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  • How to Boost Your Confidence After a Bad Grade

    How to Boost Your Confidence After a Bad Grade

    You have been dreading and mulling over it all week: the bad letter grade that’s been slapped on your last test. It might have blind-sided you after you walked away from that test with an air of confidence or you may have been pretty nervous going into it in the first place. Whatever the case, that F is glaring right at you. There’s really no reason to let it get you down. Here are a few things to consider to regain your confidence after a bad grade:

    1 – It happens to everyone at some point

    There is not a single student in school who has not received a grade they were disappointed with. This idea that the smarted kids in school have never been set back or caught off guard by a bad grade is absurd. The best students (and people who are more successful in life) don’t let this one mistake control their grades during the rest of the year. They learn from their mistakes and tackle the next test more prepared.

    2 – There’s always the chance to improve

    Where your grade point average may be, there is always the chance to turn things around. If you are used to getting high grades, this can be shocking event in your school career, but you also know that it is the only time in a long streak of straight A’s or B’s. If your average is looking to be more like B’s or C’s, then you can always strive for a few A’s to even everything out. You might be used to D’s and F’s, and here is your chance to change your school career. All you need to do is speak with your teachers and guidance counselor to get started.

    3 – If you learn from these mistakes, you can do much better next time

    It’s not about getting the bad grade in the first place, it is about what you plan to do about it. To do better on your next test, you need to find out why you got the low grade on this test. You can start by asking your teacher where you went wrong and how you can do better next time (it might not seem like a fun thing to do, but you will feel so much better going into your next test when you are armed with a strategy) and they should be able to point out the sections that you did not perform strongly on and put you in touch with tutors or educational help.

    Gaining your confidence back after a bad grade is all in your attitude. If you acknowledge that there is still the chance to get better, then you should be able to find your motivation and get back up again in no time. It is also important to not let other people put you down when this happens. At the end of the day, the strongest voice will be your own, so make it say something positive about you.

  • High School Lunches: The Bad Side

    High School Lunches: The Bad Side

    Television and movies often push the stereotype of the disgusting cafeteria food menu. As a student, you know better. Some of the fabulous options you have include pizza, French fries, poutine, sandwiches, beef patties, chips, hot dogs, burgers, and a lot of other appetizing choices. With these selections, it could be very tempting to buy lunch every day, especially since it’s very convenient and leaves more space in your bag for other things. You probably already know a few friends who buy lunch every day. However, there are a few problems with daily visits to the cafeteria store:

    It’s not that healthy

    There may be a few tasty options at the cafeteria, but they won’t always promise to be healthy or even remotely good for you. Going to the cafeteria every day can be as bad as going for fast food on a daily basis. Fast food can take its toll on you. According to a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people with regular diets who ate fast food for five days received a much lower score on tests of intelligence than they would have with their normal diet. The conclusion they came to was that fast food caused memory and learning problems in people who abused it. It also contains a lot of trans fats which tricks the brain into thinking that you haven’t eaten as much as you actually did; causes chemical changes that can lead to depression; and can cause blood sugar level changes that give you strange fast food cravings.

    A much better option is to make your own lunch. Since you’re the one packing lunch, you’re also the one who controls what goes into it, which would (hopefully) include ingredients that aren’t going to slow you down both mentally and physically throughout the rest of the week. That’s not to say that you can’t have fast food at all, but with all things, it should be consumed in moderation.

    It’s expensive

    If you find that your pockets are a little lighter than you were expecting, it could be because of frequent visits to the cafeteria. In elementary and high school, the cost of school lunches can range from $3 to $6 dollars depending on where you live in North America. If you buy lunch every day during the five-day school week, you can spend as less as $15 a week and as much as $30 a week. Doesn’t sound too bad? After a month, you could be spending as much as $120 on lunch alone! That’s money that could go toward something much more interesting and fun.

    All in all, it’s difficult to resist the cafeteria store with how handy it can be and how many options it can give you. If you can stick with the packable lunch, you can keep a clearer head and a fuller wallet.

