Career Services Informer

Two summers ago, I was on a co-op term at St. Paul’s Advocacy, a non-profit organization located in the West End of Vancouver, where I worked as a legal and social advocate and homeless outreach assistant. I was at first hesitant to accept the position because I thought that the skills I would obtain would not at all be relevant to my career path of going into law or policy work with the government. Because the position would involve approaching homeless people I, along with my friends and family, was also concerned for my safety. There’s a negative stigma of homeless people being reckless, lazy, and dangerous. The news media does not improve this image, to say the least. Nonetheless, I decided to take the position since I thought experience in the non-profit sector would be beneficial and I would gain office skills.

The job was a 4 month co-op position where I assisted homeless people in finding housing, applying for social assistance, landlord-tenant disputes, or anything else they needed. The Advocacy Office is a free service to those in need. Some clients often were not able to resolve their issues in an appropriate way due to physical or mental disabilities, or the mere fact that they were uninformed of what the best resolution path would be.

Another aspect of my position consisted of being a kind of social worker, seeking out homeless people on the streets of Vancouver, offering them food, and talking to them about their needs. I got first-hand experience speaking with various homeless people on the streets of the city, who I made close bonds with. A lot of these people seemed to have been on a good trajectory in life, but they hit a bump in the road and their life took a turn for the worse. They had degrees, spouses, and had previously maintained jobs. Unfortunately. many homeless are affected by mental illness, alcoholism, and drug addiction, creating a downward spiral into chronic homelessness.

I learned through this experience how the social service system is extremely inaccessible for the average citizen, let alone people who are mentally or physically disabled and without a home. Welfare forms are difficult to fill out and a lot of documentation is needed to prove one’s identity, which homeless people often don’t have. It is evident that the system is not easy to use by the people who need it. This is, in essence, marginalizing the very population it is in place to help.

It turns out that I greatly enjoyed my experience being an advocate. My job was interesting and had a lot of variety to it. Through both of my positions at St Paul’s Advocacy, I’ve realized that the negative stigma attached to homeless people is very inaccurate. Homeless people are the same as people who are more financially privileged, and require the same things in life. Some of my regular clients kept such a positive outlook on life, despite their living conditions not giving them a reason to.

From a humanitarian point of view, the people that I’ve worked with and the clients that I’ve helped gave me so much inspiration to appreciate the opportunities I have. I developed many transferable skills that greatly helped me in my job search afterwards. I developed my sense of professionalism, organization, and communication skills immensely. I also learned a lot about law and social work, which I wasn’t expecting at the start. I put my effort into this job and as a result I got a lot out of it.

In the end, I learned that trying out things that do not appeal to you 100% at the beginning is often a risk worth taking. I also learned to put a lot into what you’re doing, because you will be rewarded in the end, be it with experience, transferable skills for future jobs, or the gratification of knowing that you helped somebody.

Jennifer Miller is a Career Peer Educator with SFU Career Services.

With a semester of co-op experience, I figured finding my next work term would be a breeze. After all, now I had relevant office experience to add to all the volunteer and part-time work on my resume. Unfortunately, I was mistaken. I didn’t get hired on a work term, and while my story comes from a co-op standpoint, what I learned is relevant and important for anyone looking for work.

I figured this seeking semester would be a breeze – after all, I had a good amount of experience, and pretty well-written application documents. Without doubt, I’d have a second co-op in no time. Well, the months passed, and I still didn’t have an offer. Sure, I got a nice number of interviews thanks to my strong resume and cover letter. I’m even confident I was a strong interviewee, based on feedback I’ve received from others in the past.

Still, no offers. So what was I doing wrong? When I followed up with my advisors and coordinators in an effort to get some feedback, I was rather surprised and confused about what I learned.

I realized that I had been falling into two different traps: I was either a very promising candidate, but simply lacked directly applicable experience; or the recruiters had liked everything I’d done but just didn’t think I was the right “fit.” I learned that even if I did everything right in the application process, and had lots of experience on my resume, there was no guaranteed job waiting for me right away.

