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Category: Featured Articles

  • Career Profile: Sales Representative

    Career Profile: Sales Representative

    Suppose that you wanted to buy something like a chocolate bar or even a computer. You would probably just go to a store, look at the different types that are available, and then buy one. What about something that isn’t available in stores like a database for library computers? You would need the help of a sales representative.

    We all live in a capitalist based society.Salespeople work in many different fields, such as medical supplies, library programs, and insurance. Some of them might even work with not-for-profit organizations as fundraisers for different projects. Much of the work involves meeting with people or calling them on the telephone to encourage them to buy a specific product or to donate to a project. This work can involve a lot of travel, but some sales representatives might find that they can do their work through e-mail or other electronic means.

    Sales representatives have to be friendly and excel at working with people. It is also useful for a Sales Rep to know how a business is run. Many people in this field study to get a degree in business management or administration, and later they learn about the specific requirements of their jobs. Being flexible and ready to learn can help sales representatives succeed in their work.

    An important characteristic that sales representatives require is self-discipline. Most of the time, people in these jobs work alone or in pairs, visiting various offices or other locations. They need to be able to organize their time well and get from one place to another without being late for appointments.

    Normally, sales representatives work only in certain areas of a city or province. A sales representative might work in parts of Toronto or Vancouver, where there are many people, or in all of northern Manitoba, where the population is low. Some representatives have to travel far away from home for their work, but others can go home every night.

    Trade shows are an important part of a sales representative’s work. These shows happen at convention centres, hotels, and many other places where customers are likely to go. Sales representatives might also spend a lot of time answering their customers’ questions about the product and dealing with any problems that they discover.

    Sales representatives should know their products well and be able to keep up with any new developments that come. Demonstrating the product to customers is an important part of the job, but that requires knowledge. Imagine that you worked for a company that produces vacuum cleaners. You would have to know how the machine works before you could show it to customers.

    Salaries for sales representatives can vary from company to company. The average salary is about $56,000 per year, but earnings can vary between about $33,000 and $86,000. There is also the added factor of commission sales. Commission earnings are usually based on each individual sale. If you are a Real Estate Sales Representative, you may earn thousands more dollars a year, besides the basic salary with your company.

    Working as a sales representative can be very busy and high pressure, but it can be a rewarding career for anyone who likes being with people and working with various products. If that describes you, a career as a sales representative might be a good thing to consider.

    Bibliography:

    Glass Door.com. “Sales Representative Salaries in Canada.” http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/canada-sales-representative-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,27.htm.

    Halvorsen, Rob. “Sales Representative Job Description.”

    http://www.salescareersonline.com/articles/article_09082006.html.

    Payscale.com. “Outside Sales Representative Salary (Canada).” http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Outside_Sales_Representative/Salary.

    Richardson, Melvin. “Sales Rep Job Description.” http://www.ehow.com/facts_5192766_sales-rep-job-description.html.

    Root, George N. “Sales Rep Requirements.” http://www.ehow.com/list_6686272_sales-rep-requirements.html.

    Simply Hired.com. “Sales Representative- Entry Level- Training and Growth Opportunities Available.” http://www.simplyhired.com/job-post/58669.41725

     

  • Last Minute Summer Jobs

    Last Minute Summer Jobs

    Ah, the blessed time of year when every student scrambles to find a job for the summer. McDonald’s, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, and that little burrito place down the street all seem to be hiring. And you send in a resume with a copy letter about why retail is your life and hope for an interview. But one doesn’t come.

    In January I decided to quit the job I had for six years at Rexall. I figured that I would have more time to focus on school and I would have months until the summer rush hit to find another job. But, after applying to over 170 places in one month, I was still unemployed.

    Now, I know what you’re thinking. Applying to a place like McDonald’s or a clothing store will be your best bet. Yeah, not so much. Why? Because about 200 other applicants had the same idea and chances are the opportunity went to them.

    The good news is that despite the soul-crushing pain of not being able to afford basic things like food, there is a grace in internships and job-hunting. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that there are a ton of places people don’t think to go to because they either figure it’s a lost cause or that they’re not hiring. Just because you don’t see a huge billboard outside their office doesn’t mean they’re not looking for people.

    It takes a little more than going on indeed.ca to find a job nowadays. In order to score a job somewhere you need to assert yourself; getting the job you want, or any job in the summer, takes a little finesse and dedication.

