Author: Rochelle C. Pangilinan

  • The Fine Print: 4 Major Reasons Reading Is a Must

    The Fine Print: 4 Major Reasons Reading Is a Must

    There was a time when being a kid who loves books was considered as out of the ordinary. Apart from attending school and doing homework, it was expected that kids enjoy their carefree days by playing toys and games… and simply just be kids. Kids before thought that reading was “uncool” and was an activity reserved more for the adults in their household, like their big sister or brother or their parents.

    These days, thanks to the recent influx of popular characters from both TV and film of beloved bookworms like Hermione Granger from the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise and Alex Dunphy from Modern Family, more and more kids are embracing reading and realizing that it’s an activity that’s more worthwhile than mere playtime. While those characters were fictional, they proved that reading can make an individual more interesting, and it’s true in real life too.

    If you’re still not convinced just how valuable reading can be, read on for more and we’re sure that you’ll be reaching for a book afterward.

    It improves your imagination and enhances your creativity.

    We can’t deny that surfing online and watching movies and TV programs are a good way to pass our time. However, reading books are better tools to develop your imagination and creativity than TV, film, or the internet. How so? When you read, you always make an effort to understand what the author is saying and you’re prompted to create a vision in your head based on what you’ve read.

    Just take for example this paragraph from The BFG by Roald Dahl:

    “The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every grown-up was in a deep, deep sleep, and all the dark things came out from hiding and had the world all to themselves.”

    It advances your grammar and expands your vocabulary.

    Sure, chatting with your classmates and pals in between classes helps in building your communication skills as you learn how to keep up with conversations and introduce topics that engages your friends in conversation. However, using the same words repeatedly and utilizing the same sentence structure can tend to put you, as well as your buddies, in a stagnant spot. It’s like you’re going around in circle, never moving forward.

    When you read literature, you encounter unfamiliar words and more complicated sentence structures, and the more you read, the wider your grammar and vocabulary knowledge becomes. This way, you become a more efficient communicator because you’re using more than the basic, everyday lingo.

     It teaches you focus and discipline.

    Reading for your classes and homework can be tough at times when all you want to do is see if you can get a record-high score in your favourite videogame. However, since you know it’s part of the school requirements, you read anyway. Reading out of pure leisure, on the other hand, takes discipline to accomplish especially if you feel you’d rather go out with your friends for frozen yoghurt. You have to set your own timelines to read a book from start to finish.

    Even when you like how the book is turning out and you’re loving the characters, sometimes, you have to apply self-control to forego your usual activities and make sure you finish a book cover to cover.

    It reduces stress.

    Reading does not have to be a chore that’s forced upon you by your teacher or your parents like folding your laundry or doing your homework. If you allow yourself to enjoy reading by fully immersing yourself in the story and its characters, you may actually find yourself in a comfortable state where it’s like the activity becomes effortless on your part. Soon, you’ll look into reading literature as something to relax you, rather than stress you out.

    Now that you’ve come to know how priceless reading is, it’s now time to devour books!

    SOURCES:

    https://www.care.com/c/stories/4023/101-of-the-best-kids-books-to-open-your-chil/

    http://www.lifehack.org/515271/why-reading-important-for-children

    https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/10-reasons-reading-important-kids/

    https://www.pearson.com/uk/learners/primary-parents/learn-at-home/help-your-child-to-enjoy-reading/why-is-reading-so-important.html

    http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/reading-to-children-benefits-them-on-many-levels/article_be4850ca-dac9-11e7-91f4-f38c12f539f3.html

  • Career Profile: Plumber

    In these days when Do-It-Yourself household tasks are highly encouraged, you or even your parents probably think there are some jobs that have become extinct. Do you remember the last time your parents called in a professional handyman to replace a door knob or fix a lighting fixture in your room? Your mom probably just went to buy a replacement and then your dad grabbed his tools and fixed it himself. They did not really need skills or training for it. All they probably did was go into YouTube.com and they know exactly what to do.

