet’suwet’en Nation located in Moircetown, British Columbia. She is currently in her last year here at SFU, working towards a double minor in Criminology and First Nation Studies.

As an Indigenous Student Ambassador Christina was asked to show two potential donors around campus. Joe Shayler representing UA Local 170 and John Mutton, President and CEO of Municipal Solutions were interested in supporting SFU's Indigenous students.

Have you ever asked yourself "Who are the FNSA and what exactly do they do here on campus?" Here is a year in review to enable you to gain a better understanding of this student run organization and what they do here at SFU.

Natalie has lots of experience volunteering, but now she's managing volunteers for the first time. Read how she applied lessons she learned from former managers to make the transition with the SFU Food Bank.

After blogging her way through the interview process, Natalie found another Co-op position, this time right on campus in Maggie Benson Centre, and she's back to share her first days at TFCSE.

On campus, Health and Counseling Services is introducing the Hi F.I.V.E. campaign to eliminate the stigma and prejudice around mental health by: Friendship, Invite conversation, Value everyone’s gift, and Eliminate stigma. 

The First Nations Student Association is hosting an evening with best-selling author Calvin Helin on October 24th at Harbour Center. Attendance is free and open to the public.

I love thoughtful and passionate debate. Especially about things that are important to me and those around me. I consider myself a Canadian citizen and because of that, I practice my right to vote. I posed the question of the Indigenous vote and was met with several interesting and thought-provoking debates regarding the subject.

A career is never set in stone. Read more to find out about career exploration, and how you can use your role as a student to your advantage. It is never too early to start searching...

Are you worried about your career path or worried that it is not following your big plan? Plans are not set in stone and can always change course. Read about happenstance and explore your vast career options!     

I admit I had some misgivings about the Truth and Reconciliation events happening in Vancouver this week. There are so many layers to unravel and so many systems involved that I couldn’t decide where I belong. I took some time to reflect on what the purposes of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are, as well as who I am, in order to make a decision on whether or not to participate.

You may have heard of the recent BC Job Fairs or attended one, but did you know that SFU has its own career fairs on two campuses? Our school holds an annual BIG Fair in September and a Mini BIG Fair in the Spring semester. 

Welcome back everyone…how was your summer?

The RSTC Aboriginal Student for a Day event will strive to match secondary students with SFU students that they can “shadow” for a half day of studies. Volunteers and “shadows” will be matched based upon their academic and vocational interests and aspirations.

Read about Brian's very cool experience at MENVRA designing and building an exoskeleton arm! 

Read about Brandon's experience working in a large manufacturing company and the lessons he learned while working in a big team. 

Do you have a dream job, or even a dream company to work for, but you don't know how to approach it? Co-op advisor, Victoria Cottell shares how to write an awesome letter of reccomendation that is relevant to any job seeker.

I recently came across an interesting argument. It went something like this: It's immoral to study something that is not in demand according to labour market needs and projections. Here's why I don't think that's true.

Have you considered a career in Health Sciences? Here is some advice from recent graduate Cody Caruso on his journey to employment in the First Nations Health Authority. 

Have you considered a career in Health Sciences? Here is some advice from recent graduate Cody Caruso on his journey to employment in the First Nations Health Authority. 

Read about how Parminder fulfils his passions for computing science as he travels from Punjab to Vancouver and attends SFU as an international student. In this blog, he shares with us his experience as co-op student and how that has helped him achieve his career goals!

Read about how SFU students who took part in Co-op work terms at BlackBerry (formerly Research In Motion) – one of the SFU program’s biggest employers – are getting more than a hands-on experience. Many are landing plum positions.

After completing five co-op semesters, Ji Hoon Choi looks back at the choices that led him to where he is today: working, studying, and traveling all at once.

Co-op coordinator, Caroline Wakelin explains the concept of the 20-minute job search. In part three she explains what an information interview is, and how to prepare for one.

In return for a very minimal time commitment, getting involved with volunteer organizations, like the YWCA, can allow you to grow new and marketable skills.

The group, A Tribe Called Red combines traditional powwow music and electronica, to create a unique sound made of both, the spiritual element of drum and voice, as well as the more culturally mainstream sound of electronica.

Saying thank you is simply the manifestation of showing your appreciation, politeness and your overall good manners. Were you aware that it’s strongly recommended to write thank you notes after interviews?

What do we mean by the word "intentionality"? David examines some helpful - and unhelpful - ways the word has become popular, and how the right intentions can be useful in your career and life.

In present day Western civilization, simply taking a walk down a busy street and paying attention is enough to grasp the magnitude of the promotional society in which we live.