Looking for summer work, volunteer opportunities, or grad school options?

Then join us at the Summer Opportunities Fair, where you’ll have the chance to pursue a diverse and interesting collection of each! Bring your resume in case you’re interested in applying for any opportunities on the spot! Build new contacts and expand your professional network.

Date: Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
Time: 10:30am – 2:30pm
Location: AQ North Concourse

RSVP on Symplicity under Events -> Fairs for your chance to win prizes!

Check back on the dates below for tips on preparing for the fair!

Sept 12: Fifteen days to the BIG Fair!

RSVP through Symplicity for the BIG Fair to receive tips, updates, and reminders about the Fair, tips on how to effectively attend the Fair, and get a chance to win two (2) movie passes to the Scotiabank Theatre in Vancouver!

Sept 19: Eight days to the BIG Fair!

Prepare your resume. For feedback on how to improve your resume, book a resume consult or attend one of our mini-resume consults happening on September 22, 23 & 26, 2011 (12:00 to 2:00PM) along South AQ, near B9200.

Resume consults are available to all current SFU students and recent alumni (up to two years afer graduation) Mondays to Fridays. Call Career Services at 778-782-3106, or visit us at one of our campus locations to set up a time.

Sept 20: Seven days to the BIG Fair!

Review the exhibitors list. Make a list of your priority organizations from the exhibitors list at Symplicity. Research these exhibitors ahead of time to find out more about the organization and prepare informed questions.

Check out the links below (PDF):

Complete BIG Fair 2011 Exhibitor List

Potential Questions to Employers

Sept 22: Five days to the BIG Fair!

Plan your attire. Ever heard the phrase “dress for the career you want, not the one you have”? Help create a lasting first impression by dressing neat and smart! Make yourself stand out from the crowd by putting on your business attire, formal or casual. Don’t be too casual – avoid wearing torn jeans, slippers, or t-shirts with inappropriate messages or words.

Sept 24: Three days to the BIG Fair!

Prepare your “Elevator Pitch.” Introduce yourself by using a 30-60 second speech that you could complete within one elevator ride if you had to. Tell the employers who you are, why you are here today, what you know of the company, and what you can offer. Use the attached exercise to help plan your elevator pitch.

Elevator Pitch Exercise

Sept 25: Two days to the BIG Fair!

Read through “Career Fair Do’s and Don’ts” for some quick tips on how to network and approach exhibitors.

Career Fair Do’s & Don’ts

Sept 26: One day to go to the BIG Fair!

Is your Big Fair checklist complete?

• Elevator speech
• Appropriate attire
• Copies of resume
• List of exhibitors to visit
• Pen and paper

If it is, get a good night’s rest! See you at the BIG FAIR!

Do you have a Big Dream? A Big Idea? A Big Vision?

The SFU Big Fair 2011 is here to help you make your way towards a Big Future!

Do your friends a favor and spread the word about this event by joining our Movie Pass Giveaway! SFU Career Services and Scotiabank Theatre have teamed up to offer you a chance to win a pair of Cineplex movie passes.

To enter the contest, simply tweet or re-tweet the following:

Got BIG dreams? Jumpstart into a BIG future at the #SFUBigFair! Follow @SFU_Career and RT for a chance to win 2 movie passes. http://ow.ly/6k525

Not on twitter yet? You can also enter the contest by “liking” any post on our Facebook page mentioning the BIG Fair throughout the duration of the contest.

The contest closed on September 20, 2011 (Tuesday) at noon. The winner will be drawn at random after the SFU Big Fair 2011. Only SFU students and alumni can join.  If your Twitter account is set to private, make sure to send a follower request to @SFU_Career for your entry to be valid. Only one entry is allowed per person. Good luck!

About the SFU BIG Fair 2011

Presented by SFU Career Services and AIESEC SFU, the Big Fair is an event where employers, graduate schools, and non-profit organizations come on campus to introduce career options to students and alumni who seek that ideal opportunity. Merging three great fairs in one, the Big Fair features a Career Fair, a Graduate Fair, and a Volunteer Fair.

Tuesday, Sept. 27: SFU Big Fair at Mezzanine, Surrey Campus

Wednesday, Sept. 28: SFU Big Fair at AQ, Burnaby Campus

Thursday, Sept. 29: SFU Big Fair at AQ, Burnaby Campus

Register through Symplicity to receive tips, updates, and a chance to win awesome prizes! Early registrants also receive COMPLIMENTARY BUSINESS CARDS from SFU Document Solutions.