    While it’s good to rely on someone’s own skills and resourcefulness to fix something in the house, it’s still better to leave the job to the professionals. This is so when something goes wrong, they are trained to respond and find a solution. Suppose your mom and dad tried to fix the leaking toilet in your bathroom and they end up flooding the whole place? You have to realize that when it comes to some tasks especially when it is something as complex as plumbing, it’s best to have the job done by professional plumbers than risk making things worse.

    This is why plumbers are more in demand than ever especially since Canada is moving towards building more infrastructure to accommodate the growing population. Plumbers, contrary to popular belief, are more in demand than ever.

    So What Is a Plumber?

     The plumbing trade is one of the most popular in Canada which comes with a worthwhile pay-off. Most people associate plumbers as those who come in and fix water systems, but they are involved even when residential and commercial structures are being built. They are the ones who install plumbing systems from scratch so they have to be extremely good in reading and interpreting blueprints and designs and adept in working with fittings, pipes, fixtures, and other equipment used for water distribution.  Once the building process is done, they are responsible for the plumbing systems’ maintenance and repair.

    Salary

     According to PayScale.com, the average earning per hour of a plumber in Canada ranges from $18 to $25 or about $37,000 or $52,000. Once a plumber has experience tucked under their belt, they can expect their rate to go as high as $26 to $59 per hour or $54,000 or $74,000 per year.

    Plumbers also can receive additional compensation for overtime should the need arise, such as if deadlines are tight.

    Skills

     Plumbers are not required to have a formal education but completion at a technical school or an apprenticeship is a big advantage. They must be up to date and well-versed in plumbing codes and standards per each province and ensure that the installation, repair, and maintenance processes are aligned with those codes and standards.

    It also will be to their benefit if plumbers acquire a Red Seal. When plumbers have the Red Seal endorsement, it means that they have completed their training and have become certified plumbers, they can work in the same trade anywhere in Canada without having to obtain further examination.

    Pros and Cons

    Due to the nature of their job, plumbers gain the advantage of maintaining their physical health. They also develop their flexibility and adaptability since they have to work at different locations most of the time. Since they also deal with a variety of people, from residential homeowners to top-notch building owners and architects, they learn how to enhance their communication skills.

    Of course, sometimes plumbers have to deal with those who are outright rude, like a homeowner who is trying to bargain without understanding what the work really takes or an engineer who is rushing to meet a deadline for structure completion. Needless to say, plumbers have to have a lot of patience and understanding and must maintain a positive attitude to continue on despite these challenges.

    Another challenge is that some of them may have to work under hazardous conditions such as construction sites which lead to exposure to harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, sulfur dioxide, and others or biohazards like raw sewage. In this regard, they should always ensure health and safety procedures are followed and be aware of any change in their physical health so they can report it and get the medical attention needed.

    The Future

    Plumbers continue to be in high demand in Canada, particularly in Fort McMurray in Alberta wherein an estimated 2,400 buildings are in need of reconstruction due to the wildfire which occurred in May 2016. In December last year, in fact, the Alberta government stated that it was planning to spend up to $1 million for Fort McMurray’s first-ever formal plumbing training apprenticeship program.

    Now that you’ve read more information about a plumber career in Canada, it does sound promising, right?

    SOURCES:

    http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/occup_workplace/plumber.html

    http://www.red-seal.ca/trades/pl.5mb.2r-eng.html

    https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/photos/15-careers-that-don-t-require-a-university-degree-1376067146-slideshow/plumber-average-salary-52-000-photo-1377287950293.html

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

    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/i-want-to-be-a-plumber-what-will-my-salary-be/article17576328/

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-plumber-shortage-career-apprenticeship-1.3913339

  • Teaching English as a Second Language: Your Ticket to a Lifelong Adventure

    Teaching English as a Second Language: Your Ticket to a Lifelong Adventure

    Teaching is not only a rewarding career, but a versatile one as well. People of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds are looking to enhance their education. You can work one-on-one, in front of a classroom, online, or anywhere around the world. There is an irresistible allure to taking the risky leap to another country to teach there. When done right, it is not as risky as you might think, and can lead to a very fulfilling lifelong career.

