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Author: Susan Huebert

  • Career Profile: Optics Technician

    Every day, people put on their glasses or contact lenses so that they can see better. Scientists use microscopes, and astronomers use telescopes. What do all of them have in common?  All of them need optics technicians to help make and install lenses to help them see better.

    People have been using lenses for about the last thousand years. One of the most common uses is to help shortsighted people see distances and farsighted people see close up. Making lenses like that involves very precise work, especially when people need their glasses for tasks like surgery or driving a vehicle.

    A very small difference in how a lens is cut or ground can make it difficult for the person to see. When scientists are searching through lenses for stars in the sky or tiny bacteria, they need to be able to see exactly what is there.

    This is where optics technicians can help. Most people in this area learn the work on the job from others with more experience, but taking courses at community colleges or trade schools can help. Optics technicians learn to design, make, assemble, or install lenses in all kinds of places, like aerial cameras, besides eyeglasses, telescopes, and microscopes. Some of the tasks they learn are grinding, polishing, and inspecting lenses. Working with contact lenses is also a possibility.

    Optics technicians can work in any place where lenses are important. Stores where people buy glasses often have labs where they make the lenses, and optics technicians can often find work in these kinds of places. Salaries usually range from $13 to $17 per hour, and the minimum education is a high school diploma. For some jobs, a year or two of manufacturing experience might be necessary, and courses can be helpful. Apprenticeships are always useful in trades like this.

    In some cases, optics technicians might be able to work in universities or other research facilities. These jobs are likely to pay more than the ones in opticians’ shops, but they can be very difficult to find. Working with scientific equipment can involve a lot of collaboration with other people who know what they want their equipment to do. Still, much of the work that optics technicians do is quite solitary as they work with making the lenses according to the requirements.

    Working as an optics technician is not physically strenuous, but it can be tiring. People have to sit for many hours, working with instruments to make lenses as precisely as possible. Most of the work is indoors, although people who work on telescope lenses might occasionally be able to install them in outdoor locations. Otherwise, optics technicians normally work fairly regular hours.

    Depending on the job, optics technicians might not have much contact with the public. They might work on their own in labs or rooms in the basements of shopping malls. In small shops, however, optics technicians might do many of the tasks that other people would normally do. Whether they work in commercial or research-based jobs, optics technicians can help many different people.

    Bibliography:

    Career Research. “Optics Technician Career. http://career.iresearchnet.com/career-information/optics-technician-career/.

    Glassdoor.com. “Optical Technician Salaries.” https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/optical-technician-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.

    Indeed.com. Eyewear Technician- Lens Manufacturing- Non Medical. https://ca.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=0f7cf0396976d8f3&advn=2918802273350483&from=serp&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fca.indeed.com%2Fjob%2Feyewear-technician-lens-manufacturing-non-medical-0f7cf0396976d8f3&desth=b62684a2a800fa5ddbc0bb835b8b4045&prevUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fca.indeed.com%2Fm%2Fjobs%3Fq%3DOptical%2BTechnician%26l%3DToronto%252C%2BON&tk=1cko3koi019p36lb&dupclk=1&acatk=1cko3lcnl1a350kl&pub=6917c08ec3ecf6012dd26f3773156e870cace3277f6b99df.

    Indeed.com. “Optical Technician Salaries in Canada.” https://ca.indeed.com/salaries/Optical-Technician-Salaries.

    Study.com. “Optical Lab Technician: Job Description, Duties and Requirements.” https://study.com/articles/Optical_Lab_Technician_Job_Description_Duties_and_Requirements.html

  • Career Profile: Institutional Cook

    Career Profile: Institutional Cook

    Eating is necessary for life, but it can also be enjoyable. When food is well prepared and delicious, it can make meals fun, besides providing the energy that people need. Institutional cooks help to prepare good and nutritious meals for people in schools, hospitals, and restaurants.

    Many people learn how to cook for themselves and their families, but being an institutional cook is different. Often, people in this field have to prepare meals for a hundred people or more, and they have to be able to cook all kinds of different meals.

    School or university kitchens usually have more limited menus than at restaurants, but cooks might have to make different meals for people with allergies or other health problems. At a seniors’ home, many of the issues could be the same, but the menu would likely be different than for younger people. At restaurants, cooks have to be prepared for all kinds of different meals, according to what people order.

