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Author: Arthur W. Buerk

  • If I Knew Then…

    If I Knew Then…

    Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School’s Class of 1963
    Each month, JobsPeopleDo will be featuring a special quote from a graduate of the Harvard Business School Class of 1963. The following quotes are insightful and can be used to inspire and encourage the right career path for you…

     

    “To greatly enhance the odds of enjoying a career which is both fulfilling and successful, one must find an endeavor, a subject, métier, process, environment for which one has a passion. This could be aviation, geology, medical science, investing, writing fiction, etc. In my case, it was a love of markets and investing that my father inculcated in me very early on. This passion has led me to often declare, “I have never worked a day in my life.”

    ~ Charles Hale ~

    “Look for something you are good at, where accomplishment will be rewarded, which pays well (at least at the higher levels) and gives you the opportunity to work with smart people who will stimulate you and challenge you to grow.”

    ~ Robin Smith ~

     

    Via http://hbs1963.com

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    • Promote volunteering
    • Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers
    • Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities
    • Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • How to Step Away from the Crowd & Build Your Own Life

    How to Step Away from the Crowd & Build Your Own Life

    Next time you are sitting in a lecture hall, take a quick look around. You are sitting in a room alongside dozens of students. You are all studying the same subject, at the same school, and are all focusing your attention on the individual at the front. You may feel less like an individual and more like a sheep amongst the flock. The same feeling can come up when crammed on a subway train, or when walking through a crowd to get to work. It is as though you are making the same choices as everyone else, and living the same life as everyone else.

    Many people pick their degree or career based on what is expected as opposed to doing what they want. It is important to remember that, now more than ever, we live in a time of many choices. Post-secondary education can mean many different things, thanks to the vast number of majors and programs there are to choose from. If you feel you chose yours due to societal pressure or reasons other than what you truly want, it is not too late to change it. Credits can be transferred and you have many years ahead of you. A fifth year of high school was fully eliminated in Ontario back in 2003, meaning you started university or college a full year sooner than generations before you in that province. Do not be afraid to take more than four years to finish your education!

    The fast-paced nature of modern life finds people changing jobs more often and workplace competition growing more intense. This is not a race, but a journey that you are undertaking. People throw around the word success, and you may feel that you have to follow the crowd to successfully get an impressive job or purchase a home. These are parameters set by others. Think of success and happiness as one in the same. If those things make you happy, then you are not following the crowd in pursuing them but rather are following your own emotions. If a simpler life is what you desire, you are not defying people’s expectations but instead building your own.

    You do not have to trudge through a job just for the sake of having a job while waiting for retirement to live your ideal life. Half of building your own story in life is determining what you want. The other important half to consider is determining what negatives you are able to endure. If your ideal career does not pay well, are you able to give up certain things to afford the lower income? If you want to focus on family, are you willing to find work and a place to live that will allow for that? It may sound pessimistic, but thinking about those negatives will allow you to fully shape the life you want. With patience and a rounded perspective, you can build your own life and not just follow the crowd.

    Sources:

    Eisen, Michael. Creating Your Own Life Path. http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/04/25/creating-your-own-life-path/

  • Building Social Skills on Campus

    Building Social Skills on Campus

    Attending post-secondary can sometimes be an isolating experience —especially if you are a student at a large institution. As a student at the University of Toronto, I can certainly relate. The St. George campus is so large that, for much of my first year, I felt as if I knew no one on campus. It was difficult for me to reach out to others due to the stressful atmosphere, as well as the sheer size of my classes. Because I was commuting to school, furthermore, I also did not benefit from making friends in my residence.

    Now, a year later, I find that—although the odd bit of loneliness plagues me from time to time—I do not find the experience quite so isolating. Every post-secondary experience takes time to get adjusted to, and hopefully with practice, you will learn how to meet people and reach out to others on campus. Below are some of the experiences and strategies that I found useful for building social skills on campus.

    Join clubs or extra-curriculars to meet people with interests in common. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved outside the classroom: not only is it a great way to pursue your interests and de-stress, but it can help you broaden your social networks. Though individuals are usually united by a common interest, they come from all sorts of backgrounds and programs of study. You may find you have a lot in common with your peers, and you may learn a lot from them as well.
    Tip: Choose a club that involves a lot of face-to-face interaction, such as regular meetings or events.

