Explore, discover, and learn in unexpected ways

Studying AbroAd

&

How you can get the most out of your co-op

the Co-op experienCe

how to stand

out
top 10 ways to get noticed by employers

permission slipping

How to say no to parents

| january 2012 |

BUSINESS DEGREES
4-YEAR DEGREES THAT ARE BUILT FOR BUSINESS.
Accounting e-Business Marketing Fashion Management Human Resources Management International Business International Development Tourism Management

business.humber.ca

17
whos

OUT
standing
industryinsiders 6
Success Story Andrew Mitchell shares
how he broke into the ultra competitive accounting and finance worlds. Brought to you by Rogers Wireless.

hiring
1 3 5 9 9 16 22 22 22 25

Hey. Did you know that these companies have lots of entry level positions? Visit their websites to see a full list of positions available. Deloitte PwC Aecon Sun Life Financial SGI Canada College Pro CGI NAV CANADA Diversey OSCO Construction Group Domtar CMHC-SCHL Ontario Power Authority CN Shell

So you graduated. Now what? What do you need to do to stand out from the hundreds of other fellow graduates? Should you get an internship? Volunteer? Go overseas? Start your own business? Apprenticeships? Placements? Networking? More school? For most employers, education is just a check mark. Its what you do outside of school that will make or break you in the recruiters eyes. Learn how to grab their attention.

25 26 26 IBC OBC

yay! more school

Humber, The Business School (Undergrad) Algonquin College Humber, School of Media Studies and Information Technology Centennial College Brock University Niagara College Queens University Ross University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry Sheridan College

IFC 29 30

8 13

Diversity in the Workplace: Fact or Fiction?

Looking at Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2011. What makes them special?
30 31 31 31 31 31 31

Interview Smarts Deloittes William

Christensen explains why hell ask you about your biggest failure during an interview.

Permission Slipping: How to say NO to parents How do you say NO to your

family and loved ones when the time comes to choose your career? We discuss how to trust your gut, and the practical tools youll need to defend your career choices!

The LEEDing professionals of today

LEED certification is creating a new and growing niche for professionals in the building industry.

showcases who else?

12 25 ACE Canada SchoolFinder.com
Image: iStockphoto.com/Burwell and Burwell Photography

30

Edu-ma-cation Studying abroad: how

getting an education overseas can supercharge your rsum, education, and life/career opportunities.

10

The Home Depot

Going Geothermal
Weve burned coal and split atoms just to get power. To think its been below our feet this whole time.

32

Start Up Sometimes it takes losing your

job to discover that youre better off creating your own. Scott Metherell, from BigRedWorks, shares his story.

The Co-Op Experience

What to look out for when researching co-ops, and how to make the most out of your time during your stay.

stuff to buy
7 Rogers Wireless
january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

jobpostings
publisher
Nathan Laurie nlaurie@jobpostings.ca

associate publisher
Mark Laurie mlaurie@jobpostings.ca

editor
David Tal dtal@jobpostings.ca

art director
Sonya van Heyningen svanheyningen@jobpostings.ca

editors
January is a month of new beginnings. Its the start of a new year, a new school semester, and for many, a new chance to get a fresh foot in that proverbial door and embark on that shiny new career. At least thats what it feels like for me. After recently joining the jobpostings team, this will be my first issue of many that I hope will help you on your path to career success in whatever industry you go after. To kick things off, this months theme is: Break from the nest. Own your career! In this issue, we explore some of the challenges students like yourself face when it comes to following your dream. And once youre set on your path, how do you stand out among the crowd to really excel? Our feature, Permission Slipping, deals with how to say NO to your family

web editor
Simone Castello scastello@jobpostings.ca

NOTE
and loved ones when the time comes to choose your career. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to go against the wishes of those who youve looked up to and have nurtured you throughout your whole life. But in the end, one has to decide between living your life for yourself or for someone else. Well listen to advice from career counsellors and from the experiences of fellow students who have struggled with this delicate issue. But more important, well give you the practical tools youll need to not only defend your career decisions from disapproving parents, family, and friends, but also from your own self-doubts. Growing up is about trusting your gut, and this feature will help you do just that. But what do you do after youve stuck to your guns? Youre about to graduate alongside hundreds of other students wholl have your same degree, not only in your school but in many others from across the country. How do you stand out? How will you make sure employers notice your application above all the rest? Our main feature, Standing Out, will outline the top 10 strategies you can use to grab a recruiters attention. For most employers, education is just a check mark. Its an important check mark mind you, but one that employers now expect as a given. Its what you do outside of school that will make or break you in the recruiters eyes. So what do you need to stand out from the hundreds of other fellow graduates? Should you get an internship? Volunteer? Go overseas? Start your own business? Apprenticeships? Placements? Networking? More school? Read on and find out!

contributors
William Christensen, Lexi Dogon, Katie Edmonds, Michelle Hampson, Christopher Lawson, Emily Minthorn, Eleni Papavasiliou, Andrew Williams

assistant sales manager

Sarah-Lyn Amaral

national account manager

Mary Vanderpas

interns
Michelle Hampson, Shannon Tracey

Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9
jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

pg. 13
How to say NO to parents

pg. 17
Top 10 ways to stand out

pg. 28
What to look out for when researching co-ops

pg. 30
Can education overseas supercharge your rsum?

on the cover:

iStockphoto.com/Burwell and Burwell Photography

january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

Image: Amani Zein. www.ayzeephotography.com

IS TH IN SUE IS

jobpostings is published eight times in the school year. Issue dates are September, October, November, January, February, March, April, and May. Copies of jobpostings are distributed to over 105 universities and colleges across Canada. Contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers. Beware: only make New Years resolutions you can keep!

BUILD YOUR FUTURE

WITH US
As a fast-paced, growing organization, Aecon is always on the look-out for talented new faces focused on a career in the construction and infrastructure development industry. We offer challenging work, diverse opportunities, the latest technologies, a culture of continued learning and room to grow! As a Best Employer and the largest, publicly-traded construction and infrastructure development company in Canada, Aecon consistently attracts new and soon-to-be graduates striving to build their future with an industry leader. If you are an Engineer (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical) or an industry Technologist (Engineering or Construction), visit our website today and learn more about the career opportunities that await at Aecon!

visit: careers.aecon.com/buildingcareers.aspx

successstories

Andrew Mitchell
WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? WHAT PROGRAM DID YOU ATTEND?
I went to Queens School of Business at Queens University and graduated in 2007. During my time there, I travelled to Uppsala, Sweden, on an international exchange program for a semester and studied international economics.

Associate, M&A @ Ernst & Young Orenda Corporate Finance

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR CURRENT POSITION?
I used my personal network within the firm and set up meetings with a variety of colleagues to understand more about the M&A practice even before the position and posting became available A number of recruiting professionals both within Ernst & Young and externally took notice of my interest, and I eventually had the chance to interview among a large group of candidates for the role. Ive honed my financial modelling skills and my ability to prepare in-depth and thorough marketing materials in a variety of different forms. And Ive improved my presentation and delivery skills when trying to win new work mandates.