    The job can involve a lot of pressure, especially around standard mealtimes. Some of the work can be done earlier in the day, but much of it has to wait until the last minute. For example, eggs usually have to be cooked and brought to the table right away, but cooks can usually make soup at least an hour or two ahead of time and then reheat it.

    Learning to make all of the different types of food is a long and complicated process. Some people find cooking school at a community college to be useful, but others find that students might not really learn what they need to know. Instead, many people learn from other cooks on the job and work their way up in the field.

    In some jobs, institutional cooks are among only a few people working in the kitchen. They might do everything from washing dishes to cooking complicated dishes. In other places, people might start as dishwashers before working their way up to being cooks. Some of them might become line cooks, preparing one or two types of food as they learn how busy kitchens work. Wages for line cooks usually begin at about $22,000 per year and can increase to $30,000.

    Becoming a head cook or chef is the goal for many people working in kitchens. Generally, salaries for head cooks start at about $26,000 and can go to $59,000, but people’s pay depends on where they work. In some small schools, for example, institutional cooks might earn less than they would at a larger place.

    Being an institutional cook can be a challenging but good job. Being able to feed people can be satisfying, but it can also be stressful when the mealtime rush comes. It can also be dangerous at times when people work over hot stoves and chop food with sharp knives. The hours can be long, and sometimes institutional cooks have to start very early in the morning or work late. Still, they learn valuable skills that they can use at home. If you like to work with food, you might want to think about becoming an institutional cook.

    Bibliography:

    Mintz, Corey. “Is cooking school worth the time and cost?”

    https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/restaurants/2016/02/03/is-cooking-school-worth-the-time-and-cost.html

    MyPlan.com. “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria.” https://www.myplan.com/careers/cooks-institution-and-cafeteria/description-35-2012.00.html.

    Payscale.com. “Head Chef/Cook Salary (Canada).” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Head_Chef%2FCook/Hourly_Rate

    Payscale.com. “Line Cook: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Line_Cook/Hourly_Rate/1f2ca560/Winnipeg-MB

    Skilled Immigrant Info Centre. “Chefs & Cooks.”  https://pwp.vpl.ca/siic/guides/chefs-cooks/.

  • Aboriginal Scholarships in Canada: An Overview of Sources

    Aboriginal Scholarships in Canada: An Overview of Sources

    Education can be expensive after high school. With tuition, books, and the cost of daily life, getting post-secondary training can be difficult to afford. Scholarships can help, and if you are Aboriginal, you can find special scholarships to help you get the education that you need for the future.

    With scholarships, students might find that the cost of going to school is manageable. Over the past ten or twenty years, the cost of tuition has tripled in some areas of the country, according to Statistics Canada. Meanwhile, wages have not kept up and many people have had a hard time paying for their schooling.

    Scholarships are available to help some students deal with the rising costs. Usually, scholarships are for people who have achieved something special, like getting high marks in a certain subject like chemistry or physics. Often, the students get the scholarships only if they go to a certain university or get into a certain field like medicine, although they might be able to transfer the money to a different department or university.

    Besides the scholarships that are available to everyone, many post-secondary schools have scholarships especially for Aboriginal students. The government of Canada has an Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool, and both the Indspire and Transitions web pages have tools to search for funding in various areas. Some pages, like Aboriginal Learning Links, are for only one or two provinces or territories, but others give information for the whole country.

    Suppose that you want to become a nurse or doctor. You could go to the Transitions page and look for a link to the First Nations Health Careers section to find a scholarship or bursary that fits your situation. If you prefer to work on environmental issues, you might want to check for funding from the Ontario Clean Water Agency or a similar organization in another province. Many other tools are available for finding funding in many different areas.

    When you search for various sources of financial help, you might wonder about the difference between a scholarship and a bursary. Both of them are money for schooling, but they are somewhat different from each other. Usually, scholarships are for academic achievements and bursaries are for some other kind of accomplishment, such as being involved in charitable work. Scholarships can be a few thousand dollars and bursaries are normally much less, but they can both be helpful in paying for schooling.