    If you are just getting started, you need a solid foundation of credentials and experience. Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) is the most common way people in Canada or the United States find a way to teach in a different country. The world is massive, and there are always seemingly infinite opportunities to take teaching work abroad. However, the quality of these jobs varies wildly. It is possible to find one without much experience as long as you are fluent in English, but do not expect the best conditions or pay. To get around that, start gaining experience here and now. Tutoring, even on a volunteer basis, looks great on a resume and will automatically put you a step above many candidates who are applying with no experience.

    The other important step to take is acquiring Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) credentials. There are many schools, both in person and online, that offer these certificates or diplomas. Make sure that the course is a minimum of 120 hours. It is preferable that it be accredited by TESL Canada and has a practicum for in-class experience. You can then find work teaching ESL at a private college here in Canada, which will be a massive help in getting quality teaching jobs overseas.

    Asia is abundant with teaching opportunities. Most first-timers make their way to South Korea or China, where many schools will offer generous salaries and decent accommodations for teachers with credentials and experience. You will most likely have to agree to a one-year contract, though there are shorter-term teaching opportunities available, typically during the summer. From there, it will be easier to teach in Europe and other countries. Keep in mind that these locales will often be costlier, but provide a richer variety of teaching scenarios to help enhance your career.

    As you gain greater experience, it will become easier to find great opportunities and even remain long-term in one location. As you become more qualified, it is also a good idea to find additional work in ESL publishing. You will get to create textbooks and materials to be used in classrooms. This is flexible work that can be done on a freelance and remote basis, meaning you do not have to be bound to one location. For increased job security, you can work your way up to managing a language institute in one of the countries you have worked in. If you want to be in control and have found a country you particularly love, then opening your own ESL school there might be your ideal career trajectory. Many places have easier zoning and licensing requirements compared to Canada, making this easier to accomplish than it would be here.

    A career teaching English overseas has its many challenges. It is primarily contract work, meaning you will likely hop around to different cities and countries. It means saying goodbye to the family, friends, and places you call home, and only revisiting them on occasion. If you are willing to accept those circumstances, then amazing opportunities await. You will get to travel the world, meet and have an impact on a great variety of students, and live a life of adventure.

    Sources:

    Bentley, John. “6 Tips to Kick-Starting Your Career Overseas by Teaching English Abroad.” Life After Study Abroad. https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/after-teaching-abroad-career-tips

    Collis, Jennifer. “5 Ways to Turn Teaching Abroad into a Lifelong Career.” Go Overseas. https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/after-teaching-abroad-career-tips

  • To the Future in 2018!

    To the Future in 2018!

    Happy New Year!

    Have you written a new year goal or resolution list yet? Some say that it isn’t worth writing because you probably won’t follow it. However, even if you write one and follow it a little bit, you have already done well for the year. It can be hard to keep promises to yourself in uncertain times. All you can do is your best; if you don’t think you’ve done your best, you can ALWAYS start again!

    At JPD our goal is to bring you the most up to date information about different types of jobs, careers and opportunities out there in the world. To start off the new year, we have many different job profiles for you like: Network technician, radiation therapist, chiropractor,emergency medical technician, teacher’s assistant and more!

    Make sure to check out our scholarship section for January deadlines for post-secondary scholarships- good luck and until next month!

    Sincerely,

    Erin Bouman

    Content Editor

  • Technical Achievements in Electronics for Persons with Disabilities

    Technical Achievements in Electronics for Persons with Disabilities

    Within the last year many amazing advancements have been made in the world of electronics. Specifically, there have been technological achievements that will no doubt enrich the lives of those with disabilities. Here are a few very big advancements that will only be built upon and fine tuned within the near future:

    The DynaVox EyeMax System

    This system gives people with paralysis, cerebral palsy and stroke victims the ability to join in actual spoken communication using simply their eyes. This extremely sophisticated creation uses an eye tracking system that permits users to interact with an on-screen keyboard—this lets them enter words and phrases which are in turn translated into actual spoken text that is emitted by the devices own text-to-speech mechanism. The easy freedom that this gives to those with disabilities cannot be expressed.