IS THERE ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF TO DATE?

Achieving my CA is my proudest achievement so far.

WHAT DREW YOU TO YOUR CURRENT FIELD?

During my time at school, I developed a keen interest in both accounting and finance, but wanted to focus on achieving my CA as a tool to transition into corporate finance. That said, I started my career at Ernst & Young in the audit and assurance practice to learn how to read and interpret financial statements. The plan was that no matter what I aspired to do in the future, this was a skill I deemed to be requisite for any job in the accounting/finance world. Shortly after starting with the firm and working on a client that was very acquisitive in the public markets, I knew my passion was in the transaction world and that M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) and corporate finance was the career path I wanted to pursue.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

I am responsible for financial modelling, as well as company and industry analyses for mergers, acquisitions, financings, and divestitures. I also prepare marketing materials and execute on transactions using project management skills to coordinate both the go-to-market initiatives and diligence processes on both the buy and sell sides. I assist both established and entrepreneurial companies, as well as distressed or-

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

I want to continue developing my corporate finance skills on both the buy and sell sides.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS LOOKING TO LAND THEIR FIRST JOB?
Get excited about what you want to do, and make sure the people youre talking to about potential opportunities recruiters, personal networks, friends, interviewers know youre excited about this job.

Get excited about what you want to do, and make sure the people youre talking to know youre excited about this job.
ganizations, across a broad range of industries. Much of my focus is on the food and beverage, and plastics and packaging sectors. Build your rsum to the point required for the job youre applying for. When youre comfortable that it should get you a conversation with some companies of interest, focus on developing your approach when meeting with interviewers. Because in the end, most jobs are going to be competitive, and the differentiator is whether people can work with you, trust you, and believe in your development potential.
Read the full interview on our website at jobpostings.ca/rogers-success-story-name-name

WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

I get a lot of satisfaction knowing the services I provide are a true value-add to my clients.

WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU LEARNED THROUGH YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE?

Thanks to the nature of my work, Ive learned a lot about time management and multitasking. Plus,

LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT: 4 YEARS DEGREE: HONOURS BACHELOR OF COMMERCE, QUEENS UNIVERSITY AND CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Sponsored by

rogers.com/careers/campuslife

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1 Extreme Text Messaging service is available to Rogers wireless prepaid and postpaid customers only as part of their wireless service. Visit rogers.com/extremetext for complete user details. Trademarks of or used under license from Rogers Communications Inc. or an afliate. 2011 Rogers Communications.

with William Christensen, National Campus Recruiting Team Lead

@ Deloitte

interview

So you screwed up in the interview, huh? They asked the ol Whats your greatest weakness question and you responded with cupcakes, hoping to get a laugh. Awkward. Lucky for you we have friends on the inside recruiting friends (the people wholl be interviewing you). It cost us a few favours, but they finally agreed to explain why they ask what they ask, and what the best answers are. Its a cheatsheet for interviews. Good luck!

SMARTS
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU FAILED OR WERENT SUCCESSFUL?

Find more intervew Q&A online at jobpostings.ca/interview_smarts

I like asking candidates this question because there will always be challenges that people face in the workforce. Most students assume that were looking for a perfect candidate who has never made a mistake, but the reality is people fail as much as they succeed, and its what you learn from those experiences that is most important to employers. So what Im interested in hearing is an experience where youve fallen short of expectations, what you learned from it, and what steps you took to grow as a professional and to avoid the same mistake in the future. All careers require training and development, so at Deloitte were looking for people who have the ability to learn new concepts quickly. Were trying to find people who are willing to translate the lessons they learned from experience into practice, and this question allows us to evaluate how candidates learn.

january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

jobpostings.ca | january 2012

Toronto. We are going to deal with people our

entire life, so the approach has helped in work-

ing with people Ive never met before and peers in school, she says. You end up with a whole new world of knowledge.

Knowledge is also something that The Home Depot encourages in their associates. For eligible associates, The Home Depot will provide 50 percent tuition reimbursement, up to a maximum $5000 a year. The Home Depot also provides medical and of my benefits, to be honest, Shireen says laughon your parents benefits, they come in handy.

dental benefits to part-time employees. I use a lot ing. Being a student and being over the age to be

A Whole New World of Knowledge

Part-Time Associate at The Home Depot
You can always find a friend in the store, Shireen Judging by the amount of smiles from co-workers Rajmoolie says about working at The Home Depot. and customers as she walks through the aisles, Shireen has developed more than one friendship in the three years she has been a part time associate. Yet for a student like Shireen, The Home Depot offers more than a place to make new friends; its to know everything pretty well, Shireen explains, ing where I got to know people from other stores. lot of the same issues and same strengths. and then I went to Store Support for further trainWe compared ideas and found out that we have a While Shireens primary department is the Con-

They train you from the bottom up, no experience necessary.

The Home Depot, Shireen says emphatically, really is an all around company that does have diversity. We have people of all ages and creeds,

and some are still in school and in the same boat as me. The Home Depot also maintains a social committee that organizes events, like an Annual International Potluck. Everybody brings in some sort of dish, she says. Recipes are exchanged, and a lot of good times are had at the potlucks. The Home Depot also champions volunteer work through Team Depot, an associate volunteer force

that works within communities to make a difference. Add to that the Matching Gift Program where associates contributions to qualifying non-profits are matched, dollar for dollar. Respect for all people, giving back, and building strong and associates like Shireen, pride themselves on.

tractor Services Department, she has been crosstrained to work in Customer Service, Expediting, and the Return to Vendor department. Theres always room for growth within the company, she says. This has not only kept Shireen challenged, but has broadened her skills base as well. Its not all related to building and building materials, because we have a customer first program. The Shireen points out. Its also dealing with people Home Depot has a very particular approach to greet customers at the door, but also walk them down aisles, and provide informed, helpful advice. Those people skills have helped Shireen in her dayBusiness Administration at Centennial College in
Sponsored by The Home Depot

relationships are all things that The Home Depot, Research what The Home Depot has to offer, Shireen advises, because youll see there are a lot of long-term benefits to staying here, whether its for a lifetime or for when youre in school. There

a place where she can gain life-long skills, receive

support for education, and grow within a company. As a Contractor Services Cashier, Shireen is tasked with building and fulfilling orders, including taking phone orders, and aiding with installs when contractors need help getting the ball rolling on a job. They train you from the bottom up, no experience necessary, Shireen says. Employing both web-based training and step-by-step coaching, The Home Depot ensures that new employees are confident in their ability to serve customers. And,

are a lot of good things here, more than we can that you realize the extent of it.

advertise on a sign; it isnt until you work here The Home Depot Canada received awards for Canadas best Diversity and Greenest employers in 2011. The Home Depot Canada hires for Spring starting in early January. Dont miss out on the retailer, Apply now, Start later! opportunity to work for Canadas leading home

customer service, whereby employees not only

unlike many places, training doesnt end after

your first month of employment. I had been working for a couple of months already and had gotten

to-day life, especially at school, where she studies

10

We believe even small projects

have huge potent al.

