Category: Campus Life

Most of us are familiar with “A Christmas Carol,” which is one of Charles Dickens’ most popular pieces of fiction, if not the most popular. Its timeless message of hope and redemption never fails to resonate with anyone who comes across the story – whether in literature or the countless adaptations through theatre or cinema. However, while the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future are entirely a work of fiction, Dickens’ empathy toward the less privileged was all fact. Although he used a different platform to bring to light the deplorable conditions of the less fortunate, his efforts are in no way less noble. After all, he believed that “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

If you’re thinking of a career that’s focused on being of service to the disadvantaged – or as Dickens said, easing the burdens of others– there are a multitude of humbling options to do so. While some of these may not be financially rewarding, most who work in the field believe that making a difference in people’s lives is reward enough. Let’s take a quick look at what awaits you.

Teacher

Teachers are such a permanent fixture in our lives that we often take them for granted. However, the effect of a teacher on an individual is often life-changing, and it’s only fitting that we now have Teacher Appreciation Week to remind ourselves of their importance to our lives. They help people directly, and they can witness the fruits of their labour first-hand as they see their students develop over the course of a school year, maybe even longer for teachers who teach multiple levels. Teachers can also work in institutions specializing in providing education for pupils with special needs or disabilities.

Psychologist

A career in psychology involves many different job aspects. A psychologist’s primary goal is to study how people think, feel, and behave from a scientific perspective, applying the knowledge to help people understand and eventually adjust their behaviour as needed. Psychologists work with individuals with mental health problems (depression, anxiety, etc.), as well as those with neurological, genetic, psychological, and social determinants of behaviour; marital or familial problems; terminal illnesses such as cancer; developmental problems; addictions and substance use and abuse; and others. Psychologists help enlighten those afflicted with mental or behavioural issues, which hopefully will lead them to the right path.

Social Workers

Being involved in social work means being involved in a vast discipline that encompasses several modalities, which means that if you’re treading this path, be ready to wear a lot of hats: case manager, counsellor, program manager, client relations manager, and administrative professional. Social workers must be adept in assessments and intakes and be able to establish client rapport through finely tuned interpersonal and communication skills. Since social workers mostly work with the vulnerable members of society who need government support, they must have a compassionate demeanour and must have a high tolerance for change and flexibility to adapt to new challenges.

Emergency Worker

It’s often said that the true test of one’s character is during times of crisis. This is the reason emergency responders are among the most challenging jobs there is. Not only do they have to be skilled at responding promptly to emergency situations to serve the community, they also must be focused on safeguarding the wellbeing of others, often with threat or risk to their own lives. Emergency workers can work in a wide range of areas: firefighting, natural disaster rescue, and others.

Speech Pathologists

Most people think that speech pathologists only work with individuals with a lisp or stutter, but they actually have a broader range of responsibilities. While they do work primarily with those with speech impediments, they also work with people with difficulties in swallowing, such as those who suffered from a stroke or injury. In addition, they can also help individuals improve their phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension, and writing.

The above are a few options for those of you who are looking into entering a field that focuses on helping people, albeit more low-profile than say the ones in the health care field (doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, etc.). Know this, however, whatever career path you choose to help those in need, it will surely be a fulfilling one.

SOURCES:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16907648c

https://www.cpa.ca/students/career

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/jobs-that-help-people-1217

https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/best-jobs/slideshows/the-12-best-jobs-that-help-people

Hollywood has always been fascinated with depicting an emotionless future. For example, in the dystopian movie “Equals,” Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult are star-crossed lovers (think a sci-fi Romeo and Juliet) in a world where all human emotions have been eradicated to create a crime- and violence-free society.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine a world where emotions are banned, but in real life, some people have the misconception that displaying emotions, particularly negative emotions, at the workplace can be detrimental to one’s career and create chaos within the work environment. However, in her book “Emotional Agility,” Susan David, a Harvard Medical School psychologist contends that negative emotions such as fear or sadness can actually benefit an organization.

