jobpostings magazine (april 2011)

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  • 7/31/2019 jobpostings Magazine (April 2011)

    1/36 | april 2011 | careers. education. ideas. all of it.

    &to boldy goThe future of

    biomedical engineering

    New gameCareers in the video

    game industry

    studentdebt

    affects yourcareer

    how

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    BUSINESSDEGREES

    business.humber.ca

    BUSINESS DEGREES IN:

    Accounting

    e-Business Marketing

    Fashion Management

    Human Resources Management

    International Business

    Tourism Management

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    1jobpostings.ca | april 2011

    3 The Home Depot(Part-time)

    9 Aecon11 College Pro13 The Source15 OSCO Construction Group

    15 Chair-man Mills Inc.15 The New England Center

    for Children25 Tommy Hilfiger Canada

    OBC Canon Canada Inc.

    whoshiringHey. Did you know that thesecompanies have lots of entrylevel positions? Visit theirwebsites to see a full list ofpositions available.

    stuff tobuy

    yay!more school

    whoelse?

    IFC Humber, The BusinessSchool (Undergrad)

    21 Seneca College29 Hult International

    Business School

    29 Humber, School of Socialand Community Services

    29 Durham College30 Humber, School of Media

    Studies and InformationTechnology

    30 Queens University31 Brock University31 Canadian Automotive

    Institute, Georgian College

    31 Centennial College31 Conestoga College31 Fanshawe College31 Ithaca College31 Queens University31 Schulich School of

    Medicine and Dentistry

    31 Sheridan College31 Trent UniversityIBC Centennial College

    6 Insurance Instituteof Canada

    21 School Finder22 Scholarships Canada24 Canadian Grocery

    HR Council

    5 Rogers Wireless7 Excel

    What happens when the money you borrowed to pay for school

    affects your career decisions? A look at how student debt can

    have you putting off your life plans, and what you can do about it.

    16

    Imag

    e:iStockphoto/Thinkstock

    8interviewsmarts Paul Sayers from Hydro One gives

    us a few tips.

    10careercupid Dontcheat on your new job with an-

    other job.

    14start

    up Kendal Netmakeron sports, Aboriginal youth, and

    Moose Meat Apparel.

    4Success Story Keira De-nyse Balderston on dedication,

    hard work, and finding time to

    play guitar. Brought to you by

    Rogers Wireless.

    6From our blogs Probably the worst job. Ever.

    12

    Soft SkillsThe last impression.

    30Edu-ma-cation Save the world with a Masters of

    Social Work.

    32JobLife Showing up is halfthe battle.

    21To Boldly Go The brightfuture of biomedical engineering.

    23What the Textbook WontTeach Ya! When it comesto trades, getting out to shows,

    meeting people, and getting your

    hands dirty can bring your career

    to the next level.

    26Pick your Character Tester,programmer, animator, sound de-

    signer, producer these are just

    a few of the positions in the video

    game industry. Press start to con-

    tinue.

    28One Rung at a Time Climbing the retail ladder can be

    tricky, but you cant beat the view

    from the top.

    how studentdebt affectsyour career

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    2 april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

    "I probably wouldnt have beenas confident today without thesports that Ive played. And Ithink if more Aboriginal youthwould find these teams to playon, we could develop morepositive things for the Aboriginalcommunities."

    Kendal Netmaker, from Start Up(page 14)

    noteI have debt. A lot of debt, actually. And Im very late on mak-

    ing payments. In fact, Im pretty sure that they are going to

    garnish my wages any day now. I try, though.

    I had to drop out of university during my fourth year becauseI had too much debt, and couldnt pay my rent (ever get an

    eviction notice? Not fun). I landed a position with a magazine,

    which was the bees knees at the time, but I needed to make

    more money. So I quit, and decided to work in another indus-

    try where I could potentially make more money. I was miser-

    able working that job, and it soon became apparent that I

    wasnt paying off my loan any faster than I was at the last job.

    I was working longer hours, had no vacation, and no benefits.

    Then, the company I was working for fell on dark financial

    days, and I took a pay cut. And then the creditors started call-

    ing. I used to wake up sweating, panicking about that bill that

    I couldn't pay. So I asked myself, is the stress Im experiencing

    from my debt worth this job?

    It wasnt. If I was going to be stressed and poor, I may as well

    be happy in my career. So I enrolled in a post-grad program,

    ignored all my bills, and took out more loans to get to, well,

    to where I am now. Since graduation, Ive given up a place to

    live, food, and lots of pride. But Im here now, doing what I

    love. Was it worth it? Yes. Could I have done it a little more

    strategically? You bet.

    If you take away anything from this months feature story

    on how student debt can affect your career, make sure that

    Jason Rhyno

    what you are studying, what you are investing in, is wor th the

    cost. Higher education typically leads to a better career, but

    if you are studying something that you dont enjoy, stop it.

    Right now.I recently received an email from a student who is torn be-

    tween two programs, both of which are housed at the school

    I attended. Being a reader of jobpostings magazine, she dis-

    covered that I attended one of the programs, and took the ini-

    tiative to ask me a lot of questions. She was curious about the

    quality of the program, whether or not there were work-study

    options, how well did the program prepare me for a career

    in book and magazine publishing, and whether the program

    would make her more marketable in the real world. I an-

    swered her immediately, and then passed her email off to

    some of my former classmates so that she could benefit from

    their unique perspectives. If you are thinking of doing a post-

    grad, or a masters, this is one of the smartest things you can

    do to make sure you are getting the best educational bang for

    your borrowed buck.

    Its going to be tough finding a career in your chosen industry,

    and probably even tougher with all that debt on your shoulders.

    But stay positive, stick to your guns, and dont get disheartened.

    If you love what you are studying, youll end up loving your ca-

    reer. And hopefully the money, as they say, will follow.

    Best of luck with the spring job hunt.

    editors

    our favourite quotethis month:

    Nathan Laurie

    [email protected]

    Mark Laurie

    [email protected]

    Jason Rhyno

    [email protected]

    nSonya van Heyningen

    [email protected]

    nJeff Sebanc, Kevin Nelson,

    Christine Fader, Allison

    Mitchell, Laura Manuel.

    nnAndrew Williams

    nnnnSarah-Lyn Amaral,

    Lori Blanchard,

    Mary Vanderpas

    jobpostings

    Published by Passion Inc.

    25 Imperial Street, Suite 100

    Toronto, ON M5P 1B9

    jobpostings.ca

    1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

    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.

    Take the time to write a really

    good cover letter. Standard cover

    letters will not get you the job.

    on the cover:

    iStockphoto.com | Olena

    Chernenko

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    Oh,bytheway,thepaintthatdriesfasteristhelatexpaint.See,youvealreadylearnedsomething.

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    rogers.com/careers/campuslife

    What drew you to your current field?

    My father was a partner with a big firm and

    was able to talk to me about all of the opportu-

    nities available to CAs. With a true passion and

    interest in the field of business, I knew that this

    designation would be invaluable in shaping a

    successful future career. A few key attractions

    of the accounting profession are that I would

    be exposed to a wide variety of industries and

    business issues while working with many differ-

    ent, highly intellectual individuals; being able to

    travel and being placed in a nourishing training

    ground to develop my skills. Every day I learn

    something new, something I can take forward

    with me in anything I do in the future. This iswhy I chose accounting.

    Tell us a bit about your responsibilities.

