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Scroll through and catch up on the latest from the SFU OLC. You're bound to find a fresh new perspective, the most current advice, and recently published stories that are sure to inspire you. Content is created by the SFU community.

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Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience

 

Kaylla
Staying Productive While Working Remotely for a Health Authority

Working from home is a common reality for many Co-op students in the past year. Working from home while working for a Health Authority in the thick of the pandemic is a tremendous experience Kaylla went through last year. Take a look at how she learned to stay productive in these uncertain times.

The Latest

 

gretchen weiner from mean girls
Blog
Back to School 101: Five Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Consent

For some students, this is your first year at SFU and you’re probably excited (and nervous!). I remember feeling the same way, wondering where my classes would be, what the people would be like, whether or not I’d be invited to the good parties…normal first year questions! One thing I never thought I'd have questions about was, consent. 

A photo of the author
Blog
The 201st Application

It’s been two months and 20 days since my first day of my Co-op term at Westcoast Family Centres, but I still find myself waking up every other day in utter disbelief that things worked out!

Photo of the author giving a presentation
Blog
Creating Value: The Adventures of an IT Co-op Student

As someone who didn’t have a lot of direct experience in a technological setting, providing value to the organization had to come from something much bigger than my direct skill set.

Sandra and her coworkers
Blog
Picniic'-ing Through Work: My Co-op Journey

"As it just so happens, I went in blind. I didn’t know what I was up against, and I can’t say I felt particularly ready either, as I had no previous marketing experience." - Sandra talks about her co-op experience with Picniic.

Diana in front of her cubicle
Blog
Tips on Coping with a Challenging Co-op Term

"Sometimes, a co-op work term is not exactly what you expect it to be; it happens." But perspective is everything. Read Diana's tips on how to cope with a challenging co-op term. 

the author sitting in her desk
Blog
Me, Myself and I: Confessions from a UX Team of One
When you are the only designer on a project, let alone the entire company, you are bound to face trials and tribulations. However, there are rewarding opportunities in store for designers on the lonely path to mastery.
Leana Li using a computer with papers on the table
Blog
My Love-Hate Relationship with Accounting

"I knew very little about accounting and definitely had no passion for it" - read on to find out how Leana overcame her aversion towards accounting.

a portrait of the author
Blog
4 Reasons Why You Should Work for a Non-Profit

Want your career to make a meaningful impact on your community and the world, but don't know how? Davina shares how working in the non-profit sector may just be the solution.

Maggie Benston Centre
Blog
How I Faced and Overcame My Fears

Relax! Yes, you may have made a mistake, but it is how you handle the consequences that count. Carina talks about how she made mistakes, faced her fears and learned from them.

A photo of the author standing in front of Granville Square
Blog
Succeeding in a Start-up 101

"This being my first co-op term, I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t know what to wear, how welcoming my co-workers would be or what exact tasks I would be assigned" - Joshua talks about his co-op experience.

Picture of an interviewer and interviewee
Blog
6 Interview Tips from the Other Side of the Table: an Interviewer’s Perspective

Ever wonder how interviewers feel on the other side of the table? SFU Career & Volunteer Services’ very own superstar Career Peer, Scarlett Wu, shares her perspective on interviews and offers ideas on how to ace your own.

People posing in front of the SAP compant logo
Blog
Boy Meets World: Tripping and Falling into the Tech Industry

Deciding whether to do Co-op or not?  Braedon shares his experience with Co-op and how it can give you a competitive edge.

Claire standing in front of the SFU building, looking to a distance
Blog
Getting Started in a Startup: My Co-op at Coral Health

Thinking about doing a co-op with a start-up company? Read Claire's co-op experience to find out what it was like!

Image of Grace sitting down, facing the water at a beach in Australia
Blog
Exchange Experience: Discovering Myself Through Travelling

What does it mean to be alone but not lonely? Grace Chang talks about self-discovery, studying abroad and her adventures in Australia.

Ivy Choi
Blog
The Pre-Interview Pep-Talk You Never Knew You Needed

Landing the interview is a big and the first step towards experiences that will help you throughout your working life. Here are some of Ivy's top tips on pre-interview preparations. 

a planner with some wild flowers layout on top
Blog
Organize Yourself: Tips on Managing Your Work

Struggling to organize your workflow? Don't worry! Read more of Sharon's blog as she gives useful and practical tips on how to manage your time and work!