    Scholarships and bursaries are not just for universities. The Women Building Futures program, for example, encourages women to get into trades like electrician or welder, and other programs give funding to people who are entering any type of education or training. Applicants for the funding might have to write an essay or complete some other kind of task to be considered for the award, but the effort is worth it for the financial help, as well as for the experience that students gain through the process.

    Unlike student loans, most scholarships and bursaries never need to be repaid, but they often have very specific requirements. If you are an Aboriginal student looking for financial help, be sure to do your research to find out what might be best for you.

    Bibliography:

    Aboriginal Learning Links. “Scholarships/Bursaries.” http://aboriginallearning.ca/scholarshipsbursaries/.

    Aboriginal Students. “Opportunities and Postings.” http://aboriginalstudents.ca/.

    Indspire. “Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards.”  http://indspire.ca/for-students/bursaries-scholarships/.

    Transitions. “Scholarships.” http://www.oneca.com/transitions/scholarships.html.

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Social Worker

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Social Worker

    Social workers might not be as conspicuous as government officials, politicians, or even the police or law enforcement personnel, but they are equally important in keeping the community safe and stable. Although they might not be in the spotlight, social workers play integral roles in establishing a better society.

    Social Workers – What You Need to Know

    Social workers’ main responsibility is to work closely with individuals and families to evaluate a variety of issues and to be of assistance to help in understanding and cope with emotional and social issues. They can work with people from specific age groups, cultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, gender, and others, depending on the organization they are employed under. For instance, there are social workers who work under agencies that specifically deal with immigrant families.

    Regardless of the type of organization or branch they are working for, social workers’ primary goal is to leverage their critical and analytical thinking skills, so they can do a thorough needs assessment of the individuals or families who come to them for help or who are usually referred to as their clients. Once they are able to properly identify the clients’ needs, they must harness their research abilities to find information that are relevant to address those needs. While social workers refer the clients to other resources like support groups and the like, it is their responsibility to provide comprehensive information on what the next steps would be.

    In some facilities, social workers are also assigned with responsibilities that promote socialization among affected individuals. For instance, a social worker under the employment of a shelter may be asked to help with activities planning such as movie nights or field trips.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a social worker can earn an average of $49,979 per year with potential for profit sharing in some cases. The branches where social workers can earn the most are in group therapy, patient counseling, and child advocacy.

    Skills

    For aspiring social workers, a good step to start is to earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a Canadian university that has been accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE). The education and training will involve theoretical courses and practical training. It will be a definite plus to earn a Master’s degree in Social Work as well.

    After completing the necessary education, they must obtain a license prior to working as a social worker anywhere in Canada. Each province has enacted legislation and established social work regulatory bodies to govern the profession in line with the legislation.

    Most importantly though, an important aspect to thrive in this industry is having the natural desire to help people and guide them to be valuable members of the society. They should possess a keen understanding of people from all walks of life to be able to leverage sensitivity for a multitude of cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles and build trust and understanding.

    Pros and Cons

    A career in social work can prove to be a truly rewarding one—emotionally speaking—if you like helping people and the community.  Every social worker will have their favourite heartwarming story to tell about a client they have helped in their communities. Being an instrument for positive change is definitely something to look forward to as a social worker.

    Being a social worker can be physically demanding in terms of work schedule when you are trying to beat deadlines as per client requirements or keeping with a quota for clients’ needs assessments. In some instances, it can be emotionally or mentally draining as well especially when you are assigned to cases of delicate nature, like providing assistance to victims of domestic or child abuse. In such cases, social workers must not let their emotions get in the way of their work and ensure the individuals are provided with the appropriate resources or are referred to the correct services.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Social_Worker/Salary

    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/i-want-to-be-a-social-worker-what-will-my-salary-be/article17782489/

    https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/node/21/policy-and-regulations/regulatory-bodies

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Recreation Worker

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Recreation Worker

    If you loved going to recreational facilities like camps or parks this past summer, then chances are, you’ve encountered a recreation worker. You’ve probably even asked one of them to take a picture of you and your friends to capture happy moments.