    Reference:

    Smart Cooky: http://food.ndtv.com/lists/the-bad-the-worse-5-ways-junk-food-can-mess-with-your-brain-764392

  • Get That Stamp of Approval: Preparing Recommendation Letters

    Get That Stamp of Approval: Preparing Recommendation Letters

    Completing scholarship applications is often a tenuous process for students, requiring a lot of patience and determination. However, once the goal is obtained, the rewards are priceless. Often, one of the requirements in scholarship applications include letters of recommendation, similar to when one seeks employment or applying to graduate school and is required to present references who can attest to their experience, skills, and talent. The references are often employers, teachers, instructors, counsellors, mentors, and advisors.

    If you’re new to the world of recommendation letters, it does seem daunting to accomplish at first. When you know exactly how the process works, however, you’ll be surprised why you were worried in the first place. Read below for pointers on getting recommendation letters.

    Check how many recommendation letters you’d need.

    Some organizations or institutions may only require one, while others at least three or more. It is best to check with them first on how many you’d need before proceeding to the next step. Make a list of all the possible referees you could have and arrange them according to the one whom you think can put you in the best light possible. This means those whom you have not only an ideal professional working relationship with but also share a genuine friendship with. On your list, have at least two or three back up in case the others do not pan out.

    Verify the timelines and method of delivery.

    It’s important to check the deadline for submission for the recommendation letters so you can inform the referees ahead of time. Ideally, they will need to be informed at least a month before the deadline. Informing them a week or two is a definite no-no. Remember, even though you are close to them or some of them, you have to show that you respect their time and thus you are giving them enough time to write the letter.

    Also check if the referees can send their recommendation letters directly or if they have to come through you. The former is actually the preferred method as reviewers or admissions committees consider the direct ones to hold more weight as they are confidential and are thus more honest and accurate.

    Ask formally via a letter or email.

    Simply casually mentioning to a referee that you would like a recommendation letter from them as if you are asking them what their favourite colour is highly discouraged. Remember, they are not obliged to provide you this letter, and they can easily refuse if they feel they are not asked properly. The best way to ask is by handing them a letter of request or sending them an email about your request and confirming they have received it afterward.

    Be clear with the content requirements.

    Whether you plan to request via a printed letter or an email, ensure that you are clear on what you need from them, including the timelines, and you make them aware of your target and goals and what aspect about you can they best mention, such as a project you’ve done or volunteer experience you’ve accomplished that you are most proud of. Letting them know that they can include personal observations of you can add a more personal touch, like how you handled a conflict in class, etc.

    Also, it helps if you can make time to arrange a brief meeting with them in case there are needs for clarification. If they agree, schedule it according to their convenience, not yours.

    Follow up when necessary.

    If you have not heard back from a potential referee for a week after you’ve formally handed your request, it is okay to follow up through a simple email or a brief phone call (if you have their number). However, again, no one is obligated to write you a letter so you should not be demanding. Do follow up when necessary but make sure to do it in the most courteous and respectful way possible and nicely remind them of the timelines. Remember they have demanding schedules and for sure other students have asked the same of them, so a little reminder goes a long way.

    Don’t forget to say thank you.

    Once they’ve informed you they’ve completed the recommendation letters, offer your appreciation by a simple handwritten thank you note or an email. Include in your note that you will make sure to keep in touch and keep them posted on what the result will be for your application so they feel they are part of the process too.

    So there you go! Getting recommendation letters is not a tangled web of a process as many would like to believe once you know what goes through it. So follow the steps above and get the ball rolling on those recommendation letters for your application. Good luck!

    SOURCES:

    https://www.petersons.com/college-search/letter-recommendation-how-ask.aspx

    https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/your-high-school-record/how-to-get-a-great-letter-of-recommendation

    https://www.princetonreview.com/business-school-advice/letters-of-recommendation

  • From the Classroom to the Real World

    From the Classroom to the Real World

    Mathematics, social studies, and science are all great for improving your knowledge and exercising your brain. Yet it is not always obvious how to apply them to the real world. How can equations, historic events, and the water cycle possibly help you outside of the classroom? The answer is in many indirect ways. You can take a lot of what you learn in school to help not only yourself, but others who could really benefit from it.