For more information about the SFU Big Fair 2011, visit http://www.sfu.ca/bigfair

Book Review By Melissa Venable of Green Careers: Choosing Work for a Sustainable Future. By Jim Cassio and Alice Rush. New Society Publishers, 2008. (304 pages)

Most people today are probably familiar with the term “going green”. We are provided with encouragement to recycle at home and often on the job. The grocery store will put your groceries in reusable bags, and may even offer small discounts for doing so. Maybe you’ve even tried new environmentally friendly light bulbs or drive a new hybrid car. Careers now are going green, too.

This book provides an overview of what it means to pursue a green career field. Green careers are defined by Cassio and Rush as “…jobs that are focused on sustainability and/or environmental protection and preservation”. Green Careers is divided into two main parts: Green Career Profiles and Additional Information and Resources.

Career Profiles
The Career Profiles are divided into the following career groups:

*Engineering
*Environmental Health and Safety
*Government Regulations and Planning
*Building and Landscaping
*Business and Enterprise
*Education, Communication, and Law
*Natural and Land Resource Management
*Natural Sciences
*Physical Geography
*Sustainable Agriculture
*Electric Utilities (more…)

I am sure you have heard of the concept of taking a holistic approach to health.  I first learned about this concept when I took an elective course in Kinesiology at SFU during my undergraduate degree.  A holistic approach to health examines thephysical, social, emotional and mental needs of a person to determine one’s overall wellness.

What about taking a holistic approach to your university education?  When we think about going to university, we sometimes focus only on one aspect: our studies.  Are there any other aspects that you should consider that can enhance your overall university experience?

Have you consider integrating co-op and volunteering experience with your degree?  The benefit of co-op is by the time you graduate from university, you will have one year of work experience in your field of study.  During your co-op term, you will have an opportunity to determine whether you really like your chosen career field.  In addition, you will make valuable connections through networking with your employer and colleagues. You may even be offered a permanent job by the employer in the future.

What about volunteering?  There are many volunteer opportunities available on and off campus.  Volunteering offers you opportunities to explore careers you are interested in, to learn new or enhance existing skills, and to develop valuable networking opportunities.  While doing my practicum at SFU Career Services, I attended an event called Peer Into Your Career. A panel of SFU alumni shared their stories on their volunteer experience gained from joining the SFU Peer Educator Program and how it helped their careers.

Why not take a holistic approach to your education?  Integrate co-op and volunteer experience with your degree and enrich your university life.

Writer:  Johnny Seto, Practicum Student, SFU Career Services.

The Peeriodical is a series of blog entries by SFU Career Services’ volunteers (Career Peers) and practicum students.

Image: here

If there’s someone who knows about the terrifying journey that is the work search, it is Marissa Nahanee. Marissa was a panellist at the Indigenous Peoples Career Stories event on March 3, 2011.  Marissa has worked on many world class events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch relay and visits by Princes Charles and Edward.  This is quite an impressive resume for someone still in their twenties. But Marissa’s job did not just happen to her – she had to work for it.

When Marissa started her event planning classes, she told people that her goal was to work for the Olympics, and then manage her own company.  Everyone told her she was crazy, especially because she wanted to coordinate First Nations events specifically.

After graduating, Marissa attended networking event after networking event, pitching her ideas and showing her passion to recruiters.  Months later, she received a Facebook message from an employer asking if she would like to work for the Four Host Nations to plan Olympic events!  Amazing!  But let’s rewind.  How did this happen? (more…)

Want to learn about employment, educational, and volunteer opportunities for this summer?

Come to the Summer Opportunities Fair (formerly known as the summer hiring fair) on March 24 from 11:00 to 3:00 in the North AQ to meet and network with organizations that are interested in YOU.

Saturday marked the passing of another successful Backpack to Briefcase conference here at SFU.  We had a dynamic and diverse line-up of speakers, an incredibly engaged audience of SFU students and alumni, and a lot of fun!

Did you miss this year’s ultimate one-day career conference? Not a problem! I was live-tweeting the event this year, and am happy to bring you my most tweet-worthy impressions, from all speakers. Enjoy!

(more…)

tran·si·tion
[tran-zish-uhn]
–noun

1.movement, passage, or change from one position, state,stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change: the transition from adolescence to adulthood. (dictionary.com)

It was pretty close to 2 years ago today that I wrote my first entry on this blog, and would you know it – it was a post about transition.  At the time, I was in the middle of an internship here at Career Services, and thought that sharing my own story of a not-so-smooth transition out of undergraduate studies to “that which comes next” would be valuable.