    Recreation Workers – What You Need to Know

    The recreation workers’ main task is to provide customers like you with a seamless customer experience in the facility you’ve gone to—whether it is space for sports, fitness, or any leisure activities.  They always work closely with individuals or families to ensure a safe recreational space. Most of the time, recreation workers are also asked to work with staff members or supervisors to plan and schedule activities tailored to the customers, as well as assist in supervising those activities. For example, at a co-ed soccer camp, they are responsible for facilitating enjoyable activities that caters to both boys and girls.

    No matter what the facility they are employed at, recreation workers are often tasked to do a hands-on approach to activities, and it’s a must that they be passionate about physical fitness and have an outgoing nature.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a recreation worker can earn between $30,059 up to $65,615 per year with potential for overtime pay. Recreation workers can potentially be a manager or director where they will have the final decisions on every item involving the facility, not just the building itself, but also roads, streetlights, trees, playgrounds, plantings, and sports spaces.

    Skills

    If you feel a recreation worker is the career for you, the first step is to earn a high school diploma or the equivalent and get on-the-job training. However, earning an associate’s degree or higher in a field related to physical education can be a big plus. Other degrees to look into are social science, social work, education, and exercise science. A part-time or volunteer experience at recreational facilities can help you gain the practical experience you need.

    To succeed in this field, you have to have finely tuned communication skills as you are often working with a big group of individuals, at times of different cultural backgrounds and personalities. You should be able to provide clear instructions to participants and motivate them as necessary by taking on an effective interpersonal communication style and implementing exceptional relationship-building tactics.

    While planning and organizational skills are a must too, you should also be able to adapt flexibility when the situation calls for it. For example, if you plan outdoor activities and it begins to rain, there must be a contingency plan so participants can still have a worthwhile time.

    Pros and Cons

    A career in the recreational industry can be physically demanding, but if you’re a health & fitness buff, this is something you’ll welcome as it’s one job that always keeps you on your toes and will motivate you to work harder on your utmost health and physical well-being. Lead by example is truly important in this job, and you will reap the rewards if you stay true to that adage.

    Being a recreation worker can be challenging though when you would have to deal with participants who are not motivated to participate at all. During this time, you’ll need a lot of patience and leadership techniques to get them going.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Recreation_Coordinator/Hourly_Rate

    https://collegegrad.com/careers/recreation-workers#become

    https://lifehacker.com/career-spotlight-what-i-do-as-a-parks-and-recreation-d-1781080026

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Marketing Manager

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Marketing Manager

    Did you ever find yourself watching a TV show or movie or browsing a website and suddenly you are motivated to buy the product or service that’s being advertised? That’s the work of a marketing manager. However, effective marketing encompasses simple consumer engagement—it also involves brand building efforts and initiatives to establish customer loyalty. As marketing guru Al Ries wrote, “Marketing is not a battle of products, it’s a battle of perceptions.”

    Whenever a brand succeeds, like Nike or Apple, it always starts with a well-delivered, carefully crafted marketing campaign that involve and engage customers, an effort led by the marketing manager. Let’s delve deeper into this exciting career.

    Marketing Manager – What You Need to Know

    A professional working in the capacity as a marketing manager means he or she is the one who takes in charge of supervising or creating the various advertising or merchandising sales campaigns for a company. Marketing managers can work with a single product, a product line, a brand, or the entire company. They typically work alongside creative, research, advertising, and sales teams to come up with the most strategic and effective marketing campaigns.

    While the marketing manager designates responsibilities to the staff to see a marketing campaign through, he or she typically has the final word on certain decisions and thus to be an effective marketing manager, one must have a good grasp of market research and a great amount of marketing insight to be able to determine which approaches or styles appeal to the target consumer.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a marketing manager can earn $40,659 – $90,310 per year with potential for bonus, profit sharing, and commission. Marketing managers with at least 12 years of experience in the field can move towards the role of Marketing Director where they will be primary decision-makers for strategic planning, analytics or forecasting, market research, and budgeting.

    Skills

    If you have your sights set on a marketing manager career, get ready to earn a BA or BS degree in marketing, advertising, or communications. It also pays to have an MBA or other advanced degree. To reach management level, most organizations require at least 10 years or more experience in the marketing field, preferably with background in website, social media, or any digital form of marketing, apart from the traditional print or broadcast experience.