    One of the biggest things I think students need to hear for job application is to go out and look for it. They’re probably hiring and the only way you’re going to know is if you ask. Go in person if they’re close or visit individual websites for job opportunities.

    Follow up with your interviewers. Tell them that it was nice speaking with them and you hope to hear from them soon. Send them good thoughts even if you don’t get it. Make them remember you and show them that you’re not just another student looking for a temporary job. If you only send a resume via email without any references or cover letters, you fall into the crowd.

    A few good resources to check out for summer jobs, especially for students are listed below. Remember to make yourself stand out and give yourself some credit. You deserve that job!

    http://collegepro.com/students/get-a-summer-job/

    http://www.ago.net/jobs

    http://www.wow1day.com/jobs/

    http://work4students.ca/goc?gclid=CJbeqJnzvMUCFZaFaQodVAIACw

  • Summer; and What to Do with It…

    Summer; and What to Do with It…

    Summer. For some students this means vacation, relaxation, hot weather and no school. This is what summer is all about. Unfortunately, with this comes summer learning loss.[1] This is the loss of basic math and literacy skills created by the two month summer break students receive. It is important that students stay involved mentally and physically throughout the summer. With all of the beautiful weather, students have many opportunities to work, volunteer and study, thus keeping their minds active.

    Summer holds many employment opportunities; outdoor jobs such as landscaping and public parks patrol, to indoor jobs such as lifeguarding and clerical work. Ontario Parks offer seasonal jobs to students. Students can expect to network and meet new people, developing new skills for the future. They can also earn professional certifications such as a CPR and WHIMIS training.[2] Deafblind Ontario is another interesting and helpful organization that hires students. This organization is devoted to assisting individuals who are hard of hearing and visually impaired. Aside from working, students can also volunteer both for experience and to accrue the required community services hours needed for a high school diploma. A fun way to volunteer is to help coach organized sports.[4] The YMCA of Canada also offers many volunteer opportunities. Students can greatly expand their knowledge of a chosen field by volunteering and potentially gain full-time employment upon graduation.

    While summer vacation can be relaxing, students tend to forget what they learned in the previous school year. It is important that students continue their studies and keep their mind and body both mentally and physically active. Playing sports is great way to stay fit. Reading is also an excellent way to stay informed and mentally alert. It is essential that students continue their academic and personal growth over the summer.  By working and volunteering, students can meet new people, develop and improve their skills and discover new things about themselves. So, my advice is to make the most of your summer by mixing together work, play and volunteer; you cannot loose!

    [1] http://www.canada.com/life/curb+summer+learning+loss/1731823/story.html

    [2] http://www.ontarioparks.com/careers

    [3] http://www.deafblindontario.com/summer-students

    [4] www.peelschools.org/students/40hours/volunteerjobboard/Documents/Dixie%20Soccer%20Club.pdf

  • Study Strategies: Tests and Exams

    Study Strategies: Tests and Exams

    Whether you’re going through university exams or are feeling the pressure of evaluations in high school, this is a stressful time of year for all students. If you want to do really well, no doubt you could use all the tips you can get.

    Here are three study strategies to keep in mind when preparing for tests and exams.

    Plan ahead. If you have a test coming up, make the most of your time leading up to it in order to figure out the best way to prepare. Use a calendar and assign yourself small tasks every few days (e.g. “summary notes for Chapter 1”, “review glossary”). This will ensure that the big, scary evaluation worth a chunk of your final grade doesn’t catch you off-guard; as a result, you’ll do better. This is also a good strategy with which to integrate planning tools you may already use (agendas, to-do lists, etc.).

    Tip: For those of you who tend to procrastinate, you can still make good use of this strategy by creating a “Crash Course” list of things to cover in the limited time you have. (That said, procrastination is definitely not a good study strategy, so in the future make sure you leave yourself enough time to study properly.)

    Reformulate. Studying straight out of the textbook will get you nowhere (except maybe remembering a couple of sentences word-for-word). Instead, make notes on the material and organize it in your own way. It’s a good idea to formulate lists of key concepts and important things you need to remember, based on (but not just copying) your full lectures and readings. Don’t be afraid to mix media, too: if you like to organize (or if you really need the help), make yourself a study package of raw notes, summaries, flash cards, and whatever else might come in handy.

    Tip: Tailor this strategy according to the type of evaluation, as well as the course being taught. For example, studying French parts of speech might make good use of those flashcards, but practice tests may be a better strategy if you’re writing an algebra test.