I’ve thought about what’s transpired since that day 2 years ago, and how I can look at those events through a lens of transition, of change.  In the post I wrote back then, I discussed how there are some connotations associated with the word transition that, to me, are misleading when applied to a school-career context:

“Transition connotes a sense of smooth, structured change.  Something seamless and easy.  Something tangible and concrete.  Something that you can really get your hands on and just do. To me, transition is a word that better applies to the gear shifter in your car than the impending crisis of finding employment and (gasp!) a career.”

I remain in agreement with my original position.  “Transition” in many cases implies an oversimplification of a process that in reality is non-linear, unpredictable, and very often painful. (more…)

“I would for sure do it again.”   Even before the SFU Indigenous Student Centre, in collaboration with Career Services, is set to host SFU’s  first ever Indigenous Peoples Career Stories,  student organizer Sophia Richards is already full of admiration for the event’s resonating purpose.

When approached about a possible opportunity to sit on the career panel event’s organizing team, Sophia felt compelled to get involved.   She realized that, while also a chance to make connections with community leaders and to tweak her networking skills, Indigenous Peoples Career Stories is unique as events go, for it carries a powerful message.  In Sophia’s own words, she believes that the event can show participants how “we all have different paths and journeys and that, no matter what, we can all be successful even if we find ourselves following a different direction than what was expected.”

The themes of courageously meeting challenges and striving to remain true to oneself while in the process of pursuing a career are just a few of the thought-provoking issues that will be covered by both the event’s moderator, Professor Rudy Reimer, as well as featured industry professionals.  As such, the three hour-long conference-style event is sure to provide keen insights as well as a chance to discuss pertinent issues surrounding the often-times bumpy nature of career exploration.  As Sophia points out, getting the chance to “know people’s experience can help [us] believe that we all can do it [too].”

After much dedicated effort, Sophia and the rest of the organizing team are excited to finally see the event come to life.  They urge all students to come out to what, as the event’s title affirms, is sure to be a profoundly eye-opening set of stories. In addition to the panel discussion, there will be a brief ceremony honouring the donation of a First Nations Copper/Owl/Raven Wall Hanging to SFU Career Services by the SFU Office for Aboriginal Peoples.   Delicious refreshments, including bannock and traditional fireside tea, will be served.     Indigenous Peoples Career Stories is scheduled for Thursday March 3 from 3:30 to 6:30 PM in the WMC Lounge at SFU’s Burnaby Campus.  Registration is via the Simplicity website, http://www.sfu.ca/wil/simplicity. Hope to see you there!

Interview & Article by

Awna Besan,Career Peer

Have you ever wondered what it takes to work for one of the top employers in Canada?

If so, come to “Canada’s Best” on Feb 24 to learn about top employers and what they’re looking for in employees. You’ll get to meet and engage with leaders from some of Canada’s top companies and find out about common recruitment practices, what they look for in new hires, and of course — why they’ve been chosen as some of the best places to work.

At this annual reception event, you will have a chance to hear from representatives from nationally and/or provincially recognized organizations speak about what makes their organization a top employer, and to have your questions answered by any of our panelists. Light refreshments as well as a brief networking opportunity will follow the panel presentation.

Register on Symplicity today! Space is limited!

Have you participated in SFU’s annual health and wellness program, 7 Weeks to Wellness?

If you have, a new year and new challenges await for you to explore and get motivated to take steps towards health and wellness. If you haven’t, check out the website and join for free! It’s a great way to get inspired, set goals, and keep track of your progress towards wellness.

Today at Student Central (top floor of the Maggie Benston Centre, across from Higher Grounds), there is an official launch event to celebrate the opening of the program this year. It will be happening from 12:30 to 1:30 and there will be free food and plenty of exciting information.

Additionally, the 7 “Wellness Celebrities” will be in attendance to answer any questions you may have about the different areas of wellness. As this year’s “career/academic” wellness celebrity, I’ll be there! If you drop by, be sure to say hi. Here’s to taking steps towards healthier living and better wellness!

Also watch out for blog postings by all of the Wellness Celebrities, including yours truly, on the Wellness Blog within the 7 Weeks to Wellness Platform. If you’re in the mood for a career/academic challenge, there’s one coming up in a few weeks!

David Lindskoog is a career advisor with SFU Career Services, and the author of “Dave’s Diary,” an ongoing series of blog entries touching on various aspects related to careers and well-being. Look for updates every Friday.