    It can be intimidating sometimes to try to meet others on your own. If you have one or two willing friends on campus, however, try to go to events together, with the intention of meeting others as well. For example, you can go to a networking event with a friend, but make a point to branch out and talk to others throughout the night on your own as well. This may help you strike up the courage you need to take that first step.
    Tip: You and your friend can support one another—but don’t use one another as crutches. The whole point of the exercise is so that you can talk to others!

    Finally, socialization can happen anywhere—try to make going to class a social experience. Before or after class, strike up a conversation with your fellow students. You can also use study groups as a way to meet others in your class, while getting some productive work done. This also has the added benefit of having a support system within the classroom if you need it. It is invaluable to have a note-taker when you are home sick, or to have a partner to study with for the final.
    Tip: You don’t always have to talk about the course material: get to know your classmates as people as well as students.

  • Exciting Careers in Computer Science: STEM

    Exciting Careers in Computer Science: STEM

    The following is a list of exciting careers in computer science you may want to consider pursuing after you finish your studies in high school. Despite what observers may think, the computer science industry has many options for new graduates to pursue:

    Computer Science Teacher
    Has your dream always been to teach the next generation of students? Why not combine the best of both worlds and teach your passion? As a computer science teacher your day to day will involve preparing lesson plans for students, demonstrating computer theories to students and interacting with school administrators as well as parents. If you plan to pursue this teaching path, you will need to acquire an additional education degree after completing your bachelor’s program in a related technological field.

    Software Engineer/Programmer
    As a software engineer or programmer, your day to day will involve coding, so it is essential that you have mastered some programming languages during your studies. These languages will allow you to build software designs. Currently, this is one of the most sought after professions as every industry is in need of technological advancement. From healthcare to the gaming and film industries, as a programmer you will have the opportunity to be exposed to any of these industries. Another perk of pursuing this occupation is often times you will be able to work remotely and communicate with your colleagues electronically. So if you’re someone that thrives on your own schedule, this might be the job for you!

    Network/Systems Administrator
    Network or system administrators manage the networks or IT infrastructures of different organizations. The role involves making sure equipment such as servers, desktop work stations and mobile devices are running in the most efficient and secure way possible. While some companies choose to outsource their data network administration to IT service providers, this position is still essential to many industries. As a student interested in pursuing this occupation, you can also look into more business driven coursework like network communications and business systems design.

    Enterprise Architect
    As the name surely explains, being an enterprise architect is no easy task for it involves creating blueprints for data communication within organizations. The design is critical to how the organization responds to IT security threats. They are able to analyze the needs by working with managers and the Chief Technology Officer of the company. Often times this occupation requires a substantial amount of experience after completing a bachelor’s degree–but certainly an exciting career path to look forward to!

    Regardless of which career in computer science you’re interested in, make sure to learn more about them by taking on some internships and co-op positions before university or college, and while in university or college. There is nothing quite like first-hand experience to tell whether a job is the right fit for you. Happy internship hunting!

    Sources:
    http://www.computerscienceonline.org/careers/#CS-Careers-on-the-Rise
    http://www.computerscienceonline.org/careers/#Choosing-a-CS-Specialty-or-Subfield
    http://www.computerscienceonline.org/careers/#The-Importance-of-Soft-Skills

  • Should You Stay or Go? Writing Exams in University and College

    Should You Stay or Go? Writing Exams in University and College

    When you ask yourself this question, you may be thinking of relationships, moving away to go to school or debating on taking a new job; you might not be thinking of exams. When you get to college or university, you may spend about 120 hours sitting in exams. When I started university, I’d see people get up and leave an exam as soon as they were finished. I would think to myself: Why is that person finishing so early? Okay, maybe you think this won’t apply to you. Many times it did not apply to me, but sometimes, it did. The first time I finished an exam early, I opted to stay until “my time was up,” and thereafter, I never left an exam early. So, why stay? Later, I could articulate a reason: once I got out of that door, it was over. I realized later that I was paying for the full three hours of exam time, and that I should always use the time wisely.

