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Category: Campus Life

  • Why Do Employers Hire Recent Grads?

    Why Do Employers Hire Recent Grads?

    Often one of the most frustrating things for high school and university/college students is finding a job. We fill out so many applications and go for so many interviews but sometimes we still don’t get a call back. You may be racking your brain wondering if you could have done something better, if you bombed the interview, or if the interviewer didn’t like you. However, one of the reasons you may not be getting called back may have nothing to do with any of these reasons and more to do with the stage of education you are in. It is a well-known fact that employers often prefer hiring recent graduates.  There are a number of reasons why they do this. When you are searching for jobs you may see the term “entry level.” This means that an employer is looking for someone who has completed a program and is trying to enter the job market.

    Although having an academic background is a great thing to have under your belt, employers sometimes view students as having a very busy schedule. Between homework, assignments and exams, students may have to take time off work in order to balance their busy academic schedules. If employers feel like they can’t rely on you or that you don’t have a flexible schedule for them to work with, they may not hire you. Employers often want to hire people with open availability rather than limited availability. Also important to note is that employers sometimes want to wait until these students are no longer students and have completed their programs before hiring them. This could be because they will have less of an academic responsibility and can therefore work more hours.

    Another reason employers like hiring recent grads is because they have developed a skill set through their academic programs. They learn skills and gain knowledge that will help them become better employees. Through school, students learn how to manage their time and become more responsible. They also become better communicators both in written and oral forms. They also won’t have to spend as much time training you because you will have gained a lot of skills and knowledge about that particular field from your program. These are all things that employers look for and want in ideal candidates.

    This does not mean that someone who hasn’t graduated yet has a zero chance of being hired. What it means is that graduates tend to have a better chance because they have completed their education and employers appreciate that. They like to see that you have taken initiative to further your education and expand your skill set. So be patient and instead of getting frustrated try to understand why employers may hire recent grads.

  • Resume Writing Tips

    Resume Writing Tips

    Whenever you are writing your resume, you want to be sure to have five important points accounted for. 1) Include relevant information,  2) Always have up-to-date information, 3) Stay consistent with your formatting, 4) Never put references right on your resume and,  5) Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for.

    1) Start with recounting your work and volunteer experience. You want to be sure to have bullet points outlining what skills you learned from the job and what responsibilities you had at the job/volunteer activity. On your master copy, keep the skills you learned fairly general, and you can tailor the skills to the particular job you are applying to on a subsequent copy (see number 5). When you have nailed down your past experience in terms of volunteering and working, create a section about your education, going back as far as you think is relevant (putting in a line in about which daycare you went to is going back too far). Include a skills and interests section, trying to cover skills that are useful in most jobs. These will be adapted for each of the jobs you apply for. Your interests can include anything that you feel is worthwhile to put down, often choosing something that you want to talk more about is a good idea as employers may use this to see how you spend your time outside of work.

    2) Always have up-to-date information. This means that the name and address, telephone number and email that you have as the very first piece of information on your resume will be up-to-date, not your address from three years ago. You want to be sure that an employer will have no trouble reaching you. Also, try to avoid having unprofessional email addresses (like sexy_chick@hotmail.com). You want to project an image of responsibility and trustworthiness, so you want to avoid having an unprofessional email address. Simply create a new account if you need to.

    3) Staying consistent with your formatting is especially important for facilitating information gathering by the employer. If they are so distracted by the fancy bullet points you have, or the changing styles of font that you added for extra style, they won’t be able to see how you are the right candidate for the job. You want to be sure to pick a style and stick to it. Choosing a generic style is also recommended to avoid any distractions from your suitability for the job. This means regular margins, size 12 font, regular bullet points and the same style of indentation the whole way through the resume. Also, be sure to have a consistent way of documenting the year and the location of your work or volunteer experience. Your goal is to create an easy to read resume where the employer can get the information they want quickly.

    4) Never put references right on your resume. This is especially important because you don’t want to clutter up your resume or have too much information. Hopefully the employer will want to contact your references, but when you are handing in a resume you are not quite there yet. Avoid having that information right on your resume. You can put a line like “references available upon request”, as a way of indicating that you do have references (which you should get now if you don’t have any already).

