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Category: Campus Life

  • How to Prepare for the Dorm

    How to Prepare for the Dorm

    1. Write a list of the stuff you know you need. A good start can be found below

    * Bedding (sheets, comforter, pillows, mattress pad. A lot of colleges use Twin Extra Long mattresses which are a few inches longer than a regular twin. Do not skip the mattress pad; dorm room mattresses by themselves are not comfortable)

    * Toiletries (shower tote, towels, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower sandals, bathrobe)

    * Storage (under-bed plastic tubs, laundry hamper, drawers. Organizing your closet with a shoe rack or sweater organizer is always a good idea.)

    * Personal touches (posters, lamps, Christmas lights, knick-knacks)

    * Clothes (typically bring enough to last you three weeks without having to do laundry; you’re not going to want to do laundry every weekend. A wide variety is good as well so you’re covered no matter what the weather is doing. Remember to bring nice clothes you’d wear to a job interview because you never know if you’ll need to look snazzy.
    * Necessary miscellaneous (fan, alarm clock, refrigerator (optional), bedside lamp, clip-on shelf for your bed frame, laptop, laundry detergent, umbrella)
    2. Take this list to a trusted college graduate who can help you decide what you can do without.
    3. Start thinking about what necessities you need. Those necessities are; a couple pairs of shoes, clothes that are of a wide range (bring summer and winter stuff), shower and bathroom stuff, entertainment stuff.

    Tips

    * Wait until you have moved into your dorm before you begin buying a lot of things. You may find after you get there that that really cool organizer bin will not fit in the room, or the doors are not set up for organizers to be hung from them.

  • Resume Writing Tips

    Resume Writing Tips

    Include a Summary
    Everyone wants to make a good first impression. Carefully read the job application summary, highlight keywords and phrases, then think of how you meet or exceed the job expectations and required skills. Tailor your summary for each job you apply for. Don’t make your resume “one size fits all.” You might think it’s more efficient and less time consuming, but employers might think you’re lazy and not ambitious enough to address each position you apply for individually. Also, employers will think you went the extra mile — it will demonstrate initiative and that you really do want this job.

    Choose a Template
    Don’t reinvent the wheel. Browse hundreds of free template options online and choose one that catches your eye. If you can’t find a free template that suits your fancy, you can also purchase several options from various websites. Choose a template that you find attractive and that suits your personality, but don’t try to be too unique or stand out from the crowd too much because — while your resume will surely get noticed — you might get the “wrong” kind of attention. The trick is to express your personality in a subtle way; it’s all about balance.

    Use the Active Voice
    Show power, confidence, and that you mean what you say. Speak like you know what you’re talking about to grab your potential employers’ attention and maintain their interest. The passive voice, while appropriate in many cases, often conveys a sense of hesitancy and is much less powerful.

    Get to the point and don’t beat around the bush. Also, don’t try to sound too smart or sophisticated by using long, complex words. Employers are more interested in your skills, experience, and what you can offer them rather than your extensive vocabulary and sophisticated understanding of the English language.

    Avoid the First Person Pronoun
    Yes, this is about you—but what it’s really about is getting you a job, so avoid using “I” and “me” in your resume. The third person conveys a sense of professionalism, while the first person is too personal and informal for resume writing.

    Less is More
    Make your words and sentences pack a punch. Also, make your resume easy-to-read for the often impatient and overworked person viewing your resume. Avoid flowery language like the plague and don’t embellish your words. Although it might be counter-intuitive, you’ll actually be more convincing if you use less dramatic and descriptive language. Your point can get lost if it’s surrounded by too many adjectives and long, ornate words.

    Look Attractive
    Don’t use fancy font. A sans serif-style font is most appropriate and attractive looking for resumes — examples include Calibri, Arial, and Lucida Sans. Lucinda Calligraphy might be calling your name with her ornate, fancy beauty, but the font will be too difficult to read.

    Add a bit of colour. Use only one colour and choose the tone carefully. Use this colour sparingly. For example, make your name your favourite shade of pink for an added punch that will get you noticed, but wont make your resume look “gaudy” or too flashy.

    Be Conscious of Length
    One to two pages will suffice. Any more than two pages and your employers probably won’t read the whole thing or they will just scan the last part.