    Since a marketing manager is steering the marketing ship, so to speak, it is beneficial to have expert problem-solving skills. Suffice it is to say, a good marketing manager must be an effective leader in bringing out a marketing team’s suite of strengths in implementing integrated, global and national campaigns and programs utilizing the full range of available media to increase brand presence, drive market share, and grow profits and revenue.

    Pros and Cons

    For many, working as a marketing manager means there is never a dull moment. One is tasked to deal with a variety of products or brands, and that can be incredibly exciting. It is considered to be a fulfilling career in a lot of aspects.

    For some, that means a great deal of challenge as it is a fast-paced working environment, and there is barely any time to slow down. Marketing managers can also face the challenge of not being able to close the loop with the sales team, which happens when marketing efforts are producing quality leads or gaining significant public attention but not leading to new clients or customers.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Marketing_Manager/Salary

    https://blog.globalwebindex.com/marketing/10-powerful-examples-of-marketing-that-works/

    https://blog.hubspot.com/insiders/problems-marketing-managers-face

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Construction Project Manager

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Construction Project Manager

    In Canada, there are strong initiatives to building more environment-friendly infrastructure and increase the nation’s readiness against the effects of climate change. Currently, the Government of Canada are eyeing more public building energy retrofits and multi-use path systems throughout the nation.

    With these efforts on the horizon, the need for construction project managers are greater than ever. Construction project managers are the main professionals responsible for overseeing any type of building project. Without an efficient construction project manager, blueprints from architects and engineers—no matter how well-designed or well thought-out they are on paper—will not come to fruition.

    Construction Project Managers – What You Need to Know

    The construction project managers are the jugglers of any ongoing construction project as they deal with multiple tasks all at the same time, often with competing priorities. They are the ones who perform job and cost estimates, carry out quality control, plan workers’ schedules and project completion schedules, review designs, and create proposals. A construction project manager conducts all business professionally and should have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of constructions methods and requirements. They have to stay on top of every item in the project and possess top-calibre attention to detail capabilities, otherwise, everything will fall apart.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a construction project manager can earn an average of $74,883 per year with potential for bonus, profit sharing, and commission. Typically, 10 years of experience as a construction project manager can lead to a role as a construction project director provided they have gained a reputation as a leader and a solid track record of directing teams appropriately through project development and project life-cycle and in the development and implementation of various project plans, including scope, schedule, risk resource and project costing.

    Skills

    To kick off a career as a construction project manager, it is a must to have a degree in either civil engineering or structural engineering. Afterwards, one will need to earn a PMP designation from the Project Management Institute or PMI. This non-profit professional membership association, founded in 1969, offers eight certifications that acknowledge competency in the project management industry. It’s also a boost to earn a Construction Project Management certificate, and Canadian educational institutions like Algonquin College and George Brown College offer those programs.

    As a construction project manager is seen as the leader on a building project, it pays to have an effective leadership style and expert communication skills to ensure that everyone involved has a clear understanding of their tasks and accountabilities. In most cases, construction project managers also have to draw upon their negotiation and persuasion abilities to make sure the project is completed according to timelines and specifications.

    Pros and Cons

    A construction project manager can be a financially rewarding and prestigious career. However, it can be mentally exhausting as one would have to attend to several issues or tasks simultaneous under time pressure or challenging environments. It is definitely important to have a calm demeanor to be able to cope with the expectations of the job.

    It can be physically draining since construction project managers have to often work on site to ensure everything runs smoothly. They also carry on their shoulders the big responsibility of overseeing the implementation of occupational health and safety practices, ensuring all personnel avoid job hazards or injuries.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Project_Manager%2C_Construction/Salary

    https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-funding-supports-better-community-infrastructure-across-canada-690274341.html

    https://www.smartsheet.com/construction-project-management-101

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Concierge

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Concierge

    Canada’s tourism and retail industries are enjoying peak numbers according to a latest report by CBC News based on research by Destination Canada. In 2016 alone, Canada attracted an additional 1.2 million visitors compared to the previous year (2015), which was 33% above target. These visitors went on to spend over $1.5 billion, which was 36% above target.

    With this ever-growing numbers, the tourism sector, currently providing nearly 10,500 jobs, is expected to grow even more. One job that will continue to flourish because of vibrant tourism activities will be the concierge, so this is one career that is worth looking into.