    Staying may mean: Not giving up. While writing a second-year psychology exam, I did not know the answer to two questions. I spent several minutes reading the exam, the questions and my answers to the questions, and then discovered clues to help me find the answers to those two questions. If I left early, I would have never discovered these things. I didn’t just stay for the few marks; I stayed to use the time I was given in the best way I could. If I got up and left, I really would have been shortchanging myself.

    It takes time and practice to become skilled at reading and analyzing questions during an exam. We pay for the time. It’s part of the tuition fee. No one will reimburse you for the time you don’t use. If you don’t show up for a class – you don’t get any money back.

    You must learn to stick it out during an exam and focus. Any small activity can be a distraction. Sometimes, there are big distractions. One tough exam experience took place first thing Monday morning. We wrote in a gym. The heat had been off all weekend, and no one had turned it on. The temperature was freezing when we left the exam; thank goodness I had my winter coat with me. Many others had left their coats outside in the hall, and were not allowed back out to get them. It’s a rule – once you are in, you’re in. Once you are out, you’re out. In mentioning this, remember to always be prepared for the unexpected.

    Writing exams is a study in itself and there are many tips for getting through an exam successfully, but it takes practice. You usually have three hours to totally focus on your paper. You paid for the time. There’s a saying, “The reward of patience is patience.” Stay or go? Here’s hoping you find the few small rewards attached to staying.

  • Happy New Year from JobsPeopleDo!

    Happy New Year from JobsPeopleDo!

    Welcome to 2016. Last year was great, but this year will be even better; more planning, goal setting and high achievements. This might be your best year yet! Setting goals and making resolutions is very common this time of year. However, sometimes, people start out the new year with motivation, and slowly lose it over time- don’t let this happen to you! In this January issue of JPD, we have some great tips and tricks to help you stick to your resolutions and achieve your goals, whether long or short term.  If you falter on your resolutions in the first few months of the year, it is never too late to turn it around.

    JPD has some great new job videos to show you (just to name a few): Systems Engineer-Aerospace, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Civil Engineer- Water Reclamation, Construction Worker-Green Builder, Police Officer-Evidence Technician. For more new videos, make sure to browse the different job video tabs- don’t miss out! Within the next few months, we’ll be releasing more new job videos you can sink your teeth into.

    Good luck and stay safe!

     

    Erin Lynne Bouman

    Content Editor

  • Fun, Recreational Organizations: Edmonton, Alberta

    Fun, Recreational Organizations: Edmonton, Alberta

    Here is a list of great, inclusive Edmonton organizations that help to bring activities and knowledge to the community, encouraging cooperation,togetherness and understanding. Whether you are into art, music or connecting with your peers, these organizations will provide fun for the whole family.

    Organization: Choral Morphosis
    Description: A music program and organization created specifically for developmentally disabled and physically disabled adults 16 and up. Music is performed by students at a number of different venues. For example, students of the organization have performed at events like the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
    Website: http://www.choralmorphosis.com
    Email address: info@choralmorphosis.com
    Phone:780-964-4860

    For more information on how to join Choral Morphosis, visit the website and feel free to email or call.

    Organization: Art Express- Special Needs Adult Art Classes
    Description: This is an awesome art class taught by professional artists that are experienced in working with students with developmental or physical disabilities. Brought to you by the Art Gallery of Alberta, they are sure to get you using all of your imagination to create amazing pieces of art!
    Email address: nicole.reeves@youraga.ca
    Phone: 780-422-6223
    Website: http://www.youraga.ca

    Visit the Art Gallery of Alberta website for more information or contact them through email or phone.

    Organization: City of Edmonton SURF Programs
    Description: What does SURF stand for? Social, Unique, Recreational and Fun! These Edmonton programs are for developmentally disabled adults and include activities like crafts, fitness, cooking, social dance, outing clubs, and more. If you want to get out, get moving and meet new people, SURF programs are the best way to do it.
    City of Edmonton Recreation Facilities Edmonton , Alberta, Canada
    Phone: 780-496-1497
    Website: http://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/surf-programs.aspx

    For more information and registration forms, visit the website above!