    5) Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. This is the most important thing that you can do to secure yourself a job. In the same line of reasoning as keeping your resume consistent, you want to be sure that the employer can read your resume quickly and easily, so they are able to see that you are the right candidate for the job right away. Avoid having one generic copy of your resume or handing out your master copy. Read the job posting and identify what it is that the employer is looking for. Highlight any skills or work experience that they require, any certifications or education, and create a section at the top of your resume outlining exactly how you fit their requirements. You can title this section “Qualifications” or “Professional Qualifications” . This section comes first before listing off your work and volunteer experience, skills and even education.

    Good luck!

  • Energy Drink Dangers

    Energy Drink Dangers

    You know the feeling –it’s the early afternoon and you are feeling tired and sluggish. It’s easy to go to a convenience store and grab a Red Bull for a quick pick-me-up. But did you know that so-called energy drinks can be doing you more harm than good?

    Most energy drinks come with a warning label that you should not consume more than 1 per day. The reason is the high caffeine content, which is responsible for the quick boost you receive immediately after drinking it. While you may feel good for a short period, you will inevitably have a “caffeine crash” as your body gets back to normal. This can lead to headaches, irritability and decreased focus.

    Recent studies have concluded that some energy drinks contain 4 to 5 times more caffeine than a regular can of soda. For most people, the increase in caffeine will cause unpleasant side-effects such as nausea and diarrhea. However, the larger dangers of consuming too much caffeine run the gamut from heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death.

    The best thing you can do is to stay away from these drinks entirely and instead focus on getting more energy by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. On those days where you simply must have a caffeinated beverage, drink something with a lower caffeine content such as tea.

    Even worse than consuming energy drinks alone is mixing them with alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant while caffeine gives you a short-lived shot of energy. Putting these two chemicals into your body together is playing with fire. It is absolutely imperative that these two beverages never be consumed at the same time, as they have been linked to deaths in teenagers and young adults. Be safe and smart about what you consume!

    On top of the health risks, energy drinks are some of the most expensive drinks on the market. At around $2.50 per can, you could spend almost $75 per month if you drink one per day. Imagine what you could spend that money on instead!

    Go for a walk or run, drink some water and go to bed at a regular time each night. Taking these steps will prevent you from being tempted to purchase an energy drink in the future.

    Remember – treat your body well and it will treat you well in turn!

  • Volunteer Centres: Helping You Get Your 40 Hours

    Volunteer Centres: Helping You Get Your 40 Hours

    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.

  • When It Comes to Choosing Your Career, Just Follow Your Heart

    When It Comes to Choosing Your Career, Just Follow Your Heart

    If you’re in high school, you are probably facing the pressure of choosing a career path that you would like to pursue, especially if you’re in your final year. You are at a point where you have to pick a major or program that you want to take in University or College, so it is important to make the right choices now.

    But what if you have you no idea what you want be? How do you make such an important lifelong decision? It seems like a lot of stress choosing your career path at such a young age. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult.  It’s a lot easier than you think.  Just follow your heart – the answer is there.

    Sure, maybe your parents have other ideas for you. Maybe they want you to be a doctor or lawyer. But what is it that makes you happy? What is your dream? What do you see yourself doing for the rest of your life? These are all important questions to ask yourself because, at the end of the day, it’s your life and you want to do what’s best for you.

    Start off by thinking of the courses you excel at in school. Maybe you excel more in the arts. Maybe you enjoy music or writing. Maybe you love working with numbers and excel in math. Narrowing down your strengths will help you make a better decision. Also spend time thinking about your hobbies. Do you enjoy sports? Painting? Maybe you can turn your hobby into a career. These are all indicators that you can’t ignore.

    Start off by making a list of your strengths. Then write down your dreams and goals. Seeing your thoughts on paper will allow you to think more clearly and is a great reference point. It would also help to sit down with your guidance counsellor in school to help figure out what you want to do. They are there to help you, so take advantage of it.

    Now you might have a better idea as to what career path you want to pursue. Why not get first-hand experience in it through volunteering or interning? Maybe do some job shadowing in the industry that you’re interested in. Your guidance office at school can assist you with your options.