Have you ever asked yourself, “What is my passion? What should I do with my life?”

Sean Aiken, who famously undertook an often-televised journey of working in 52 different jobs in 52 weeks, asked himself those very questions, and set out to answer them. Now, he’s sharing his story with university students across North America.

SFU Career Services and the SFU Business Career Management Centre are happy to host Sean when he comes to SFU on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011. There will be a screening of his movie, “One Week Job,” as well as an intimate Q & A with Sean himself.

Watch the movie trailer.

Registration is required and is on Symplicity. Get all the details here.

University is expensive. Assuming you take four courses, the majority of us have to have to fork out about $2300 each semester for tuition alone, more if you are a keener and take five! In the end, you may have spent over $40,000 for a piece of paper…I mean your degree.

On top of that, you have to set aside some cash for your Starbucks addiction and that credit card bill from your splurge last weekend. In the end, your earnings (if any!) won’t even let your breakeven each month. So you think, “I should really get a job!”. But along with school, you need to save time for friends and family, your student clubs, volunteering, and a possible significant other. So you say to yourself, “I JUST DON”T HAVE TIME!”.

But on Monday December 7^th, you will have an opportunity to balance school and your social life, while working a job with great experience and pay! SFU will be hosting the Olympic Hiring Fair! Come and meet organizations looking to hire students for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Be sure to bring your resume as some offer interviews and offers onsite!  VANOC contracts out a lot of positions to local businesses, who hires on their behalf to work Olympic venues. Student workers are in great demand for the Olympics, so you can be sure to be offered great wages. The experience is also great way to add more international experience to your resume!  Take a break from your student loans and get practical and transferable skills!

SFU Career Services will also have a booth set up if you need any career-related advice: work search, resume writing, cover letter writing, interview tips, etc.

Did I mention, BRING YOUR RESUME?

Hope to see you there!

Organizations attending so far:

- Genesis Security

- VANOC Parking Hubs

- Commissionaries BC

Date: Monday, December 7th; Time: 11:00 to 2:00;  Location: North AQ

Trying to figure out what career is a fit for you after graduation is a daunting task.  As a career advisor, I have talked to thousands of students who have a similar question “What will be a fit for me in the world of work?”.

This is a fair question with a complex answer!  Join career services to learn about the role luck plays in your career planning and the importance of choice.  You can chose to follow your dreams and passions as other students have done in Roadtrip Nation and you can choose to learn more about your potential career paths by attending:

Is it Luck

Date: Monday, November 9th @ 10:30am-12:00pm

Location: Career Services – MBC 0300

Ever consider working or studying south of the boarder? 

Consular Officers from the US Consulate General Vancouver, will talk about visa documentation, eligibility requirements, and the application process for working and studying across the border. This session includes a question and answer period.

Date: Thu, Nov 5

Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Location: MBC 0300 – Group Room 1, SFU Burnaby

Register @ http://www.sfu.ca/wil/symplicity/

Does the thought of writing a cover letter send chills down your spine?  For many of us it is not the most pleasant experience.  If you are looking to gain some tips and techniques for writing cover letters that grab the attention of employers join us!  No registration required.

Wednesday, Oct 14 @ 11;30am-12:30pm in Student Central

Thursday, Nov 26 @ 2:30pm-3:30pm in Student Central

Feel free to share any tips and experiences you have had writing cover letters in the comment section.

If you are an unemployed recent graduate or in your final semester and beginning your work search, plan to attend Career Services’ FREE Job Finding Club –August 24 to September 4th.  This 2 week program teaches job seekers the most effective means of finding work in their field using group-support and strategic job-hunting techniques.  During that time we will help you to:

– Identify your skills and be able to talk about them with confidence
– Create resumes and cover letters that will get you interviews
– Discover unadvertised jobs and tap into the hidden job market
– Enhance your interview skills to get those job offers
– Develop skills and strategies to overcome obstacles
– Bring new energy to your job search and much more!

Attend the next information session (no registration required) to see if this SFU Career Services sponsored club could be your path to successful work!

Job Finding Club Info Session Dates:

Tues July 21 @ 10:00 – 11:00
Thurs July 23 @ 1:00 – 2:00
Tues Aug 4 @ 2:30 – 3:30
Thurs Aug 6 @ 12:30 – 1:30

Submit your job club application NOW to avoid disappointment as interviews start on August 11th. 

DROP BY Career Services MBC 0300; or  PHONE: 778-782-3106; or EMAIL: career_services@sfu.ca