Blogspot
Am I wasting my degree? Should I go back to school? How do I know if I’m in the right field? Will taking time off now hurt me later?
Blogspot features articles on all the questions you need answers to right now. Guest bloggers—including students, new hires and career counsellors—share their thoughts and experiences about post-secondary education, entering the workforce, finding the “right” job and getting a career on track
Send blog submissions to: blog@careeroptionsmagazine.com
How My Grandmother Saves My Social Media Presence
May 16, 2012
The other day, my mother brought to my attention a position at a local museum. Part of the application process really piqued my interest. The ad required that…
When Immigration and Economy Collide
May 14, 2012
Multiculturalism has been one of the cornerstones of Canada’s national identity throughout its history. Indeed, the country is often spoken of a “Nation of Immigrants,” an epithet proudly…
So, You Survived Your First Year. Now What?
May 10, 2012
About 8 years ago today, I was asking myself the same question. Having completed my first year at the University of Alberta studying general science, I found myself…
I’ve Built a Time Machine
May 8, 2012
I’ve discovered the secret to a summer of efficiency. It’s so simple, I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it sooner: time travel. I stumbled upon this discovery…
I’m with the Strikers
May 7, 2012
Quebec’s tuition-hike battle between striking students and the provincial government is now coming to a close, after making headlines across Canada and around the world. In an age…
Public Transit Rage & Intentionality
May 2, 2012
Public Transit Rage & Intentionality I could write a whole post about public transit frustrations. Delays. Breakdowns. Track violations. Buses so full they don’t bother to stop. Buses that…
When the Students Push Back
April 30, 2012
If you’re reading this from Montreal, you won’t be surprised at the subject. If you’re anywhere else in the country—you’d better sit down. It seems that life in…
Entrepreneurs and the Fountain of Ideas
April 23, 2012
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Perhaps you’ve never even considered it, but it’s a question worth asking yourself. All it really takes is…
No, You’re Not A Multitasker
April 16, 2012
“I’m an excellent multitasker.” Scan any young graduate’s resumé, listen in on any job interview or hiring seminar, and this phrase will undoubtedly come up within seconds. Our…
Stop Learning from Rejection
April 11, 2012
Rejection. There’s no feeling quite like it. In fact, rejection probably ranks in my top (bottom?) five list of worst emotional experiences to have. The thing is, it’s an…
The Opportunities Are Still There
April 10, 2012
For all the doom and gloom we hear about a struggling economy, unemployment and the dearth of opportunities for young people in today’s work force, it can be…
Internships: The Whys and Hows
April 3, 2012
With warm weather on the horizon, last assignments handed in and final exams approaching, many students have a new pursuit: internships. Whether you’re on exchange in Holland (like me)…
The Payback Generation
April 2, 2012
We are the payback generation. We are the generation that has to work harder, longer and better, not only to make ends meet, but to pay back the…
Job (Re)Search: Part Five – Results, Analysis, Discussion
March 28, 2012
Phew! We’re almost there—I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve almost covered the whole research process in this series, and with this article…
It’s A Woman’s World… Right?
March 26, 2012
More and more, it’s becoming a woman’s world—or, at least, that’s what we try to tell young girls. As the women’s movement has gained traction throughout the last…
Job (Re)Search: Part Four – Data Collection (Get Some Career Action)
March 21, 2012
Part one of this series focused on operational definitions. Part two was all about asking The Question. In part three we braved the terrifying world of ethics boards.…
Where You Live and Play
March 19, 2012
Our world is becoming ever more connected. Technology has increased our mobility and the options each of us has in building a life. As globalization’s web grows ever…
Job (Re)Search: Part Three – Be Your Own Ethics Board
March 14, 2012
Is there anything more exciting than research design? There may well be, but you’re unlikely to read about it in this blog entry. That’s because I’m writing a series…
A New, Assertive You
March 13, 2012
Some people are natural extroverts, born with big, assertive personalities that give them an advantage in their every interaction. Whether in work or life, those who know what…
Job (Re)Search: Part 2 – The Question
March 7, 2012
I’ve been writing about the similarities between engaging in an effective work search and conducting a research study since… well, last week. In that post, I outlined a…
This Is Why My Friends Don’t Let Me Read Their Papers
March 6, 2012
In high school, the red pen happened to be my favourite (with black a close, sophisticated second). In other words, I was not merciful when it came to…
A Change in Plans Can Make All the Difference
March 5, 2012
In today’s competitive job market, it’s a basic fact that some people just can’t get what they want. Many fields are stressed from a lack of openings or…
Know Your Audit, Be Your Audit
March 2, 2012
In the world of university life, there are few things more important than your academic audit. Your audit is the key to your whole degree: the courses you…
Job (Re)Search: Part 1 – Operational Definitions
March 2, 2012