    Research, and likely your own personal experience, has shown that tests and exams are not the best way to discover how learning can help elsewhere. They are great for testing your memory and skills. But schooling is really about the “transfer of learning,” the term for taking what you learn and using it in a different situation. There are “near transfers” for situations that are nearly the same, such as using writing skills in English class to help you with social studies. “Far transfers” are for two very different events. For example, you could take a history lesson about hundreds of years ago and use it to think about things happening in the world today.

    Those “far transfers” can happen in different ways. When you are learning something in school, try to think if you have already learned something like it in a different class. Also try to focus on how these things can help elsewhere, even if your teacher does not say anything about that. Maybe some of the math you learned could help your family or friends add up the cost of items at the mall. The book you read in English class could have some good themes and lessons that would be perfect for a friend.

    Ask yourself some important questions. What have you learned about yourself from your classes? You may have discovered some strengths that could help others – if you can easily explain tricky topics like the water cycle to your friends, try tutoring to help out younger, struggling students. Ask how you could take what you learn into different situations, and who could benefit from it. Learning the events of history could help you connect with your grandparents. They may have even lived through those events, and you could build a better relationship with them.

    This takes practice. Every day you are at school, try to take note of at least three new things you learned that day. They can be very big ideas, new skills, or even very little facts. Then try to think of one way each of those things can help others. Once again, these can be big or small. You can use those ideas or skills in volunteer work, as well as tutor students or entertain your friends with facts. Even the smallest of acts can help brighten someone’s day.

    Some days of school go better than others. Sometimes you learn great new things, while other times you are frustrated or even bored. Focusing on how you can use what you learn outside of school will help you get through the bad days and make the good ones even better.

    Sources:

    Glulloni, Julie Winkle. “Putting Knowledge into Practice: From Knowing to Growing.” SABA Blog. https://www.halogensoftware.com/blog/putting-knowledge-into-practice-from-knowing-to-growing

    Strauss, Valerie. “The real stuff of schooling: How to teach students to apply knowledge.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/03/24/the-real-stuff-of-schooling-how-to-teach-students-to-apply-knowledge/?utm_term=.7964b6c74e7b

  • Careers in Social Justice

    Careers in Social Justice

    When you see a homeless person begging on the street, you might walk by quickly or you might decide to do something to help. If the second one is your choice, you might be suited to a career in social justice. If you are very much concerned about fairness and helping your community, you can find many different careers in social justice where you can help others.

    Many different jobs are related to helping other people. Medical careers, for example, help people when they are injured or sick. Teaching helps children and adults learn what they need to know for all kinds of daily tasks and for getting good jobs. However, careers in social justice give a different kind of help.

    Suppose an immigrant comes to Canada and was a doctor in their previous country, but could not find work here despite being well trained. Someone working as a social justice lawyer could help this person to get the right documents here to be able to work as a doctor. Or suppose that an employer refused to pay workers for some extra work that they did; a labour advocate could try to convince the employer to give the employees what they deserve.

    Two of the most common areas with careers in social justice are in law firms and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Human rights lawyers sometimes work with government agencies to help change bad laws and to make sure that people receive the help they need. Another important area where lawyers work is in dealing with unjust imprisonments. For example, when a Canadian teenager named Omar Khadr was imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay by American authorities, a Winnipeg lawyer managed to help him get back to Canada. Another Canadian citizen, the journalist Mohamed Fahmy, was able to return to Canada with the help of a human rights lawyer.

    Law firms are very important in the field of human rights, but nongovernmental organizations are also good places to find work in social justice. Many of these organizations work in areas like poverty reduction and helping people find jobs. They might help people start small businesses or open up homeless shelters and soup kitchens.

    Generally, NGOs do more than just trying to deal with the surface problems, like giving out food and warm clothes. They also try to change the systems that keep people poor and in need. Some people work as advocates for many different marginalized groups in society. They might write articles, meet with government officials and business leaders, or give talks to community groups and other organizations.

    Working in social justice can be very rewarding but also frustrating, especially when progress seems to stall. People working in this field need to enjoy what they do and be able to deal with disappointment. In nongovernmental organizations, salaries can be quite low, depending on where they get their funding. Lawyers tend to be well paid, but the work they do in social justice might be different. Whatever the pay, however, a career in social justice can be a good choice.