Because working here is about more than helping customers choose the right product. Its about tapping into our inner potential to help people create a space worth calling home. Its called unleashing your inner orange and its about our ability to make a difference in customers lives where it matters most. Through extensive training, tuition reimbursement and more, The Home Depot gives us the support we need to expand our knowledge, develop new skills and build promising futures. In turn, we have the condence to contribute to home improvement projects both large and small.

Thats the power of The Home Depot

Jordan, Ashley, Sonia, Home Depot Associates

A variety of part-time and seasonal opportunities are available for college and university students.

We are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

Learn how tapping into your inner potential has the ability to help yourself and others.

Apply online at homedepotjobs.ca/3125 and discover how you can unleash your inner orange!

Are you looking to gain hands on experience before leaving school?

With SIFE, you will not only make a difference in your community, but you will also gain real world experience. Be on a dynamic team that competes in national and global competitions while launching the career youve always dreamt of.

What are you waiting for? Your future starts now. Visit www.acecanada.ca today!
SIFE is a program operated by ACE in Canada

permission slipping
Image: Hemera/Thinkstock

How to say no to parents and follow your own dreams

by Christopher Lawson

jobpostings.ca | january 2012

70,000
hours.
No, thats not the time it takes to beat Skyrim on Xbox, nor is it a movie sequel in which James Franco loses another limb. According to Gillian Watters, director of programs at KEYS Job Centre in Kingston, Ontario, 70,000 hours is about how long youll spend at your workplace over a lifetime.
Envisioning your dream job probably isnt hard. If you dont already have a passion, you likely have at least an idea of the direction your career could take. And if you need ideas, no doubt your parents have an opinion they want to share with you. Maybe a very forceful opinion. Maybe an opinion that completely cancels out your opinion. Maybe this opinion is holding your tuition, food, rent, and bills at gun-point too. Suddenly, that decision about your future workplace isnt so easy. Yet its one that thousands of students face with every application season. Do you follow your dreams, or do you follow the dreams of the people whove been your role models your entire life? No one should make career decisions to please anyone but themselves, says Watters. We should accept advice from those who know us best, but all the important life decisions have to be ours to make. A career path has to be related to our passions, our values, and our interests, or else we will end up miserable for most of those 70,000 hours. Thats a hard point to argue against. Following your dreams doesnt sound like such a trite idea when you realize it means taking responsibility for yourself and understanding that those 70,000 hours are going to suck if theyre tailored to fit someone elses measurements. The only way to live without regret is to tackle things head on. So weve put together this list of strategies developed from conversations with career advisors and students whove been through it before. Read them to learn how to win your parents approval and how to live without it.

DEGREES ARE PAPER THIN.

What does it really take to be a doctor, lawyer, or corporate accountant in Canada? Unless you are one, you probably dont have a clue. But this doesnt stop naive parents and unqualified know-it-alls from insisting that you really ought to try to be one. This sort of blind enthusiasm is a symptom of an outdated yet widely believed myth that taking a vocational post-secondary program will automatically land you the job you trained for. One of the groups I work with a lot are new Canadians in the accounting program, says Catherine Stace, a career advisor at McGill University in Montreal. I ask them why theyre in accounting, and they say they were told that it is the best place to get a job. But the reality is that accounting firms wont hire them if they dont have the skills theyre looking for. With so many applicants all holding the same degree, employers are going to hire the keeners who hold the top marks, are the best communicators and who show the most ambition the kind of people whod probably be taking the program regardless of the market for graduates.

PLAN YOUR ATTACK.

Before you sit down with your parents and explain that, yes, you really do intend to study artisanal basket weaving, do your homework. Research the competing schools that offer programs in your area of interest. Compare tuition, housing costs, and travel expenses. Talk to people who have graduated from these programs. Draft a schedule outlining important dates like application deadlines. Draw up a budget. Make it look pretty. Make it look like youve been obsessing over this for months. Its a lot of work up front, but it pays off when your parents notice how dedicated you are. Once they see how logical and organized your approach is to just selecting your desired path, theyll have less enthusiasm for shooting you down. Youre proving that youve given your choice some serious thought, and are subtly asking your parents to do the same.

ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, NOT PERMISSION.

Lets say your PowerPoint and Excel wizardry fails to persuade your nay-saying parents. Do you make pouty faces all the way to the orthodontists college? No! This is your future on the line! You slap your acceptance letter from the Floral Arrangement Department at Backwater College on the table, look your parents in the eyes and utter, This is where I want to go. Apply to the program you want with or without your parents knowledge. You dont have to commit until youre accepted. Part of being an adult is being confident enough in yourself to make your own decisions. You dont have to check in with Mom and Dad before every step you take. That also means you shouldnt hide it from them either. In fact, you want them to see that youre taking charge of your life, and that they
january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

14

drew their financial support and only agreed to give her a fraction of it back if she maintains an 80 percent or higher grade average. I knew this was coming, and I use it as a great motivator. Cue training montage.

DIVE IN AND MAKE FRIENDS.

DO YOU FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, OR DO YOU FOLLOW THE DREAMS OF THE PEOPLE WHOVE BEEN YOUR ROLE MODELS YOUR ENTIRE LIFE?
can either help you get where youre determined to go, or they can be just one more obstacle to overcome on the way there. to get where you are, so you owe it to yourself and to the people you want to prove wrong to squeeze out every last drop of education you can.

As much as wed like to deny it, we often rely on our parents to be there for us when times are tough. But when youre going one direction and your parents are grimly determined to go another, the fear of losing that support is often enough to convince you that you dont actually know what you want. If you keep looking, however, youll eventually meet people who share your interests. Long, caffeinated nights spent toiling on projects that youre passionate about with classmates who are just as dedicated will turn you all into a makeshift family. The process is even faster if youre separated from your family by a long distance. The more you commit yourself to your passion, the more of a support network youll discover already exists. Dont be afraid to uproot yourself and take advantage of a new community.

GET HELP!

Sometimes, the problem isnt with your argument. In this unhappy circumstance, the real problem is your relationship with your parents. If communication has broken down to the point that youve presented your case, done everything you can to prove your dedication, and your parents still wont listen, its likely that theres a fundamental lack of understanding. I knew I could not handle this, confides J, a former political science student at Western University in London, who took the program at his parents insistence. I talked to my mother, and she told me to cut the crap. She is always comparing me to her friends sons graduating and becoming some big shot doctor or dentist, and asking me why cant I be like them. I was so depressed I wanted to kill myself. My mom even caught me cutting myself once. J eventually dropped out and is now in a program that he enjoys, but the time, money and emotional health he gave up trying to please his parents are going to be hard to recover. Seek outside help from career counselors, teachers, or anyone you trust before a toxic relationship with your parents takes a similar toll on you. When you consider the 70,000 hours youll be investing, the decision to go after your dream job is really a decision to go after your dream life. The hard part isnt figuring out whether you should listen to your parents or listen to your gut. Its digging up the courage to make that choice with enough confidence that, even if you dont convince your parents that youre doing the right thing, youve still convinced yourself.