    Study in groups. Before you groan about the horrors of “group-work” assignments (in which one person—maybe even you—winds up doing all the work), consider the fact that group studying can positively influence your test performance. Discussing the material and applying it outside of the classroom will help you remember it better. Plus, study groups offer you an opportunity to help others who don’t know the material as well as you do, which is not just a nice thing to do—if you can teach what you’re doing to someone else, then you probably know what you’re talking about.

    Tip: Study groups can have low turnouts, so hold people accountable. Give everyone a task to perform prior to the session (e.g. to take notes on a specific chapter) and check in with them to make sure they’re still involved.

    With those strategies in your back pocket, hard work, and a little luck, you’re sure to ace your next evaluation!

  • Career Profile: Statistician

    Career Profile: Statistician

    For some people, looking at a page of numbers and graphs causes their eyes to glaze over and a yawn to start. For others, however, the idea of working with numbers and how they relate to everyday life is exciting. Are you in the second group of people? If so, becoming a statistician might be the right career for you.

    Working in statistics is all about numbers. Have your parents ever talked about answering surveys or have you ever answered questions about something that you like to do or eat? Many businesses take surveys to find out about the kinds of things their customers might want. Then a statistician takes the information and turns it into something that the business can use for planning. The same thing happens with the government and other organizations. They find out how many people are in certain age groups or in particular jobs. That way, they know if universities need more funding or what kinds of jobs to encourage people to pursue.

    Gathering information is only part of the work of a statistician. A list of numbers means very little unless someone can interpret what that means. Statisticians take the numbers that come from surveys and other sources of information and turn that into something that governments or organizations can use. Most statisticians have at least a Master’s degree in mathematics. With this education, they can take a list of numbers and turn it into something that shows trends and changes. If the numbers of university students has increased by fifteen percent while the general population has increased by five percent, for example, they can show that. Being a statistician involves knowing about the relationships between numbers and being able to see patterns that many other people might ignore.

    Statisticians are not normally involved in making decisions about programs and funding for projects. However, their work is very important for the people who choose where to spend money. Statisticians work in all kinds of organizations, including government departments, businesses, and even community organizations. Although a Master’s degree in statistics or mathematics is the basic requirement for most people in this field, continuing on to a higher level of education might open up opportunities for teaching in a university.

    Besides academic qualifications, statisticians need to have the personal qualities for the work. They often work alone and need to be able to concentrate, but they also need to be able to work with people. They need to be able to communicate with people to get the kinds of information they need for their work.

    For people with the right skills, working in statistics can be a rewarding career. When they are good at their jobs and experienced in the field, statisticians can earn a good living, with salaries generally between $43,000 and $80,000 per year. Jobs are not always easy to find, but people who are flexible can also find work in related fields, such as accounting. Do you love numbers? Consider becoming a statistician.

  • How to Stay Healthy in University

    How to Stay Healthy in University

    University is a great experience, but it can really take a toll on your health. You hear horror stories about the terrible cafeteria food, the late-night cramming (and snacking) sessions, and above all, the dreaded  “Freshman 15”. Unfortunately, many students find themselves in a bit of a health predicament when they begin post-secondary, particularly if they’re living on campus. Not only is it difficult to make time for healthy habits, but if you aren’t motivating yourself to stay healthy, you’re going to wind up eating ramen noodles for the rest of your life.

    It’s crucial to keep your health in check, especially in such a stressful and demanding environment. Even by implementing just a few basic steps into your (admittedly, already-busy) schedule, you could vastly improve the way you feel every day. That positive attitude is something that will further translate into your academic and personal life.

    Here are some tips for staying healthy in university:

    Drink lots of water. Long days at the library can leave you parched. Keep a bottle in your bag and refill it as often as you can. (This is also a good way to save money by not buying juice or bottled water, and calories by forgoing the fizzy soda.)

    Take advantage of the facilities. Many post-secondary institutions include gym memberships in their student fees. Even if you’re not very athletic to begin with, look into the programs offered at the athletics facilities and see if you might be interested in a drop-in session or two.

    Alternatively, take a walk. University campuses can be beautiful! For a quick bit of exercise on a busy day, explore on foot. (At larger campuses like the University of Toronto, St. George or York University, crossing the whole campus can actually be quite a workout!)

    Pack healthy snacks. If you’re hungry after class, don’t rush to the nearest food truck—a smarter option is to reach for the granola bar in your backpack. Stocking up on healthy snacks like dried fruit, nuts or (non-sugary) energy bars will keep you going between mealtimes.