    Bibliography:

    John Glenn College of Public Affairs. “Career Opportunities in Social Justice.” http://glenn.osu.edu/career/guides-resources/careerguides/Career-Opportunities-in-Social-Justice.pdf

    Joshee, Reva. “Opportunities for Social Justice Work: The Ontario Diversity Policy Web.” http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/isp/UserFiles/File/OpportunitiesForSocialJusticeWork.pdf

    Social Work Degree Guide. “5 Jobs for Those Committed to Social Justice.” https://www.socialworkdegreeguide.com/lists/5-jobs-for-those-committed-to-social-justice/

    University of Windsor. “The Social Justice Path.” http://www.uwindsor.ca/law/544/social-justice-path.

  • Career Profile: Hazardous Materials Worker

    Career Profile: Hazardous Materials Worker

    The world is full of dangerous materials. Chemical spills, asbestos in older buildings, waste from nuclear reactors, and other dangerous substances can harm people, animals, and the environment. A hazardous materials worker can help make things safer for everyone.

    Working as a hazardous materials worker is not an easy job, but it is very important. Otherwise, people would get sick from the toxic chemicals around them, and they might not be able to grow food or have any water to drink. People who work at removing hazardous materials need to learn how to deal with all different kinds of materials in water or on land. Usually this requires a high school education and a certificate in waste disposal.

    An important skill that people in this field need to have is the ability to be able to calculate how much they need of the cleaning chemicals to clear up the problem. A basic background in mathematics is usually necessary, and some people might require more than that.

    People can learn a lot about being a hazardous materials worker on the job, but usually special training and certification are necessary. Most trade schools would have information on where people can go to get the training they need. An apprenticeship can give hazardous materials workers the background and training they need to get jobs in their field.

    For many people, a background in construction is also helpful, since that way they learn where to look for dangerous materials and how to get rid of them. They need to know how to deal with the different types, such as oil, radioactive waste, and even lead paint. Besides all of that, hazardous materials workers need to be calm in emergencies. They need to be good at working with their hands and they should be physically strong.

    Experience is very helpful in this field. At the beginning, workers in this field might earn about $12 per hour, but they can quickly increase their salaries if they know their work well. After ten years, workers can often earn over $50,000 per year, and after twenty years, they might earn close to $80,000. If the workers know how to drive trucks and use special earth-moving equipment, those skills can also help them get good jobs.

    Working in this field usually requires going to where the problem is rather than staying in one place. Hazardous materials workers might have an office where they keep records of the work that they have done, but they might need to travel to remote areas to do their work. Oil spills, for example, happen mainly in the oceans, and workers might have to travel far to get to where the work needs to be done. Sometimes, however, workers can find enough work to do with cleaning up lead paint or asbestos close to home.

    Being a hazardous materials worker is not for everyone, but it can be a fulfilling job for people who enjoy excitement and feel good about cleaning up messes. If that describes you, why not consider getting into this very useful kind of work?

    Bibliography:

    Apprentice Search.com. “Hazardous Materials Worker.” http://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?tradeId=250&TradeName=hazardous-materials-worker.

    My Plan.com. “Hazardous Materials Removal Workers.” http://www.myplan.com/careers/hazardous-materials-removal-workers/description-47-4041.00.html

    Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. “Hazardous Materials Worker.” http://oyap.com/trades/?fuseaction=Profile&appnum=157

    Payscale.com. “Hazmat Technician.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Certification=Certified_DOT_HAZMAT_Technician_.

  • Career Profile: Brick and Stone Mason

    Career Profile: Brick and Stone Mason

    Imagine being part of building something like the CN Tower in Toronto or the Empire State Building in New York. Not everyone has the chance to work with something that famous, but brick and stone masons have a chance to work on all kinds of buildings. They help people find places to live, work, and go to school.

