The Latest

David follows up on his earlier post on unpaid internships, and asks: How do we determine whether an unpaid internship is moral?

Naina had the opportunity to put her passion to work at her dream company for her 8-month co-op work term. In the first part of a two-part series, Naina shares the learning experiences from her first four months at one of the largest healthcare companies in the world.

Co-op coordinator, Caroline Wakelin explains the concept of the 20-minute job search. In part two she takes you through turning your list of potential contacts into actual contacts, and how to score an informational interview.

My plan was all set, my classes were all chosen and off I went to continue with my education. I didn't talk to anyone working in the field and I didn't know what I might be in for. Big mistake.

Are you a student with financial need looking for the opportunity to participate in research-based projects on campus?  If so, we encourage you to consider SFU’s Work-Study Program. 

SFU Beedie Business student Angie Yu is relocating to China this summer for an International Co-op position with the Embassy of Canada. She recently spoke with International Co-op Communications Assistant, Kiran Dhanoa and shared details about her interview and offered tips for others wishing to find work at an embassy or consulate.

Randy Jack is from the Cheslatta Carrier Nation. He is now an outreach worker with the Vancouver Recovery Club.Here is a series of question and answers to learn more about his education and career experiences.

Education is the top field of study amongst First Nation people. Provided are resources for those pursuing a degree in education.

FNSA Board member, Angela Semple has lead the implementation of the Indigenous Student Ambassador program, helping to highlight important Indigenous resources to potential SFU students and part of the Indigenous Recruitment Team.

Employment scams are becoming more and more common, and scammers are continually coming up with new strategies to efficiently separate innocent and often desperate job seekers from their money. So what can you do to prevent/report being scammed?

Who doesn’t love travelling? Summer is just around the corner and with that comes the time to make our travel plans a reality. Have you ever thought about travelling as a way to boost your career?

This year’s First Nations, Inuit, Metis Graduate Honouring Feast, that took place at the Diamond Alumni Centre on June 12, 2013 was a beautiful gathering that was quite impactful for me.

Co-op coordinator, Caroline Wakelin explains the concept of the 20-minute job search. In part one she takes you through the process of listing potential employers, and ranking them by contacts, desirability and available openings.

Co-op coordinator, Caroline Wakelin explains the concept of the 20-minute job search. In part one she takes you through the process of listing potential employers, and ranking them by contacts, desirability and available openings.

SFU academic advisors share seven reasons why they recommend all their students talk to their professors and teaching assistants - outside of lecture halls and tutorial rooms.

Academic Advisors assist you in formulating a successful academic program that helps you translate your goals, interests, and life plans into an effective educational and SFU experience. Academic Advisors also help you understand and navigate academic program/course requirements, polices, and procedures and refer you to resources/services on campus.

SFU academic advisors share seven reasons why they recommend all their students talk to their professors and teaching assistants - outside of lecture halls and tutorial rooms.

With all the hard work and perseverance over four years (or more), graduation is a joyful and special time full of recognition and anticipations. In other words, you have to get ready to the competitive world and say goodbye to your comfort zone. 

Academic Advisors assist you in formulating a successful academic program that helps you translate your goals, interests, and life plans into an effective educational and SFU experience. Academic Advisors also help you understand and navigate academic program/course requirements, polices, and procedures and refer you to resources/services on campus.

Super creative and highly designed resumes seem to be everywhere lately, but do you need one? Depending on your career aspirations, they made do more harm than good, and make it harder for employers to see your full skill set. Read more to decide if they're right for you.

My name is Tanya and I am majoring in Kinesiology – Active Health and Rehabilitation. I decided to join the Co-op program to gain hands-on experience and find out what type of work I would like to do once I have graduated. I began co-op in January of 2010 and finished the last of my co-op terms at the end of 2011, all in the area of physical rehabilitation. I wanted to address some of the challenges I have experienced during my time in co-op, and I hope to help other students who may be facing similar problems in their own work terms.

After completing co-op work terms with two different employers Tanya wanted to address some of the challenges she has experienced during their time in co-op, and she hopes to help other students who may be facing similar problems in their own work terms. Tanya's two co-op terms lead to two very different co-op experiences. In this two-part post, she shares the differences between them, and what she learned from them.

Saahiilthit (Gerry) Oleman, an elder of the Stl’atl’imx Nation shares his teachings with Aboriginal students about education.

Life is full of contradictions, especially when emotions are taken into account - and careers for that matter. This isn't always easy to acknowledge, and it can be incredibly difficult to act on, but it's also an inescapable fact of life, and as such, of career development. So go ahead, contradict yourself.

Mary Temple will be continuing her degree at SFU in the fall. Read about her experiences growing up in northern BC and where her education has taken her thus far.

Mary Temple will be continuing her degree at SFU in the fall. Read about her experiences growing up in northern BC and where her education has taken her thus far.

Do you know what Bill Gates, Yves Saint Laurent, and Plato have in common? They all had incredible mentors. Whether you’re beginning your career journey or you are well on your way, it is always nice to have someone along for the ride who can provide you guidance, support, and wisdom.

Do you have a sense of humour? Do you believe that humour at work helps you improve productivity, boost morale or even breed creativity?

A great elevator pitch can be the perfect accessory to bring to any networking events – in fact, it’s useful to have for plenty of professional situations. So how do you make the perfect pitch? It's all about the who, what, and why.