    Dine smart. If your meals are typically served buffet-style, make smart choices about what you want to put on your plate. Take advantage of fresh fruit and salad bars, if they’re available. After a whole week of pizza and poutine—believe it or not—you may find yourself actually craving vegetables.

    Get a second opinion. Universities must have some form of health assistance on campus; this can be anything from clinic services to counseling. Check out what your school has to offer and speak to a professional if you’re concerned about your health, or if you just want to take steps towards making it better.

    Staying healthy doesn’t have to be hard. Integrate small healthy habits into your daily university routine, and you’ll be on the path to a healthier lifestyle in no time.

  • Career Profile: Clinical Psychologist

    Career Profile: Clinical Psychologist

    Suppose that you could solve people’s problems just by talking with them. Maybe you already talk with your friends or your family about their issues, and maybe you give them good advice about what to do. If so, you might want to consider becoming a clinical psychologist and learning ways to help not just your family, but also many other people.

    When people go through difficult times or suffer from a mental illness like depression, they might need help from professionals. If they need medication to treat the problem, they might need to go to a psychiatrist or other trained doctor. However, they might also need help from a clinical psychologist.

    When people need to talk about their problems with someone who can listen and help them work through the issues, they might want to contact a clinical psychologist. These professionals study psychology in university so that they know the techniques of helping people understand the roots of their problems and how to solve them.

    Basically, clinical psychologists assess people’s mental health and then recommend treatments for them. They might work with children, adults or teenagers and help families or individuals. Some of them work in community programs or schools, but others might work in their own clinics or in doctors’ offices. The average salary for clinical psychologists is almost $71,000 per year, but it can take some time to work up to that point. Most people in this profession move on to something else after about twenty years.

    The first step towards becoming a clinical psychologist is to get a degree from a university. Most people in this field have some kind of specialty, such as with a certain age group or illness. They might also decide to get into teaching or research. If you want to become a clinical psychologist, you might already want to think about the kinds of work you want to do.

    One of the first steps in training as a clinical psychologist is to develop the ability to listen. Even when you are trained in your profession, you will need to be able to listen to people without interrupting them or becoming bored or distracted. You can already start to develop that skill as you interact with your friends and family at school or at home.

    Right now, job prospects for clinical psychologists are good in Canada. Besides having a degree in a related field, clinical psychologists need to have certification from the government to show that they have the necessary qualifications. Each province or territory might have slightly different requirements, and it is important to find out what they are. When you have your training and certification, you can start to work at helping people professionally.

    Consultations with other professionals like doctors will be a large part of your work since many different factors can contribute to people’s problems. Finding out what other professionals know can help clinical psychologists understand their patients better. If they do their work well, clinical psychologists can help many people feel better about themselves and the world.

  • Tips for Writing the Perfect Paper

    Tips for Writing the Perfect Paper

    The perfect paper is a true work of art. It’s perfectly organized and has a clear, structured flow from thesis to conclusion. It has a flawless bibliography and citations, with no spelling or grammar mistakes in sight. It has a title that’s both concise and clever; maybe it even has headings. But that perfect paper can be hard to come by—because it takes a whole lot of work to nail down.

    If you’re in the pursuit of the perfect paper, here are some tips to help you out.

    Use your own words. You may feel the urge to pretty up your sentences with lots of figures of speech and adjectives you dug out of the thesaurus. Don’t. You’d be surprised at how effectively you can get the point across if you just use your own words. Of course, you should be professional and use academic language, but going on in circles just because you want to sound competent will actually make you seem anything but. An embellished paper is not necessarily well written; simpler is better.

    Be specific. Provide historical examples, data sets and any information that you feel will best back up your claims. Specificity provides clarity on your subject, as well as credibility that you actually understand the information you are presenting. A good paper can then connect the facts you present to broader themes in the discipline. Vague statements that don’t have evidence to support them will unfortunately fall flat.

    Cite well. This is specific to research papers: keep a detailed record of what information you got from what source. Make sure you are keeping up with footnotes/endnotes or in-text citations (depending on the required format), and that they fall in line with what is written in your bibliography. This becomes especially crucial once you enter university, because plagiarism is considered a serious academic offence (even if it’s accidental). Keep track of your information and you’ll be in the clear.