It might be the same for you. If you didn’t get that job you really wanted, the reasons might be completely out of your immediate control: you can’t instantly gain experience you don’t have, and you certainly can’t change who you are. Simply put, it’s a buyer’s market: there’s heavy competition for students and new graduates, and companies can afford to be very picky on who they select.  I don’t want to discourage looking for jobs right now; rather, I hope that this can help you to avoid obsessing over why you didn’t get an offer, or stressing out about what you did wrong.

No matter what happens, never give up. If you can’t find the paid work you want, think outside the box for alternatives. Can you work towards your goal by volunteering part-time to gain the direct experience you’re missing? How about taking on a less related role that would develop some transferrable skills? There are more possibilities than you might think, and Career Services and Volunteer Services on campus can help you learn where to start, both on and off campus.

Seventeen applications, seven interviews, and zero co-op placements later, I ended up taking classes and volunteering with two positions on campus. You might imagine that I would be pretty depressed about all the rejections and failures I experienced, but I managed to stay positive throughout the process! If I learned anything from this, it’s to avoid getting emotionally attached to a job possibility when the outcome is still uncertain. At the end of the day, you don’t know what’s going to happen, so why hop onto an emotional rollercoaster?

Jennifer Gutzmann

Jennifer is a Career Peer Educator at SFU Career Services, and a fourth-year business student pursuing a career in Human Resources. She loves being with people, and wants to do something to help others.

New Year’s resolutions are really no different than the goals we set for ourselves year-round, except that they are prompted by the façade of a fresh start. Unlike January 1, the new semester really does provide you with a fairly clean slate. The triumphs and tribulations of last semester have no bearing on your new classes, and you have every opportunity to be a better student this time around.

If you are like me, you make new semester resolutions at the start of every term. If you are like me, many of these resolutions are lofty, vague, and eventually unfulfilled. Every semester I promise myself that THIS will be the semester I keep up with my readings all semester. In past semesters I’ve had varying degrees of success with this goal, but I’ve never actually met my objective in full. This could be due to a number of factors, but the easiest one to change is probably the way that I set goals.

Goal setting seems intuitive, but if your goals are not SMART, they have serious room for improvement. SMART goals are:

Specific
If your goal is vague, it is difficult to make plans to achieve it.

Measurable
If your goal is not measurable, you cannot check your progress or know when you have achieved it.

Attainable
Setting goals that are beyond your reach or out of your control will only end in frustration.

Realistic
Knowing that you could achieve something is not enough – will you? Set goals you are motivated to work toward and can realistically be integrated into your lifestyle.

Time-limited
If you leave an open deadline, you may find your goals sit at the bottom of your to-do list. School comes along with a lot of dates that will be on your mind anyway (like the start of reading break), giving you built-in reminders if you pair them with goal deadlines.

To end my streak of falling short of my goal, I hereby resolve to read all assigned material by the dates indicated in my class syllabi until the end of the semester. To be realistic, I will allow myself a grace period of one week when I am in the process of studying for an exam.

I also make a list of goals for myself every summer. I usually achieve most of them, with the exception of those that are unrealistic (things I think I should do, but am not sufficiently motivated to). In addition to making those goals SMART, I write them down and post them somewhere that I will see them every day. This instills a healthy sense of guilt when they fall by the wayside. Another great way to achieve the same effect is to share your goals with others, especially if they have similar goals.

Whether you resolve to be a better student, get more involved, eat healthier, or improve yourself in some other way, I wish you the best of luck and encourage you to use all the tips, techniques, and resources available to you. Happy new semester!

Image: http://www.commentsyard.com/comments/happy-new-year/

Tabatha Patterson, Career Peer.

Tabatha is a Career Peer Educator at SFU Career Services and pursuing a BA in Psychology with a minor in Counseling and Human Development.