    Brick and stone masons work with different kinds of materials that are part of many buildings. They might help build a brick or stone wall, install concrete steps, or build fireplaces, smokestacks, or chimneys. To do that work, they need to be able to read blueprints and to calculate how much they will need of each material for the project. For most jobs in this field, a Grade 12 education is required, although some require only Grade 8. To prepare for the work, people need mathematics courses to learn to do the calculations of the amounts of materials they need and English classes for reading and writing skills. Certification is not usually necessary, but some employers might ask for special training.

    Experience with tools and construction is important in this type of job. Brick and stone masons do much of the work by hand, using hammers, chisels, and masonry saws, as well as some power tools. They put mortar between bricks and build up walls by hand, sometimes indoors and sometimes outside. The work requires some strength, but it mostly needs stamina to stand for long periods of time, to bend down and stand up, and to lift heavy objects. Some of the work can be quite complicated, especially when masons work on skyscrapers or install ornate section of outdoor walls.

    Salaries for brick and stone masons usually start low, often at minimum wage. For the next five or ten years, pay can increase a lot, but after that the salary increases are usually quite slow. In Canada, the average wage is just under $26.00 per hour, although that varies from one region to another.

    Finding work in this field depends on many factors. When the economy is slow, people are less likely to do much building, and this means fewer jobs for brick and stone masons. Large cities are likely to have more opportunities for people in this type of work, but also more competition. Small towns are likely to have a slower pace of life, but also not as many jobs.

    One advantage for brick and stone masons is that they are likely to have skills that they can use in other types of work, such as working on road construction or similar areas. For people who are willing to work at the tops of tall buildings or to do other jobs that others might be unable or unwilling to do, finding work might be relatively easy.

    Being a brick and stone mason involves many skills and abilities that you can already start to practice. Keeping yourself physically fit is important, and being able to work with your hands is essential. If you like the idea of working with brick and stone to help construct towns and cities, you can already start to practice for the future.

    Bibliography:

    Apprentice Search.com. “What Does a Brick and Stone Mason Do?” http://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?TradeName=brick-and-stone-mason&tradeId=3

    Canada Masonry Centre.com. “Building the Future: What We Do.” http://canadamasonrycentre.com/.

    Manitoba Masonry Contractors’ Association. Association. “What We Do.” http://www.manitobamasonry.ca/content.php?navigation_id=2289.

    Payscale.com. “Stonemason: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Stonemason/Hourly_Rate.

  • Being an Entrepreneur

    Being an Entrepreneur

    When people are young, they might dream of the freedom that they will have as adults. For some of them, part of that dream might be to become an entrepreneur, living a risky but exciting life with a lot of freedom but also responsibility. Although entrepreneurship can be very satisfying, it involves risks that people should consider before they begin that life.

    The first thing to consider is the difference between an entrepreneur and a freelancer. Working as a freelancer can often lead people to become entrepreneurs, but they can be two very different things. Basically, a freelancer has no official employer but instead works for many different people, whether the work is pet care, house painting, or something completely different.

    An entrepreneur builds a company and often employs other people to work there. A freelance dog walker, for example, would go to different places and take the dogs out, but an entrepreneur might organize the schedule but hire others to do the actual pet care. Often, entrepreneurs ask people to invest money in the company, and they get a portion of the profits.

    People can be entrepreneurs in almost any area of work. They might help others buy and sell houses, start a restaurant, or even run a dental office. The hours can be very long, and the amount of money they make depends on how successful they are. If you want a regular schedule and dependable pay, the life of an entrepreneur is probably not for you.

    Being an entrepreneur can also be very stressful. There can be tight deadlines to finish projects, and other people’s jobs often depend on the entrepreneur’s abilities. As the business becomes established, entrepreneurs can take more time off, but the first few years or even longer can be very busy.

    Why would anyone become an entrepreneur with all of the stress and hard work that it involves? This type of work can be very exciting, and it can pay well for people with good ideas and the ability to work hard. Entrepreneurs generally have a lot of freedom to choose their own hours, and once the business is going well, they can decide how much of the work they want to do themselves. They can take holidays whenever it works for them, and they can move on to another project when they want.

    Some people are well suited to being entrepreneurs. The ability to talk with other people and to persuade them to invest in the company is essential to entrepreneurs, making this type of work very difficult for shy people. However, almost anyone can learn to give presentations and to talk to investors, as long as they can manage the stress.