    Organization: Camp Health, Hope, Happiness
    Description: A recreational camp for children and adults with developmental disabilities. This camp provides recreational opportunities that encourage socialization, knowledge, health and fun. The camp is funded by public support and located on Lake Isle in Northern Alberta.
    Email address: info@camphehoha.com
    Phone: 780-429-3277
    Fax: 780-797-3812
    Website: http://www.camphehoha.com

    Visit them on social media, too!
    https://www.facebook.com/hehoha1960

    Organization: Challenger Baseball
    Description: This organization is for adults with cognitive or physical disabilities that want to play baseball. The games are played without keeping score and just for fun! Each person that plays will have a chance to play to their own abilities and strengths. You get to know more of your peers and be part of a team, winning or loosing- it doesn’t matter.
    Email address: drwren@shaw.ca
    Website: http://challengerbaseball.ca/home

     

    References:

    The Ability Hub-Awakening the Potential.

    https://www.theabilityhub.org/category/area/edmonton

  • Profil de carrière: Reporter de Télévision

    Pour beaucoup de gens, regarder les nouvelles du soir est une routine quotidienne. Ils sont informer à propos des événements mondiaux, pars le biais de journalistes qui recueillent des faits et informent les téléspectateurs sur ce qu’ils ont découvert. Devenir un journaliste de la télévision implique de l’éducation et de l’expérience, mais aussi la capacité de poursuivre des histoires et de les condenser en formes qui entrent dans les programmes d’informations. Si cette idée vous plaît, devenir un journaliste de la télévision pourrait être le bon choix.

    Avez-vous déjà travaillé sur un journal de l’école ou interviewé quelqu’un pour une mission? Les journalistes de la télévision passent beaucoup de leur temps à essayer de trouver les faits sur les événements dans leurs propres communautés ou à travers le monde. Cela peut souvent impliquer de parler aux gens et faire de la recherche dans les bibliothèques ou les archives. Ils ont besoin de rechercher tout ce qu’ils peuvent sur leur sujet / s, afin qu’ils puissent poser des questions intrigantes tout en obtenant la vérité ou le cœur de l’histoire.

    La plupart des journalistes de télévision se préparent pour leurs carrières en obtenant le diplôme de baccalauréat en journalisme, la radiodiffusion ou la production télévisuelle. Prendre des cours en écriture créative ou en littérature anglaise peut également être utile. Certains journalistes pourraient également vouloir se spécialiser dans un type particulier d’écriture ou en histoire et politique d’une certaine région du monde. Si vous en savez beaucoup sur les sujets qui impliquent la science ou la littérature, vous pouvez travailler à vous spécialiser dans un sujet spécifique. Cependant, les journalistes doivent être prêts à travailler sur n’importe quel sujet qui leur est demandé, généralement au début de leur carrière.

    En savoir un rayon sur les appareils photo et d’enregistrement est également utile pour les journalistes de télévision. Les grandes nouvelles Stations ont normalement des techniciens pour opérer les appareils et matériel d’enregistrement sonore, mais dans les petites stations, les journalistes pourraient avoir à apprendre à utiliser tous ces équipements eux-mêmes. Quand ils sortent pour faire un reportage sur un événement, ils doivent enregistrer continuellement avec la caméra tout en parlant et en demandant des questions aux gens.

    Quand ils commencent, la plupart nouveaux journalistes travaillent sur de petites histoires locales. Ils pourraient faire un reportage sur un festival local de musique ou un problème avec l’équipement de terrain de jeu. Dans les grandes stations de télévision avec de nombreux journalistes, ça pourrait leur prendre plusieurs années avant de pouvoir travailler sur de plus grandes histoires. Toutefois, s’ils acquièrent des compétences et de l’expérience, ils peuvent souvent passer à d’autres types de reportages. Ils pourraient ne jamais arriver à travailler sur les histoires les plus passionnantes, mais ils pourraient commencer à prendre leurs propres décisions au sujet de ce qu’ils veulent couvrir.

    Les salaires des journalistes de télévision peuvent varier. Quand ils commencent, en particulier dans les petites stations, les journalistes pourraient ne gagner que seulement environ 20 000 $ par année. Avec l’expérience, cependant, ils pourraient atteindre 100 000 $ par année, surtout s’ils sont prêts à voyager dans différentes parties du monde. Dans la plupart des régions du Canada, le salaire moyen d’un journaliste de télévision est compris entre 45 000 $ et 55 000 $ par année.