    There are many responsibilities. Working for

    an accounting firm means that you have to be

    accountable (no pun intended), not only on

    a personal level but also on a team level. On a

    daily basis, I am responsible for completing key

    sections on an engagement. I am responsible

    for communicating any issues that I find with

    my senior in order to ensure they are properly

    resolved. I am responsible for communicating

    with both the team and the client on related

    business matters. Overall, the responsibilitiescan be summed up as working hard and en-

    suring that I continuously work efficiently and

    strive for excellence in meeting all deadlines.

    What is the most challenging aspect ofyour position?

    There are many challenging aspects of my po-

    sition, but all of them are incredibly positive. I

    would say that one challenge would be learn-

    ing to balance personal time and work time. I

    am just finishing my first busy season, as it

    is called in the industry, where we have to work

    hard to get all of the work done in order for

    our clients to issue their year-end financialstatements. Because there are long hours

    sometimes, it was important to ensure

    that I set time aside for the things that

    I love to do. Finding time in my week

    to run, play the guitar, and hang out

    with friends was challenging but also

    taught me how efficient I really can

    be on both a professional and personal

    level. Another key challenge would be

    that there is a huge learning curve in

    this job. This challenge is also one of

    the most rewarding parts of my job as well. Ev-

    ery day I am faced with something new and it

    is important to confidently and assertively as-

    sess the issues and be aware of what questions

    I need to ask.

    What is the most rewarding part ofyour job?

    That is an easy one everything! Honestly

    though, it is the people I get to work with and the

    daily learning. I am constantly either strengthen-

    ing my work skills or developing new ones. There

    is not a day that goes by when I do not have a

    positive take-away in terms of skill develop-

    ment. And back to the people my teams have

    all been fantastic. We have a lot of fun together

    while at the same time supporting each other

    both on the job and in personal and career-relat-

    ed development. KPMG has an amazing support

    system in place, which, through being both a

    mentor and a mentee, I have the opportunity to

    learn from others and create new stretch goals.

    What do you think it takes to be success-ful in this career?

    Dedication, hard work, and accountability to

    personal and career-related growth. It requires

    that you take advantage of all of the opportuni-

    ties available within the firm. Opportunities can

    range from on the job experience to getting in-volved in the community with the support of the

    firm. From what I have seen, the most success-

    ful individuals are those that take full account-

    ability for their own learning and development,

    ensuring that they are truly enjoying as well as

    benefiting from the work that they do.

    What advice do you have for studentslooking to land their first job?

    Talk to as many people as possiblefriends,

    family, teachers, counsellors, firm representa-

    tives. Get as much information as possible and

    then assess it on a personal level to figure out

    what works for you. Create specific goals andanalyze the path and support that you will need

    to attain them. Also, make sure that you are de-

    veloping the skills that firms are looking for. Get

    involved in the community, act as a mentor for

    others, be dedicated to your studies. If you are

    working hard, then a potential employer will

    recognize this. Remember that landing a job is a

    two way street yes a firm is hiring you, but

    you are also hiring them as well.

    Company

    KPMG (Vancouver office)

    Position

    Staff Accountant

    Length of employment1 year

    Degree

    Bachelor of Commerce (BComm), Currently

    Completing Masters in Professional

    Accounting (MPAcc)

    Sponsored by

    successstories

    KeiraDenyseBalderston

    4

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    april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

    had a bad Job

    from ourblogs | 02/25/2011

    A bad job is in the eye of the beholder. What one

    person considers to be an endless grind of suck,

    another might find a limitless source of chal-

    lenge and joy. For example: I know people who

    work in the service industry and would do just

    about anything undertake a third or fourth

    round of schooling, participate in some seri-

    ously shameless schmoozing to escape the

    front lines. I also know several career servers

    who've been perfecting their craft for decades,

    who would never think of doing anything else;

    one of these recently opened her own restau-

    rant. And regardless of the particulars, even

    the worst jobs often have something to teach

    us about ourselves, the world, or whatever.

    That said, some jobs are really just... awful.

    Take the psychologically-damaging, low-pay-

    ing, truly craptastic plight of the Internet Con-

    tent Reviewer, for example:

    "Ricky Bess spends eight hours a day in front

    of a computer near Orlando, Fla., viewing some

    of the worst depravities harbored on the Inter-

    net. He has seen photographs of graphic gang

    killings, animal abuse and twisted forms of

    pornography. One recent sighting was a photo

    of two teenage boys gleefully pointing guns atanother boy, who is crying...

    Workers at Telecommunications On Demand,

    who make $8 to $12 an hour, view photos that

    have been stripped of information about the us-

    ers who posted them. Rapidly cycling through

    pages of 300 images each, they are asked to

    flag material that is obviously pornographic or

    violent, illegal in a certain country or deemed

    inappropriate by a specific Web site.

    You can read the rest in The New York Times then

    get back to me on this. What was your worst job

    ever? The one with the barely-there pay, the in-

    sufferable colleagues, the total lack of redeem-

    ing qualities the one you quit with Maguire-

    esque fanfare and aplomb. And did you needcounselling after you escaped? Let's hear it.

    by Emily Minthorn

    aNd you thought you

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    GOODBYECOFFEE BREATH

  • 7/31/2019 jobpostings Magazine (April 2011)

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    april 2011 | jobpostings.ca8

    aQDescribe a specific situationwhen you built a good workingrelationship with others?

    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* interview

    by Paul Sayers

    Aboriginal Recruitment Consultant

    @Hydro One Networks

    The ability to create and maintain successful

    working relationships is an essential component

    of success in any job. However, people skills

    do not come naturally or easily to all people.

    Although work experience and education are

    two critical criteria in obtaining a position,

    increasingly it is the personality of the candidatethat sets them apart from their competitors and

    successfully lands them the job.

    Relationship building is important for numerous

    reasons, but in the workplace its a valuable skill

    to have in everyday dealings with co-workers,

    and equally important if your job requires you

    to work with external clients.

    This is one of my favourite questions because

    it allows me to gauge how a candidate

    interacts with people, how they would work

    on a team and how their relationship building

    process works. It is an immediate indicator

    of a candidates personality since those who

    are people persons tend to respond in areasonable amount of time and have numerous

    life experiences to pull from to answer this

    question. Candidates who struggle with this

    question tend to lack a proper response or sit in

    uncomfortable silence.

    Ive seen several candidates go into a tailspin in

    a job interview because they struggle with this

    question. However, if people skills are not your

    strong point, here are a few tips to remember if

    you want to develop this skill:

    Be open and friendly to everyone. Treat others

    the way you like to be treated. Its simple, buteffective.

    Be yourself but remember to keep it within a

    professional context.

    Become a good listener. People skills are not

    only about being an effective communicator,

    but also about really listening to what a co-

    worker or business contact is saying. Effective

    two way communication is the end result if

    all parties involved are engaged and really

    listening to what the other person is saying.

    Find out if your school offers public speaking

    workshops or clubs, and sign up and join. It is

    proven that active participation in these groups

    leads to improved communication skills.

    Maintain semi-regular contact with co-workers

    and business clients who are not a part of your

    everyday work day. A short email to touch

    base with them every few months says that

    you value them as a colleague/client. This will

    always be beneficial especially if there is a

    possibility that you may work more closely with

    them in the future.

    These are some of the tips that have worked

    for me and guided me throughout my

    career. Remember, when you are applying

    for a position, your competition may have an

    equivalent level of experience and education,

    but in an increasingly competitive job market, a

    person with exceptional interpersonal skills will

    walk away with the job.