    Chances are, you will most likely be successful in a career that you are passionate about. Sure, job prospects and opportunities in your chosen career path are important to consider, but following your heart should be given equal consideration as well. Doing something that makes you happy will make a world of a difference for you. You’ll find out that the answer is with you all along.

  • Creating Value in What You Do

    Creating Value in What You Do

    When we live our lives so quickly in this fast-paced modern world, sometimes things can begin to blur together and become somewhat meaningless. We move from one place to another, do one errand after another, we talk with this person and that person, we work, we go to school, we volunteer….it goes on and on. Sometimes this can become a headache and we feel like there is so much stuff to do in so little time. We rush from this to that and are always watching the clock. There is something beneficial to be found in slowing down and taking some time to think about what it is we are doing. One day you might sit down and think about how we are not valuing our lives in the way we wish to. This rushing without creating meaning is essentially a waste of life, and reveals a personal need to create value in what is being done.

    In order to create value in what you do, you may want to think about what is important to you. For me, I made myself a list of priorities –  things that are important to me. My list includes eating healthy food, exercising regularly, continuous education, having a source or sources of income, sleeping enough to feel good, having some fun and practicing relaxation. I also value challenging myself to change and grow as a person and doing things that scare or thrill me.

    In addition to priorities, it is important to also name your feelings as you go about your daily routines. Some activities make us feel good, and some activities make us feel bad. This is important to be aware of.  If something makes you feel bad, try to pinpoint what it is about it that makes you feel bad. For example, you may find yourself in a situation where you do not feel good. Try to name what you are feeling as you experience it in order to avoid repeating this action in the future.

    By being cognizant of our feelings and what makes us feel good, we are able to create a life for ourselves where we place value in the things we do. This allows us to truly live our lives to the fullest. Try it today! You won’t regret it.

  • What Does It Mean To Be an Intern?

    What Does It Mean To Be an Intern?

    When you think of the word intern, unpaid work, fetching coffee and running errands may come to mind. All these thoughts may be correct, but think of the true purpose of being an intern and the positive aspects of being one.

    Being an intern is doing some sort of job at a workplace, usually unpaid, in exchange for experience or school credit. It’s a win-win situation for both the employer and the intern, as the employer benefits by receiving free labour and the intern benefits by gaining first-hand experience in an industry they may be interested in pursuing while gaining valuable work experience and skills. In addition, it’s experience you can put on a resume and is a stepping stone for future career opportunities. It’s also a great way to make contacts and networks within that industry. Who knows? That internship could even turn into a job – a reason why students (or even those who have already graduated from school) take on internships.

    The reality is that if you graduate from a university or college and are about to enter the workforce, having that certificate, degree or diploma just doesn’t cut it these days. Employers are more interested in seeing the practical experience in the industry and internships allow you to gain that practical experience and skills.

    At times as an intern, you may think the tasks you are being given is menial. Just remember that it’s important to take it with a grain of salt, as it is really your foot in to your chosen industry. It’s a great way to learn about the various positions in the organization, the company culture and even if that chosen career path is really for you.

    It’s also important to make the most out of your internship, meaning that you do more than just the tasks and duties that are given to you. This is your opportunity to shine, so take advantage of it. It’s important to be proactive. Maybe you have some ideas you want to contribute or maybe you are interested in assisting in other roles. Make sure you express this to the manager you report to or work for. They may be impressed with what you have to offer and can see that you are indeed valuable to the company. This great for future job prospects in that organization.

    It’s also important to know your worth. There are many times that interns are taken advantage of and are used only for menial work that may not have much value to you. Be clear about your goals to the organization offering you the internship and what skills you want to gain from the experience. The internship has to be beneficial for both parties.

    What is the best way to find internships? Sometimes your college or university may help find them for you. You can also search online for internships. Do a Google search for companies in your industry, find out the main contacts and reach out to them saying that you are interested in interning for them.

    Internships truly do open up many doors for you so take advantage of them. Good luck!

  • How to Design Your Class Schedule

    How to Design Your Class Schedule

    In the first seven or eight years of school, choosing what subjects to study is usually fairly easy. The choices are limited and usually the set of required courses, like history or math, take up most of the school day. Later, however, choosing courses becomes an important way to achieve educational and career goals. Learning how to design a good class schedule is the best way to make sure that each year goes as smoothly as possible.

