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Personal & Professional Development

Personal & Professional Development

Guiding your professional and personal growth.

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Personal and Professional Development is where you can find tips, stories and resources that will boost your professional trajectory, and personal growth. From resume-building to staying on track at work, the following resources will teach you how to conduct yourself personally and professionally.

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Working for the Sun: 3 Tips for a Strong Interview

The day before an interview tends to be the most anxiety-inducing, especially as a Co-op student. Maybe it’s because you really want that specific position, have little professional experience or generally have social anxiety in new and uncomfortable situations. With a little reflection on my interview process, I came up with three tips to hopefully calm your nerves before, during and after your next interview.

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Behind the Scenes of an Interview: What I Learned While Hiring My Co-op Replacement

Whether you’re like me and have been doing Co-op for a while now, or just have had your fair share of job interviews, then you probably think you know everything there is to be prepared for one. However, I will tell you right now that, unless you have actually conducted a job interview, you most likely do not. Continue reading for some insider tips on Co-op interviews that I feel everyone should know.

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Self-Learned Tips for Mental Well-Being

Sharing tips for good mental health practices is essential for building both a helpful community and a better future for yourself. Read SFU Health and Counselling's tips for being more present in the moment. 

A person running down the road next to a field.
Turning a Run into Fun: Taking Your First Step

Running is a drag. Here’s some ways to keep yourself motivated and healhy as you continue on your New Year’s resolutions. 

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Finding My Way With Co-op

Your path to discovering your career won’t look like someone else’s. This is an important lesson that I've learned during my Co-op journey that has motivated me to explore all the possibilities of what a future career could entail. Keep reading to learn about how I've continued my Co-op journey and more about how I've continued to learn about myself during this experience. 

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120 Hours: How to Survive COVID Quarantine Creatively

So you or someone you've been in contact with has been exposed to COVID. Here are a couple of ways to pass the five-day quarantine and not go out of your mind during it. 

Two people on their computers working on a sheet of paper
Beyond Your Final Goal for Your Co-op

A tiny step in learning and building a balanced work-personal life is a big step in your growth and accomplishments.

The silhouette of a bird over the ocean.
In Defense of Early Birds

We all wish we could sleep in longer than we need to every morning when our alarm rings. Here’s an argument for why you should listen to that alarm and even set it back a couple of hours if possible.

Four people looking at a sunset against a city
Handling the Social Boom of Late '21

How do you re-enter a social world after spending most of your time behind a computer screen? Here are some tips that helped me navigate the uncharted seas of post-pandemic socialization. 

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Five Ways That Co-op Helped Me Build My Self-Confidence

Having self-confidence has consistently been a goal of mine to achieve. And for a long time, I would get scared at the thought of pursuing Co-op positions as I thought that it would surely make me feel less confident about myself. But little did I know, my experiences in Co-op have been one of the biggest factors in building my self-confidence.

A person presenting in front of a screen and a microphone.
How To Be a Confident Public Speaker

Whether it’s an intimate meeting or a large crowd, speaking publicly in front of others can be difficult and intimidating. Follow along to hear some of the best tips for making sure you are prepared and present your most confident self!