    Concierge – What You Need to Know

    A concierge professional is a customer service representative who works in hotels, resorts, shopping malls, or residential facilities, including privately owned condominium properties and homes. Some corporate office settings have also adopted the concierge approach.

    When in tourism-related work environments, the concierge’s main task is to provide a positive guest experience. They serve as the first point of contact for guests or customers and they are the go-to personnel when tourists want to know about shopping or dining options or the best spots to visit. While it’s true that Siri or Alexia can provide this information, the concierge can do more as they can also make recommendations and advice based on their personal experience so there is a personal touch—and that’s something Siri or Alexia can’t provide.

    The concierge can also perform other tasks on behalf of the hotel guests or customers: from arranging to pick up laundry to booking a luxury beach resort. In some establishments, the concierge is also mandated to perform in capacities related to safety and security.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a concierge can earn between $24,486 up to $44,887 per year with potential for bonus, tips, and overtime. With exceptional performance and years of experience, a concierge can earn higher level positions such as an operations manager where they can manage a team of front desk agents, night auditors, and concierge professionals.

    Skills

    To start off a career as a concierge, it’s beneficial to earn a high school diploma or its equivalent or GED. Of course, because of the nature of their work, the priority quality all concierge must have is refined customer service skills so they can always provide outstanding customer service to tourists, guests, customers, or tenants. A concierge must also have exceptional verbal and written communication skills to correspond with customers and provide them with the comprehensive information they need.

    In addition, they have to have expert observation skills and must be meticulous in record keeping and report writing. Maintaining grace under pressure is also a must in this undertaking.

    Pros and Cons

    A career as a concierge can be an exciting one as one will have to deal with all types of people all the time. Since every customer is different, a concierge can expect every day to be different. Of course, this can also be challenging as one will have to be flexible to adopt or adjust a certain customer service approach and tailor it to the customer’s personality type. At times, they will have to deal with the pressure of accommodating the demanding requests of VIP guests.

    Another challenge is dealing with a high volume of guests during peak seasons.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Concierge/Hourly_Rate

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/travel-canada-numbers-1.4682484

    https://www.destinationcanada.com/sites/default/files/archive/686-2018-2022-corporate-plan-summary/2018-corporate-plan-summary-e-february-5-2018.pdf

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/11/cb.hotel.concierge/index.html

  • Read This Article for The Best Piece of Advice for Applying for Scholarships

    Read This Article for The Best Piece of Advice for Applying for Scholarships

    I am going to give you the goods right now: the best piece of advice you will ever get about applying for scholarships is, “Don’t think, just apply.”

    As a chronic, nerves-ridden over-thinker, I have a complicated relationship with anything that begins with, “Don’t think.” Because no sirree, I will think, and ponder, and consider, and basically over think the subject to death.

    So why then I am giving you advice so contrary to my personal philosophies? Applying for scholarships is just that important. Scholarships mean you have less in student loans to pay back; scholarships mean you have money for non-tuition essentials, such as rent and prescriptions; scholarships mean someone or some organization wants to support you and see you succeed.

    The second you see a scholarship you are eligible for, apply for it. Let me say it again: the very second you see a scholarship you are eligible for, apply for it! That initial interest and enthusiasm is not going to last long so use as much of it as you can to at least start your application.

    If the application process is short and straightforward (for example, you are required to submit a short essay on why you should be chosen and complete an application form), aim to get it done as quickly as possible. An afternoon may be enough for some of you to pull the trigger, but before hitting submit, I advise you to at least sleep on the written portion or get another pair of eyes to go over your application. Being able to finish quickly is part of the appeal of these kinds of scholarships, so I ask you: what is holding you back? Don’t think, just apply!

    Other scholarships are more competitive and will require multiple things: you may be required to submit official transcripts, letters of reference, as well as an essay. All of this cannot be accomplished quickly and therein lies a major reason for not wanting to apply—all that time and work! How then does “Don’t think, just apply!” come into play here?