Is a million dollars enough to make you just up and quit your job?  Vancouver’s real estate prices would make me ponder this a little, but that’s a whole different story.  I’ve asked this question to friends, family and even the lady behind me at the lottery booth.  The majority indicated that they would quit their job without hesitation and spend their winnings to take exotic trips around the world, buy a new home, purchase a luxury car, donate to charity, and when the dust settles, pursue their “dream job.”

Some people are lucky enough to know at an early age what they want to be doing in the future.  A few may even end up in the career they daydreamed about as a young child.  Of course, nothing is ever handed to us on a silver platter.  It takes talent, hard work, and a little bit of luck – and as Oprah puts it, “luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”

For some of us, pursuing our dreams might be completely out of our comfort zone.  We’re happy to work in jobs we feel are our “best option” at the time.  The problem with this is that we become complacent and our motivation and passion slowly start to dwindle.

Don’t we owe it to ourselves to do something that is meaningful and that we love doing?

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”     – Steve Jobs

Here are a few tips for finding great work that you’ll love: (more…)

An interesting fact seemingly shared by almost all accomplished people is that they had a mentor. Bill Clinton was a protégé of William Fulbright. Sigmund Freud was mentored by Joseph Breuer. Carl Jung by Sigmund Freud. Bill Gates by Warren Buffet. Oprah Winfrey by Maya Angelou. Henry David Thoreau by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Hilary Clinton by Rev. Donald James. Helen Keller by Anne Sullivan. Aristotle by Plato. Plato by Socrates… The list goes on.

What exactly is a mentor, anyway? A mentor can encompass a wide variety of roles. They can be someone who models appropriate behavior, offers encouragement, opens the door to opportunity, keeps you accountable, and inspires vision. Having someone who is willing to share their experience with you can make a big difference, however cliché that may sound.

Surprisingly, despite many obvious benefits, mentorship has been cited as one of the least-utilized tools for advancing one’s career. A career survey indicated that only about thirty percent of respondents reported having a mentor, and roughly twenty percent said that their company had a mentoring program in place. In addition, as an advancement strategy mentoring ranked lowest, far behind the most popular choices of obtaining additional education, seeking more responsibility at work, asking for promotion, and networking. With that in mind, the goal for this article is to explain how to form and sustain a meaningful relationship with your potential mentor(s). (more…)

Co-operative Education can be an excellent way of enriching your academic experience and narrowing down your potential career options. Employers increasingly cite real-life or internship experience as one of the most desirable qualities in applicants. With that in mind, here are four essential tips for getting the most out of your co-op experience:

Set personal and career goals, objectives, and expectations

In the beginning of your work term, discuss your goals, responsibilities and expectations with your employer(s). Ask any questions you have about the organization and your position. This can prevent some major obstacles or misunderstandings down the road. Make sure any goals you set are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) and relevant to your long-term professional goals. List the traits that you would like to see in your ideal co-op position. What do you hope to get out of the experience?

Show initiative, drive, and commitment

There are various ways you can demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm to your supervisor(s) and coworkers. Regularly ask questions, volunteer to take on interesting projects, and set regular meetings with your supervisor(s). You may not always get to do the most interesting tasks, so accept any “grunt work” without complaint, showing you’re willing to do your best no matter the situation. Regularly attend informal or social events to maintain good relationships and network with people in the organization.

Track your accomplishments

After your work term is over, you’ll want to be able to reflect on what you got out of your co-op experience. This will not only enrich your co-op experience, but it will also help you clearly articulate your skills and qualifications in future job or volunteer interviews. Throughout your work term, maintain a journal or portfolio to record details of any projects, lessons, and achievements you have had as a co-op student. Also, consider using tools that will help keep track of your accomplishments like www.idonethis.com.