    Proofread—repeatedly. No matter how good a writer you are, you should never hand in your first draft as a final copy! Look over your paper not only for spelling and grammar mistakes, but in order to eliminate redundant words, rephrase awkward sentences and overall make your paper flow as seamlessly as possible. You should do this a couple of times until you’re sure what you’ve produced is your best work. Still in doubt? Have a classmate look it over and see if there’s anything you missed.

    Take these tips to heart, put pen to paper and get writing!

  • Career Profile: Software Developer

    Career Profile: Software Developer

    Every time you use a computer, you use software. Each game and program for writing or doing budgets has software that allows the computer to work and to respond to what people tell it to do. If you like to work with small details and to see how your work translates into something that everyone can use, becoming a software developer might be a good choice.

    Working as a software developer might sound like a very exciting job. You could imagine that you could spend the day playing games and learning new things, and it might include some of those kinds of activities. However, working as a software developer is mostly about working at the coding behind what people see. It takes creativity but also the ability to focus on small details and to see how different elements fit together.

    You might know a bit about the mechanics behind computer programs. Have you ever done any programming yourself? The end result can be very interesting, but getting to that point usually takes a lot of work that can sometimes be somewhat dull and time-consuming. Many software developers have degrees in computer science, but formal training is not always necessary. If you have talent as a software developer, you have a good chance of getting work in this area even if you have only a high school education.

    Software developers use many of the same skills as computer programmers. The know how to use the coding behind the programs to produce certain effects on the computer, such as a special sound or colour. If you want to be a software developer, you can already start to learn the technology behind what you see. Learn the codes that tell the computer what to do and become familiar with what happens when there are mistakes in the coding.

    Software developers have to know all of the technical aspects of how computers work, including computer languages. However, they also need to be creative. Most computer programs, such as word processing software, are designed to solve a problem or to fill a need, even if the need is only for entertainment. Some of the main areas where people in this field work are new technologies, healthcare, and security. However, software developers can work in almost any place where computers are important.

    Research is an important part of being a software developer. People in this field might spend a lot of time reading about what other people have done and thinking about how they can improve on old technology. Learning from other people and from books, magazines, and other sources of information can help to keep a software developer’s skills current.

    Depending on where they work, software developers can earn between $44,000 and $81,000, but the average is about $59,000. Experience can sometimes help people to earn the higher salaries, but most software developers move into other fields within about twenty years.

    Do you love computers and enjoy finding out how they work? You might want to consider becoming a software developer.

  • University Mythbusters

    University Mythbusters

    We get the majority of our information about universities from family and friends, the media, and (if you’re in upper years in high school) even the universities themselves. These sources can provide a lot of useful information, but take them with a grain of salt: you won’t know what it’s like until you actually get there.

    If you’re curious about what university might actually be like, take the following information into account. Here are some common university myths, debunked by an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto.

    University is a non-stop party.

    We’ve all seen college movies with ridiculous frat parties, campus-wide parades, and non-stop (and underage) drinking. Don’t be fooled by that image (or the image many schools try to solidify during orientation week). It’s important to have fun, but you shouldn’t do so at the expense of your education. Plus, chances are, by mid-semester you’re going to be faced with too steep a workload to be going out every night.

    If you did well in high school, you’ll do well in university.

    For most students, university classes are much more difficult than their high school counterparts. The expectations are higher, the assignments are more difficult, and sometimes even the marking can throw you off. That being said, high school students that do become successful university students likely adjust well because of the skills they picked up along the way—time management, independence, resourcefulness, etc. Focus on developing those skills before you get here.

    It’s impossible (or at least mind-blowingly difficult) to do well.

    It’s true that expectations in university are high, and to be fair, some programs are more difficult or demanding than others. However, if you develop a solid routine (frequent study sessions, a good sleep schedule, planning in advance for due dates), and pay attention to what’s asked of you, your grades are bound to go up. It may be more difficult to handle than what you’re used to, but work hard at developing good habits and you’ll be set for the whole year.

    You have to have a concrete plan for your future.

    It’s good to keep some long-term goals in mind, but you shouldn’t go into your first year of university with a rigid conception of what life is going to be like after you graduate. A lot of students end up changing their majors or pursuing other studies after they finish their degrees. This isn’t a bad thing at all: university is a place for you to discover your strengths and weaknesses, as well as what you’re really passionate about. Don’t be discouraged if it takes you a little bit longer to come to those conclusions.

    Remember that regardless of what you hear, university is what you make it. Don’t feel the need to fit the image of the stereotypical student (whatever that may look like to you). Come to university with an open mind, and be prepared to work hard: you’ll find your place in no time.