If you’ve ever taken a course on research methods, you’ll be familiar with the term “operational definition.” Simply put, an operational definition explains a concept according to the…
Using Your Money (and getting a workout in the process)
February 28, 2012
It shouldn’t be news to you that paying for university or college is an expensive endeavour. Putting aside the high tuition rates, there’s still the expense of books…
Breaking the Stress Cycle
February 28, 2012
Learning to manage stress is essential for anyone who wants to be productive and successful in work and life, and more importantly, to stay healthy. If you are…
Do your research: Lessons on living overseas
February 23, 2012
Two things have come my way during my first month studying in the Netherlands: hindsight and a bit of luck. When I first decided to study overseas, with two…
Summer Jobs: It’s Not Too Early
February 23, 2012
Ah, the Monday after reading week. The faces on the bus seem a little bit longer, the sky seems just a touch more grey. Maybe you spent the…
Educating Yourself about Student Debt
February 21, 2012
Debt and large student loans are a reality for most people pursuing post-secondary education. As the cost of higher learning has climbed, so have interest rates and fees.…
Reading* Week
February 17, 2012
It’s here! I survived! I made it to reading week. And with you all as my witnesses, I am going to read like no one has read before. I’m…
Reading into Reading Week
February 16, 2012
It’s got to be one of the happiest weeks of the semester. A shining beacon of hope amidst academic despair. An oasis in an arid scholastic landscape. A…
“Going Dutch”: A Canadian Abroad
February 9, 2012
Apparently when you say to people, “I’m going on a university exchange to the Netherlands,” what they hear is, “I’m going to Europe to party for the next…
Just Say “No”
February 7, 2012
Are you feeling stressed? About to snap under the weight of school? Work? Your social life? Have no fear. It happens to everyone every once in a while. Unfortunately,…
Thirty Years of Multiculturalism
February 6, 2012
2012 is a year of anniversaries for Canada. From the War of 1812 to the signing of the Constitution Act of 1982, this year we will look back…
How to Avoid Death by Class Presentation
February 1, 2012
My first experience with public speaking was through a (voluntary) school program that coached us on the basics of speech-giving, and sent us out to various functions around…
The Perils of Tinkering with Social Services
January 30, 2012
With a single speech at an economic summit in Switzerland this week, the Prime Minister has whipped up a media storm across Canada. Addressing global leaders at the…
From Paper Calendars to iTunes U
January 25, 2012
Career Options Blog: January 25, 2012 When I first entered university in 2003, my dad was fond of reminding me of what his academic experience was like back in…
Sprichst du [insert language here]?
January 24, 2012
Have you ever wanted to learn another language? Perhaps you want to woo a potential mate in their own tongue. Perhaps you’ve tried in the past and just…
Messing with the Web
January 23, 2012
Much of the world awoke to a very modern predicament this past week: the Internet had gone on a day-long strike. That is, major websites such as Wikipedia…
Youth Unemployment Is Everybody’s Problem
January 18, 2012
Four hundred thousand of anything is a lot. For context, it’s the approximate number of apps that exist for an Android smartphone. And it’s about the size of…
20 Years Down: That’s Just Weird
January 17, 2012
You’ll have to excuse me this week. On my commute to school yesterday morning I realized that, a very short week from now, I will no longer be…
(Français) Bénévolat : Bon pour les autres, EXCELLENT pour vous!
January 17, 2012
Bénévolat : Bon pour les autres, EXCELLENT pour vous! date[KY1] Vous pensez peut-être que le bénévolat est juste l’une de ces activités auxquelles on vous pousse, ou on vous…
Writing: The Process vs. The Paper
January 12, 2012
If you’ve ever committed yourself to any kind of regular writing, you’ll know that inspiration—a creative force that is for the most part out of your control entirely—ebbs…
The Return to Normal
January 10, 2012
As of yesterday, the majority of my Canadian cohort returned to university classes. I was fortunate enough to begin last Wednesday. Yes, fortunate. It was an odd feeling actually…
To Change or Not: The Next Twelve Months
January 3, 2012
We are entering the twelfth year of the new millennium, and the usual spate of predictions and tea-leaf readings is piling up. 2011 has been a tumultuous year…
Twitter-piphanies
December 21, 2011
When I first started using Twitter, I was decidedly underwhelmed. I had no idea what all the fuss was about, and I wasn’t in any hurry to find…
The Day Canada Failed
December 19, 2011
This week, as the Durban 2011 Climate Summit wound down, Canada announced that it was withdrawing from the Kyoto Accord. To say this act elicited some critique at…
You’re Not Perfect: Don’t Over-prepare for Job Interviews
December 14, 2011
Congratulations − you’ve got a job interview. All that hard work you put into crafting the perfect, attention-grabbing resumé and cover letter paid off, and an employer actually…
On Human Rights Day 2011
December 12, 2011
Human Rights Day falls annually on December 10 in commemoration of the 1948 signing of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration—often said to be…
The Great Renewal in Ottawa
December 6, 2011
These are days of great potential in Canadian politics. For the past decade, if not longer, there have been consistent complaints of decline in Canada’s leadership. Democracy and democratic…