    Two very important aspects of being an entrepreneur are patience and persistence. Starting a business can be a very slow process, and it can take years before an entrepreneur will really be successful. If you want to be an entrepreneur, the best place to start might be freelancing in an area that you would like to pursue later. Then, if you have a great idea for a new business, you’ll already be a step ahead of others.

    Bibliography:

    Entrepreneur.com. “Entrepreneurship vs. Freelancing: What’s the Difference?” https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/285804.

    Future of Working.co. “8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Entrepreneurship.” https://futureofworking.com/8-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-entrepreneurship/.

    First Institute. “The Good and Bad of Being an Entrepreneur: The Pros and Cons Explained.” https://www.first.edu/the-good-and-bad-of-being-an-entrepreneur-pros-and-cons-explained/.

    South University.edu. “Pros and Cons of Being an Entrepreneur.” http://source.southuniversity.edu/pros-and-cons-of-being-an-entrepreneur-96101.aspx.

  • Le long chemin tortueux du bénévolat à l’emploi payé

    Donner de votre temps pour une cause a plein d’avantages altruistes. Le travail non-rémunéré fait des merveilles pour votre estime de soi et votre sentiment d’appartenance à la société, et vous permet, en autre, de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et d’aider les moins privilégiés de votre communauté. Malgré tout, les responsabilités de notre société nous appellent, et la nécessité d’un emploi ne nous offre pas souvent les meilleures occasions de travail valorisant. Mais vous pouvez avoir les deux. Vous pouvez faire un travail  qui enrichit la communauté et  être payé pour. Dans notre monde moderne où il existe des occasions quasi illimitées, le bénévolat et les stages peuvent être des étapes importantes vers de magnifiques emplois payés. La stratégie est de savoir comment y arriver.

    Il ne faut pas surestimer la valeur du salaire immédiat. Les compétences que vous obtenez maintenant peuvent devenir bien plus lucratives que quelques dollars gagnés rapidement. Donner un peu de votre temps aux occasions de bénévolat vous permettra d’obtenir de nouvelles compétences. Dans l’industrie du film et de la télévision, un monde que j’ai connu comme scénariste, les stages permettent aux gens d’apprendre la production et le montage directement, bien mieux que dans une salle de classe. Cette approche pratique est plus éducative que le simple fait de lire sur le sujet. Voyez ces compétences comme un investissement. Ce que vous apprenez peut se transformer en une meilleure carrière, et donc, un meilleur salaire dans le futur.

    Au-delà des compétences, le bénévolat est une expérience convaincante dans un CV. Il démontre votre engagement et votre attitude assidue et peut combler les trous douteux laissés par les périodes de chômage qui ne sont pas appréciées. Utilisez ce temps non seulement pour apprendre, mais aussi pour établir des contacts et du réseautage. Montrez votre passion. Faites en plus que ce qui est demandé et les gens se souviendront de vous. Ils peuvent devenir de très bonnes références et peuvent même vous offrir du travail, au vu de votre travail et de votre attitude. Les stages en entreprises sont, souvent, un tremplin  vers un emploi, dans l’industrie du film et de la télévision, et dans bien d’autres.

    Les derniers jours de votre emploi bénévole sont essentiels. Faites en sorte de rester connecté aux gens que vous avez rencontrés pendant votre travail. Il se peut que cela ne soit pas bénéfique tout de suite. Mais dans quelques semaines, quelques mois, ou même quelques années, leur suggestion ou leur besoin d’un employé peut être tout à fait ce dont vous avez besoin.  Plus essentiel encore, pensez aux compétences et à la confiance en vous que vous avez acquises par cette expérience. Maintenant, vous êtes un meilleur éventuel employé et vous vous êtes rapproché de la carrière dont vous rêvez. Il se peut que cela ne vienne pas tout de suite, mais les fondations sont posées. Exploitez cette nouvelle confiance en vous pour approcher des entreprises que vous n’aviez pas encore contactées. Assistez à des séances de réseautage et gardez le contact avec les personnes de votre réseau actuel. Pour que votre rêve devienne réalité, tout ce que ça prend, c’est une occasion et un « oui ».