  • Auditing a Course

    Auditing a Course

    What is Auditing?
    At most colleges and universities interested students are offered the option of “auditing” a course, but what does that really mean? In short, auditing involves attending the lectures of a course without having to submit assignments or complete any of the coursework for grading.

    Why Audit?
    In most countries, going to college is the beginning of paid education. Grading and money are the primary factors in choosing to audit a course. Schools that offer auditing will have adjusted tuition rates at a fraction of the cost of full tuition. Put simply, you are paying for admission to the class only. It allows students to reap the benefits of learning from a qualified instructor without having the added pressure of earning a good grade distracting them. This approach is favoured by students who wish to sample a course before deciding if they feel comfortable enough to be graded on the material.

    How to Audit a Course?
    The first step is to contact the instructor or prof teaching the course. Most universities will require signed permission from the instructor and the department head before allowing a student to audit a course. Next, tuition will have to be paid off. Again, this amount will usually be less than full tuition. Those who choose to forgo buying the textbooks and other course materials can save even more, but might have a harder time grasping the concepts taught.

    Who can Audit a Course?
    Almost all colleges and universities require individuals interested in auditing a course to enroll as a student. However, there are some rare instances where senior high school students and graduated adults may be permitted to audit a course without officially becoming a student.

  • Career Profile: Lawyer

    Career Profile: Lawyer

    Lawyers are often the most important people for maintaining justice and making sure that the rules of society are followed. These rules that determine how business is conducted between individuals and organizations are the walls and the structure that ensure people are safe, happy, and able to lead fulfilling lives. Lawyers are the people that defend justice and they help to advance society in a logical and well reasoned fashion.

    Becoming a lawyer involves a lot of hard work, and being a lawyer involves a lot more hard work. To become a lawyer, one must complete high school with good enough grades to get into an undergraduate degree in university. When choosing an undergraduate degree, one may want to select something that is of interest such as science, arts or engineering, or one may wish to select something very particular to law like history, politics, environmental studies, ethics or law. The most important thing is to get grades that will allow you to enter law school – once you pass the LSAT exam. You will want to be in the high 70’s and up in order to get into a school. For the more competitive schools, you will want to score in the high 80’s and up. It is also important to be aware of what the requirements are for the particular school you are aiming for.

    The LSAT is an exam composed of tests evaluating reading comprehension and logical and verbal reasoning proficiencies. The average score on an LSAT is 150, with a low of 120 and a high of 180. It costs around $160 US dollars to undertake. Different schools accept different scores, and, once again, knowing what score is expected from the school you want to get into is the best way to determine how prepared you need to be. Once you gain acceptance into law school, you have four years of rigorous studying of laws and many tests to pass to ensure your successful completion of your program. It is also important to always be prepared for class, as you will often be called upon to answer questions.

    As a lawyer, there are many benefits and perks in addition to the hard work that you will have to do. The benefits include having a highly respected social status – being a lawyer puts you in a position of responsibility where others will look at you as an authority on the law. As a lawyer you will be working independently as well as on a team. You will be working on a team made up of judges who ultimately determine what is right and what is wrong, as well as officers of the law, more commonly known as police officers – the people who act on the ground to ensure that the law is put in effect. Finally, you will also enjoy being well paid, making $90,000 to start and then moving into the upwards range of $200,000 (source: ivyglobal.ca).

  • First Jobs That Don’t Come With Fries

    First Jobs That Don’t Come With Fries

    One of the first milestones you’ll hit after puberty and before graduation will be your first job. Nothing says adulthood like going to work (even if it’s part-time). Noreen Rasbach, writing for The Globe and Mail, found that 65 per cent of high school students have a part time job.

    Think you’re ready for the leap? Hesitate about a job that requires you to ask, “do you want fries with that?” Gotajob.com puts it nicely: “It is a common misconception among teens that the only jobs available to them are in fast food restaurants or grocery stores. Those types of positions are often most visible, and they are great jobs, but they are not the only options.” Here are some other places to apply.

    1. Lifeguard/ Swimming Instructor

    Typically thought of as a summer job, you can still do this year round at community centres and branches at the YMCA. If you’re a strong swimmer and have completed the necessary courses as well as your First Aid/CPR, you could be teaching the doggie paddle to toddlers in no time.