NO SLACKING.

So youve done the research, got accepted into your dream program and even convinced your parents to help pay your bills while you hone your African nose flute skills. Nicely done! But guess what? You better jam that flute so far up your nose that you could snorkel while you backstroke. What the hell does that mean? It means you have absolutely no excuse to slack.
Image: iStockphoto.com/Michael Henderson

USE IT!

So youve done the research, got accepted into your dream program, and even convinced your parents to withdraw all financial support? Parents who use this tactic think theyre just giving you some tough-love. They fail to realize that this jerk maneuver forces you into one of two options: a) cave in to their demands and forever resent them, or b) turn your outrage into the fuel you need to make your dream happen. I find the harder I work, the more satisfaction I get out of the outcome, says first-year Sheridan College Media Arts student Emily Balfour. When Balfour dropped out of criminology at Carleton University to take the even more expensive diploma program at Sheridan, her parents with-

Post-secondary life demands a degree of selfregulation that many high school students have a hard time adjusting to. The urge to skip class is difficult to resist when no ones making sure you show up. Remember that while this might be the program of your dreams, it doesnt mean you can sleep through it. Youre the one that fought hard

15

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Its a simple piece of paper.

Black letters on a white page. But as you hear your name called and you start crossing that stage, you feel it: your diploma. Claiming this simple piece of paper immediately marks a new stage in your life. Its an amazing moment and a testament to the years of hard work you invested into your education. Unfortunately, theres a catch. As you glance over your shoulder, theres someone else accepting the same diploma you just received. And depending on the school youve attended, there are likely hundreds more following you to accept the same honour

standing
the top 10 ways to get noticed by employers
by Lexi Dogon
Image: iStockphoto.com/john shepherd

OUT
Then it hits you. With so many people graduating with your same degree, not only in your school, but in schools across the country, how will you stand out to employers? These days, having a university or college education is just a check mark (albeit an important one) on a recruiters grading assessment. Ultimately, its what you accomplish outside of school that will really make you stand out above the sea of other newly graduated job hunters. To help you out, we at jobpostings created a list of what we feel are the best strategies and experiences you can use to compliment your diploma, so that your rsum always floats to the top of the employers to call back list.

jobpostings.ca | january 2012

Being able to cite a variety of meaningful and unique work experiences will definitely score you big points during your future job interviews.

Designations and C e r t i f i c a t e s
Whether its the CHRP for human resource management grads, a CA for accounting grads, a CFA for finance grads, and so on, professional designations are hugely important depending on the industry you get into. In certain professions, your formal education doesnt stop just with your bachelors, its very much an ongoing process. By making that extra effort to gain these industry specific designations and certificates, youll put yourself that much farther ahead of your fellow graduates. As well, getting these designations and certificates often gives you membership to valuable industry specific reports, invites to industry events, and opportunities to network with industry professionals. These all represent opportunities you can leverage to get ahead.

CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS

If youre still in school (even if its your last year), then joining the exec team of a school club or association can give you your first real taste of management responsibility. It will provide you with great networking opportunities with like-minded students who may one day turn into your future colleagues, and with industry professionals from the companies who sponsor student clubs. And as far as job titles go, being a club executive looks far more impressive on your rsum than what you would get from an average part time gig.

Maggie Leithead is president and CEO of Charity Village, an online resource that helps connect people to volunteer opportunities around the world. She believes that getting out there and helping others can help develop interpersonal skills and analytical skills, qualities that employers look for. Obviously if your core goal is to build up your rsum, whether youre a volunteer at home or abroad, the volunteer element is really going to help you get experiences that are just as valuable as paid employment. Just about any kind of volunteer project can help build those skills that will look really good on a rsum. And with the increasing emphasis companies are placing on corporate social responsibility, being able to cite your meaningful and unique charity and non-profit work experiences will definitely score you big points during your future job interviews.

LEND A HELPING HAND

Volunteering at a charity or non-profit organization can turn into an exciting and fulfilling way to develop your transferable skills and gain experience. Since these organizations often dont have the resources of large, for-profit companies, you are more likely to be exposed to different kinds of work.

TAKE ON A CO-OP OR TWO OR THREE

Making coffee, filing papers, and picking up the office cake are all things many students come to expect from internships and apprenticeships, paid or unpaid. But in reality, thats only one small part of it.

We all pay our dues, but Ben Rogul, a recruitment specialist at Aon Hewitt, says that an internship is also a fantastic way to show an employer what youre capable of, even if your rsum is weak. (Also) if youre showing them that youre a dedicated worker, that youre a hard worker, theyll see that youre a valuable asset and theres no way theyd let you go. An internship can also be valuable outside of school to fill in a rsum gap, especially if that internship is in line with your interests and career goals.

Help grow a small business or start up

In large corporations, there arent many opportunities to take on roles outside your predefined position. Normally, youre limited to and expected to specialize in what you were hired for, with few opportunities to cross-train.

Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

5
jobpostings.ca | january 2012

WORK IN YOUR INDUSTRY

Well, duh. If youre able to get a job in the industry you studied for, then dive right in! The company you start out at may not always be your dream company, but starting out in a company within the same industry will give you the relevant experience you need to climb the corporate ladder, or have successful interviews at other companies that might better strike your fancy. Regardless, be open to whatever opportunities come your way.

This aint the case in small businesses and start ups. Theres simply not enough money to hire a bunch of specialists. This means that similar to working for a charity or non-profit youll be asked to wear a number of hats and participate in a number of projects. While youll probably work longer hours, the experience and the satisfaction you get from seeing projects you were so intimately involved with succeed far outweighs any negatives. Working in these environments forces you to strengthen your team building skills, eye for efficiency, and MacGyver-like problem solving skills all worthwhile points to mention in interviews for future positions!

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Its the person who knows what theyre looking for whos going to be successful.

BE AN ENTREPRENEUR

Being your own boss is not for everyone. You have to be comfortable with: taking risks, leading a team, serving customers, grinding your butt off 24/7, dreaming big, and being innovative enough to survive your business first year and all the years that follow. In all, entrepreneurism is a time investment, financial investment (scary), and a leading cause of premature white hairs. On the flip side, youll never learn more about business, yourself, what it takes to battle against competitors, and what it takes to grow your biz out of nothing. The skills youll learn and experiences youll gain will make you that much more confident in your abilities, and that much more attractive to potential future employers. Employers want to hire self starters and go getters (usually), and starting your own business is clear proof of those qualities.