Use multiple resources to stay informed about future internship opportunities

Make regular visits to Symplicity to stay in the loop about on-going and future co-op postings. Also remember that many job and co-op openings are never posted, so network with colleagues, professors, friends, and family to identify these hidden opportunities. Career Fairs and departmental student unions and groups are excellent means of networking with others. Social networking sites like LinkedIn are also recommended. Take the initiative to conduct informational interviews with key people who may refer you to interesting opportunities. Visit SFU Career Services or attend career workshops to learn about networking and conducting informational interviews.

Eric Kang, Career Peer

Eric is a returning Career Peer Educator and Career Peer Coach with SFU Career Services. He is studying toward his Honours Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry (MBB) and Statistics. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, juggling, and drawing.

Compared to university graduates decades ago, students today are faced with an even greater number of career paths to choose from. How are we supposed to know which career to pursue? Common symptoms among students include fear and feeling overwhelmed. Despite graduating from Capilano College as a top student and valedictorian, Sean Aiken was not an exception, so he launched a project for which he tried out one job per week for 52 weeks to narrow down his passion. When asked what possessed him to initiate such a wacky project, he responded, “…far more wacky (than trying out different jobs) is the number of people who get out of bed in the morning and absolutely dread going to work because they hate their jobs.”

In February of 2011, I had a unique opportunity to attend a talk by Sean Aiken, who visited SFU to share his stories about the project. It was a must-attend event for me because I wanted to hear about the project from Sean’s personal point of view, and it surely was an exciting opportunity to watch him speak in person. Shortly after the event, I wanted to know more about the project, so I read his book The One-Week Job Project: 1 Man, 1 Year, 52 Jobs, which provided me with a bit more detail on each of the jobs he worked in throughout Canada and the U.S. Below is a list of ideas that I took away from the event and the book:

1. Not knowing what to do with your life is perfectly okay, as long as you continue exploring and doing meaningful things that can help you learn more about your aptitudes and interests.
2. Life is inherently uncertain so it is better to stay flexible and open-minded than to try to devise and follow a rigid plan. According to one career survey, only 2% of the respondents in the work force ended up doing what they thought they would do when they were under 20. This also ties into the idea of Chaos Theory of Careers.
3. School is important. Do your best to get the best grades you can, because the higher your GPA is, the greater number of opportunities will be open to you.
4. Real life experience is crucial. Immerse yourself in extracurricular activities and consider participating in Co-op or internship programs.
5. People whom you work with have a tremendous influence on your job satisfaction. Happy people seem to have two things in common: They like the people they work with; and they feel like they are making a difference in some way.
6. Money is important but it is not everything. After all, what use is there if you make millions of dollars a year but hate your job and feel miserable every week?

As much as I was fascinated by what Sean did, I thought one week was too short a period for Sean to truly learn about different jobs. Personally, many of my learning experiences came after I was in a job for a few months, if not years. By staying in each job for only five days, he would have obtained only a superficial understanding of various jobs at best. Nevertheless, I find it quite admirable that Sean had the courage to resist conforming to the expectations of his family, friends or teachers, as many students who take the first job that comes along do:

“The reality is that many people make these huge life-changing decisions based on their perception of what others think. I often thought, what are my friends doing? What will make my parents proud? What title will allow me to confidently answer the question ‘What do you do for a living?’ I was cultivating a life built on fear, not conscious choice.”

These are questions I am sure lots of students must be asking themselves. There seems to be no easy answer. The best we can do may be to stay patient and do what we must every day and, as the late Steve Jobs said, believe the dots will connect looking back.

If you would like to learn more about Sean, visit his project website here and consider attending the upcoming TEDx Vancouver event, for which he has been selected as one of the speakers. The event is to be held on November 12^th, 2011.

Eric Kang, Career Peer

Eric is a returning Career Peer Educator and Career Peer Coach with SFU Career Services. He is studying toward his Honours Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry (MBB) and Statistics. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, juggling, and drawing.

