Emma

Earn a Degree While Fulfilling Your Wanderlust

How many of you would like to travel? If you are anything like me, you tend to experience permanent wanderlust… checking Expedia flights in your spare time, posting pictures every #throwbackthursday of your past adventures abroad, and constantly daydreaming about driving to the airport and taking the next flight out. Unfortunately, we all have things holding us back, in particular, school, time and money. I have agonized for weeks and weeks over this complex problem (actually, more like 30 seconds), and came up with a solution: STUDY ABROAD. You can travel and experience life abroad while earning a degree, and not feeling like you are wasting precious time. In addition, there are many scholarships available to students wishing to study abroad to help them fund their tuition and other expenses.

Now, how do you begin to narrow down the hundreds of options available? So many countries, so many schools, so many programs. Well, if you scroll down a little bit, you will find an article written by yours truly, entitled “R-E-S-E-A-R-C-H” all about, well, conducting research! Go ahead and give it a read, I’ll wait.

I recently attended the Study and Go Abroad Fair in Toronto, and met with numerous representatives from schools all over the world. Speaking with them allowed me to gain important information, not only about the programs, but the school’s atmosphere, the country itself, and how I would fit in within that surrounding. Although the fair has already occurred, here is a link to their blog, full of articles about the different experiences students have had studying, volunteering, and working abroad:

http://blog.studyandgoabroad.com/

If you’re interested in studying abroad, but the idea of moving to a different country for up to a few years makes you a little nervous, consider completing a semester or two of your undergraduate degree aboard. Laurier International has partnered with over 60 universities all over the world for the Study Exchange Program, allowing you to pay Laurier tuition and earn credits toward your degree while living and breathing a new and unique culture. Below are the links to their webpage and Facebook page:

http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=151

https://www.facebook.com/LaurierStudentExchangeProgram

Bon Voyage!

R-E-S-E-A-R-C-H

For many of you, the time may be approaching to graduate. Those exciting thoughts of the cap and gown and that precious diploma gripped tightly in your hands tend to be accompanied by terrifying thoughts of “well…what now?” The lucky ones will have a job lined up and ready to go the minute they step off that stage. However, not everyone happens to be in that boat. Whether you’re considering graduate school, an internship, or maybe trying to find a full-time job, my best advice is to do your RESEARCH. There is nothing worse than finding a master’s program that is perfect for you, and sitting down to create your application, only to find out that the deadline was two weeks ago. It is best to start looking into programs and/or jobs of interest as early as possible, not only to stay up to date on deadlines, but also to give yourself time to find references, and get any questions you may have about the application answered.

Furthermore, it is important to keep your options open. Remember all of the schools and programs you looked into in high school for your undergraduate degree? Well, there are even more possibilities open to you now, so don’t limit yourself to one field or one location. Perhaps now would be the perfect time to see if the west coast really is the best coast. Or consider an internship abroad; the valuable independence skills you will gain, not to mention the ability to immerse yourself and thrive in a foreign culture are unique skills that will impress future potential employers (plus the amount of sightseeing you would get to do doesn’t hurt either…).

Whatever interests you have, make sure that you consider all available paths you could take towards that “ideal career”. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to others who are currently employed in your field of interest – they likely took some very different routes to get to where they are now, and chances are that you will be inspired by some of their success stories.

Finally, make sure to come and visit the career centre when conducting your research. The resource centre here is full of books, brochures, guides, and other material to help you explore the many opportunities that are available!

Shaping Up for Job Fair

If you’ve stepped foot inside Laurier’s gym lately, you’ve probably found yourself struggling to find an available locker, waiting (im)patiently for a treadmill or having to work out with only a few inches of space between your mat and the sweaty person next to you. Suddenly the gym has become more crowded than the Toronto Eaton Centre on boxing day, and we all know why: New Year’s resolutions.

While you’re concentrating on getting fit in 2014, consider also making a resolution to get focused on your career-planning…starting with the upcoming Job Fair. You’ve probably seen the posters plastered across campus: on Wednesday February 5th, students and alumni from Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo, University of Guelph and Conestoga College are invited to attend and network with over one hundred employers from various organizations.

Now, if you’ve ever attended Job Fair or Career Fair before, you may have been slightly intimidated when you first walk in. But just like you were probably a little intimidated when you walked into a gym your very first time, its not as complicated as it looks. Think of the booths as the equipment lined up at the gym; you don’t have to spend time at every single one… in fact, you probably shouldn’t. A much more effective use of your time would be to decide beforehand what you would like to focus on, whether its core or cardio, summer jobs or a career track position, and plan your visit accordingly. Just as you spend time getting ready for the gym beforehand, digging out your running shoes and charging your iPod, spend some time preparing for Job Fair before you go. Research a few organizations that you’re particularly interested in, come up with some questions to ask the representatives, and have a few resumės or networking cards ready to hand out – how else will they remember you? Remember, unlike your workout sessions, Job Fair only comes around once a year (or maybe this is exactly like your workout sessions for some of you..) – so make the most of your time while you’re there!

If you’d like a little more guidance and preparation beforehand, make sure you attend the workshops being offered at the Career Centre on how to make the most of Job Fair (check the Calendar of Events for details).

Take a Moment to Unwind

As we reach the critical point in the semester – cramming for midterms, staying up ‘till dawn finishing assignments, worrying about graduate school and job applications, trying to fit in more than 4 hours of sleep a night – whatever it may be, we need to stop and take a moment to BREATHE. I realize that I am being extremely hypocritical here, as the last time I stopped to just relax and not stress about my to-do list was likely somewhere around frosh week. Even so, I will try and explain why I think it is crucial to take some time away from the crazy hectic world that we call university – and just enjoy life.