    2. Tour Guide

    If you’re bilingual, consider a job where you take members of the public around a gallery, museum or part of your city. This is the perfect job for a detailed oriented person with a knack for remembering factoids.

    3. Tutor

    Did you ace biology last year? Have you been taking piano since 3? Advertise yourself as a private tutor. Private tutoring companies will charge parents an arm and a leg for their own certified tutors. Prove your stuff to interested parents (show them report cards, ask a teacher for reference, play Mozart’s Sonatas).

    4. Pet-Sitter

    Know of a family going on holidays or just taking off for the weekend? Offer to walk Fido and feed Fluffy while they’re away.

    5. Retail

    It may be a bit harder to get a retail job with no experience, but try and aim for a seasonal position either in the summer or during Christmas. I’ve worked for 5 years at a toy store from lowly sales clerk all the way up to assistant manager. Every year I’ve seen the staff double from July-August and again from November-December.

    Whatever job you land, make sure you make time for the most important thing: school. In a 2007 Statistics Canada report, working teens are averaging 7.1 hours a week. Ask yourself if you could realistically juggle a part time job on top of school, homework and extracurricular activities. Simona Siad from The Star interviewed 16 year old Tulin Akdemir, who warns, “You have to have a part-time job to make money, then you have to keep your grades up and then all your extra things. It’s really hard.”

    Any of the jobs mentioned above are temporary and short-termed. Ease yourself into the working world with a few of these so you can get a sample of what you really like and what you would like to avoid. Even if you disagree; there’s no rush to growing up!

  • Brand Yourself: Why It Works

    Brand Yourself: Why It Works

    You are special. You have unique gifts, talents, and qualities to offer the world. You know this, your family and friends know this – but does the world? This is the question you need to ask yourself, because when you enter the job market after graduating from university or college you will be a small fish in a big pond, and there are a lot of fish in that pond!

    In today’s knowledge-driven society, most people have a post-secondary education. In fact, according to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, “in 2011 about 53% of Canadians aged 15 and over had trade certificates, college diplomas, and university degrees – an increase of 20 percentage points since 1990.” In other words, educational attainment will no longer set you apart from the crowd or give you a huge advantage over your competition.

    What’s the solution to this conundrum? Brand yourself! Whether you realize this or not, others are always branding you in their minds according to the image you project (consciously or unconsciously). According to the Business Insider, “human brains are wired to do this as a ‘short cut’ to make sense of the world. Without short cuts life would be confusing, complicated, and in some cases dangerous.” Your brain does you a favour by simplifying the world as much as possible.

    Indeed, the Boss Ladies report that it takes less than 30 seconds for an individual to form a lasting impression of you, and a whopping “20 further experiences with a person to change a negative first impression [someone has of you].” In addition, since employers receive, on average, between 75 and 105 applications for every job opening, they spend only 15-30 seconds reviewing each application – so they make almost a snap decision of whether you’re fit for the position or not. But don’t get stressed out about these statistics or feel defeated. You can take control of your “brand” and how others perceive you, and knowing this is the first step to creating the image you want to project.

    Tom Peters coined the term “Personal Brand” in his book called The Brand Called You. Your personal brand is your reputation and the public perception of who you are: your personality, values, and skills. People will decide whether they like you, trust you, and feel comfortable around you based on this judgement of who you are, regardless of who you really are as a person deep down inside. In fact, this snap judgement is very superficial. Your job is to make sure that the image you project to the world is authentic and relates to whom you really are.

    An authentic personal brand is a strong brand. You must take the time to get to know yourself on a deep level – who you are, what are your likes and dislikes, what are your values, etc. — so that you project a strong and consistent brand to the outside world. A strong brand is a powerful tool and will help you to stand out in the minds of others in a positive way. You can feel at ease and confident that the image you’re projecting on a daily basis is the image you want others to see.

    So, “always look put together,” says Divine Caroline. “You never know who you’ll meet at the grocery store.”