    How much control do you have over the classes you take? You might not have much yet, but that will soon change. In high school, students normally have some options, but the choices are often very limited. When students get to college or university, they usually have much more freedom to choose the courses they want, but they also have the responsibility to monitor their own education.

    Students’ experiences with course choices can vary. Some programs, especially those that lead directly to employment in a certain field, such as nursing, tend to have a large number of required courses that often need to be completed in order. In more general programs, such as the studies leading to an Arts degree, the requirements are much more flexible. In both types of programs, however, students still need to find the best schedule to suit their needs.

    The first step in designing a class schedule is finding out which courses are essential to your goals and which are optional. Finding time for the program’s required courses should be your priority. Often these required courses can be spread out over a few years, but not always. The next courses on your list should be ones that are prerequisites (first requirements) for other courses you want to take. If you want to study German, for example, you should take the introductory courses as soon as possible. Classes that are offered only every two or three years should also be a high priority in case you can’t take them later in your studies.

    After you have selected the required or time-sensitive courses that you want, you can fill your schedule with other classes that interest you. You might even want to consider doing an internship or taking a special one-on-one study course to learn about an area that you think might be useful in the future. You might choose courses taught by an interesting professor, or you might avoid ones that fall either early in the morning or late in the evening. You might design your schedule around your part-time job or choose whatever happens to be available. Using a computer template to help you design your class schedule might help you to fit the courses together into a manageable timetable.

    Before you start to design your course schedule, you should learn as much as you can about your program and decide on your own priorities. That way, you will have the knowledge to plan a schedule that suits your needs while you finish the courses you need to complete your studies.  Happy scheduling!

  • If At First You Don’t Succeed…Try Something New

    If At First You Don’t Succeed…Try Something New

    We are always most comfortable doing what we know. It’s easier to invest time into something you’re already familiar with and it’s safer to avoid taking the risk that comes with learning new things. For these reasons, we generally like to abide by our normal routines. We walk through familiar neighbourhoods, we talk to people within our regular circles and, of course, we don’t learn anything new.

    While there is nothing wrong with sticking by a certain routine, it’s also unwise to be inflexible: by staying in your shell, you could be missing out on a world of opportunities. Think about the last time you really stepped out of your comfort zone to try something new. Whether you picked up a book you didn’t think you’d like, unexpectedly signed up for an audition or decided to wear different-coloured socks, no matter how insignificant or trivial that distinction may seem, even the tiniest bit of change is refreshing. It’s good.

    Trying new things is especially important in light of the back-to-school season. Perhaps you’re all set for another year of the regular stuff, but why not try and incorporate something you aren’t as ready for into your schedule? Most high school, college or university programs have electives you can select alongside your regular courses. Maybe you’re required to take calculus, chemistry, biology and physics—but if you have a couple of spots free, sign up for classical literature or a foreign language. These elective courses may surprise you…and it may surprise you how well you do in them. Exposure to new material opens up even greater possibilities for your own research. You might even find yourself a new hobby.

    Of course, there are other ways to try your hand at something new. Clubs and extra-curriculars are not only fun and productive, but they can help you connect with people who share your interests (or people like you, looking for something new to do). New courses, new pastimes and new peers – that sounds like a sweet deal. All you have to do is put yourself out there.

    Yet most people are afraid to take even the slightest risk, worried that they won’t be good at what they do, or worse – that they’ll be made fun of for their efforts. In anything you do, there’s the possibility of failure, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try anything. Avoiding life is a waste of your time and talents, and believe it or not, people can be surprisingly supportive and understanding. So what if you mess up a little? If you want to commit to something, like any one of your current interests, it’s going to take a little work before you get comfortable with it.

    Maybe you won’t be good at what you try (at least not off the bat). Maybe you won’t even like it. But at the very least, you can say you tried. Then it’s up to you to decide whether you want to stick by it or not.

  • Using a Volunteer Centre to Get Your 40 Hours

    Using a Volunteer Centre to Get Your 40 Hours

    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.