    Using your initial interest in the scholarship, the first thing you have to do is consider each requirement. First, what kinds of official documentation do you need to obtain? Official transcripts, for example, usually cannot be obtained the same day you request them. Search your school’s website or contact your Registrar’s Office and find out how you may obtain your official transcript as well as a timeline of how long processing will take. If there is a request form, fill it out and submit it right away.

    Next, who are you going to ask to write your reference letters? Decide quickly (including alternates if your first choices are unavailable or turn you down) and if possible, reach out to them the same day. Ideally, you should give your reference letter writers at least three weeks’ notice. Once you receive an okay, provide them with all the information they need to write a comprehensive letter. Closer to the scholarship deadline, make sure you send them a gentle reminder email about the reference letter.

    Next, consider your essay requirement. If it is a personal essay, consider the given topic and brainstorm ideas. If it is a research or analytical essay, start researching relevant sources. The sooner you have reputable books and articles in hand, the better.

    In the previous few paragraphs, I demonstrate that while more involved scholarship applications cannot be completed within a day or two, you can still get a lot done within that amount of time. The key is to ensure that if another person has to contribute to your application, they have to be given as much notice as possible. So when you see a competitive scholarship with numerous requirements, don’t think, just apply!

  • Financial Aid Available for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities in Manitoba

    Financial Aid Available for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities in Manitoba

    The first thing you should know is that Manitoba’s financial aid office is called Manitoba Student Aid. The homepage can be found at: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/msa/index.html. Note that while you may apply for financial aid either online or via a paper application, you are encouraged to use the former. Not only is an online application processed faster (two weeks as opposed to five to twelve weeks for a paper application), paper applications may only be submitted under very specific circumstances. Having an online account also gives you a personalized list of the documentation required. For all these above reasons, I encourage students, with and without disabilities, to apply online: https://web33.gov.mb.ca/sao/app/en/newUser.

    1. Manitoba Bursary

    Students in Manitoba are automatically considered for the Manitoba Bursary when they submit an application to Manitoba Student Aid. Per academic year (August 1st to July 31st), eligible students can receive a maximum of $2,000. Half of this bursary will be released at the start of your program and half released when you are midway through.

    Note that this bursary is not exclusive to students with disabilities—but wait! Don’t stop reading! Let’s tick off all the good things. One, there is no separate application! When you apply for financial aid, this is one of the funding opportunities you are automatically considered for! Two, this is a bursary, which means you do not have to pay it off. Three, beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, eligibility considerations for this bursary has been expanded to include Manitoba students attending Canadian schools outside Manitoba as well as private religious schools within the province.

    In my research, I discovered that there are no provincial financial aid resources specifically available to students with disabilities. The good news is that Manitoba is one of the nine provinces and one territory that enjoy access to student assistance at the federal level. The government of Canada offers two grants specifically to students with disabilities.

    Now you may be wondering that you might have to apply to both Manitoba Student Aid and the Government of Canada, let me clarify that you are half-right. When you apply to Manitoba Student Aid, you are applying for both provincial and federal funding. Usually, you submit one application—to Manitoba Student Aid—and you will be considered for assistance from both your province and your country. The exception lies with these two federal grants: you will still apply to Manitoba Student Aid (not to the federal government directly) and you will need to complete a separate application form.

    The two federal grants are called Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities. I cover them in depth in a previous article, but I will give you a brief overview here.

    1. Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

    Eligible students must be enrolled in either full-time and part-time studies, be assessed to need at least $1 of financial assistance, and have a medical certificate or similar document attesting to your disability. Per academic year, you could receive up to $2,000.

    1. Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities

    This grant has the same eligibility criteria as the other federal grant. Additional criteria include written documentation attesting to needing exceptional services and equipment as part of your education. Furthermore, you are required to provide exact costs of these services and equipment. Per academic year, you could receive up to $8,000.

    Students with disabilities in Manitoba should be aware that there are no provincial financial assistance geared towards them specifically. Federal assistance, however, is available—though be aware that there are separate applications for the federal grants that, counter-intuitively, should be submitted still to Manitoba Student Aid.

    References:

    1. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/provincial-offices.html#manitoba
    2. http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/msa/index.html
    3. https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/msa/pdfs/msa_booklet.pdf
    4. http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/msa/pdfs/newsletter.pdf
    5. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities.html
    6. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/grants/disabilities-service-equipment.html