Furthermore, individuals who show more sensitivity than others can be as valuable to their respective organizations than those who always keep their emotions in check. In some cases, they can prove to be even more of an asset. Here is a quick look of the advantages that highly sensitive people offer to businesses:

They are highly empathetic.

Many careers thrive on an individual’s competency to meet client’s needs, resolve issues, and offer solutions. For instance, the salespeople’s main objective is to sell and market a new or existing product or service. However, they can try all their might to drum up their sales by emphasizing on features and benefits, but they’ll likely fail in their efforts if they don’t understand what exactly the client needs. Meanwhile, highly sensitive salespeople can succeed in sales because they can understand what emotional triggers can capture the hearts of consumers and are genuinely interested in providing a product or service that helps or improve their lives.

They are more emotionally aware.

Highly sensitive people tend to feel emotions on a greater level, which means that they have more insight into human emotions. If they come across individuals in difficult situations, they can act towards them with more compassion and be more authentic in their efforts to help in the best way they can. In the field of social work, highly sensitive people can flourish because they can truly grasp the plight of vulnerable individuals and are more equipped to provide the necessary support and counsel.

They show great passion.

If you take a look at a few sample resumes online, you’d surely come across some where job searchers describe themselves as “passionate.” In organizations, members who show tremendous passion for their work are often the ones who deliver exceptional performance, are receptive to feedback, and dedicated to continuous improvement efforts. In this case, highly sensitive people are ahead because they always tend to be passionate with tasks that they often go the extra mile to ensure all their accountabilities are accomplished.

They need their me-time.

An organization has to work like a well-oiled machine to meet its goals, and thus it’s expected that all members are all for teamwork and collaboration. However, certain mandates call for solely individual effort, and if members are too dependent on other staff members or are causing disruption or distraction, hindering others’ productivity and efficiency in return, then the well-oiled machine of a company is bound to break down. On the other hand, not only does a highly sensitive person can work by themselves as well as with others, but they also tend to be more focused with the tasks at hand.

They are highly creative.

Every company has to meet their objectives, while ensuring compliance to industry regulations and standards, but at times, there could be multiple roads they can take to achieve their targets. One road can be the traditional one, and another road can be the unorthodox one – but both can get the organization to the place they have set their eyes on. When it comes to exploring options outside the box, the highly sensitive people prosper because they are more creative and innovative. In turn, their unique ideas triumph more than the traditional ones.

Don’t let hearsay get to you. If you’re a highly sensitive individual, know that you have advantages that you can offer your future organization or company and you’ll be a valued asset.

SOURCES:

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/8-ways-highly-sensitive-people-make-the-world-a-better-place-1112157

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245293

https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/19/12221264/equals-movie-review-equilibrium-thx-1138

When it comes to students’ proficiency in math and science, Canada has slowly inched its way to the top 10, which has long been dominated by countries like Singapore, South Korea, Finland, and Norway. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests conducted in 2017 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada’s teenagers are among the best educated in the world, ahead of US and other European countries like UK and France.

In addition, Canada is proving to the world that it can break down the gender barriers in math and science industries with the announcement in early October that University of Waterloo professor Donna Strickland was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for physics, becoming only the third woman to ever win it in 55 years (Marie Curie was the first one in 1903 followed by Maria Goeppert Mayer in 1963).

Still, there are areas for improvement, but the country is on the right track in molding the minds of today’s youth to embrace math and science. Studies that involve a focus on either math or science or both can lead to a promising career that will fill in the gaps in the current job market. In fact, according to a study by Statistics Canada in 2017, not only do graduates from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields earn more than those graduates from Business, Arts, Humanities, Health, and Education, STEM graduates are also more likely to have an easy time landing a job shortly upon the completion of their studies.