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    As a fast-paced and growing organization, Aecon is

    actively interested in talented new and soon-to-be

    graduates looking to begin their careers in the

    construction and infrastructure development industry

    Challenging work, diverse opportunities, a learning

    culture, the latest technologies and room to grow:

    as a 50 Best Employer and the largest publicly tradedconstruction and infrastructure development compan

    in Canada, Aecon can offer you that and more.

    From the CN Tower to the Calgary Olympic Oval, from

    power plants and hospitals to highways and gas

    distribution networks, Aecon has been building things

    that matter for over a century.

    Build a career that matters with Aecon.

    Aecon offers many opportunities to begin and continu

    your career.

    Visit our website to learn more about opportunities fo

    Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers as well as

    Engineering and Construction Technologists

    To apply:

    http://careers.aecon.com/BuildingCareers.aspx

    Send your resume, quoting Grad Opportunities

    in the subject line.

    www.aecon.com

    A Place to Build Your FutureWe welcome talented students and graduates to join our team.

  • 7/31/2019 jobpostings Magazine (April 2011)

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    areer

    upid

    stayed home in Canada

    and got buried in more

    snow. Okay, so, I guess its

    not hard to see the begin-

    ning of the attraction.

    But it didnt end there.

    There were campus tours

    and meetings with fasci-

    nating faculty and students

    from all over the world.

    There was even some over-

    coming of adversity (Im

    always a sucker for that)

    as we learned about what

    its like to live in a place

    where there isnt a singleTim Hortons or Starbucks

    (or even reliable electricity).

    But most of all, there was

    an incredible community

    of people who were so pas-

    sionate about what they

    were doing that it made me

    want to join them.

    Now, weve gone our sep-

    arate ways and I wont lie,

    Im feeling quite bereft.

    Its as if Ive been dating apretty hot guy and he also

    happens to come with a

    great family. Even though,

    yknow, officially, Im

    already in a committed

    career relationship here

    in Canada.

    You dont have to stay in

    the same job forever, but,

    my little crush is a prime

    example of how easily and

    quickly you can complicate

    your career. Most students

    I see dont have a long-

    term job that theyre being

    wooed away from, but they

    often mess up their career

    relationships because of a

    crush, nonetheless.

    A most common career

    blunder is students who

    accept a job offer (the

    Christine Fader works as a career counsellor at Queens University and is the author of, Career

    Cupid: Your Guide to Landing and Loving Your Dream Job. Visit her website at careercupid.com

    Im recuperating from

    a crush. You know the

    feeling. You cant stop

    thinking about them,

    you wonder what theyredoing right now and you

    daydream that theyre

    dying to call you.

    I thought I looked pretty

    good. I wore the good

    shoes and took my fancier

    pens, and it seemed as

    if there was yknow

    chemistry. They stood

    there day after day, all

    friendly and interesting

    and sort of twinkly to

    boot and they made me

    get a crush on them, even

    though Im already in a

    long-standing relationship.

    Funny, how an invitation

    from a Caribbean medical

    school can do that to a

    girl. I was invited to tour

    their Miami and Dominica

    campuses in February

    while my regular job

    myheatineart

    by Christine Fader

    romantic equivalent of

    getting engaged) but dont

    notify outstanding job ap-

    plications that theyre now

    employed (the romantic

    equivalent of continuing to

    date while youre engaged).

    It happens easily. After all,

    you have to hedge your

    bets, right? You apply to

    more than one job to help

    increase the odds that

    someone will want to

    interview you and hope-

    fully offer you a job. And

    from there, its one small

    step to drama which can

    end badly.

    Perhaps the outstanding

    applications look a little

    more appealing but youdont want to lose out on

    a job in hand for a job you

    dont know youll get. So,

    you accept the first job

    but sort of stick it in your

    pocket and keep going to

    other interviews or waiting

    for the call from the other

    jobs. You might not think

    its a big thing but if you

    do get offered something

    by hot job down the street,

    first job is not going to be

    happy to be thrown over.

    And sometimes that

    unhappiness has teeth

    that will bite your career

    for some time to come. Re-

    cruiters in particular fields

    often know each other. You

    might want to work for the

    first organization at some

    point in the future. You

    will probably see the first

    organization at industryevents and how awkward

    will that be? In particularly

    harsh cases, first organiza-

    tion might actually sue

    you for reneging on your

    job offer because youre

    breaking a legal contract.

    Its like a big ol Hollywood

    divorce and you thought

    that all you were doing

    was backing out of a job at

    Flap Jack Attack.

    So, before you accept a

    job, ask for time to make

    the decision. Then, weigh

    the pros and cons. Even

    though the jobs you are

    dreaming about look really

    amazing, its important to

    note that most times, you

    will rarely be accepting A

    PERFECT JOB. There are

    always compromises to

    make.

    Ask yourself: on balance,

    can I give and gain some-

    thing from this job that

    makes it worth pursuing at

    this time?

    Dont accept a job until

    youre ready. And once you

    do accept it (remember, its

    like getting engaged!), with-

    draw from the outstanding

    applications you have out

    there. There will always be

    things that look like better

    options so remind yourself

    that you are leaving those

    exciting possibilities intactfor the future.

    As for me, I have steeled

    myself against my Carib-

    bean crush by reminding

    myself of something I

    hadnt fully considered

    while I was dreaming about

    my hot new, palm tree ca-

    reer: life without Starbucks.

    I love my Canadian job.

    april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

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    the lastimpi

    by Allison Mitchell

    F u You may or may not have to follow up after an inter-

    view. It will really depend on what the interviewer

    told you about the timeline of the interview process

    (and if they didnt tell you this timeline, then that

    should have been one of your questions!). For ex-

    ample, if they told you that they would be contact-

    ing you with their decision within a week and it has

    been two weeks since your interview, then by all

    means, follow up. Maybe you werent the successful

    candidate or maybe the interview process got tem-

    porarily sidetracked; either way, you want to know.

    You can follow up with a phone call first, and if theinterviewer isnt available, then send an email. Just

    let them know that you are following up on the in-

    terview that you had on (insert date) for (insert po-

    sition title) and you are wondering if a decision has

    been made. If you were not the successful candidate,

    then ask for feedback; you can use this information

    to improve your chances the next time you go to an

    interview. Following up in a professional manner is a

    great last impression to leave them with.

    A great first impression is extremely important, but

    you cannot rely solely on that first impression. You

    have to follow through and leave an equally great

    last impression. Even though I am referring to only

    the first and last impressions, you really need to

    bring your A-game to the whole interview; there is

    no room for coasting in an interview. Some people

    are so nervous about the interview that they breathe

    a sigh of relief when the interviewer stops asking

    questions and they dont follow through on the last

    impression. The first and last impressions tend to

    make the most impact, so keep this in mind the next

    time you are in an interview and thank you for tak-

    ing the time to read about last impressions!

    Everyone knows how important it is to make a great

    first impression; especially when you go to a job in-

    terview. You spend time preparing for the interview

    and looking your best so that you can wow the inter-

    viewer, but have you ever thought about the last im-

    pression that you are leaving? Imagine that youve

    made a stellar first impression but didnt bother

    worrying about the end of the interview: what im-

    pression is the interviewer left with? Its that last im-

    pression that can propel you into the next round of

    interviews, so you need to make it memorable.

    inn in In my mind, the last impression starts as soon as

    the interviewer gives you an opportunity to ask

    your questions. This is a fantastic opportunity

    to learn more about the position, the team, the

    manager, the company, and the next steps in the

    interview process. Use this opportunity! Failing to

    ask questions means that you dont get the infor-

    mation that you need in order to make an informed

    decision of whether this position and company are

    the right fit for you (remember: when you go to an

    interview, you should be interviewing the com-

    pany as much as the company is interviewing you).