    The Kapten PLUS Personal Navigation Device

    Transporting oneself if you are visually impaired can be very difficult even if you have been doing it for years; there is always the chance of getting lost in the traffic of busy pedestrians or taking an unfortunate wrong turn. Your reactions might be predictable, but the world and your immediate surroundings are never predictable The Kapten is a tiny GPS locator that was manufactured to be carried by those who are visually impaired. The device actually speaks to the user as they walk down the street, giving accurate and thorough location and direction. The user of the device will always know where they’re heading and they can share routes, plan trips and tag locations for finding again later on. It’s affordable and gives the user a sense of security.

    Google’s Driverless Car

    This car is a big deal in the world of technological advancements right now, and has been talked about constantly within the last year in the world of electronics and automotive. It could help with independent and safe transportation for the visually impaired and those with mental and physical limits. The vehicle operates on a combination of Google Street View information—this information is gathered by numerous sensors and cameras mounted upon the vehicle. This car isn’t quite ready yet, but it will be very soon and it will be life changing for many.

    The DEKA Robotic Arm

    A sophisticated prosthetic arm originally created for injured soldiers returning from the Middle East, this invention is less than eight pounds and exhibits such precision and control that it has really been unprecedented, It has customizable controls and modular components that are tailored to the person’s individual needs. This robotic advancement can be used by those who require only a hand, a shoulder socket or an entire arm. Its sensory feedback system is highly advanced and features hand sensors that measure the strength of a hand grip. This allows the user to learn what level of grip strength is needed for certain tasks and how much pressure to apply. In short, with enough practice the robotic arm will give disabled users the exact same amount of freedom as anyone else.

  • Thinking of Studying Abroad?  Scholarships Can Help Make It Possible

    Thinking of Studying Abroad? Scholarships Can Help Make It Possible

    If you’re a student who likes to travel, or dreams of living in a foreign country, then choosing to study abroad could be an ideal opportunity.  The experience is hard to beat, enabling students to learn while experiencing other cultures.  Studying abroad can be expensive, however – often quite a bit more costly than studying in Canada. Luckily, there are lots of scholarships available to help.

    There are a number of different places to look to find scholarships for international study, and chances are there are multiple scholarships to study in just about any country that interests you.  Before you start your search, however, you should do some research on the total costs of studying abroad for the program and school you want.  This way, you will be able to look for the scholarships that will go the farthest toward covering these costs.

    Directly Through the University or College

    If you already have your heart and mind set on a specific international school, investigate whether that university or college offers scholarships or grants to help Canadian students come there to study.  Depending on the school and their facilities, some scholarships can also include things like living arrangements in a dorm or residence, help covering your travel costs, and other financial assistance beyond simply tuition and textbooks.

    If you’re already one or two years into a degree at a Canadian university, check with your current school’s financial aid office to see what scholarships they might be able to provide.  Many universities have academic relationships with international institutions, and can offer unique opportunities.

    Scholarships Funded By the Canadian Government

    There are also a number of scholarships funded by the Ministry of Education and Government of Canada.  These are available to browse through and apply to online at www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca. These scholarships range in amount and which countries they will help you study in, but can offer some excellent opportunities.  While some of them are geared toward graduate research, there are still many that are available to help undergraduates enjoy the experience of international study.

    Search Online Scholarship Databases

    As with any other kind of scholarship, there are lots to find and apply to online.  Databases and websites do a great job bringing a wide variety of scholarships together into one spot, making it easy to search for and find ones that will help you study in the country you want.

    The scholarship database at ScholarshipsCanada.ca is a great place to start, with more than 85,000 scholarships available for a wide range of international schools and programs.

    Look Around Your Home Town or City

    While online scholarship listings are definitely useful, remember that you can also find scholarships locally through businesses, cultural groups, and religious organizations in your community.  Many of these groups are interested in helping students travel for international study, especially those students who have a specific connection or interest in another country or culture.