    Certaines fois, le bénévolat n’est pas parfait – en plus du manque évident de revenu,  ça peut sembler un dos d’âne frustrant sur le chemin que vous voulez prendre. Concentrez-vous plutôt sur les côtés positifs et voyez le bénévolat et les stages comme des étapes nécessaires. Développez des compétences, créez des contacts et surmontez les incertitudes qui briment la confiance en soi. Le chemin pour la carrière que vous voulez est sinueux, mais les possibilités sont là aussi longtemps que vous persévérez.

    Sources:

    Doyle, Alison. “How to Turn a Volunteer Position into a Job.” The Balance. https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-turn-a-volunteer-position-into-a-job-2062644

    Shifman, Julie. “7 Reasons Volunteering Can Lead to a Job.” Next Avenue. http://www.nextavenue.org/7-reasons-volunteering-can-lead-job/

  • comment obtenir la meilleure lettre de recommandation

    Les lettres de recommandation sont très souvent demandées pour des demandes de bourses d’études. Elles permettent aux comités de sélection de bourses d’obtenir des renseignements vous concernant, de la part de personnes qui vous connaissent personnellement et qui peuvent garantir que vos compétences académiques sont pertinentes avec votre choix de programme collégial ou universitaire.

    Les lettres de recommandation, aussi appelées lettres de référence, peuvent avoir une grande influence sur vos chances d’obtenir une bourse. Alors, c’est important d’obtenir la meilleure lettre possible.

    Voici quatre conseils qui vous aideront à obtenir la meilleure lettre de recommandation :

    Demandez-la à quelqu’un qui vous connait bien

    Vous devez vous assurer de demander cette lettre de recommandation à quelqu’un qui vous connait bien. Cependant, vous ne devriez pas en faire la requête aux membres de votre famille ou à de proches amis, puisque les comités de sélection ne les étudieront pas, ne les jugeant pas assez impartiales.

    Votre meilleur choix est de demander à vos professeurs, à votre employeur, aux dirigeants de votre église/temple/mosquée, ou à un autre organisme communautaire. Vous souhaitez quelqu’un qui peut parler de vos compétences académiques et comment celles-ci sont pertinentes avec vos études, mais aussi de vos qualités personnelles qui font de vous un étudiant méritant la bourse.

    Donnez-lui beaucoup de temps pour écrire la lettre

    La personne à qui vous demanderez sera probablement occupée et aura même peut-être d’autres demandes identiques. Il est donc important de lui donner 3 à 4 semaines pour qu’elle puisse l’écrire avant la date de clôture de la bourse.

    Cela lui assurera plein de temps pour rédiger cette lettre et soit l’envoyer directement au comité de sélection de la bourse, soit vous l’envoyer. Cela lui permettra aussi de l’écrire sans hâte, en prenant le temps pour formuler une lettre positive et détaillée.

    Donnez-lui tous les détails sur la bourse

    Demander juste à quelqu’un d’écrire une lettre n’est pas suffisant. Il est capital que son auteur possède les renseignements sur la bourse pour démontrer que vous êtes la personne idéale pour la recevoir.

    Les indications que vous devez fournir incluent des détails sur la bourse et ses exigences, sur votre programme d’études ainsi qu’un exemple de vos compétences rédactionnelles ou un autre travail selon la bourse que vous demandez.

    Ainsi, l’auteur de la lettre pourra mettre l’emphase sur les points forts de vos qualifications.

    N’oubliez pas de la remercier

    Vous devriez toujours remercier la personne pour avoir écrit cette lettre de recommandation. C’est non seulement poli, mais en plus cela laisse la porte ouverte pour une éventuelle autre lettre dans le futur.

     

    Un mot de remerciement manuscrit sera plus personnel et démontrera que vous avez apprécié son aide. Finalement, lorsque vous aurez reçu la bourse, ce serait bien de lui envoyer un message pour le lui dire.

    Sources:

    https://www.petersons.com/college-search/letter-recommendation-how-ask.aspx

    http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/tips/recommendations.html

    https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2013/03/07/6-ways-to-get-great-scholarship-recommendation-letters