I wouldn’t classify myself as one of those people who can walk into a room and meet people easily. Though I’ve been making an effort to push the boundaries of my comfort zone, I’ve always been an introvert by nature. Unfortunately, as a business student, networking seems like an important skill to learn.

When I recently won a ticket to a networking event through an information session at SFU, I told myself I had to go. Luckily, the event was a “mingle,” a smaller, more informal networking event. In contrast to a large and formal career fair which would involve elevator pitches and resumes, I figured this would be a good place to test the waters.

When the day came, and I dragged myself out and expected the worst. I swallowed hard and walked in, vaguely recognising a few other people from the information session. Were they as nervous as I was? A few minutes went by, and suddenly there I was, talking with someone I hadn’t known only a moment before. The surprising thing was that it actually wasn’t that bad. At first, there was a moment of panic when I realized I should have dressed in business casual rather than my casual black pants, nice tank top and cardigan (oops), but it could have been worse.

When I started talking to people, I realized they weren’t the kind of cold, reserved professionals that I had feared. They were just people like anyone else – quite friendly and easy to talk to. I also found some common ground with some of the other students there who were also at their first networking event.

Towards the end of the night, after I had gotten over my initial haze of nervousness, I had an epiphany. I wasn’t the only one who felt out of my comfort zone: a couple people hadn’t ventured out of the corner all evening, and a few others had mechanically talked to and exchanged cards with every person in the room. Luckily, I’d managed to behave very appropriately and confidently by avoiding these extremes.

Though I can still count on one hand the number of networking events I’ve attended, these experiences have driven home a few tips that I wish I’d known in advance:

1. Bring business cards. It’s quite common to exchange business cards at the end of a conversation.
2. Dress for the occasion. Depending on what event you attend, this may be a full on suit or business casual.
3. There is no need to talk to every single person in the room. A few meaningful conversations are less exhausting and more manageable.
4. It’s OK to take a breather and hide by the appetizers with the other students, but set a goal to not make this your entire evening.

Even though I haven’t talked to many people since those events, I’d say it was still worthwhile. The confidence I gained from recognising I am in fact capable of walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversation has stayed with me and transferred over to other areas of my life as well.

If you’ve been procrastinating over whether or not to attend your first networking event, here’s my advice: just go. Not only could you eliminate (or at least reduce) your understandable anxiety and hesitancy, but you could even impact other areas of your life. Somehow, class presentations have become less nerve-racking. If this still isn’t enough of an incentive, keep in mind that you could encounter very good odds of winning a door prize.

Jennifer Gutzmann

Jennifer is a Career Peer Educator at SFU Career Services, and a fourth-year business student pursuing a career in Human Resources. She loves being with people, and wants to do something to help others.

How accurate are you in predicting what a person’s career would be based on what they majored in university?

Below is a list of some of my close friends’ careers.  Can you guess what their university majors were? Take the quiz below, match the job title to the university major:

*See the bottom of this post for the answers.

(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

We’ve been very lucky at Career Services to have had a great group of volunteers around every year.  These volunteers, or “career peers” as we warmly refer to them, take care of some very important business for us – from advising students on resume and cover letter writing, to helping out with our many events, to facilitating and participating in ongoing professional development sessions, and much more.

It’s clear that we get a lot from our career peers.  But what do they get from their experience?  Four of our very own career peers volunteered to share some of the reasons that they got involved. (more…)

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…)

Ever wonder what exactly makes a good impression when it comes to business? With my new job under my belt, I’ve networked and met several influential individuals.  Upon introducing myself, shaking hands and getting to know these people, I have come to realize that there is a certain business etiquette that everyone that hopes to make a good impression should know.

If you can’t prevent embarrassing yourself in person, the person you’re trying to make an impression on will think you lack the self-control to do what’s needed.  Business etiquette is also important because it shows that you can present yourself comfortably while showcasing how comfortable people will feel around you.