As I watched my Mother walk across the stage accepting handshakes and hugs along with her degree, I started to wonder how well we really ever know a person. My Mom, now a University graduate, has been so many different things in my life, but how well do I really know this woman?

Computer Engineering student, Harpreet Basaron is currently on a 16-month co-op term with IBM. Read how her time in Toronto has allowed her to broaden her career horizons, as she left the province to set out on her own, overcoming new challenges and career experiences.

Sandy Coolidge is over 50, a mother of three, and now a graduate of NVIT's social work program. She shares her experiences as a Metis woman and student.

Summer is just around the corner. If you are a job seeker without a summer position, don’t worry. Here are four useful tips for your Last Minute Job Hunt. Are you READY to get into job-hunting mode?

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveller is unaware". Chesa went all the way to Berlin for her co-op term. She's currently working at an ever-growing mobile app start-up and loving every minute. The experience has shown her what opportunities can be possible when you open yourself to the world.

Although the Idle No More movement may appear to have disappeared from national media coverage it is still active in many communities including that of Simon Fraser University. On Monday, April 8th SFU students, alumni, faculty and staff came together to hold an Idle No More rally at the Burnaby campus.

Fourth year student, Alissa Derrick worked with the FNSA to present an Aboriginal Criminolgy series, based on the Rethinking Justice conference presented by the Pacific and Business Law Institute. Read about how she organized the event and what she hopes it will achieve.

Samantha Luo spent her co-op term at Olson & Company Chartered Accountants. While there she learned about the importance of self-starting and keeping yourself motivated with minimal supervision. She now has five tips on getting work done and beating procrastination.

Although the Idle No More movement may appear to have disappeared from national media coverage it is still active in many communities including that of Simon Fraser University. On Monday, April 8th SFU students, alumni, faculty and staff came together to hold an Idle No More rally at the Burnaby campus.

Angela writes about coming to SFU, the Indigenous connections she found, and how her job search found her back in the New Student Enrollment and Transition department.

Undergraduate student Tanminder Rai and fellow student Paolo Dantes worked at SFU’s Functional Materials Engineering Lab under the supervision of assistant professor Woo Soo Kim. Read on to find out what this co-op experience was like for them! 

The idea of an out-of-town 12 month co-op may have intimidated me at one point, but now looking back, I realize just how much I have gained by taking on something that I initially perceived as a challenge.

When it comes to careers, a lot of people think of themselves as having a "calling" towards something. What does this mean, and is it even helpful? Some recent research gives us some clues.

Ever wondered what a job at the US Consulate in Vancouver would look like? Kamilah certainly did! Take a peak at Kamilah's co-op experience at the US Consulate General in Vancouver and the exciting opportunities they were offered in this position! 

“Professionalism, Cooperation, Respect, and Integrity are not only instilled in the organization but in myself as well." Read on to find out more about what Paul learned about during his eight months at the Canada Revenue Agency. 

The TaLK program offers an incredible opportunity to live and work in Korea as an english teacher to a group of Korean speaking elementary school students. One SFU student is currently teaching in Korea, and shares her experience with us.

Jeannette Friesen went to Bolvia with the Students for Development program, where she worked with the Solidarity and Free Trade Movement. While there she learned about the importance of culture and came home more motivated then ever to pursue her goals in international relations.

Mario Fong travelled to Hong Kong to join the HSBC trainee program through International Co-op. Dropping everything to live in a new country provided him with personal and professional experiences he won't soon forget.

SFU's International Co-op department interviewed Sean Sager fresh from his three-month term in Bolvia, where he worked with Students for Development as a Development Intern,  promoting and teaching the fundamentals of community economic development to local community leaders in Bolivia.

Like most undergrads, JunFeng wasn't sure what he wanted to do after graduation. This all changed when he did an 8-month co-op with Broadcom and later extended it for another 8 months. Read about his experience to find out more!  

After having had 3 interviews, Natalie realized that she would be happy with any of the jobs. Now, what does she do when two still are deciding, and one calls her and asks her to decide within 24 hours?

To grow your career you need to know what’s available where you are! Checkout what’s happening in your own area. Opportunities for growth differ in various sectors across the country, and career trends are always changing, so you need to keep up.

Ending the interview on a positive note and leaving the room with confidence. Natalie goes on her third interview. For this job interview she has relevant experience and hopes this will work to her advantage. Read more to learn about Natalie's experience.

Read about Kevin's co-op adventure at SNC Lavalin in Calgary and the lessons he's learnt along the way

The Urban Native Youth Association works to provide meaningful opportunities for Native Youth. With almost 100 staff working within 21 programs they are always looking for talented and dynamic people to join the team. Find out more.

The Urban Native Youth Association works to provide meaningful opportunities for Native Youth. With almost 100 staff working within 21 programs they are always looking for talented and dynamic people to join the team. Find out more...

Have you been asked to prepare a presentation and write an exam on top of your typical interview for your next job? Read on to find out more about Natalie's experience with this new job interview format and her key take-away lessons for you.

Have you thought about what you will do when you return to your community with your degree? NENAS can provide advice regarding planning for your future when you return home to your community through community asset mapping.

As we continue our journey through life, we experience a myriad of events, emotions, and people. Some of these we bump into regularly because of their worth. Here are 15 things you should keep doing no matter what.