    It could also tell the interviewer that you arent in-

    terested enough in the position or company to pre-

    pare and ask questions. Is that an impression that

    you want to leave the interviewer with?

    cn in Once the interviewer has finished asking their

    questions and you have finished asking yours, its

    time to say goodbye. This goodbye may happen

    wherever your interview took place or, if the inter-

    viewer walks you out, it may happen at the frontdoor of the companys building. This could be the

    last face to face contact you have with the inter-

    viewer: shake their hand, look them in the eye and

    thank them for their time and the opportunity to

    meet. Most people are pretty good at this, but it is

    so simple that everybody should be doing it. Start-

    ing to walk out the door and then turning around

    to do this step as an afterthought doesnt count.

    tn-y N You made it through the interview and you have

    left the building congratulations! But, you still

    arent done with making a good last impression.

    The next step is to send a thank-you note. Some

    interviewers dont put a lot of weight on receiving

    a thank-you note while some consider it extremely

    important. Play it safe and always send a thank-

    you note, and while you never know how the in-

    terviewer feels about them, it certainly cant hurt;

    it can only help you. An interviewer will be meeting

    with several people so why not give them another

    reason to remember you?

    Now the question: email or handwritten thank-you

    note? Tough call. It really comes down to timing.

    If you know that the interviewer will be making a

    decision quickly, then email is a good option. If you

    know that the decision will be made in a week or

    so, then try a handwritten note. If you are local to

    the company, then drop it off instead of relying on

    the mail. Even when dropping it off at the compa-

    ny, it may take a few days to get to the right person,

    so keep that in mind.

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    softskills

    Imag

    e:

    iStockphoto

    .com/JennyHorne

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    14 april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

    K

    end

    a

    n

    etmaK

    e

    Interviewed byJason Rhyno

    23 years old. Athlete, coach, student

    and owner of Moose Meat Apparel: The

    first clothing company in Canada to

    create, support and develop Aboriginal

    youth-based sports teams and have sales

    year-round. Studying Native Studies at

    University of Saskatchewan.

    ACE 2011 Student Entrepreneur

    Saskatchewan Champion.

    Where did the inspiration come from for Moose

    Meat Apparel?

    It all started back on my mens volley ball team. We

    started calling ourselves moose meat, and basi-

    cally that name kind of created a big fan base for

    us. People liked our name, they liked our slogan, our

    humour everything. So I thought theres an op-

    portunity here to make a clothing line because of

    the response, and theres also an opportunity to do

    something good with it as well, as in creating more

    sports teams with the name Moose Meat.

    Can you tell me a little about those initial stages of

    getting Moose Meat off the ground?

    I found some mentors to help me because I dont

    have a business background. I made my first busi-

    ness plan and I entered in a few business competi-

    tions, one being the Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge

    in Saskatchewan, and the second one being the Wil-

    son IQ Idea Challenge at U of S. I ended up finishing

    first in the Aboriginal one and fifth in the Wilson

    one. So thats how my start up plan came, and thats

    how I was able to get my first batch of inventory.

    You mentioned some mentors. How did you go

    about finding mentors?

    I found someone who was an Aboriginal cloth-

    ing company owner, and his name was Timothy

    Lewis. What he owns is Tansi Clothing; what he

    does is promote Aboriginal languages through

    his clothing. I asked him via Facebook if we could

    meet up, and thats how it all started. He met with

    me after classes and evenings once a week, and

    encouraged me to do this. He helped me with my

    first business plan as well.

    What were some of the biggest challenges at

    this stage?

    The first challenge for me was having the confi-

    dence in myself to do this. I dont have a business

    background; Ive never taken a business class be-

    fore, even prior to starting the business. I think that

    was the biggest challenge believing in myself.

    The competitions really gave me that confidence.

    If I hadnt won any of the startup competitions, I

    wouldnt have started right away

    Can you talk about the importance of sports in re-

    lation to youth? There are some funding problems

    with sports and youth teams here in Canada. Im

    curious as to your thoughts on that.

    Ive seen the problem back when I was growing up

    that Aboriginal youth had trouble being a part

    of mainstream sports teams. The primary reason

    for that was funding and the whole income situ-

    ation. Thats what I faced as a youth. I had trouble

    getting to and from the city to play on the volleyball

    team. I was fortunate to be gifted in many sports,

    but I could only afford to play one sport, and I think

    I could have excelled in all of them. But I was still

    fortunate to play volleyball and it carried me on to

    college; I played two years there then transferred to

    U of S. Thats why I created these sports teams as

    well as pursue my clothing line, because Ive seen

    what it does for me, Ive seen what it does for my

    friends, some of whom are top players in Canada.

    Sports are very powerful and thats one area that

    needs to be developed, funding-wise for sure.

    How do you think sports can combat some of the

    traps that a lot of youth fall into, especially Aborigi-

    nal youth?

    The first thing is being part of a team. I think be-

    ing part of a team allowed me to open up, because,

    for a lot of First Nations people, were brought up

    a little differently than mainstream society, espe-

    cially if you live on a reserve. Were more traditional

    and taught to not be too open to everything, so I

    guess being part of a team kind of opened me up

    that way and helped me meet new people. And it

    helped me develop my skills one of them being

    confidence. I probably wouldnt have been as confi-

    dent today without the sports that Ive played. And

    I think if more Aboriginal youth would find theseteams to play on, we could develop more positive

    things for the Aboriginal communities.

    Any advice for students starting their own business?

    I would find really positive people to inspire you,

    because thats the hardest part just believing

    that you can do it. I was the only one holding myself

    back from pursuing this idea. If you find positive

    people to help you, they will really help you start up

    any idea you have.

    startup

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    affectshowyour

    career

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    Imag

    e:

    iStockphoto

    .com/OlenaChernenko

    It is a frequent

    refrain: a

    post-secondary

    education is

    the key to a

    professional

    job. And a professional

    job should be ones

    ticket to saving a nest

    egg, purchasing a

    home, perhaps starting

    a family, and saving for

    retirement. Students,

    for the most part, tend

    to be comfortable

    financing their post-

    secondary education

    with loans; they are told

    that this is good debt.

    Yet todays graduates

    are facing difficult deci-

    sions when it comes to

    managing their money

    and career. Nearly

    60 percent of Cana-

    dian post-secondary

    students graduate with

    some form of debt, andthe average Canadian

    graduate owes tens of

    thousands of dollars.

    Its a debt that can tie

    your hands, holding

    you back from moving

    onto the next stage of

    your life.

    by Laura Manuel

    jobpostings.ca | april 2011

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    STUDENTS GRADUATINGWITH STUDENT DEBT

    1995

    2005

    %

    %

    the average debt for

    university graduates doubled

    between 1990 and 2000

    CURRENT AVERAGE DEBT

    UNIVERSITYvs. COLLEGE

    $26,680 $13,600

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    meet university graduateJordan Stanley from Na-naimo, British Columbia.Hes well educated butparalyzed with debt. Two years after graduating

    from Thompson Rivers University with a tourism

    degree, Stanley went back to school. I was having

    trouble finding a well-paying job in the tourismfield, and my student loan payments were diffi-

    cult to manage on my monthly income. Stanley

    returned to school to study accounting, taking on

    more student debt. With over $50,000 in student

    loans, he now feels immobilized when he consid-

    ers his career. I have been forced to take jobs that

    I really didnt want because I need to pay back my

    student loans. The jobs that I have taken have usu-

    ally not been in the area that I wanted, or even in

    the firms that I wanted to work for.