Sharon Huang's portrait
Blog
Choosing a Start-Up Over a Large Corporation

Are you uncertain whether to pursue a co-op at a large corporation or a small company? Sharon Huang shares why she chose to launch her career at a start-up. 

TRIUMF particle accelerator
Blog
A Penny in a Sea of Sheldons: My Co-op at TRIUMF

You see a job posting, you read the description, you become interested. You apply for the job, you get interviewed, then you get hired. Now what? Anh Vu, shares how she learned the ropes at TRIUMF. 

Mikaela standing in front of her company's logo
Blog
Loving the Non-Profit Life

Working at non-profit organizations may have a less-than-desirable reputation among students, especially regarding pay and prestige; and while it may not look as glamorous as working in a big corporate firm, it has a few unique perks to help you gain valuable experience. 

Pat Chaisang standing in front of SAP's sign
Blog
Five Easy Hacks to Excel at your Co-op!

When it comes to an experience of a lifetime like an internship, the one question we ask ourselves over and over again is “how do I make the most out of this experience?” In this blog, I would like to share with you five game-changing strategies that you can start implementing at work!

Matvei Rudenko
Blog
Growing Your Skills by the Hour: Working in a Fast-Paced Start-Up

Read about Matvei's co-op experience at a start-up company and how this life-changing opportunity helped his career development journey.

an elephant with a speech bubble
Blog
Four Years of University: Quantity of Time vs. Quality of Experience

There are lots of reasons that can scare you away from taking more than four years to finish university. What if your friends finish early? What about the cost? While these are valid concerns, remember that university is a chance to gain experience. 

hands smoothing out dirt
Blog
Empowerment through Volunteering: An Interview with Eva Ang

Have you ever wondered how some people manage to do it all? In this interview, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology student, Eva Ang, offers tips on juggling work, school, volunteering and life.

animation of graduation cap
Blog
Is Grad School the Right Next-Step?

If you are about to finish your undergraduate degree, you might be wondering if you should go to grad school. But how do you know if grad school is right for you? Srijani Datta,  breaks it down. 

a person drinking coffee holding a pen and a notebook by her laptop
Blog
The Job Hunt: Survival Skills

While the decision to look for a job might come easily, getting a job that you really want might not. Looking for that perfect job can often be an arduous and protracted process. Learn how to financially survive those long weeks or months with these tips. 

Dumbells, a tea kettle, eye mask
Blog
The Job Hunt: Self-Care

Looking for a great job can be taxing on your mind and body. Srijani Datta, shares tips on how to keep it together during a long and difficult job hunt.

4 people standing with cooked foods
Blog
Community Cooking Workshops: Why We Love Them So Much

As a student, food is literally my life. I wish I was joking but food is how I bond with friends, how I cope with exams and what I use to wake myself up in the morning. 

Katherine smiling behind bushes
Blog
Phone Confidence

Is talking on the phone nerve-wracking for you?  You aren't alone.  Katherine offers some tips on how to be a better communicator through the phone.  

Jien
Blog
'Til We Meet Again

Recently graduated, Jien Hilario reflects back on university, career choices, convocation and her blog series I Am Able. 

Student studying
Blog
5 Practical Study Tips for Learning Efficiently

Studying does not have to be painful nor require enormous amounts of time and effort. Discover how to become a more efficient learner with these five unconventional study tips. 

girl smiling looking to the side while food is behind her on the table
Blog
Familiar, Yet Not So Familiar

International Co-ops aren't the only way to submerge yourself in a culture.  Gurleen shares her co-op experience through which she gained a new perspective of her culture right here in Vancouver.  

a cup on the desk that says "Hustle"
Blog
4 Steps to Prepare for Graduating University

If you’re steps away from graduating, read on to see how I prepared to make the post-graduation world less intimidating.

a basketball goal went in
Blog
#Goals: Lessons from Bo Sanchez

Having a goal allows us to take aim and move forward. Jien, shares lessons in goal-setting from Bo Sanchez's How to Conquer your Goliaths, and offers her own personal experiences of goal-setting and achieving. 

Puneet
Blog
Learning by Doing: How Co-op Puts Theory Into Practice

Puneet Sran shares her experience from her most recent co-op with Verathon: "As someone who never imagined being an engineer, I have been extremely fortunate to work in such a technical field, among highly intelligent individuals".