Here is a look at three ideal career options for STEM graduates based on Canada’s Top 10 Best Jobs for 2018:

Engineering Manager

If you’re looking into getting into this field, you can choose from among several options for your specialized study. For instance, a degree in electrical, civil, or structural engineering can lead to a promising career in the construction industry, while a mechanical engineering degree can result in a rewarding career within the industrial and manufacturing fields. After graduation, working to acquire a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) licence by the province or territory you intend to work in is most helpful for high-level positions such as supervisor, managers, and directors. Furthermore, acquiring a Project Management Professional (PMP) credential would be an advantage as well since this will demonstrate that you are capable of leading, evaluating, and managing projects.

Healthcare Manager

Due to the rise of the aging population in the country, a career as a healthcare manager will be more needed than ever. A degree in science-focused studies such as medicine, pharmacy, and nursing is not a requirement for this position. However, it can prove to be a huge plus in the long run. Healthcare managers are responsible for overseeing a healthcare facility–hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement homes, and others–ensuring that systems, processes, procedures, budget, equipment, and staff are all in place, while addressing the needs of the community and aligning them with those of practitioners, and stakeholders. Healthcare managers can also pursue studies in business administration or healthcare management to be further successful in this capacity.

Banking Manager

It’s common knowledge that not a lot of students are passionate about math or anything that has something to do with crunching the numbers unless it has to do with figuring out sports teams’ odds of winning or computing shopping discounts. Good thing then that to enter in the field of banking management, you don’t have to be a math whiz nor a math lover. However, it certainly helps to have an in-depth understanding of fundamental quantitative concepts to thrive in this field, which can also involve risk assessment and portfolio management. Meanwhile, students who complete a bachelor’s degree in either finance or economics have a higher chance of entering into investment banking, trading, or mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

If any of the three mentioned above interest you, it’s time to get cracking. Of course, there are a lot more options, but considering the three above is a good start when evaluating what future career will be best for you.

SOURCES:

https://phys.org/news/2017-10-people-maths.html

https://news.efinancialcareers.com/ca-en/226245/what-to-study-if-you-want-to-work-in-banking

https://bizfluent.com/how-does-4564230-banking-relate-math.html

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

https://www.academicinvest.com/business-careers/business-administration-careers/how-to-become-a-health-services-manager

https://newcomers.engineerscanada.ca/application-process

https://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/best-jobs/canadas-best-jobs-2018-the-top-100-jobs/

https://www.canadastudynews.com/2017/11/30/stem-graduates-earn-more-and-find-employment-statistics-canada-reveals/

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/10/02/news/canadas-donna-strickland-becomes-first-woman-win-nobel-prize-physics-55-years-0

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40708421

Have you ever heard someone talk about “first responders” and wondered who and what that means?

First Responders are the people who come to help others after an accident or natural disaster and try to keep people safe.  First responders can be firefighters, paramedics, police officers, search and rescue, and people trained in First Aid and CPR.  First Responders are important members of the community, because when they come to the scene of an accident or disaster, they try to get everyone to safety, and provide medical care to anyone who is injured or sick.

Firefighters respond to accidents that include risk from fire, such as fires at homes and businesses, car accidents, and earthquakes where buildings have been damaged.  They are specially trained in how to fight fires, and will use water hoses, chemical fire retardant, and other methods to put out active fires, or prevent a fire from starting.  They will also go inside burning buildings in order to rescue people who are trapped inside.

Police officers are the most common first responder, as they will attend to accident or disaster situations, as well as situations involving crime.  Police are trained in the law, and have a strong understanding of how people act.  They also are trained to assess threats and damages, how to move people from a risky situation to a safe place, and how to provide basic First Aid and CPR.  In any situation, police have the goal to get everyone involved in a situation out safely.

Paramedics are first responders trained in providing medical care outside of a hospital setting, which is why they are important first responders in accidents and other situations.  Most paramedics work in teams and will drive an ambulance to the scene of the accident or disaster, and help anyone who is injured.  They know how to assess people for injuries, determine how serious the injury is, and what to do to care for that person while they transport them to the hospital.