    At Wilfred Laurier University Career Centre, career

    advisors confirm there is a trend in how students

    approach their career search. Anecdotally speak-

    ing, we would say with debt increasing, students

    are more apt to take the first job that comes along

    versus investing energy, volunteer time, and more

    money on additional credentials to pursue a more

    lucrative paying career. Students have a sense of

    urgency to just pay the bills, and that means ob-

    taining a career becomes second to getting a job

    to pay their debt.

    In the fall of 2010, the Canadian Council on Learn-

    ing (CCL) released a report about the long-term

    consequences of student debt. According to the

    CCL, the average debt for university graduates dou-bled between 1990 and 2000. Today, the average

    debt for university graduates is $26,680, while the

    average for college graduates is $13,600. The report

    also found that the proportion of students gradu-

    ating with student debt increased from 49 per cent

    in 1995 to 57 percent in 2005.

    These high debt loads are impacting the career

    choices of graduates. There is evidence that current

    post-secondary students are keen to secure a career

    with the government or work in the not-for-profit

    industry. But these aspirations may evaporate when

    graduates, like Jordan Stanley, are faced with a largestudent loan and juggling day-to-day living expens-

    es. Erin Mills, senior research analyst with the CCL,

    agrees. Some [graduates] may re-consider their ca-

    reer choice, particularly in the event of poor wages.

    The CCLs report also found that large student debt

    affects more than careers. As Mills explains, Gradu-

    ates who had borrowed were less likely than non-

    borrowing graduates to have retirement savings and

    investments, and were less likely to own their own

    homes. Stanley confirms that he is part of the group

    that Mills refers to, admitting that hes had to put off

    buying a house. I have no savings for retirement.

    is it worth it?

    w hile student debt increases,the outlook is still optimisticfor new graduates. Accordingto the University of Albertasmost recent employment survey, those with a post-

    secondary education are likely to secure better pay-

    ing jobs in the long-run. The key is to avoid a hap-

    hazard approach to attending college/university.

    A post-secondary education is an investment. And,like any serious financial investment, a strategic ap-

    proach is best.

    Bronwyn Rice, student aid administrator at McGill

    University, encourages students to approach their

    education with an investment-like strategy. Rather

    than get bogged down in loans that may be misdi-

    rected, Rice advises students to carefully examine

    and plan for their education, finances and career.

    Students need to be realistic about their postgrad-

    uate earning power relative to their level of educa-

    tion underestimating that could be dangerous,

    explains Rice.

    The career advisors at Wilfrid Laurier University

    echo Rice. They encourage students to consider

    their reasons for pursuing a post-secondary de-

    gree. Before embarking on additional education,

    they suggest that you do effective occupational

    research. This way, you can assess whether or not a

    degree/diploma is worth the time and money.

    Sometimes, the post-secondary education road is

    not the best fit for an individual. Taking a year or

    two off to think about ones education and finances

    is a sign of wisdom, not foolishness. Once a stu-

    dent has calculated the cost versus the resources

    available, it may indeed come to light that suspend-

    ing studies is a better option than going into more

    debt, says Rice.

    maNagiNg studeNt debt

    f or many students, financing their edu-

    cation with loans is a given. The key tohaving student debt is effective manage-

    ment. Rice suggests making a budget of

    monthly expenses, and accounting for

    where borrowed money is spent. She also

    stresses that government student loans are su-

    perior to bank loans, credit cards or lines of credit.

    All Canadian government guaranteed loans are

    interest free for the student while they are [study-

    ing] full time. With all programs there is also a pos-

    sibility of loan forgiveness should the student finish

    their studies within the prescribed time frame, so

    the overall debt could be reduced.

    Dont underestimate other sources of financial sup-

    port, either. Rice advises students to consider other

    methods of financing their education: savings,

    part-time work, scholarships/grants, and family

    support. They can help decrease the amount you

    need to borrow year after year, and much of it you

    dont need to pay back.

    Tracy Watson from Money Mentors, an Alberta-

    based credit counselling organization, warns that

    young graduates are often not aware of how much

    debt they have accumulated. She recommends

    writing out a list of debts including student loan

    payments, credit cards, and any other debts such

    as car loans. This way, you can have a clear picture

    of how much you owe and when it is due. Watson

    encourages new graduates to seek help if they are

    having difficulty managing their debt. Credit Coun-

    selling Canada is an organization that can assist

    graduates. Often, free credit counselling is available.

    lookiNg Forward

    r

    ice maintains that Higher education

    is surely worth the cost. The key is to

    apply a strategic approach when taking

    on student debt. And, if necessary, have

    the courage and wisdom to take time off from pur-

    suing higher education to re-evaluate ones strat-

    egy. This way, debt can be kept to a minimum and

    easily managed when you embark on your shiny,

    new career.

    Stanley admits that in retrospect he might have

    done things a little differently. I think I would have

    definitely tried harder in my classes and applied for

    more scholarships and grants than I did.

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    upon many areas of medicine, Yip explains,

    having a solid grounding in biology, chemistryand physiology, in addition to ones core engi-

    neering training, chemical/mechanical/elec-

    trical/et cetera is essential in order to fully

    understand the complexity of the biomedical

    problems. The scope of work is mind-boggling-

    ly enormous, he says, adding that thats also

    what makes it such an attractive field. There

    are opportunities for individuals with core

    training in all of the classic engineering fields.

    So while an undergraduate degree is definitely

    enough to enter the field, an advanced degree

    will prepare you for a more focused position.

    Meanwhile, over at Ryerson University, Peyman

    Moeini is studying in his third year of biomedi-

    cal engineering. Biomedical engineering [at

    Ryerson University] is an engineering discipline

    that is closely related to electrical engineering,

    adding that its 60 percent electrical, 20 percent

    science and 20 percent mechanical. Students

    in the field are expected to become highly spe-

    cialized engineers, applying these engineering

    skills toward different disciplines of medicine.

    [Medical] devices are rapidly becoming more

    complex, meaning strong knowledge in both

    engineering and science [are] required to designmedical machines, Moeini explains, stressing

    the importance of how the electrical and me-

    chanical tie into the science when it comes to

    creating biomedical tools and equipment.

    Yip speaks of the future of biomedical engi-

    neering positively, calling it not only bright but

    talking of the huge opportunities being brought

    Its alive! Oh, in the name of God! Now I know

    what it feels like to be God! Dr. Frankensteinshouts none too subtly to the skies in the 1931

    film you guessed it Frankenstein, thus

    becoming one of the most iconic portrayals of

    what could be fictions first modern biomedi-

    cal engineer.

    Okay, so todays biomedical engineers are a bit

    classier than Dr. Frankenstein was, but the basic

    idea is more or less the same: apply engineering

    techniques to the many fields of medicine. Only

    instead of dirty old used body parts dug up from

    Victorian graveyards, biomedical engineers are

    in the business of putting people back togetherusing brand spankin new, state of the art artifi-

    cial bits and pieces. From joints and limbs to or-

    gans and tissues, what were seeing today rivals

    any mad scientist of fiction as far as displaying

    the ambitious drive toward a future where hu-

    man beings can be fixed as easy as any vehicle.

    Engineering has always been about solving

    problems, explains Christopher Yip, associate

    director of graduate studies for the biomedi-

    cal engineering program at the University of

    Toronto. In biomedical engineering, the focus

    is now on solving problems in the medical con-

    text. Its a discipline of medicine that has had,

    and will continue to have, significant impacts in

    the world of health care. Biomedical engineers

    are involved in everything from medical devices

    [and] imaging to regenerative medicine. Stem

    cell bioengineering, tissue engineering and bio-

    materials to biosensors and diagnostics devices

    to rehabilitation engineering and clinical care.