10

STUDY OR WORK OVERSEAS

SHARPEN THOSE PENCILS

The most successful pathway into postgraduate employment is the successful completion of any post-secondary credential with a gap year, says Paul Smith, executive director of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE). Hes referring to a Pathways study that describes the benefits of taking time off between high school and post-secondary school. Smith says the results were probably due to the fact that the time off allows young people the opportunity to discover more about who they are and want to be. Meanwhile, founder of Second Chance Travel, Evan Malak, says taking time away after university can also be an invaluable experience to have. I just think its so eye opening and enriching, and you can grow so much from it, and itll help you in all aspects of your life. Malek says that while many students want to kick their careers into high gear as soon as they graduate, its a good idea to consider slowing down. North America is a more driven culture, very competitive. Theres a lot of pressure on young people to get into high gear. But I think graduates can learn more from other cultures and put more emphasis on adventure and exploration. In general, any experience travelling, studying, and/or working overseas being comfortable working in foreign environments thats always an attractive trait employers look for. Be open to breaking out of that nest!

Teach

Depending on your career ambitions maybe you want to be a professor, a lawyer, a doctor, a physicist, etc going for your masters or Ph.D or any other form of post-grad education may be a necessity. Certain professions just demand a greater level of knowledge in order for you to be taken seriously, or for you to even be licensed to practice your dream profession. If this is the case, keep your head up. You may have to slog it out through a couple more years of school, but at the end of the day, these kinds of professions are high investment, high reward type deals, i.e. youll be hugging yourself when youre done.

Teaching, like volunteering, is not only a good way to give back to society, but its also a great way to sharpen your skill set and build experiences that you can draw on in future interviews. One of the more popular teaching paths for recent grads is to teach English overseas. This approach lets you travel, exposes you to new cultures, and allows you to meet new people. Another path you can take is being a tutor of specific courses to high school and university students. You can even join a local big brother or big sister program that will give you the opportunity to mentor a youngster and help shape their development in positive ways. Overall, what may come naturally to you may not for others, so teaching forces you to build a deeper knowledge of the subject youre teaching by breaking down your subject and explaining it in easily understandable parts. For employers, they will recognize that the subject youre teaching is a core skill of yours, and the fact that youre going out of your way to help others learn is always an attractive quality they hire for.

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january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

Images L-R: Digital Vision/Thinkstock; James Woodson/ Digital Vision/Thinkstock

KNOW YOURSELF
Receiving your political science or philosophy degree is fine and dandy, but closing your last textbook and finding yourself with zero insight into what you want to do is not going to get you far when it comes to finding that first, real, post-grad gig. Ben Rogul, from Aon Hewitt, says When Im talking to new grads and I ask them what theyre looking for, Id say nine out of ten times they dont know. He says when graduates come to him and list off the skills and qualities they have, thats great. But, as a recruiter its frustrating. The key information hes looking for is what the new graduate wants to do. Paul Smith, from CACEE, agrees. The first job (you get out of school) doesnt define the rest of your career. Thats why the most important things for new grads looking to make their way into the workforce are to know themselves, to take the time to understand what theyre actually looking for, where their interests are, where their strengths lie, and go forward from there. Its the person who knows what theyre looking for whos going to be successful.

You may have to slog it out through a couple more years of school... [ but ] youll be hugging yourself when youre done.

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Diversey is a leading global provider of cleaning and hygiene solutions serving customers in the lodging, retail, food service, health care and food and beverage sectors, as well as building service contractors. Our products and solutions, sold in 165 countries, make food, drink and facilities safer, more hygienic and more sustainable. We are expanding and require Territory Managers to help us grow our business. We are looking for individuals with post-secondary education who: can work independently can develop and run their own territory have a passion for customer service have strong time management and problem solving skills have basic mechanical aptitude We oer rst class training programs, company provided vehicles, growth opportunities, bonus opportunities and so much more!

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To apply email your resume to allena.slavyo@diversey.com

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january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

industryinsiders

BY 2031 OF CANADIANS WILL BE FOREIGN BORN

do and the sensible business thing to do. To put their money where their mouth is, Loblaws has developed an Inclusion Toolkit, designed for recruiters to hire with diversity in mind for both the corporate and store levels. When hired, new employees can expect to be embraced, Edwards explains. They have the opportunity to partner with a colleague buddy of similar backgrounds to ensure comfort and ease of adaptation. Women can also count on a future with Loblaws due to an online network and special events promoting professional development and work-life balance for working mothers. From a branding perspective, being known as one of Canadas Top Diversity Employers has its perks. Money is clearly being invested in recruiting minorities, but the bottom line is what matters. So, is diversity fact or fiction? Deborah Berwick, Manager of Organization Effectiveness, Diversity & Inclusion at Home Depot, recognizes the importance of authenticity in life and wants all potential employees to know, from her lips to your ears, The Home Depot offers an environment where you can bring your whole selves to work. Being recognized as a leader has its downsides too, as it can open the door for skeptics. Berwick acknowledges how diversity cant always be at the top of the agenda, The most significant challenge weve faced in implementing our diversity strategy has been the same challenge any business strategy faces competing priorities and a constantly changing marketplace. Like any legitimate diversity plan, The

DIVERS I T Y IN THE WORKPLACE: FAC T OR FICTION?

by Eleni Papavasiliou

Home Depot encourages feedback to monitor progress and remain accountable. Berwick confirms their findings show current employees not only believe they are working in an inclusive environment, but are confident in their ability to speak up, they feel comfortable raising issues with their leaders when we dont live up to this expectation. Cameco makes this years list by integrating diversity in their hiring practices by investing in people, especially pre-employment. Jodi Ledding, Senior Specialist in Workplace Planning and Talent Acquisition, explains, Cameco has invested over $8 million dollars in training in the past 20 years and is working with Northern Career Quest in a $33 million joint funding initiative to help approximately 1,500 aboriginals gain skills and experience to seek entry-level employment. Although Cameco is committed to reviving the economy of Northern Saskatchewan, Ledding admits it isnt enough to satisfy demand, Because the local Saskatchewan talent pool of both experienced and new graduates is limited, Camecos talent recruitment efforts have become very pan-Canadian and increasingly international in the past few years. Cheesy manufactured images aside, employers are clearly competing to be seen as diversity friendly, but are eager to find candidates who can meet them half way. Personality and attitude come before background and academic discipline with Loblaws new graduates program Edwards explains, We are looking for grads who have been involved in community and extra-curricular initiatives outside the classroom, and understand the importance of superior customer service.
*Citing the 2011 Canadas Best Diversity Employers Report

