Personal & Professional Development

Last night, the hockey world bore witness to a memorable goal celebration by Oilers' rookie, Nail Yakupov. Though it was a memorable moment, controversy and disagreement over whether the celebration was "unprofessional" soon followed, which got me thinking: are emotions acceptable at work?

Kerri tells you at to keep up with new trends of posting volunteer opportunities. She give you a few great social media tools to use when seeking opportunities, and accounts to check out. 

If you are interested in applying to PDP, or looking at career opions, take a gander at Lauren's article. She talks about the kind of volunteer expereince you need for PDP and what is best. 

There are many instances where we have to do things that we hate doing. Because of this, we often do a sloppy job. Learn how to motivate yourself to do something you do not like doing!

Applying for jobs is a very difficult task, especially if you do not have any work experience and are just entering the ‘working world.' Read on to find out how Natalie gained her competitive edge through volunteering and secured her first co-op job.

Need a reason to volunteer? Lauren has 10 of them in her hilarious yet informative article! Read on to see why you should start getting engaged in your community today!

Find out all the great reasons why you should start volunteering! Sabrina shares her personal experience about how she made her start and how you can do the same. 

Chronological? Functional? Combination? What does each resume format look like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using each format? Which format is most suitable for you? Find out the answers here!

Read on to discover how Krisandra made a difference during her co-op by bringing awareness to a free recycling option in BC.

"When I saw the job posting from Capstone Youth and Family Services for a respite worker with at risk youth, I was drawn to it..." Read about Lesley's co-op working with at-risk youths and the important lessons they've learned during this experience.  

Whether you are still looking or have found the job you want to apply for, your resume has to be ready at any time.  But, how hard is it to make your resume stand out from the hundreds of resumes that most employers look at every day? Just follow a few key points to get your resume in shape and keep it that way!

Given my past rantings on such things as happenstance, chaos theory, and the general unpredictability of life and the world, I would forgive you if you thought that I would be opposed to any sort of goal-setting or similar such planful activities. I actually believe goals can be quite helpful - but only if we stop thinking of them as Ikea instruction manuals.

Having an anxiety attack about upcoming assignments and exams? Need a few useful tips to combat those attacks? Surprisingly, managing your time may be the first step to overcoming the work and stress that are already piling up…

Victoria, student advisor for the Arts co-op program, shares her top four tips to help you become a more competitive candidate for today’s job search as a co-op student. 

Dennis is well-known for his insightful and valuable advice on career advancement, workplace success and university life on the OLC. Hear from him about how volunteering with the OLC and in the community has helped him with his career goals and development.

Blogging about her co-op journey from her very first job interview and offer to her current work placement, Natalie has shared countless valuable insights and stories with the OLC about her job search and workplace success. Meet Natalie and read all about her volunteer experience and why she recommends working with the OLC.

“We are judged within the first 5 seconds of meeting someone, and I want to ensure that students make the best first impression possible so business relationships have the opportunity to develop.” Carey McBeth hopes that students see the importance of managing their personal brand.

I’m sitting in front of an interview panel with six Environment Canada staff. The man in the suit at the centre of the panel asks me, “What are BC’s biggest environmental issues?” My mind is blank, yet six pairs of eyes are staring at me to say something. “Er,” I stumble, “it rains a lot?”

Have you ever considered travelling outside of Canada to work or study? Did you know that as an SFU student you have many opportunities to travel, and get credit for it? SFU International has an excellent exchange program in which you can work or study abroad!

Stressing over midterms, projects and final exams? Here are 5 easy tips to help you better manage stress and still succeed in your classes.

We all have busy schedules and finding the “time” to eat well can be part of the challenge. I often hear, “But I don’t have time” or “If I have a chance I will try to grab something.” Despite a busy lifestyle, eating well will help you maintain your energy and your brain power so you can succeed.

While it may seem daunting to move or travel to a new place and maintain a sustainable lifestyle when you don’t have personal and cultural resources at your fingertips, there are several ways that you can practice sustainability while travelling and living abroad.

Are you an international student that feels like there is a wall that stops you from moving forward? Are you trying to improve your language level, but feel embarrassed communicating in English? You're not the only one. But there are people who are reaching their goals. Find your inspiration and become one of them.

Career Peer, Alix, talks about how getting involved is great but also how saying "no" is great too. Learn about when you should consider turning down an opportunity, even an exciting one.

Have you secured your next co-op placement? Do you want to get the most out of your work experience while making a lasting, positive impression on your managers and colleagues? Here are 4 quick tips to create a personal and professional brand for yourself to advance your career.

Kerri give the scoop on volunteering with Scouts Canada, more specifically Scoutsabout! Read on to find out why this was a meaningful experience for her and how you can get involved in a similar program!

Time flies and before you know it, you’ll be attending a lot of holiday parties, activities and social functions. Surprisingly, these holiday gatherings provide the perfect opportunity to be networking, building relationships, learning about diverse jobs, and starting career conversations that could assist you in getting a head start on your future career exploration and work search.

So you have been shortlisted for an interview, what do you do next?  Take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and do some research!  Preparation and confidence are key, but what happens when this isn't enough?

I would say to never give up, to really spend time tailoring the cover letter to the employer, and to apply for jobs that you may not initially like…because you never know what’s out there until you explore the opportunities!

Looking for teaching work? Getting to the end of your PDP/PQP/PLP program? Check out this list of frequently asked questions about teaching resumes!