Here are some tips on two essential areas of business etiquette: handshakes and emails. (more…)

Transitions!!!  Sleeping to waking, travelling from home to work and back again and switching from task to task are some of the more common every day transitions that people experience.  Most aren’t life-changing and take place on a regular basis, so we tend not to think about them when they occur.

That being said, the mere thought of some transitions will send the bravest of us into a catatonic state.

Let’s test that theory.

Career Transition!

Still with me?  Did I lose some of you?  It’s pretty much a guarantee that you and everyone you know are going to go through at least one of these during your life. The realization you’re in a career/ field of study you don’t like (can’t stand, hate, despise etc.) may happen over a period of time, or it may hit you like a proverbial bolt of lightning. (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

Has someone ever told you that your cover letter needs to have an “eye-catching” and interesting beginning? Well, this is no myth.  Recently, my sister who works in Human Resources has told me horror stories about the cover letters that she is subjected to reading.  Her complaints extend to “unbelievable” and “cheesy” opening lines that deter her from reading the rest of the candidate’s cover letter.

My personal experience with cover letters extends from currently being a seeking Co-operative (Co-op) Education Program student. Now, if you have ever heard of Co-op, it is likely that you have heard stories about how applying to jobs is like taking another course.  This has some truth to it, but it really depends on how comfortable you are with writing your resumes and cover letters.   Volunteering with Career Services has made this process drastically easier for me.  I initially thought that I would have to apply several times throughout the semester before I would get an interview, similar to other people I know in Co-op that have applied to 20+ job postings.

Now, you’re probably wondering how many job postings I applied to.

Well, before I share that, I would like to share some personal tips on how to create that crucial first sentence.

Tip #1 – Avoid “cookie cutter” lines

“I’m applying for the __________position because I want to gain experience” is not going to cut it in trying to entice your reader into reading the rest of your cover letter.  Imagine reading 100+ cover letters that start off this way.  How would you feel? Bored perhaps? Try the next few tips to avoid these standard lines.

Tip #2 – Think about: Why you really want the job.

Is there an intrinsic reason why you want the job? E.g. I applied for a position in Johnson & Johnson company because I want to work for a company that works to help other people.

Tip #3 – Do your research. Is there anything that connects you to the company?

This is especially important to show the employer that you care about the company and that it’s more than just a job to you.  E.g. Since I wanted to work for this Johnson & Johnson company that wants to help people, I did some research.  I found that this company has a credo that works to help people with specific diseases.  Maybe that’s something worth mentioning.
Now, that you know some tips that I personally use when I write my cover letters, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.  I had applied to two jobs in the span of two months.  Out of those two applications, I had received interviews from both companies.  In late-October I had received news that I had been a successful candidate from my application. I was in disbelief.  Of course, I cannot attribute my success of getting interviews to just the first line on my cover letter. That’s just not logically feasible.  Having a well-written document is just as important.  However, if you really take the time to think about a good, but not cheesy, way of grabbing the employer’s attention, it is more likely that the employer will be willing to listen to what you have to say.

Stephanie Juy

Career Peer

There was a time when I didn’t know what informational interviews were.  Little did I know that I could contact people who had positions that sounded interesting and ask about what they did! Can you imagine how shocked I was when I found out? I wondered why would anyone want to meet with me and want to help me? And how come I didn’t know about this sooner?!

Well, well, well. After taking Info Interviews 101, I realized that people generally want to help out others and help them in their careers. When asked to share previous work experiences with a partner in a career planning class, I was initially skeptical. Through the group work though, I found that I really enjoyed listening to my partner talk about his experiences and I was happy to share mine with him even though we weren’t even interested in the field the other worked in. It felt good talking to others about what I did previously and knowing that little bit of information could help someone on their career search.

With my newfound knowledge on informational interviews, I hit the phone and sent off emails.  I’m not going to lie and say it was easy.  The first few calls I made, I was nervous and it was OK too, because I made sure I was prepared with a script.  After setting up a few informational interviews and meeting with people, I found information that I would never have found anywhere else unless I talked to the person in the position.