According to Statistics Canada, by 2031, 25% to 28% of Canadians will be foreign born and 47% of second generation Canadians will be a member of a visible minority group. TD Economics projects a major labour shortage in the next twenty years, claiming retiring boomers and low fertility rates as major causes. Traditionally ignored, members of the aboriginal community, visible minorities, women and new immigrants are slotted to fill in the gap. Google diversity, and images of perfectly crafted group portraits featuring tactfully selected minorities dominate the web. As they pose with bright smiles, projecting the feeling of solidarity, you wonder if it could get any cheesier. Is diversity just a clich? Or maybe its just a trendy buzz word employers like to toss around to sound genuine. Canadas Best Diversity Employers is an annual competition which serves as a platform for companies from across the country to demonstrate their ability to meet the demands of our multicultural nation. With 100 employers making the cut*, Home Depot, Loblaws, Cameco, and SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) have shined with their progressive hiring practices. Michelle Edwards, Senior Director, Talent & Diversity, at Loblaws, says the company has embraced diversity and has deemed it a major initiative, One of our pillars for Corporate Social Responsibility is to reflect our Nations diversity, because we see it as the right thing to
jobpostings.ca | january 2012

Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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industryinsiders

It doesnt matter if you have 28 years of career experience under your belt or whether youre an engineering student fresh off the convocation platform, theres a new and growing standard for the building industry that has affected careers considerably in the past few years. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is transforming the way new buildings are constructed, as well as how the old ones are maintained. The ultimate goal: sustainability. The Canada Green Building Council adopted the rating system in 2004. By the end of October 2011, more than 3,000 buildings in Canada were registered in the CaGBC database to be certified, with 496 of these having achieved certification. The growth of LEED is creating a new niche for professionals, be they engineers, architects, interior designers, and more. Some people who deal with

LEED CERTIFICATION IS CREATING A NEW AND GROWING NICHE FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

Gascoyne. All of the Infrastructure Ontario buildings that come out, these government super projects hospitals and school buildings they all have to have LEED mandates on them. The thing that is really starting to affect the market is the pursuit of LEED in existing building stock because downtown office buildings need to keep up and compete with other buildings being built downtown. A way of doing that is improving their sustainable performance. As the demand for LEED buildings increases, engineers and other industry professionals are becoming more aware of its importance and are taking the steps to educate themselves further. Gascoyne said, If youre an architect or and engineer, and youre working with buildings and you have daily interaction with the LEED rating system, (being a LEED AP) takes it to the next level of detail where you understand a specific system of LEED. Mark Goss understands the opportunity LEED offers. He received his degree in mechanical engineering 28 years ago, and since then has worked for brewing companies, bakeries, pharmaceutical companies, the works. He is now the general manager of operations at the Exhibition Place in Toronto and is managing: 600 kilowatts of TV, a back pressure steam turbine, geothermal technology, smart lighting controls for parking garages, and the task of getting a convention centre LEED accredited. Because of all this, Goss thought it would be very beneficial to increase my knowledge level. It prompted him to take Gascoynes preparation course through the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto. He says he expects the experience to impact his career positively. LEED existing operation and maintenance shows you how to recommission your building and then operate it in an energy efficient manner. Goss notes, Even for the companies that dont believe in LEED, they like to have somebody with that kind of knowledge for the energy savings they can come up with. LEED is increasingly affecting the building industry, ing at a rsum and the person has LEED designation, it means they took the initiative to go ahead and get the education themselves. They are interested in this type of thing and they know what it takes to get ahead in this industry.
by Michelle Hampson
Image: Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock

EVERYONE BECAME INTERESTED IN IT AND NOW ITS KIND OF THE DE FACTO STANDARD FOR BUILDING BUILDINGS.

LEED through their jobs are becoming certified as LEED Green Associates, an entry-level certification. If a LEED Green Associate needs in-depth knowledge of LEED on the job, he or she can then apply to be a LEED Accredited Professional with a specialty, which may help advance their career. There are now 18 institutions offering LEED higher education courses across Canada. Its important that students are graduating with this knowledge because this is whats happening in the industry, said Crystal Finnigan, Higher Education Program Coordinator at the CaGBC. There are many LEED buildings being built.

Mitch Gascoyne, LEED AP and manager of the Sustainable Design Services group at Halcrow Yolles, is the instructor for the LEED Green Building Strategies and Green Associate Exam Preparation course at the University of Toronto. He says LEED grew slowly and steadily when the Canadian Green Building Council first adopted the rating system, but has grown exponentially since about 2007. Everyone became interested in it and now its kind of the de facto standard for building buildings, explains

and can differentiate prospective employees. Gascoyne said, If Im look-

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january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

jobpostings.ca | january 2012

25

nd your outlet
powerauthority.on.ca/careers

Inspiration. Conservation. Innovation. Whatever outlet your career needs, youll nd it with us.

OM Ofcial Mark of the Ontario Power Authority.

CMHC: My Choice.
At Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), we recognize and value the unique abilities that people from a variety of backgrounds bring to the organization.We leverage the insights and experience of our diverse employees to identify and maximize the opportunities to help Canadians.

La SCHL : Cest mon choix.

la Socit canadienne dhypothques et de logement (SCHL), nous reconnaissons et valorisons les aptitudes et connaissances uniques que chaque personne apporte notre organisation. Elle met prot les expriences et les connaissances diverses de son effectif pour cerner tous les moyens daider les gens vivant au Canada et ailleurs et tirer le maximum de ces possibilits.

Visit www.cmhc.ca/careers to view current job openings and to register your candidate pro le.
CMHC has been Canadas national housing agency since 1946. As Canadas trusted source of comprehensive housing information, we are committed to helping Canadians access a wide variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes, and to fueling the success of the Canadian housing system.

Visitez www.schl.ca/carrieres pour consulter la liste demplois courants et tablir votre pro candidat. l du
La SCHL est lorganisme national responsable de lhabitation au Canada depuis 1946. Source able et complte dinformation sur lhabitation au pays, la SCHL veille ce que les Canadiens aient accs un large ventail de logements durables de qualit, cot abordable, et elle contribue la prosprit du secteur canadien de lhabitation.

www.cmhc.ca/careers 26

www.schl.ca/carrieres
january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

WEVE BURNED COAL AND SPLIT ATOMS JUST TO GET POWER. TO THINK ITS BEEN BELOW OUR FEET THIS WHOLE TIME.
by Andrew Williams

With veteran energy sources like fossil fuels preparing to retire their jerseys in the next few decades, alternative energy sources are being scouted like potential NBA players. Among these promising drafts is geothermal energy. Right now, geothermal is a relatively small piece of the energy pie, says Travis Schmidt, marketing manager at NextEnergy. Its a challenge to grow that pie and basically create awareness and an understanding of the system. Essentially, geothermal energy works by harnessing heat below the earths surface. The source of this heat is spawned in two ways. The kind used to mass produce electricity is tapped from deep below the surface, where primordial heat left over from the planets formation is found. Heat from the radioactive decay is harnessed to create steam, which then runs electrical turbines. The second kind has more direct applications, the kind that companies such as NextEnergy specialize in. The earths crust can absorb and store heat from the sun, and stays at a constant temperature year-round. Pipes can be installed beneath your home (or any building for that matter) to collect and then transfer geothermal heat to a specialized unit to keep a building warm during the winter. In the summer, the system works in reverse, using the cooler temperatures below ground for air conditioning. Aside from its reduced ecological footprint when compared to nuclear or petroleum based resources, geothermal energy also holds a major advantage over other renewables; its constant. The biggest thing that geothermal has when compared to wind or solar is that its 365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day,
Image: iStockphoto.com/eliandric

