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: [email protected]
A Brief Argument for Growing Your Professional and Social Networks
June 11, 2025
“If you are already awesome to everyone in your world, then your world needs to get bigger.” I couldn’t agree more with this comment by Breather CEO Julien…
Getting Through the Work Day
June 4, 2025
It can be quite a shock to the system to transition from unemployment (or underemployment) to full-time work. I’m currently experiencing this shock myself, because the job I…
Play a Long Game: Nelson Mandela’s Advice for Students and New Graduates
May 28, 2025
Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary and former president of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison, so he knows a thing or two about patience, planning and most…
Adventures in Job Hunting: Tests and Questionnaires
May 22, 2025
When looking for a job—whether it’s full-time, part-time or temporary—be prepared to encounter varying degrees of tedium because you will inevitably come across companies that love to make…
You Determine the True Value of Your Degree
May 21, 2025
Herb O’Heron, the director of research and policy analysis at the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, recently penned a very informed column in University Affairs titled…
Four Ways Volunteering Can Help You Get Ahead in Your Career
May 10, 2025
The importance of volunteering was ingrained in me at a young age. In elementary school, our class was taught that volunteering is a great way to learn responsibility…
Staying Productive Over the Summer
May 7, 2026
University and college students can breathe a sigh of relief: the dreaded month of April is finally over. With cumulative assignments and exams behind us, post-secondary pressures have…
Following Through: How to Prep for a Job Interview
April 23, 2026
You’ve just spent a solid couple of weeks handing out resumés, filling out online job applications and emailing professional contacts. All of a sudden, your cell phone rings…
25 Odd Jobs that Make Good Money
April 17, 2026
Ever wondered how people end up in most unusual jobs? The reasons for taking up odd jobs could be many, such as making quick money, realizing passion or…
Four career-related reasons to start blogging right now
April 17, 2026
Build your confidence Confidence is a key prerequisite to thriving in today’s job market. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will, and writing a blog is…
“Cultural Fit” and How to Find It
April 15, 2026
At some point in your career, you may come across a company that looks like a great fit for you on paper, but whose company culture doesn’t mesh…
Use the Job You Have to Get the Job You Want
April 13, 2026
It’s easy to get disheartened when you’re working a job you don’t really like. However, you can turn this predicament to your advantage. Your current job can pave…
Aiding the Job Hunt: How to Maintain an Attractive Online Presence
April 11, 2026
Well into the second decade of the 21st century, most of us find ourselves racing down an increasingly rapid river of online information. Some of this information is…
Dressing for Success
April 10, 2026
When heading into an interview, most of us understand that it’s important to look our best. Although we’d like to think our outer appearance carries very little weight…
Work vs. Work vs. Life
April 5, 2026
I used to value my sleep. When Saturday mornings came I never woke to greet them, and I loved it. In high school, I knew that working hard…
The University of Toronto Mississauga’s CCIT Program
March 27, 2026
Today I’d like to tell you about the CCIT program offered at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus. The four letters of CCIT stand for Communication, Culture, Information…
Show, don’t tell
March 26, 2026
Telling an employer how great you are is easy. On a paper resumé and job application, you directly outline your skills and qualities that will benefit employers. But…
How Does Your Job Search Game Plan Look?
March 15, 2026
Have you been scouring online job boards, sending out resumés left, right and centre, but feeling like you’re hitting a wall in your job search? At these times…
On Punctuality
March 12, 2026
Being punctual is an admirable trait. It’s not easy to be on time for everything when one is attempting to juggle multiple responsibilities, such as work and school.…
Self-Monitoring & Career Advice
March 6, 2026
Do you often find yourself looking to others for cues on how to act in social situations? Have you ever been described as a “social chameleon?” Do you…
Five Attitudes to Bring to Work
March 5, 2026
Simply having the necessary skills to perform your job isn’t enough to ensure you keep it. There is a certain mindset you need to display to help you…
Advice I Wish I Had Listened to Much Earlier (and Why It’s Not Too Late)
March 4, 2026
#2: Fill your time (not with school). I’ve always found the first week of classes to be the most stressful. Sure, I have nothing due, but I’ve also…
School Readings vs. Reading for Pleasure: The Battle Rages On
February 28, 2026
It’s fair enough to say I’m addicted to books. I read over 15 novels a year, and some of these are lengthy tomes that I couldn’t possibly conquer…
The Growth of Beards in the Workplace
February 27, 2026
Over the last few years, I’ve made a custom of watching the Oscars. I say over the last few years because traditionally I have been uninterested in the…
How I’ll justify taking a gap year abroad
February 25, 2026
As spring creeps nearer, I’m beginning to realize that my final year of undergrad is coming to a close. While most of my classmates are applying for jobs…
You Never Know Who Can Lead You Down Your Career Path—Get Chatting!