  • Using Kids Help Phone

    Using Kids Help Phone

    Everyone has those days where they may be feeling a little down or are dealing with something scary or sad. Sometimes, on days like those, you just need someone to talk to! On the other hand, you may have questions that you just feel too embarrassed to ask your parents or friends. It is good to know that there is a place you can go to – whether it’s picking up a phone or going online.

    Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) is a free service for all youth up to the age of 20. The phone lines are open 24/7 and you can remain anonymous and discuss anything you wish to in complete confidentiality. The agency does not have caller ID display and you do not have to leave your name. If you are hesitant to call in, they also offer advice via their website – www.kidshelpphone.ca. Ask your question online!

    The website provides valuable information on topics such as dating, bullying, family, friends, school, mental health, violence, abuse, money and so much more. I looked up the topic “Bullying” on their website and it listed many different types (physical, emotional, social, cyber-bullying, etc.). I also learned that if you are victim of bullying, you should always tell someone, whether it be your teacher, parents, friends or even someone at Kids Help Phone. The next important tip I read on this topic was to make sure that I stay safe by taking the necessary steps to protect myself as much as I can. If the bully is targeting you when you are alone, try to walk with friends and keep in the company of others when at school. Try to avoid the person and, again, reporting this person is the best course of action to take.

    Take a look at the website and browse the topics which offer so much advice and reading material on the daily issues that may be a part of your life right now. There is also a forum in which you can see other readers’ questions and posts under any topic. The best part is that a counsellor from Kids Help Phone responds to the posts, so you know you will be getting great advice. This may help you if you are going through a similar life event or situation. Just remember that this service exists for a reason – to help kids know that there is someone out there who cares and wants to listen. Even if you feel that you don’t need to call this number right now, it is helpful to keep the number handy by putting it in your cell phone or writing it down somewhere. No question or concern is too little, so feel welcome to use Kids Help Phone at any time!

  • Advertising Your Skills

    Advertising Your Skills

    It’s never too early or too late to put together a resume that you can pair with a strong cover letter to make sure you land the perfect summer job. Ideally, each resume and cover letter that you give to potential employers should be tailored to the position for which you are applying. There is no need to fret if you don’t have much previous work experience as long as you can demonstrate that you have skills, goals and a desire to learn.

    When you lack years of work experience, a skills-based resume that highlight your strengths can come in handy. The skills-based resume includes a list of your education and work/volunteer history, but it focuses in on the key skills that you have that would be most important for the job. In a short list that summarizes some of your skills, include examples from your experiences that show how you have successfully demonstrated those skills.

    A lot of the skills might derive from things you use do every day at school. For instance, you demonstrated effective “time-management” and “organizational skills” that your teacher commended you for because you continually handed in assignments on time, even though you attend choir and basketball practices after school most days of the week. Perhaps you have shown strong “multi-tasking skills” when you babysat twins while finishing all of your math homework. That also demonstrates that you are “responsible”. If you planned a large birthday party for your sibling and invited everyone online, you may have demonstrated your aptitude for “event planning” and “computer skills”. If you play on a team or are a member of a club, you can tell your potential employer that you are a “team leader “and “personable”. If you started a club or program or ran for a spot on the student council, you can say you are a “goal-oriented” individual who “demonstrates initiative “and has a “strong work ethic”. There are loads of examples to use, just be sure you choose the ones that relate most closely to what you think you’ll be doing at work when you get the job.

    Use the resume and cover letter to show the employer that the job you want fits in with your goals. Make sure he or she knows that you are eager to learn what it takes to excel. Learn about the company you’re applying for and refer to that knowledge in your letter. Finally, when you go in for an interview be confident that you’re the right person for the job!

    Good luck and happy job hunting!

  • Five Surprising Careers

    Five Surprising Careers

    The following are five careers that you probably did not know existed – or, at the very least, you didn’t realize they were real options for you.. When choosing a career, the first thing that people usually do is to start with “conventional” ideas – doctor, lawyer, that sort of thing. But the objective isn’t to choose the most popular career; instead, you’re looking for something that you would enjoy doing. It’s your life, and sometimes it pays to think outside the box.