    Yip goes on to explain the potential for rapid

    diagnosis of disease and facilitating treatment

    strategies to cure disease. He breaks down the

    engineering approach to help in all aspects of

    health care delivery: From diagnosis to preven-tion, treatment, rehabilitation and cure.

    Obviously its a field for not only the forward

    thinking but the creative as well. So now youre

    thinking, Great! With biomedical engineering

    having its finger in so many delicious medical

    pies Ill have no problem choosing an area to

    specialize in! So just what should you know

    before heading in to a biomedical engineering

    program? Well, because its a field that touches

    the brightfuture of

    biomedicalengineering

    To Boldly Go

    byJeff Sebancindustryinsiders

    forward by exploiting some of the exciting new

    insights in stem cell biology, systems biology,

    regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, bio-

    sensing... Its obvious he could go on for hours

    discussing the possibilities. Of course there are

    always the more conventional applications as

    well, such as medical devices and robotics. Be-

    ing receptive to new advances is important, he

    explains, as well as being able to understand

    and work within them.

    So perhaps the Frankenstein analogy isnt too far

    off. With the future potential of biomedical engi-

    neering looking vastly infinite, whos to say what

    incredible advances in medicine might be discov-

    ered just dont attack anyone with pitchforks.

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    at thext-ook cantach ya.

    industryinsiders

    by Andrew Williams

    ~ begin ~

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    ingisbettReading is great, but doing is better.

    Think of any field, and youre bound to find successful

    people who didnt wait for school to teach them how to do

    their job. Instead, they dove headlong into what they love,

    turning a passion into a skill and becoming the best at what

    they do. And like knives, skills need to be honed and sharp-

    ened, especially in the trade industry where skills are an as-

    set. In this industry, hobbies and extra-curricular activities

    are your whetstone.

    Landscaping is among the more accessible trade careers

    out there. Indeed, serious revenue is made here, enough to

    make it into a full-time job. But landscaping also presents

    the perfect mode to get a taste of a major trade industry

    when not in class. Manufacturing is another area where

    fields often overlap, including fabricating and construction.

    Apart from that, home renovation allows students to work

    with lighting, windows, wiring, and roofing with proper

    safety equipment and supervision.

    Car modification is a great way for auto enthusiasts to get a

    hands on feel of the automotive industry, especially if you

    plan on being a mechanic or engineer. Vehicle customization

    can help you develop a keen knowledge on the multitude of

    car parts from the various manufacturers, and also learn the

    basics of automobile assembly and aesthetics. Nick Samain,

    show manager for the Canadian Manufacturing Technology

    Getinspiredat www.grocerycareers.ca

    Wheres the action? Just about everywhere from

    grocery to warehousing, from store management to

    store design, from marketing to real estate.

    You could be a store manager running a multi-

    million dollar operation, a pharmacist dispensing

    pharmaceuticals to customers, or a grocery clerk

    making sure shelves are stocked and customers

    are served.

    Whatever your career interests are, youll find a

    career path thats right for you.

    Bag one in the grocery industry.

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    Show (CMTS), says The larger demographics of

    attendees that youll find coming to CMTS is for

    the automotive industry. Samain is a four-wheel

    drive enthusiast himself, and an active partici-

    pant at a Jeep club. Definitely, motor sports are

    something. From a student perspective, you dont

    need to have a lot of money, you just need to ask

    around and ask if you can help out and volunteer.

    The good thing about those types of communities

    is that youd mostly find people who want to pass

    on the knowledge provided theres interest.

    CMTS is just one of the trade shows that could

    help students prepare for a career, aside from

    hobbies. These exhibitions are one of the best

    ways to see what the industry has to offer and

    network with others. CMTS heads to Toronto

    every two years, and of the 10,000 attendees,

    roughly 700 to 1,000 of them are students in

    the trade and manufacturing industry. We see

    two types of students, says Samain. We see theones who come to the show dressed any way

    they want, and walk around for magnets and

    pens. [But also] we see a lot of students who

    come to the show, and theyre looking at this as

    a real opportunity to go and make connections.

    Paul Maryschak, BUILDEX show director, adds

    that its the responsibility of the student to get

    out there and meet people. Its all up to the

    individual student as far as how effective they

    are with [networking], says Maryschak. He ex-

    plains that at the BUILDEX expos, held annually

    in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary, you have

    the chance to meet representatives from various

    companies dealing with interior design, renova-

    tion, construction, and real estate management.

    You also have to opportunity to meet top execs

    and vice-presidents, who walk the show floor

    and attend the seminars themselves. If you

    want to meet with some higher-ups, theres defi-

    nitely plenty of opportunity there.

    At the core of any trade hobby is the idea that

    practice makes perfect. Samain asserts that

    when it comes to the field of design, students

    should work it into their daily routine, even if

    theyre designing something for their apartment.In addition, schools typically make computer

    programs in design available for students at dirt

    cheap prices, so saying youre broke is no excuse.

    The more adept you are with a skill set, the eas-

    ier it could be to transfer it from one field to an-

    other, explains Maryschak. Just because youre

    in interior design doesnt mean you have to work

    for an interior design company; you may end up

    working for a builder, he says.

    One thing to note with some types of trades is

    that they require supervision, especially for nov-

    ices. This makes having one as a basement hobbyrather difficult. So whether youre working with

    heavy machinery or hazardous material in the

    classroom, or sharpening your welding skills in

    your garage, make sure youre doing it with some-

    one whos experienced. If youre going to try

    something, ask, Samain insists.

    Learning never depended on having to open a

    text book. In fact its quite the opposite. Its the

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    Imag

    es:PreviousPage-DigitalVision/Thinkstock;Current-GeorgeDoyle/Stockbyte/Thinkstock

    ~ end ~

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    by Andrew Williams

    Lately, theres definitely been a big push in the portable iPhones, iPads, tablets and that kind of thing, says An-

    tonio Santamaria, head of engineering at Ottawas Artech Studios. He explains that touch interfaces and different

    kinds of input mechanisms are making these portable devices, including cell phones, an avenue where the industry

    is heading. Also, more opportunities are becoming available for teams to be working on content aimed at portable

    and mobile markets. Alex Hyder, studio lead at Playfish Montreal, adds that mobile devices have been contributing

    to the popularity of social network games, which have introduced whole new groups of people to this market.

    PickyourChar-

    acter

    In the old days, video games were confined to the vice of socially awkward, sports-phobic nerds who sat in

    front of the Nintendo and saw dating as a horrifying and alien concept. Or so the stereotype goes. But now,

    video games themselves have matured and hit the dating scene, so to speak, and are among Canadas most

    diverse and fastest growing markets of the past decade. If you aim to get in this industrys entourage, thereare a number of roles that can suit your skills, background, and what youre passionate about.

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    27jobpostings.ca | april 2011

    Animators typically work

    with powerful software en-

    gines such as Maya and 3D

    Studio MAX. Like the other

    areas of development, ani-

    mators work as a team along

    with the artists and mod-

    elers. Usually, we look for

    people who have the techni-

    cal skills and the traditional

    artistic ones you would learn

    doing old fashioned anima-

    tion, says Santamaria. They

    would also work closely withprogrammers, as this area

    may require a programmers

    coding expertise.