Search and Rescue first responders are people who are trained to find someone who is lost, or to search through an area affected by a natural disaster to look for people who are injured and help them get to safety.  These responders can search for someone who has been lost in the forest or other natural area, and know how to follow trails, identify clues or signs that someone walked through an area, have excellent navigation skills using maps and GPS, and can use radios and walkie-talkies to communicate with other searchers.  They are also trained in searching damaged urban areas, such as after a tornado or earthquake, to look through buildings and rubble to find survivors.

People trained in First Aid and CPR don’t always work as police, firefighters, or paramedics because anyone who is interested in knowing how to help can take First Aid and CPR training.  Having this training makes them First Responders, no matter what they do for their regular job.  Many schools and community groups offer First Aid and CPR training classes, for people of all ages.  If this is something you’re interested in, talk to you parent or guardian about taking a class.  You may even discover that you want to become a full time First Responder for your future career.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_responder

http://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/course-descriptions/workplace-and-corporate-first-aid-courses/first-responder

https://www.sharecare.com/health/critical-care/what-first-responder-do-emergency

According to the 2016 statistical findings of the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), there was a total of 240,682 work-related injuries, severe enough for those injured employees to take a leave from their work. The most common age group who suffer work-related injuries belong to the 50 to 54 age group.

This shocking number should bring into focus that more efforts be completed to raise awareness of the importance of health and safety in the workplace. Of course, employees who are injured in their work environments must be provided with the necessary support they need, and this is where rehabilitation counsellors are needed. This may be a rewarding career if you like helping people get back on their feet and, more importantly, deal effectively with their circumstances and provide support and advice on how to maintain a good quality of life.

Rehabilitation Counsellor – What You Need to Know

On top of the list of the job mandate of a rehabilitation counsellor is to conduct evaluations of the patient’s needs and abilities and assessment of overall health. The rehab counsellor also helps patients set treatment goals. Most of the time, they would collaborate with other healthcare providers such as doctors and ask for support, as well as obtain additional input and recommendations.

Rehab counsellors are also responsible for monitoring the progress of a treatment plan and must leverage their critical and analytical thinking skills to determine if adjustments are necessary. In some cases, they are also tasked to help find resources for the patients, such as mobility aids like walkers, wheelchairs, etc. Once the patients are assessed to be 100% fit to work, they can be rehired or re-employed by their original company. In some cases where the patients’ capabilities are limited due to the workplace injury sustained even after the rehabilitation period, they may have to undergone further rehabilitation, and so the rehab counsellor will be tasked to provide support so the patients can find alternate employment.

Not all rehabilitation counsellors work solely with patients who’ve suffered a workplace injury or sustained a temporary disability due to employment hazards, however. Some also work with patients with existing injuries or disabilities, and it’s up to the rehab counsellors to provide them support for job training for future job placement opportunities, if possible. Rehabilitation counsellors are often under the employment of rehabilitation centres or injury services providers.

Salary

According to PayScale.com, a rehabilitation counsellor can earn between $36,007 up to $70,179 per year.

Skills

To launch a career as a rehabilitation counsellor, one must obtain a master’s degree in counselling or any related field, which typically includes integrated academic training programs in health sciences, psychology, and practical field experience. It’s a requirement to obtain relevant certification and licensing.

To be successful in this career, rehabilitation counsellors must have finely tuned communication skills and advanced problem-solving abilities. In addition, they have to possess a talent for providing a supportive and diplomatic approach to people’s problems and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from all walks of life.

Pros and Cons

An advantage of being a rehabilitation counsellor is being able to work directly with people and help them with their goals of re-employment or job placement. It is a rewarding career as they are making a positive difference in the lives of individuals.