Every meeting was informative as I learned so much about the nitty gritty and things that aren’t found in job descriptions, including dislikes and stressful situations. There were some positions I ruled out and some that really interested me. Through the meetings, I wondered why I never thought about doing informational interviews for potential careers I thought I would be in “when I grew up” while I was in university? If I had, I would have been better prepared and would have made decisions after doing my research and due diligence.

Are there any jobs you are curious about? Why don’t you contact someone working in a career that you’re interested in and ask for an informational interview?  If you don’t know what an informational interview is, you can Google it online or go to Career Services to receive more information.

- Helen Kim -

Helen is a graduate of the Career Development Practitioner Certificate program at SFU and former practicum student at SFU Career Services.

“You’re going to teach English overseas eh? Sounds cool. So what kind of ‘real’ job are you going to do when you get back?”

I hadn’t planned that part yet, but my friend’s comment stung a bit and made me second guess my decision. Maybe he was right. My overseas experience would be a useless footnote in my work history and would put me a couple of years behind my friends on the path to a career, marriage, kids, and the white picket fence. That’s the way it’s supposed to be done, right?

Luckily, I didn’t let the comments and uncertainties sway my decision, and the fact that I didn’t have a concrete plan was one of the best things that could have happened – creating myriad cultural and professional possibilities. In the span of five years my working path zigzagged to Japan-Australia-Canada- Japan-Canada. My one year plan of working overseas quickly turned into five and taught me these five important skills:

1. When In Rome – Working overseas develops your coping and adaptability skills on a daily basis. Whether it is teaching in flip flops and shorts near the beach in Australia, or routinely sitting through 3 hour meetings in Japan, learning to adjust to different work environments is essential. You have to adapt to the system, it won’t adapt to you.
2. The Global Village – Effective intercultural communication skills are important in a workforce that is increasingly multicultural. I developed an appreciation for the lengthy meetings in Japan where relationships are centered on group harmony. These skills have been invaluable to me in developing and maintaining positive working relationships with different personalities and backgrounds.
3. How do I get out of this one? – Living and working overseas is a great test for your problem solving skills. Trying to sign up for a cell phone in a country where you have a minimal grasp of the native language could lead to a three hour ordeal with endless paperwork and have you questioning what you actually signed up for. Being able to solve problems effectively is a part of any job, and it is a skill that is quickly developed and refined overseas on a daily basis.
4. The yoga approach – Flexibility is a valuable commodity in virtually all workplaces and working overseas will force even the most rigid personality to stretch and go with the flow when required.
5. A dynamic resume – The transferable skills that are obtained working overseas should not be underestimated and should be highlighted throughout your resume along with your technical skills. Your experiences can also be great for interview stories. I’ve had employers ask me questions about my overseas experience in both teaching and non teaching interviews and may help separate you from the pack and land that coveted position.

Working overseas provided some of the most enriching and memorable experiences of my life which positively impacted my career path. People can expect to change their careers many times during their life, and the ability to successfully adapt is no longer a useful skill, it’s a necessary one. Working overseas provides a core course in adaptability and flexibility. Here are some useful links to get your voyage started!!

http://students.sfu.ca/international/index.html
http://www.workingoverseas.com/
http://www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/en/jet/overview.htm
http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/
http://www.canuckabroad.com/overseasjobs/overseas-jobs.html
http://www.rileyguide.com/internat.html

Greig Baird (Practicum student for SFU’s Career Development Practitioner Program)

Have you ever felt uncertain about your career and wished you had some guidance? Especially from someone who had a successful career and who also seemed genuinely happy with what they were doing? Well these are similar questions I asked myself and one day while searching online I came across Women in Leadership (WIL).