scale production. For geothermal, Theres no time when the wind doesnt blow or the sun doesnt shine, Schmidt continues, it is an absolute, at point of use, renewable energy. The initial cost of geothermal systems and their installation might seem a bit pricy, but Schmidt stresses that you are installing your own energy plant, and that should be understood. There are the long-term benefits. [Geothermal is] the cheapest system to operate, and will significantly cut your heating and cooling bills. According to Schmidt, geothermal systems can save you 75 percent when compared to oil and propane, and about 50 percent when compared to natural gas. Almost 60 percent of Canadas energy is used for heating and cooling, and you can essentially eliminate the fossil fuel component for that. With rising hydro costs and fluctuating oil prices, using the heat trapped within the earth is becoming a more practical solution. Despite the environmental and economic improvements that geothermal is making to the industry, its not without its obstacles. For one thing, theres a continual need of skilled trade workers, drillers in particular. Drilling is really where geothermal will make its big splash, Schmidt says. In order for geothermal to go mainstream, itll have to tackle the urban environment, and its going to need qualified drillers for that.

The students looking to make a career in this field will want to have standard HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) training, while refrigeration mechanic training is crucial. Its in every college, and refrigeration technicians specifically within that broad category are always needed, says Schmidt. These skills are especially important for residential work and installation. Schmidt adds, Walking out with a refrigeration licence or an apprenticeship would allow you to walk into a job. The geothermal industry will only grow as more people realize the opportunities it presents, both for helping the environment, and for an innovative career. Its not a power plant thats 300 km away from where the actual power is being used, says Schmidt, emphasising that its local jobs, local people running the small businesses, and employing the people within the community. Thats the beauty of it: the money goes into the community and stays in the community.

THATS THE BEAUTY OF IT: THE MONEY GOES INTO THE COMMUNITY AND STAYS IN THE COMMUNITY.

says Schmidt. Both examples are dependent on conditions that vary almost hourly, and in both cases, solar and wind energy need considerable pieces of land with many individual collectors or turbines in order to be effective for large
jobpostings.ca | january 2012

industryinsiders

CO-OP
by Emily Minthorn

THE

EXPERIENCE
You co-op kids get the best of both worlds: an enriched education and work experience (even a paycheque). But the path youve chosen isnt easy. It will take longer than an undergraduate program, and those years may be turbulent as you move from placement to placement. Its an up and down road, but dont worry: weve got some insider advice on how to get the most out of a co-op placement. As Phil Allan finishes his final term as a co-op student at the University of Waterloo and reflects on his experience, he found that variety was the spice of his academic life. I liked the fact that each work term was only four months. I could work at four or five different jobs and find one I liked. Also, it let me have a unique rsum, rather than having either all student retail jobs or, at best, one internship without any variety. To help cram as much experience in as you can, arrive at your placement prepared from day one, advises Olaf Naese, communications specialist for Cooperative Education and Career Services at the University of Waterloo. When youre only at a workplace for four months, the learning curve has to be very fast. Come into the co-op with experience under your belt. Students who go into the co-op without so much as a summer job or volunteer position on their rsum have a harder time getting jobs, he says. Talk to your supervisor before you start your placement to find out if theres any special training you can take beforehand. That way, you can get right into the good stuff on the first day of your job. If you dont know where to start, just ask, encourages Norah McRae, president of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE). A big mistake students make is not taking advantage of the resources available to them. Every school has a really dedicated staff who are there to help students make sense of what their plans are and how theyd like to connect their studies with their career prospects. Once youre working, keep in mind that your experience is about soft skills too, not just industry know-how. The most valuable thing I took away was probably the confidence that came from being thrown into so many previously intimidating situations, shares Allan. It was also good to see that real world professionals are really just winging it along with everyone else. Rob McMillan, another Waterloo co-op student, values the intangibles hes gleaned from his work terms so far especially the networking opportunities. People want to help out people who they know, so make more friends. And make sure the higher-ups like you. Go into a co-op with a good idea of what you want out of it, and keep your eyes on that prize. Students should set objectives before they even get to their placement, emphasizes Naese. They should have something in mind as to what they want to accomplish. But at the same time, you must stay flexible. Students come with a dream job in their mind, and that dream job may never happen during undergrad, Naese reveals. Or there could be a perfect opportunity for you but its across the province. If thats where the job is, you should embrace the opportunity. Things may not be the way you think theyre going to be. Be willing to move around if thats what it takes. McRae adds, In my experience, students often learn the most where theres a big challenge for them, personally and professionally not because theres something horrible going on in that work term, but because its just not what they wanted, or they thought they were going to like it and really hated it. Staying open-minded enough to learn about yourself has all kinds of benefits. Without my co-op, I would never have realized that the people who I work with and the work environeven more than the job itself, says Allan. The jobs I liked the most were completely unrelated to my degree. But even though the jobs themselves didnt interest me, I was working with really laid back, fun people, living with tons of students in a brand new city. Thats just the kind of adventure you co-op kids like, right?
january 2012 | jobpostings.ca
Image: Ryan McVay/ Digital Vision/Thinkstock

PEOPLE WANT TO HELP OUT PEOPLE WHO THEY KNOW, SO MAKE MORE FRIENDS. AND MAKE SURE THE HIGHER-UPS LIKE YOU

ment would determine whether I like a job,

industryinsiders

 Studying Abroad
Going to school during the coldest, darkplaces, discover a est part of the Canadifferent culture, dian winter can be a drag. Lacing up winand learn in ter boots, bundling unexpected ways. layers upon layers of clothing and looking out the window of your classroom to see slushy, slick sidewalks can have even the most patriotic of us daydreaming about jet-setting to a warmer locale and taking our classes by the beach for some seaside schooling.

edu-ma-cation

Explore new

able to relate what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations abroad through critical analysis and synthesis of the course materials.

share your same academic interests and often a similar excitement for life. During my last trip, I camped through Africa for three months, said Spence. This type of trip will only appeal to certain people and that was the wonderful thing about it! Everyone had the same passion for travelling, were outdoorsy, and everyone got along. We experienced so much together and they will be my life long friends.

EXPLORE YOUR INTERESTS

Travelling allows you to experience different cultures, foods, languages, and customs that to us are completely different from what you know, said Anita Spence, a Wilfrid Laurier University graduate who completed an internship with the Contiki coach tour company and has traveled to more than a dozen countries including Australia, Kenya, South Africa, and a variety of European countries. It opens our eyes to the world around us. As well, traveling allows you to explore your own personal interests. For me, that meant exploring every possible adrenaline sport that passed in front of me. You want to go skydiving? You can do it! The beauty of travel is that everyone can experience what they want to experience.

LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF

So why not make your daydream a reality? In addition to the friendlier climate, studying abroad and getting an education overseas can supercharge your rsum, amp up your education, and bring about some pretty cool life experiences. Here are the top five reasons to pack your bags and take off this semester.

For DeSouza, the experience was as much about learning about herself as it was learning about another culture. During my year away, I really came to appreciate home, she said. I learned about myself and realized that I could function independently, without my support networks. I had become accustomed to the comforts of home and when travelling, little things like finding a hairdresser were a fun challenge. For Spence, the university experience would have been an entirely different one had she not taken the opportunity to travel abroad and she now recommends it to anyone considering the move. Through my travels I have gained a new perspective on the world, more life lessons than I thought imaginable, met some of the most incredible people, and have experienced so many wonderful things. I absolutely love to travel and I would encourage anyone that wants to travel, to pack their bags and DO IT!

BEEF UP YOUR RSUM

TRANSLATE YOUR CLASSROOM LEARNING INTO REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES

By studying abroad, youll learn things about the world and different cultures that you could never learn by reading a textbook. Study abroad programs enable students to have an international learning experience that lets them engage meaningfully with the world outside the classroom, thereby becoming knowledgeable global citizens, said Sarah Witol, program manager of Professional and International Programs at Woodsworth College at the University of Toronto. Through their participation, students are

For Melissa DeSouza, a tour manager at EF Tours who completed an internship in Paris before entering the workforce, her international experience was what landed her the job. When you are employed in Canada, you will most definitely be working with people from many different backgrounds, she explained. Once I had lived away from home myself, I found it so much easier to relate to people who were not originally from Canada and it made me a better employee.

MEET NEW PEOPLE

Getting your education abroad allows you to meet like-minded individuals, people that all

by Katie Edmonds

What Do be
centennialcollege.ca
30

You

want to

The Future of Learning

january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

graduate school directory

Brock University
Brock is a rapidly growing University, offering 41 dynamic Masters and PhD program within 6 academic faculties. With our strong sense of community and personal investment in our students, Brock is a great choice for your graduate education. Visit us at today at Brocku.ca

Niagara College
Top-rated for student satisfaction, Niagara College provides outstanding applied education for a changing world. With stateof-the-art facilities on newly redeveloped campuses & responsive cutting-edge programming, we offer students real-world experience before graduation. NiagaraCollege.ca

Queens University
100+ graduate programs with worldclass research opportunities and strong support to enrich your educational experience and advance your career. Set your ideas in motion. Consider graduate studies at Queens. queensu.ca/sgs

Ross University
Ross University is a provider of medical and veterinary education offering MD and DVM degree programs, and has over 11,000 successful physicians and veterinarians practicing in the US and Canada. If you are interested in a career in medicine, contact us today. RossU.edu

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

The University of Western Ontarios Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry provides state-of-the-art research facilities and mentorship by internationally recognized scientists. We offer 15 graduate programs. Create tomorrows discoveries today. uwo.ca/schulich/gradstudies

Sheridan College
Our one-year graduate certificate programs enhance your diploma or degree with a blend of theoretical knowledge and work experience that fully prepare you to launch your career. Choose from more than 20 programs in the arts, business, technology and community service fields. sheridaninstitute.ca

SCHOOL eez TUFF

(Need some helpz!)
careers. education. ideas. all of it.
jobpostings.ca | january 2012

31

SCOTT Metherell
by David Tal

startup

After five years of spending his summers working at Georgian Bay Landing, a marina in Honey Harbour, Ontario, Scott Metherell was surprised when he got a call from the marinas new management. They said they wouldnt need him the following summer. I was a little upset. I had a job up there all my life and I wasnt interested in getting a job in the city. Not being one to let life just happen to him, the Queens University grad decided to take his future into his own hands. He started up BigRedWorks, a student-run maintenance company servicing the Georgian Bay area. When we started, it was just my brother and I. We bought the boat, it had red pontoons, so eventually we called ourselves BigRedWorks. We were just hoping to work three, four days a week, and make as much money as we were making at the marina. But by the end of our first summer, we had six employees. We bought a barge, two work boats, and weve just grown from there. Going on six years now, were now up to three barges and five workboats, and weve started to keep a staff of around ten. When asked what makes his business stand out among the local competitors, Scott was quick to answer with three key points.

RECOGNIZE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES

Second thing, having spent so much time working as a water taxi driver, talking to people, I knew what most people up there werent happy with. One, the contractors around here were always too busy to do the little stuff. They were too busy building million dollar cottages or one hundred thousand dollar tennis courts. They werent interested in building a ten thousand dollar deck or delivering five hundred dollars worth of gravel.

BE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUR CLIENTS

Finally, many of the local contractors were very hard to get in touch with. Not very many had a website. Pretty much no one had an email address. And you were lucky if you even got an answering machine. So when we came on the scene, we had a website, we had Blackberries, email, we returned voicemails within 24 hours. These simple things really blew people away. We started with just a few basic things, but those were so important. People were used to getting this level of service in the city, but never up here in cottage country. Thats what made all the difference. After sharing this story, Scott added what satisfied him most about being an entrepreneur. The biggest thing is that youre in charge of your own destiny. If you want to work hard, and set some goals and achieve them, you can make it happen. You run on your own schedule and make your own rules. The freedom, thats what I really love. And when it comes to advice for would-be student entrepreneurs, Scott didnt mince words. Now is the best time in your whole life to start a business. You dont have a wife (or husband) and kids. You dont have any expenses and youve got your parents to fall back on. Best of all, youve got a whole faculty of professors who are willing to help.

25 YEARS OLD; GRADUATED FROM QUEEN`S UNIVERSITY WITH A HONOURS BACHELOR OF COMMERCE DEGREE IN JUNE 2009. AWARDED THE RUNNER-UP PRIZE BY ADVANCING CANADIAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (ACE) DURING THE 2009 NATIONAL STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR COMPETITION. CURRENTLY OPERATES BIGREDWORKS, A STUDENT-RUN MAINTENANCE COMPANY HE FOUNDED THAT SERVICES THE GEORGIAN BAY AREA.

USE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

First, the thing about Honey Harbour is that you really need to know the waters and where youre going. There are no street signs or road maps on the water. But having worked at the marina for five years, I knew the water like the back of my hand. So when we started, and word of mouth started to spread, people could phone me and say, Were the blue cottage beside the green boat, and I would have a pretty good idea where that was.

The free advice and mentoring I got from my professors was just so invaluable. I mean, if youre 35 and you want to start a business, then sure you can ask for their advice, but you have to pay for all those services. But when youre a student, professors are so excited that youre young and youre taking this initiative that they love to help. So many people helped me out to get started, it was amazing. Im very grateful. So all Id say is to just do it now. Do it while youre young. You dont have a whole lot to lose and you wont believe what youll learn and who you will meet by taking on the challenge.
january 2012 | jobpostings.ca

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