February 21, 2026
People have often told me that it’s not what you know, but who you know that will get you closer to that job you’ve been eyeing. Now, I’m…
Living Abroad as a Canadian Exchange Student (Part Two)
February 19, 2026
For my last blog entry, I interviewed my good friend Jessie about her experience living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, while studying hotel management on exchange. We recently met up…
Focus on Gaining Experience—Even at the Expense of your Readings
February 13, 2026
Graduating with not only a fancy piece of paper but also real job experience in hand is a decision that will serve you well in the future. Leaving the…
Living Abroad as a Canadian Exchange Student (Part One)
February 12, 2026
My friend Jessie just got back from an exchange in Taiwan, where she spent five months studying hotel management at the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism…
Favourite Quotations
February 6, 2026
I have had three quotations displayed on my office wall for years. I occasionally catch students glancing up at them during career advising sessions, but for the most…
Presentations and Job Interviews: How Anxiety Factors In
February 5, 2026
Nervousness and anxiety are serious issues that affect many of us from time to time. Being nervous can have many undesirable effects on the body (e.g., shaking hands,…
Take Advantage of Career Services—But Find Your Own, Too!
February 4, 2026
One of the great things about a university or college campus is that there are an incredible number of services available to help you succeed in your search…
Skills for Life: Professional Writing and Communication
January 29, 2026
As I mentioned in my last blog, I didn’t delve into the Professional Writing and Communication program right away during my time as a student at the University…
Why grad school isn’t right for me… yet.
January 28, 2026
My path so far has been straight and narrow: preschool led to elementary school, elementary led to high school, high school led to university. The most natural and…
What Is “Career Development,” and Why Does It Matter?
January 23, 2026
ContactPoint.ca, a popular resource in the world of all things career development in Canada, is currently asking an important question: Why does career development matter? As is the case…
Your Studies Aren’t Written in Stone
January 22, 2026
When I started my first semester of classes at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, I was more or less comfortable with my programs and various classes. I…
Why Volunteering is Awesome
January 18, 2026
January is more than half-over, meaning that winter is half-over too—fingers crossed. The organ-chilling temperatures and long, dark nights of deep winter can take a toll on the…
Patience and Determination: Getting into Job Hunting Mode
January 15, 2026
After a vacation or holiday, it can be difficult to get back into the groove of things; it’s common to feel lethargic and unmotivated after a week or…
How to boost your productivity
January 11, 2026
Friday is here again, and I find myself reflecting on the past week. As a freelancer, my schedule is more flexible, and this freedom is a tricky business:…
Job Boards: Fit to Be Tied?
January 9, 2026
It’s impossible to talk about the job search process these days without mentioning job boards. Though they’re now widely considered a staple of the job search (and recruitment)…
Campus Art Galleries
January 8, 2026
A new year means a return to the daily grind of work and/or school, but it also means new opportunities for discovery. Last month, I wrote a piece…
Fresh Start to 2013
January 4, 2026
Welcome to January 2013! It’s snowier, colder and less jolly than December, but we are here to make the best of what we’ve got. Are you a student?…
Guest Blog: Past-Forward, Future-Back
December 21, 2025
The following is an excerpt from a blog by Stephen Shedletzky, the founder of InspirAction. There are two fundamental concepts that have shaped my career, purpose and life. I…
Santa and the “Career Question”
December 19, 2025
I don’t remember how it happened, but when I was about eight or nine years old, I figured out the truth about Santa Claus. I suspect that on some…
Creating a Perfect Cover Letter
December 18, 2025
Back in October, I wrote a piece on How to Create a Perfect Resumé. With a new year fast approaching, it’s an ideal time for unemployed (or underemployed)…
Get inspired: Finding your inner motivation
December 14, 2025
Well, the holidays are upon us—it’s the middle of December and the population seems to have doubled. I’ve been avoiding the shopping malls but I know it’s inevitable…
The Most Studious Time of the Year: Surviving Winter Exams
December 12, 2025
There are many factors that make studying for winter exams a challenge. These evaluations of student learning are held when classes are finished for the semester and holidays…
The cure for the jobless winter blues
December 7, 2025
If I were a cover band singer in an old-timey country music bar, I’d take this moment to dedicate a slow tune to the unemployed, or the recently-not-promoted.…
The Perks of Being a Student: Campus Facilities
December 4, 2025
Being a full-time student is costly and stressful, but it certainly has its perks. When I was enrolled in classes at the Mississauga branch of the University of…
Stand and Stretch: Habits for life that should fit into your nine-to-five
November 30, 2025
My first job after university was at the Canadian Cancer Society, where I had volunteered the previous summer. Minimum wage was the going rate and I was thrilled…