 Something about the name peaked my interest and I checked out their website and read about their mandate. After reading more, I was curious about the mentorship program they offered and it really resonated with me. It encouraged helping women find opportunities and gaining leadership by pairing up mentees with mentors. I applied for the program and I eagerly waited to see if I was accepted and I have to say that I was anxious because I knew they had more mentees than mentors. There was a chance I would not be accepted. It was the same nervousness I felt when I was waiting for my acceptance letter into University. The day I found out the Program Coordinator accepted me I could not be more ecstatic!!

 So how it works at WIL is that you sign up and you’re paired off with a mentor. There are also mentee workshops you attend and the topics vary from women and finances; negotiating; networking; and public speaking. Some of the workshops are with only the mentees and some are with both the mentees and mentors. When the whole group gets together, it’s a great opportunity to network with your peers and also with others who are working in fields you’re interested in.

 Another plus with the mentorship program I was in was it offered speaker series every year. At the event, they would have several successful women in various positions speak about a chosen topic. Really the event is about supporting each other and is always inspirational. Every time I go, I feel empowered and inspired by what I hear and learn.

 Needless to say the mentorship program was…..fantastic, awesome, inspiring, positive. It was everything and more than I wanted. Meeting with the other mentees and mentors really inspired me and on the nights I had our meetings I felt so empowered that I felt in my heart that I could fly.

 If you feel like you’re always trying to find your way why don’t you consider joining a mentorship program to network and gain valuable insight through a mentor?

 - Helen Kim -

Helen is a graduate of the Career Development Practitioner Certificate program at SFU and former practicum student at SFU Career Services.

We are now the post modernists.

We are slowly moving away from the target population of advertisements into the strange and illustrious world of being grown-ups, having jobs, and being self sufficient.  We are also unfortunate enough to be the “in-between” generation in terms of technology.  Our parents, while inferior in email technology, excel at verbal communication.  While our hyper-active ADHD younger siblings can tweet at rates rivaling the speed of sound.  We, my friends are stuck in the middle – on par.

What does this all mean?  Well, is means that we are neither socially or technologically as adept as everyone else.  It means that we are at a deficit – our social skills slowly decaying as we tweet, blog, facebook, and attack the latest “app” on phones that are smarter than we are.  Each new wave of technology isolates us further and further away from actual human contact… thank God we have so many friends on facebook.

I urge you my friends, lets bring back the old school social contact.  I don’t mean dialing up someone on your rotary phone to scamper down to the ol’ swimming hole.  I mean, how about instead of clicking a button when it’s your friend’s birthday you make them a card.  Perhaps have a coffee with an old acquaintance instead of sending several emails that diminish in enthusiasm with each passing response.  Join an ACTUAL group, NOT a facebook group.

I’m not sure if it is some underlying assumption that we all have that efficiency equals quality, or a  gross social phobia of rejection.  But when did people stop calling each other on their birthdays?  When did we, instead of confronting people about something that is a tad bit uncomfortable to talk about, we send an email, or worse “block” them?  And why, for all that is holy, why and when did we start sending an endless stream of text messages that strings on a simple 2 minute conversation into a day-long commitment?

How does this rant have anything to do with careers in any sense of the word?  Well these same pitfalls apply to almost all of our job starved generation.  Are social skills are diminishing, along with our empathy and ability to distinguish body language.   We have this deep rooted fear in inquiring about an establishment via the phone – so we email.  We have a false sense of connectedness to each other because our social networks are no longer social- they are technological and we wonder why no one knows of a job that would be perfect for them among six hundred face book friends and countless twitter followers.

The remedy to all of you jobless YAVIS’s:

Get out of your orthopedic computer chair and get your face out there.  This means actually physically communicating with people.  Networking beyond computer screens and get in physical contact with the a professional world you want to be a part of.  You’d be surprised the amount of connections you can make by physically knowing just one person in a professional field.

What do I know?  Not a whole lot and granted I don’t expect you to be jumping to take my advice.  But ask yourselves these questions – are you happy with your job?  What is there to lose?

JC – Career Peer