    Modelers are a distinct but

    related role in game devel-

    opment. You can almost

    think of them as digital

    sculptors, says Hyder. Mod-

    elers design any object the

    animators must bring to life,

    while artists provide details

    such as texture.

    industryinsiders

    [Producers] a more senior

    role, says Santamaria. Its

    not something youll start out

    as. Producers play a supervi-

    sor role and oversee much ofthe logistical and marketing

    aspects of a game (much like

    in film), and work closely with

    management. Thats not to

    say game producers have no

    technical know-how. Usu-

    ally theyve come up from a

    development role, so theyve

    been in the trenches, says

    Santamaria. I wouldnt ex-

    pect a producer to crack open

    some code and start writ-

    ing something, but certainly

    when your development

    team is saying they cant do

    something, you should have

    an idea why.

    Another senior level posi-

    tion. These folks are more

    conceptual and less tech-nical. As a designer youll

    conceive of the content of

    the game, layout, and even

    its overall theme. [Game]

    Designers are typically very

    difficult to categorize, says

    Hyder, explaining how some

    might have PhDs in philoso-

    phy, while others might be

    writers. They come from all

    over. A game designer may

    not necessarily deal with

    any of the programming,

    but typically knows scripting

    language and would work

    closely with the program-

    ming team among others.

    Perhaps the most multi-fac-

    eted aspect of game develop-

    ment. In the gaming industry,

    programmers write the code

    for game engines, which can

    be tweaked here and there to

    determine how the finished

    product would look and feel..

    Programmers also code forthe base functions of charac-

    ters, game play, even sound.

    Theyre essentially the tool

    and die makers in this in-

    dustry, but work closely with

    many other personnel on the

    development team.

    Its a fairly comprehensive

    role in that they deal with au-

    dio mixing, music and sound

    tracks, and sound effects.

    Making realistic sounding

    dialogue is very difficult, says

    Hyder, explaining the play-by-

    play in sports games such as

    Madden and NBA Live. Sound

    design requires considerable

    technical proficiency to suc-

    cessfully compile all the raw

    sound data into a cohesive

    package that would weave

    seamlessly during game play.

    Before official release, games

    are tested for quality assur-

    ance, ranging from compli-

    ance to corporate guidelines,

    compatibility, bugs, and oth-

    er issues. Essentially yourresponsibilities are to verify

    the integrity of the game it-

    self and verify that it meets

    the criteria thats necessary

    for it to get published, says

    Santamaria. Gamers might

    be familiar with beta testing,

    which is when a developer

    allows external users, mostly

    volunteers, to test the prod-

    uct and relay feedback to

    the development team. This

    method reveals bugs the

    programmers may have

    missed, but also gives game

    enthusiasts a chance to get a

    taste of the industry.

    Employers such as EA and Artech Studios are looking for students who have

    a technical background in scripting, art, programming, and communication

    skills. But as always, having that hands-on experience outside of your studies

    would really make you stand out.

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    28 april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

    school teacher Mr.Davis always said, arm yourself with knowledge

    and utilize it to the max, he recalls. The more experience you

    have and knowledge you develop, the more an individual stands

    out from the next candidate.

    Its true that some people work their way up from the ground-floor,

    but sometimes there are other ways to prove yourself. While attend-

    ing Humber College of Business, Khangura heard from his classmate

    Meetul Shah about the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program.

    As a non-profit initiative of Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship

    (ACE), the program aims to help students become adept at business

    through the development of projects that better their communities.

    At the time, I was working for myself, doing video production and

    providing DJ services for various private events, says Khangura. His

    classmates passion about starting a SIFE group on-campus inspired

    him. Being an entrepreneur at heart, I spoke with Meetul and of-

    fered my services to assist with the start up at no cost.

    As he became more familiar with the program, he assumed more

    of a hands-on role in the campus group and opportunities arose

    from there. Through SIFE, Khangura was offered a summer intern-

    ship at Walmart that carried on as a part-time job while in school,

    doing special projects for the company. He has now accepted a full-

    time position as an Assistant Store Manager when he graduates.

    The ACE initiative had helped generate an interest from employers

    in recruiting a SIFE student, he explains. I wouldnt have had the

    opportunity to meet with employers at that particular time in my

    education without the program.

    Once youve got your foot in the door, its important to maintain

    the upward momentum. It can be hard to get noticed, says Diotte.Offering to take on anything that helps the team achieve com-

    mon goals and making yourself the go-to person definitely helps.

    When things go wrong at work, opportunities can arise. Some peo-

    ple are lucky in that they find themselves in a situation that can

    make them shine, says Laurent Lapierre, an associate professor at

    the University of Ottawas Telfer School of Management. A crisis

    can provide a chance to show commitment to the firm, but it can also be risky, he warns.

    It can reveal a persons lack of managerial potential.

    Another way to advance is to keep communication open. If theres no formal performance

    feedback provided, ask your boss to help you identify areas for growth, offers Diotte. That

    way youll know your boss is paying closer attention to your performance and youll under-

    stand how you can develop to meet your goals. It might seem obvious to you, but it doesnthurt to let others know of your ambition. The first step is letting your employer know

    youre interested in moving up, says Khangura. Once a manager is aware of an associ-

    ates development plan, theyll do their part in developing an individual to the level where

    they can perform that particular jobs duties. Checking your attitude and pre-conceptions

    at the door is advisable. Avoid assumptions that you wont have a good relationship with

    your boss, says Lapierre. Carefully determine what your boss expects from you. Put simply,

    they will invest more time in helping you progress if they view you as having the talent and

    commitment to help achieve managerial objectives.

    Its also important not to burn out on the way to the top. Good friends have pulled me aside

    from the beginning and, even if it was only half an hour or so, we would hang out at a coffee

    shop, says Khangura. My family also stresses the importance of home-time. Those are the

    key ingredients in achieving a balance.

    by Kevin Nelson

    Those of us whove done time at a retail store know theres

    more to keeping it running smoothly than stocking prod-

    ucts and jockeying a register. Its a fine mix of customer ser-

    vice and business savvy. If youve got the drive and know-

    how, but feel like its a long ways from working the retail

    floor to sitting in that cushy office chair, dont despair. Its

    not impossible to climb that ladder youve just got to

    know where youre grabbing.

    While some of the more menial tasks associated with retail

    might appear pointless, putting your time in at the bottom

    doesnt have to be fruitless. Sometimes gaining experience

    in various departments can help you gain a better under-

    standing of how a business works at a macro-level, says

    Monique Diotte, career advisor at the University of Wind-

    sors Odette School of Business. It can make you a more

    effective manager with a more long-term perspective in

    your approach. As an entrepreneur and a business student,

    Sunny Khangura has learned this lesson well. Like my high

    climbiNg the re-tail ladder caNbe tricky, but you

    caNt beat theview From the top.

    industryinsiders

    NErungT A TIME

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    29jobpostings.ca | april 2011

    Boston Dubai ShanghaiSan Francisco London

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    Hult is accredited by:

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    TAKE THE CHILD AND YOUTH CARE DEGREE PROGRAM

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    april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

    prepare is through diligent work at the undergrad

    level, Sandys advises. Students should develop

    skills in critical analysis and reflective practice, and

    good, clear writing skills are a major asset. Also,

    experience working with diverse populations is a

    must the more, the better.