A disadvantage though is facing the possibility of frustration when the support services provided are not enough. Sometimes rehab counsellors hit a wall as some patients’ injuries or disabilities may be so severe that their job opportunities are relatively limited and thus the potential for re-employment or job placement is extremely low. It’s this scenario when rehab counsellors must remain steadfast to their goals, while continuing to provide motivational counselling.

SOURCES:

https://www.indeed.ca/jobs?q=rehabilitation%20counsellor&l=Toronto%2C%20ON&vjk=ddcb5dafcf8f3095

http://www.senecacollege.ca/ce/community/health-care/york-sen-rehab.html

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

https://www.safety-reporter.com/articleview/28353-partial-permanent-impairment-not-a-recurrence-of-injury/

http://awcbc.org/?page_id=14

Moving anything from one place to another can be complicated. It involves knowing how to get from one place to another, being able to move the materials safely, and making sure that they get to where they need to go. Cargo and freight agents can help.

Suppose that you wanted to give a birthday present to a friend who lives in the same city or town as you do. You could arrange to get together so that you could deliver the present in person. If your friend lived in a different city, you would probably need to go to the post office to send the present by mail.

Cargo and freight agents are like postal workers, but for large shipments. Instead of just small packages like birthday presents, they might help deliver furniture, large shipments of food, or anything else that people want to send. They work for companies and individual people who have large amounts of goods that they want to move from one place to another.

Much of the work of a cargo and freight agent is with customers, helping them decide on the best way to move their goods. They might choose to send very heavy or bulky objects by train or ship, for example, while they could choose to send lighter objects by air. Cargo and freight agents can also help with deciding the best way to pack the things that customers want to send. Breakable objects would need special care while a shipment of pillows, for example, would need little protection.

Becoming a cargo and freight agent requires little formal education other than a high school diploma, but people in this field have to know a lot about the different methods of shipping goods. They should know about weights and different kinds of packaging, and what the dangers to the cargo might be, such as weather damage or the possibility that the goods might be crushed by heavier objects. People can learn a lot of what they need to know on the job, but being good with mathematics will help cargo and freight agents with the calculations that they need to do.

In Canada, only Ontario and Quebec currently require any official registration to be a cargo and freight agent, although individual employers might ask for specific qualifications. For example, they might need their employees to be bilingual in French and English. An organization like the Canadian International Freight Forwarding Association can help people upgrade their skills.

Much of what cargo and freight agents do is in offices, where they need to be good with paperwork and dealing with customers. Sometimes, however, they might need to help pack or unpack containers and lift heavy objects where a certain amount of physical strength is helpful.

Cargo and freight agents can earn anywhere between about $29,000 and almost $52,000. Jobs might be available in shipping companies, post offices, and even factories. If you like to make plans and organize, the job of cargo and freight agent might be right for you.

Bibliography:

CIFFA. “CIFFA Education.” https://www.ciffa.com/education/.

Hearn, Gordon. “Doing Business as a Freight Broker in Canada.”  https://www.tianet.org/TIAnetOrg/docs/Frameworks/CanadianFreightFramework.pdf.

Indeed.com. “Freight Operations Agent.”  https://ca.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=823d8d7b7dcc4cc3&advn=9904401638271178&from=serp&dest=https%3A%2F%2Femployers.indeed.com%2Fj%2Fview-job%3Fid%3Db69f03ea30ad62cb172e&desth=ca91f31883caa3a40c2e4244dfe1d12a&prevUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fca.indeed.com%2Fm%2Fjobs%3Fq%3DFreight%2BAgent&tk=1cnasqfgbad5i92c&dupclk=1&acatk=1cnasqo0ia45hc9i&pub=6917c08ec3ecf6012dd26f3773156e870cace3277f6b99df.

Payscale.com. “Cargo and Freight Agent.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Cargo_and_Freight_Agent/Salary.

Peter Suess. “FreightForwarder/Load Broker.” https://www.pstc.ca/services/operating-authority-permits-and-licensing-usa-canada/freight-fowarder-load-broker/.