    1. Underwater Construction Worker / Salvager
    Have you ever wondered how companies fix their structures once they’ve been put underwater? Here’s your answer. These professionals work on projects building and repairing structures like bridges, docks, pipelines, cables – the list is endless. The training involves completing a program, like Seneca College’s 34-week “Underwater Skills” at King Campus – and, of course, becoming a certified diver. If this sounds like something that might interest you, take a look at http://www.senecac.on.ca/uws and www.mcmarine.ca.

    2. Public Health Inspector
    Have you ever considered what a Public Health Inspector actually does? Health and public safety professionals solve problems, communicate with people, and keep the public safe from food-borne illnesses. Their tasks may involve conducting on-site inspections of food processing plants (or even day care centres, schools, etc.), responding to written complaints on behalf of a company, or conducting workshops educating people about proper food handling. For more information, take a look at http://www.uoguelph.ca/oac/academics/food.

    3. Aviation Technician
    “Aviation technician” is a title given to someone who performs aircraft repair and maintenance. Technicians learn to inspect aircraft, diagnose problems, repair the components of an aircraft, and perform tests to ensure that planes operate according to industry standards. If you have always loved both planes and mechanics, you might look into one of the following programs: http://goo.gl/HmVko. You can read more about this career option this month on our Trades page!

    4. Video Game Artist
    As the video game industry expands, so does the amount of digital artwork to be done. Video game artists design and create the visual elements in games, from environments to moveable objects to characters. Aspiring artists learn skills like 3D modeling, life drawing, texturing, and game engine production. Programs are offered at Seneca College http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/GAA.html as well as Centennial College http://goo.gl/GMeQB.

    5. Chef
    If you enjoy cooking and think you might like to become a professional chef, you can take courses which will take you from baker to culinary creator. Every restaurant, every hotel, every catering company and spa has a chef; if this is your passion, there is certainly great potential for employment. Take a look at George Brown’s 1-year program in Culinary Skills: http://www.georgebrown.ca/H112-2012-2013.

  • How to Handle Competition

    How to Handle Competition

    Competition.

    You are going to deal with it at every stage of life. Whether you are applying for a retail job at the Gap, signing up to be a summer camp counsellor, applying for a job at your neighborhood Taco Bell or even applying to university or college, you will face competition.

    Competition is a good thing, depending on how you look at it. Competition allows an employer to pick the very best person out of all the people applying for a given job. Competition allows an admissions committee to choose the brightest student out of the pool of applicants applying for a particular university or college program.

    On the flip side, competition means that the more people applying for a given spot, the tougher it will be for any one person to get that spot. Often times, there is only one or a limited number of spots available which everyone seems to be fighting for. (This is the part most people don’t like about competition!)

    Interestingly, there are some people who thrive on competition. To these people, the thought of competing among other individuals for the same spot drives them to be the best of the best. It pushes them to excel farther beyond their potential. It pushes them to improve so they stand out from the rest.

    Other people, however, find competition daunting and even debilitating. The thought of so many individuals vying for one or a few spots scares them so much that they may not even bother to compete. They may also feel that the competition is far better or has much more to offer than they do, so they worry that they aren’t good enough and bring themselves down. If you fall into this group, rest assured you aren’t alone. There are a lot of people who find competition nerve-wracking. Since you can’t avoid competition (it’s part of life, after all), here are three tips that can help you handle it better:

    1. Forget about the competition — This may sound crazy to you at first, but hear me out. Focusing on who your competition is can sometimes negatively affect you and bring you down. Don’t think about all the people applying for a job at the Gap, for example. Instead, focus on you and what you have to offer to the Gap store manager.

    2. Do the best you can — The key word in this statement is “you”. Everyone’s best will differ. Don’t focus on trying to be better than someone else – it can be stressful and hard to match. Instead, focus on being the best you can be. For example, do whatever you can do to be the best applicant for the camp counsellor position this summer or to be the best candidate for the college/university program you are applying for.

    3. Keep pushing forward — If you got the job or university/college spot you were applying for, then great! If you didn’t, that’s okay too. Unfortunately, you can’t win them all in life. Every successful person knows this. Every successful person also knows that it doesn’t mean you stop trying – you have to keep pushing forward. Apply for a job at another retail store or fast food outlet, apply to another school or apply next year to the same program. Always pick yourself up and keep pushing forward!