Inspiration can come from the strangest places. If you are trying to decide on an essay topic and have gone through countless databases, journal articles and even stooped as low as googling “good essay topics for…” (yes, I know we’ve all hit that low point at one time or another), consider stepping away from the books, unplugging the computer, and doing something that you enjoy. Go see the latest blockbuster, grab coffee with a friend, take out that stress at the gym… whatever it may be, just distract yourself. It is very likely that while you are out enjoying life instead of living in a corner of the library guzzling Redbull, you will find some inspiration and motivation for your next assignment. That movie may present some topic you are dealing with in your history class in a new light, that couple arguing at the coffee shop may spark an interest in the structure of relationships for your sociology class… you can see my point. Even if you don’t end up with a “light bulb” situation, at least you will have cleared your mind for a few hours and you will be ready to tackle that mile-long to do list.

Will Work for Food…I Mean Travel

Would you like to walk down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées on your way to work? Have an African safari outside your office? Navigate the maze of the New York subway system to get to work? Then make it happen!

Whether you are looking for a part-time job, an internship, or a full-time permanent position, consider broadening your search borders. Working abroad can be an exciting and unique opportunity, allowing you to see the world and immerse yourself in a new culture while gaining valuable work experience.

The first step to finding a job abroad is to do your research (bet you’ve never heard that before…). The Career Centre’s resource library is a fantastic place to start! Flip through the books, or hop online and check out myworldabroad.com, a wonderful starting point that is full of helpful articles such as “Interviewing for an International Job”, “What is your International IQ?”, as well as an enormous database of resources to get you started on your job hunt. Best of all, your subscription is completely FREE as a Laurier student (you can thank Laurier International and the Career Centre for that)!

Consider what your goals are during your time abroad. Do you mainly want to sightsee and need part-time temporary jobs to finance your travels while abroad? Do you want to gain professional experience interning in an international company? Or perhaps you would like to make a difference in the world and volunteer abroad? No matter what your reasoning, obtaining a position abroad is an eye-opening experience that everyone should consider at some point in their lives… and honestly, what better time than right now, while you’re a student and haven’t made the (terrifying) decision to settle down yet?

How (Not) To Lose a Job in 10 Days

You’ve already read about how an interview can be compared to a first date, so I’m going to take it one step further and compare the job itself to a relationship. In fact, a job IS already a relationship; it is a professional relationship between you and your employers, between you and the entire company. So, let me put on my Dr. Phil hat, as I highlight a few key tips to making a (professional) relationship work:

1. Don’t get too comfortable. In any relationship, it can be easy to assume that once you’ve made the commitment, you can now relax and stop trying, after all, the title is yours. WRONG. If anything, you want to spend your time continuing to impress and amaze your partner/employer each and every day… give them a reminder of why they chose you above everyone else. Otherwise, they will forget what it is they found so great about you and they will start searching elsewhere for that special someone.

2. Don’t be under the impression that you know everything there is to know about that person, ask questions and pay attention to their interests, who knows you may find something you both love to do! In a relationship, your significant other would love to discover that you share the same passions as them, now you have something you can both do together. That being said don’t lie… “No way, you love playing Grand Theft Auto for hours and hours on end? Me too!” . . . just doesn’t roll off the tongue for most of us. Same goes for the gentlemen; if you say you just love shopping so much you could do it all day, trust me, that is EXACTLY what you will be doing this weekend. This lesson can be directly applied when you are working at a company – find out their interests. If they contribute donations to a charity, consider volunteering once a week for that charity; if they sponsor a minor league team, attend a few of the games with some co-workers. It doesn’t have to be a big commitment, but expressing that you are passionate about the company’s interests will show that you are taking that extra step, and that you are a good fit with the company.

3. Don’t forget to stay friends. Even if the relationship doesn’t work out, maintaining a positive connection is so important; you don’t want them going around bad-mouthing you to others. The same goes for an employer. If you decide the position isn’t for you, or you are getting too swamped at school to manage a part-time job as well, make your exit gracefully and professionally. Maintaining a positive relationship with your former employer is necessary, especially if you will need references from them in the future, or if you will be applying within the company again later on. You want them to remember the great relationship you had, and not a bad break-up.

If you would like more relationship advice, make sure you tune into my talk show on Wednesdays… just kidding, my Dr. Phil career ends here. However, I will recommend coming into the Career Development Centre and skimming the shelves for “Career Cupid” by Christine Fader, who has a light and whimsical take on the process of landing (and loving) your dream job.

Bringing out the Red Pen

As I begin my journey into becoming a Peer Advisor for the upcoming school year, I can say that I am most excited for one thing: editing. I think I was born with a red pen in my hand; I remember peer editing in elementary school, no one else enjoyed the experience, but I would have a stack of my classmates’ papers in front of me, thrilled to dig in to each one with my red pen, doing the best I could to correct and improve.

Of course, I can say my editing skills have increased since then, now I can do more than just fix a “there” for a “they’re”, or turn a comma into a semi-colon. However, I still have a long way to go. I am looking forward to working on my editing skills as a Peer Advisor, taking what I have learned so far through the Career Centre events and my mock assignments, and putting it to good use helping others tweak their resumes and cover letters so they stand out in the best way possible.

With each resume and cover letter I help edit, I will learn something new, something I can file away for the next paper that comes into my hands. I will continue to build on my skills, not only so I can excel as an advisor, or as a student, but also as an employer down the road in my career … because I know that wherever I end up, there will certainly be a red pen sitting in a drawer in my office!