    SOURCES:

    http://www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca/scholarships-bourses/can/opportunities-opportunites.aspx?lang=eng

    http://cbie.ca/what-we-do/scholarship-management/

    http://www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca/scholarships-bourses/index.aspx?lang=eng

    https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/scholarship-advice/international-graduate-scholarships-canadian-students

    http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/News/1/4199/Scholarships-Can-Make-Studying-Abroad-a-Reality-%E2%80%93-Here%E2%80%99s-How!#Matching-Articles-Title

  • Money Management Essentials

    Money Management Essentials

    If you are anything like me, you will often find yourself thinking, “Just one more small purchase won’t matter.” And if you’re even more like me, you will soon realize that maybe that small purchase did matter when you discover that your bank account is now empty. It would be silly to think that one small coffee made you broke, but when you figure out that maybe having one every day is a little excessive, you have the first step toward money management down: awareness.

    Take stock of your funds. Figure out how much you will earn each month, and write it down. Next, find a little notebook and start keeping track of everything you buy. Write down where you bought it, on which date, and how much you spent. This serves the purpose of telling you where all the money goes. It might even serve the extra purpose of telling you that you have a caffeine addiction, and maybe you should cut back a little. Starbucks four days in a row, five dollars each time? There are twenty dollars, gone. Kind of scary, isn’t it?

    Keep that spending diary for three months so that you can get a good idea for the average you spend on each kind of purchase. Doing so will then assist you to start making changes in your lifestyle: this is where you have to start limiting yourself and have self-control.

    Trust me; I know it is not easy to break a spending habit. When you do something so often that it becomes routine, breaking that routine throws off the rest of your day. That being said, it is now time to break out a coloured pen or highlighter. Circle or highlight every habitual purchase you made in the last three months, and calculate the total cost. Then think of how many hours it took to earn that money. A little sobering, right? Once you realize that your time equals money, it becomes a lot easier to make good decisions regarding your spending.

    Now that you have figured out what you can cut back on, it is time to make a budget. Figure out the main categories your purchases fall under. For some, those might be their cell phone bill, car payments and gas, entertainment such as movies, music, and video games, going out to eat, savings, and so on. Certain bills will always remain the same, such as car payments and your cell phone bill. Some put 10% of their entire paycheque into a savings account which they do not use under any circumstances. With everything else, though, allocate a certain percentage of your remaining funds to each category.

    For example: let’s say that you make $750 per month. 10% of that is $75 which goes into your savings. Your car insurance payment costs $100, so now you have $575. Your cell phone bill costs $50, and the remainder is $525. Now you can assign a percent to everything else. You may calculate it so that you have extra money left over for emergencies or unexpected nights out. As long as you never go over your allotted limits for each category, then you won’t find yourself with an unexpectedly empty bank account again.

  • Keeping Yourself Up-to-Date with These Health Tech Trends

    If you frequent social networking sites, for sure you’ve encountered the term FOMO, which means Fear of Missing Out. For example, if someone posts an invite to a pop-up Hot Topic store on Instagram or Facebook, you certainly don’t want to be the one left out among your friends.

    A FOMO attitude is something you can try applying not just for social activities but for your health news as well. Read on and keep yourself updated on these health technology trends. Don’t miss out!

    Fitness Trackers

    Fitness trackers have been extremely popular among adults—your health-conscious aunt or uncle might even own more than one tracker. These devices utilize technology-based solutions such as GPS to track your movement and other fitness musts like your heart rate, sleep, calories burned, and others.

    Now, it is starting to become popular among kids as well, encouraging them to get moving! Luckily for you kids, there are tons of choices for you to wear these devices without you looking like a character out of those sci-fi movies. Some manufacturers have come up with kid-super friendly designs like Minnie Mouse and Captain America, while some have chosen a more sophisticated route with the trackers resembling smart watches.

    Fooducate

    If you love grocery shopping with your mom and dad, you’re probably the type who picks up anything to their liking like fruity-flavoured cereals and then when you try to put the item on the cart, your parents say no. Well, just remember they are looking out for your health.

    Fooducate is a great app to have on your phone since it can help you and your parents make healthy food purchases. All you have to do is scan the barcode on any food item and you can see all its nutritional details (or the lack of them). It even gives a health rating which range from A to D so you can certainly decide instantly whether it is healthy for you or not before you even attempt to put it on the cart. Your parents will surely be proud.

    Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) Protection Devices

    With our lives now completely surrounded by technology, as a result, we are constantly being exposed to artificial electromagnetic fields or EMFs (we get our share of natural EMFs from the sun itself). Scientific studies have suggested that frequent and constant exposure to certain devices such as microwave ovens, cellphones, or any WiFi devices can potentially cause health issues such as stress, headaches, moodiness, and sleeplessness.

    Seeing that there is a need to combat the harmful effects of EMFs in our households, several technology companies now including Aires Tech offers a full range of devices that minimizes the effects of EMFs. You can get one for your household devices like WiFi TV and desktop computers and for your mobile devices.

    Lumos Bicycle Helmet

    This tech trend is more for your safety than health but it’s a must to have especially if you’re one who loves to bike even when the sun has gone down (and remember in winter, the sun goes down by 4pm so it’s always good to practice safety).

    This bike helmet does not only come with built-in lights that make you highly visible to drivers, it also gives turn signals via illumination that is clearly noticeable to other road users. It looks futuristic but it’s quite comfy for wearing.

    SOURCES:

    https://momentummag.com/lumos-helmet-review/

    http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/16/5-great-health-apps-you-should-use-now/slide/best-app-for-healthy-eating-fooducate/

    https://wellnessmama.com/129645/emf-exposure/

    https://www.airestech.com/store/

    http://www.earthcalm.com/having-trouble-sleeping-may-be-an-emf-health-effect

    https://www.parentmap.com/article/health-medicine-apps-technology-games

    http://gadgetsandwearables.com/2017/08/07/fitness-trackers-kids/

  • Exploring Your Options in Post-Secondary Online Courses and Programs

    Exploring Your Options in Post-Secondary Online Courses and Programs

    With the ever-growing list of companies and organizations becoming more and more reliant on technology-based solutions, it’s only expected that educational institutions follow suit and embrace the benefits of digital learning methods.

    In fact, a survey done by Global Affairs Canada revealed that a whopping 93% of Canadian institutions already offer online and distance learning, of which 68% are undergraduate. Majority of Canadian schools adopting technology to provide education have afforded them of increased enrollment without additional infrastructure costs. On the other hand, post-secondary students who choose online courses and programs enjoy the advantages of learning at their own time and pace, which is truly a blessing if they are working full-time or have family commitments to attend to.

    However, not all courses or programs are available online, as some of them do require practical or hands-on learning more than anything else. Still, there is a wide array of choices, and it can be quite difficult to decide on those which students can enjoy while at the same time provide them benefits in the long run at the most minimal costs possible.

    A good source to help them pin down which path to best choose when it comes to online courses and programs is to look at the demands in Canadian work force in a few years’ time. Workopolis.com has a list of the jobs in high demand in Canada. Here is a brief glimpse at those careers and the options for the institutions offering them without students having to leave their homes.

    Nursing

    Registered nurses can earn an annual salary of $44,686 up to $86,110 a year, and they are entrusted to deliver holistic and patient-centric care across hospital, clinic, and home environments. They are expected to be well-versed in nursing best practices and have familiarity with public health issues. Apart from knowledge and practical experience, registered nurses must also be attentive and possess an interpersonal approach to build relationships with their respective patients.

    Some well-known institutions that offer online nursing programs are Athabasca University in Alberta and University of Ottawa, Algonquin College, and Ryerson University in Ontario.

    Pharmacy

    Pharmacists can earn a median salary of $45,000 and up. They are professionals with keen interest in managing distribution or development of drugs. They should also possess strong analytical skills and detail orientation to provide patients with sufficient information and guide about the administration of drugs.

    Enrolling in a pharmacy program or course can very well pay off in the end as it is one of the most potential to gainful and stable employment in the country. However, studying pharmacy will set students back an average of $10,279 per academic year. Online pharmacy courses or programs are offered at Athabasca University in Alberta as well.

    Sales

    Sales associates can earn an annual salary of $21,253 up to $45,189. These professionals are equipped with arsenal of strengths in business development, account management, and relationship building. They should have a talent to align product or service offerings to client needs and leverage expert sales skills to achieve their target.

    Online sales-focused curriculum is offered in Centennial College, Seneca College, and Algonquin College in Ontario and at Athabasca University in Alberta as well.