    A masters degree can be a valuable asset for recent

    graduates and experienced social workers alike. It

    enhances ones employability in the short run, says

    Sandys, and increases the likelihood of moving intosupervisory roles in the future. Of course, the deci-

    sion to pursue further education should always be

    subject to a persons view of the big picture. I think

    its important to have a clear understanding of what

    social work is, and why a student is choosing social

    work as a career, as opposed to law, sociology or an-

    other related field, says Litvack. A persons academic

    and practical background should also factor into

    the decision. Consider whether youve had a solid

    enough experiential background to get the benefit

    from advanced study, cautions Sandys. Students

    need to have a solid understanding of the societal

    factors that lead to the marginalization of certaingroups within society, and be deeply committed to

    issues of social justice and equity. This commitment

    is important, as the stakes are high and the road is

    long. I would urge prospective students to consider

    whether theyre up to the difficult but rewarding

    task of working to promote change, continues

    Sandys, even it requires years of dedicated effort.

    As the backbone of

    the Canadian social

    infrastructure, social

    workers are on the

    front lines, offering

    key services to peo-

    ple at risk. It can be

    a demanding line of

    work, and preparing

    to face the challeng-

    es that arise on the

    job takes a lot of mental and emotional stamina.

    University degrees in social work give a student the

    necessary skills, and the theoretical and practical

    background necessary to grapple with real-world

    problems. But knowing how far to pursue educa-

    tion to achieve ones career goals can be a dilemma

    in itself. If Masters or Bachelors? is a burning

    question in your mind when considering your ca-

    reer in social work, read on!

    Its important to note that policies and programs dif-

    fer from school to school in Canada, or even in On-

    tario alone. At Ryerson, we offer a one year Mastersprogram to those whove completed a Bachelors in

    Social Work, says Judith Sandys, interim director of

    the School of Social Work at the university. When

    screening applicants for the program, there are

    some important factors that come into play. We

    look for students who have demonstrated a high

    academic achievement in the Bachelors program,

    she continues. Also, ideally, people with substantial

    social work experience. At some universities, how-

    ever, its not necessary to have a Bachelors in Social

    Work to enter the masters program. A lot of people

    come from psychology, political science or womens

    studies backgrounds, or even other professions,

    such as law, nursing or teaching, observes Andrea

    Litvack, director of the Masters of Social Work pro-

    gram at the University of Toronto. The first year of

    our two year masters program is generic, introduc-

    ing students to various subjects that are important.

    By the end of the first year, however, the playing field

    is pretty level. Those with a Bachelors in Social Work

    enter the second year of the program.

    One of the differences between obtaining a masters

    and a bachelors in social work is the question of fo-

    cus. The bachelors is a generalist degree that pre-

    pares students to work in a variety of settings, while

    the masters is characterized by particular areas of

    specialization, says Sandys. The masters curricu-

    lum includes theories, policies and practices relevant

    to a students major area of social work practice.

    This is also the case at the University of Toronto. Our

    masters offers a specialized understanding of social

    work, explains Litvack. For example, if you choose topursue a specialization in mental health, youll have

    a much better grasp of issues, work and research in

    that area. Its not all theory, however, as Social Work

    is one of the more applied areas of the social scienc-

    es. At Ryerson, our masters program includes 450

    hours of field experience, confirms Sandys.

    As far as preparing to undertake a masters, there

    are some important things to keep in mind. Its an

    intellectually demanding degree, so the best way to

    If youre in the right place, one idea your idea can havea profound impact in far-reaching and unexpected places.

    Set your ideas in motion.Consider graduate studiesin health sciences at Queens

    www.queensu.ca/sgs

    What happens wheninspiration strikes?

    CREATE AN IMPACT

    by Kevin Nelson

    edu-ma-cation

    focal pointA Masters inSocial Workoffers a chance

    for specialization,

    but what are its

    applications?

    #

    more

    Humber

    foryouat

    www.mediastudies.humber.ca

    For further information please call 416.675.6622 ext 4111

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  • 7/31/2019 jobpostings Magazine (April 2011)

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    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 personalinvestment in our students, Brock is a great

    choice for your graduate education.

    Visit us at today at Brocku.ca

    graduate schooldirectory

    Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

    The University of Western OntariosSchulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

    provides state-of-the-art research facilities

    and mentorship by internationally recognized

    scientists. ZERO-TUITION incentive: find out

    how to get your grad degree for free.

    schulich.uwo.ca/gradstudies

    Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York,halfway between Toronto and New York City, IC offers 20 graduate

    degrees, many of which

    can be completed in 1

    year or less, leading to

    professional certification.

    ithaca.edu/gradprograms

    Ithaca College

    Queens University

    Queens 50+ graduate programsprovide students with world-class research

    opportunities and strong support to enrich

    your educational experience and advance

    your academic career. Expect an ideal

    environment to set your ideas in motion.

    www.queensu.ca/sgs

    Fanshawe College

    If you want to hit the job market withadvancedskills and stand out from the competition,check out Fanshawes Graduate Studies. In less than

    one year you could have the training you need. These

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    cation so you land not just a job but a career!

    fanshawec.ca/gradstudies

    Centennial College

    Centennial College is committed to successfulcareer education. The college offers more than 120

    diploma, post-diploma and certificate programs in

    business, communication and media arts, community

    and consumer services, engineering technology,health, hospitality and transportation.

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    The Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College has proudly boasted over 90% grad placement rate for the last 25 years! If you are

    passionate about business and love cars consider our Bachelor of Business -

    Automotive Management degreeor our Automotive Business

    diploma program.

    thecai.ca

    Canadian Automotive Institute

    Conestoga College

    Conestoga has been the number one ratedcollege in Ontario for nine of the last twelve

    years. Our graduates get jobs with a job

    placement rate of well over 90%! We have

    campuses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph,Stratford, Ingersoll and Cambridge.

    conestogac.on.ca

    Sheridan College

    Our one-year graduate certificate programs enhance yourdiploma or degree with a blend of theoretical knowledge and work

    experience that fully prepare you to launch your career. Choose from more

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    business, technology and

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    sheridaninstitute.ca

    Trent University

    Trents commitment to research excellence, innovation, andcollaboration has earned us a reputation as a progressive leader in graduate

    education. Whether we are talking about disciplinary or interdisciplinary

    programs, Trent is known for nurturing a vibrant intellectual

    community and scholars who are

    engaged, critical thinkers.

    trentu.ca/graduatestudies

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    32 april 2011 | jobpostings.ca

    with Ross Harrhy

    Ob

    life

    Often, its the time you put in during the first few

    months that count the most: youre learning the

    basics of your new job, the type of working envi-

    ronment that you are in, and proving that you

    should stay past the probation period.

    Show up early, and stay late.This is crucial for making a good impression; it

    shows that you want to be there getting your work

    done. You may not be able to do it all the time, but I

    think you should never let your boss be in the office

    before you, and if you can help it, you should rarely

    leave before he or she does. When your boss walks

    in and sees you sitting at your desk already knee

    deep in the days projects, they are bound to no-

    tice. When they sign off for the night and you are

    just finishing up another project, they will know

    that you are serious about what you do. Of course,

    you shouldnt be staying late because youve been

    dawdling all day on your regular tasks, but this is

    a great time to go the extra mile. Try it, youll besurprised how many of your colleagues dont use

    this simple practice to their advantage.

    Showing up ishalf the battle

    Go home sick, after youveshown up for work.I dont know about you, but I always feel guilty

    when I get sick, and worry that people think Im

    playing hooky. Not to mention, sometimes you

    may feel sick first thing in the morning and then

    feel fine a few hours later. So, unless Im vomiting

    all over myself and other horrible things which

    make it impossible to even get to work, I head

    out as usual and see how I feel once Im in the of-

    fice. Now I know what youre thinking: Then Im

    spreading my bug to all of my colleague