    Devenir un journaliste de la télévision prend beaucoup de pratique et vous oblige à être ouvert sur le monde et les histoires qu’il a à offrir. Si vous aimez parler aux gens et découvrir les faits derrière une histoire, ce travail pourrait être un bon choix de carrière pour vous.

    Bibliographie:

    Halbrooks, Glenn. TV Reporter Career Profile and Job Description http://media.about.com/od/televisionandradio/p/Tv-Reporter-Career-Profile.htm.

    Living in Canada. “Journalist Salary Canada.” http://www.livingin-canada.com/salaries-for-journalists.html.
    Occupation Profile for Radio and Television Announcers http://www.careers.org/occupations/27-3011.00/radio-and-television-announcers.

    Study.com. “News Reporter Career Information, Job Duties and Salary Info.” http://study.com/news_reporter_career.html.

  • Faire coller vos résolutions du Nouvel An

    La nouvelle année apporte avec elle une promesse pour la grandeur, et préfigure les temps incroyables à venir. Beaucoup d’entre nous prenons des résolutions sur des objectifs, désirs, rêves ou que nous espérons accomplir dans la nouvelle année. Le problème est qu’un trop grand nombre de ces résolutions sont malheureusement abandonné à la mi-Janvier et malgré que nous essayions de combattre les obstacles placés devant nous (ou la simple paresse), nous retombons dans nos vieilles habitudes assez tôt.

    Si vous voulez vous améliorer ou faire quelque chose de grand dans la nouvelle année, voici quelques conseils pour réaliser vos résolutions collent.

    Soyez de béton. Déterminez exactement ce que vous voulez de la nouvelle année, et être précis avec vos souhaits. Il est extrêmement difficile à atteindre, ou même commencer à travailler vers des objectifs vagues ou nobles. Au lieu de vous engager à «avoir plus de plaisir», par exemple, essayer de «prendre une classe d’art» ou «apprendre un nouveau sport”. (Cela permettra également de vous rendre plus responsable, parce que ces objectifs sont réellement à votre portée!)

    Élaborer des stratégies.     De nombreuses résolutions sont abandonnées simplement parce qu’ils semblent «impossibles» à atteindre. Si vous voulez vraiment accomplir quelque chose, assurez-vous d’être réaliste et honnête sur le travail que vous devez faire. Combien de temps vous faut-il pour atteindre votre objectif? Quelles mesures aurez-vous besoin de prendre pour y arriver? Plus précisément, si vous avez un objectif très ambitieux à l’esprit, vous pouvez définir des stratégies ou des étapes mensuels pour vous de travailler votre chemin pour que soit effectif le succès en Décembre.

    Écris-le. Janvier est le moment idéal pour sortir un nouveau planificateur de jour (vous pouvez commencer au début du livre!). Faites bon usage de ces pages et laisser des notes dans des rappels ou des objectifs spécifiques à intervalles réguliers tout au long des mois. Ça aide aussi d’établir une liste maîtresse de tout ce que vous voulez faire de l’année, et pourquoi, afin que vous puissiez y revenir si jamais vous avez besoin d’inspiration. (Vous pouvez également enregistrer vos pensées électroniquement si vous préférez.)

    Restez responsable. Une des meilleures stratégies pour atteindre vos objectifs est de les rendre publics, de cette façon, vous vous sentirez plus motivé et obligé de les accomplir! Vous pouvez prendre des résolutions avec un ami sur la Saint-Sylvestre, et vous engager à vous soutenir les uns les autres tout au long de l’année. Alternativement, vous pouvez demander à un ami ou un membre de la famille de faire les vérifications avec vous ou vous fournir du soutien lorsque vous en avez besoin.

    Réévaluer. Ne pas avoir peur de repenser certains des objectifs que vous définissez (surtout si elles étaient irréalistes ou vague en premier lieu). Cela ne signifie pas que vous êtes en train d’être insipide, peut-être, tout au long de l’année, vous venez juste de comprendre que vous vouliez quelque chose de tout à fait différent. La chose importante est de remplacer vos résolutions avec de nouvelles, productives et significatives objectifs de sorte à ce que vous pouvez rester sur la bonne voie, même si vos plans changent un peu. Ne pas utiliser cette étape comme une élimination ou une excuse pour ne rien réaliser tout au long de l’année l’année.