    Administration

    Administration professionals can earn an annual salary of $27,428 up to $50,579. They are usually the go-to persons in an organization as they provide the support needed to ensure the smooth flow of operations across various office environments. They should be well-knowledgeable in administration process from file management, report writing, client relations, and budget administration.

    Administration courses and programs are offered in Algonquin College in Ontario and Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia.

    Retail and Merchandising

    Front store supervisors can earn an annual salary of $23,755 up to $47,581 while merchandisers can earn $22,943 up to $40,297. Front store supervisors are responsible for panning and coordinating day-today operations in sales, customer service, visual merchandising, and inventory management. Apart from that, they should also be experts in retail buying/purchasing. On the other hand, merchandisers should have expert knowledge in product inventory, product placement, and product promotions and should be able to manage operating standard guidelines according to image and trends in store.

    Retail and Merchandising-related programs and courses are offered in Capilano University in British Columbia and Ryerson University in Ontario.

    SOURCES:

    https://contactnorth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/external-presentations/an_overview_of_online_learning_in_canada.pdf

    https://www.tonybates.ca/2016/03/23/a-national-survey-of-university-online-and-distance-learning-in-canada/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/3721173/tuition-fees-canada-2017-2018/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/3755628/canadian-student-loans-regrets/

    https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/the-12-most-in-demand-jobs-in-canada-and-what-they-pay/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/1496842/what-to-study-today-for-the-jobs-of-tomorrow/

  • Career Profile: Social Housing and Property Management

    Career Profile: Social Housing and Property Management

    Everyone needs a place to live, and people who work in social housing and property management can help them find a home. Working in this area can involve various tasks and require different skills, but they all help to deal with one of the most basic human needs: affordable shelter.

    People live in all kinds of homes, including houses, apartments, houses, and condominiums. Some of these homes can be very expensive, but social housing homes are designed for people with very little money to spend on rent. Managers who work in social housing help to make sure that people with low-income have a chance to live in a good home.

    For this kind of job, people usually get a university degree in an area like social work or even history or psychology. Having a background in business management can also be useful in property management, although educational requirements vary. Salaries for people working in social housing can also vary a lot. Some organizations pay about $40,000 or less per year for managing social housing, but others pay close to $100,000. However, working with social service organizations usually means having a fairly low salary. A lot of organizations that provide help to those who need housing are non-profit.

    Property management outside the social housing field often has a similar range of salaries. Generally, the wages are between about $32,000 and about $76,000 per year, but it depends on where the job is located and the company. Another factor that affects people’s pay is commission. Property managers often receive a percentage of the profits from the buildings they care for. A very successful property manager could earn large amounts in commission, but it depends on many factors, such as the state of the economy and housing market.

    Many jobs in social housing are connected to an organization or a government, but a large number of property managers outside this field work on their own. This can allow them a lot of freedom to decide on their own hours and working conditions, but it also means that they have to deal with all of the problems themselves. Whether they deal with single-family homes or apartment blocks, they need to know how to solve a variety of issues.

    Housing seems like it should be a simple thing to manage, but it can raise many questions, whether in social housing or the regular market. With apartment blocks, for example, there could be major repairs or complaints about the cleanliness of the building. Tenants might complain when their rent goes up, and they might ask for additional parking spaces or better air conditioning or many other things. Although most buildings also have a caretaker or resident manager to take care of these needs, the property manager might also need to deal with people’s complaints.

    One of the main requirements for people working in any kind of property management is the ability to solve problems. The issues might be leaky water pipes, tenants who refuse to pay their rent, or decaying apartment blocks. Working in social housing or other branches of property management might not be able to depend on regular hours or a quiet job, but it can be a rewarding career.

    Bibliography:

    Indeed.com. “Social Housing Jobs.” https://ca.indeed.com/Social-Housing-jobs

    Learningpath.org.  “A Property Management Career: Pros and Cons.” http://learningpath.org/articles/Property_Manager_Career_Overview.html

    Payscale Canada. “Property Manager Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Property_Manager/Salary.

    Toronto Community Housing. “Why Work Here.” https://www.torontohousing.ca/careers/Pages/Why-work-here.aspx.