Career Blog
Whether you are graduating next fall or in three years, chances are you already know that your education does not stop at the classroom door, and that to attract job offers, you will need more than a business degree. The good news is that uOttawa students have a free, unlimited access to over 9,000 online courses related to business, media and technology through LinkedIn Learning, a self-service training site.
Not sure if this is for you at this time in your journey? Here are four reasons that make LinkedIn Learning an invaluable resource for all professionals, especially in the current context.
1. Fill the gaps on your resumé
Have you ever found THE perfect job posting for you, only to realize that you are missing one or two qualifications or assets to apply with confidence? You are not alone. What you need to do is to: 1) identify the knowledge and skills that might prevent you from landing interviews (or even applying for jobs!); and 2) start filling in the gaps.
While you’re at it: Whether you’re learning how to use Quickbooks or Python, manage change effectively, develop a digital marketing strategy, or apply blockchain theory, don’t forget to update your resumé as you go.
2. Optimize your Web presence for job-hunting purposes
No matter how strong your LinkedIn profile, it will never yield optimal results if you remain a passive user. Whenever you complete a course or training on LinkedIn, you have the option to letting your contacts know about your progress and interesting courses they could take themselves. As your training “library” grows, you will generate traffic, attract views, and reinforce your professional brand.
While you’re at it: Remember to update your Skills section as you go.
3. Improve your French for the workplace
LinkedIn Learning offers hundreds of business-focuses courses and training in French. By pursuing your professional development in the other official language, you will learn not only new concepts that apply to your industry, but also the specific vocabulary that you need to discuss them in a professional manner. Plus, if you are contemplating a career in the public sector, it is an excellent way to demonstrate your intention to perfect your French.
While you’re at it: Build on this new knowledge to create a French version of your LinkedIn profile.
4. Make the most of your current schedule
The beauty of LinkedIn Learning is that you can choose from a wide range of formats, from a 15-minute presentation to a 23-hour learning path, and every length in between. Why not set two specific goals for yourself: one for the next term and one for the whole year. By dedicating as little as a couple of hours a week for a full term, you will develop a solid foundation in the topic of your choice.
While you’re at it: Choose wisely for optimal employability. See the most sought-after hard and soft skills in 2020: https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/top-skills/the-skills-companies-need-most-in-2020and-how-to-learn-them.
Access LinkedIn Learning now: https://biblio.uottawa.ca/en/use-library/using-linkedin-learning-uottawa
“When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” (Billy Joel)
University is a weird phase for students.
It’s the official bridge between childhood and adulthood.
It’s a purgatory that blurs the line between what’s acceptable to do as a young adult finding one’s place in life and a grown-up ready to hit the ground running.
It’s a time where failures and mistakes are encouraged because as soon as you cross that graduation stage, people can’t chalk up the fact that you’re just a kid or a student.
University is a weird, but almost comforting phase for students.
So, why is everyone in such a rush?
Four years will come and go in a blink of an eye and in hindsight, the experiences and memories made in university will be cemented as an essential period in your life. The stigma for students that decide they want to change programs or for the students that just need a little break is almost taboo. The mere concept of graduating past four years brings up several questions that have an undertone of negative connotations like: “What happened?” or “Is everything okay?”
Everything IS okay.
And everyone is different. Everyone has a different path and distinct opportunities. Graduating in four years may notbe the right path for you. Rushing through a part of your life just because you feel pressured to by society’s standards is an easily preventable regret. Take a year off if you feel like you have to. Change programs if you know that this is not the future you see yourself in. Four years is not the deadline that everyone has set for you and it’s definitely not the deadline that you should feel chained to.
There’s so much waiting for you. Before you know it, you’ll be right there in the middle of everything. Years will fly by. You will hit different milestones and make countless more memories. It will be at your doorstep one day, so there’s no need to rush out the door to find it.
So, like Billy Joel says, slow down and cool it off before you burn it out.
Vienne vous attend.
While most of us are already aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy fitness routine and eating a balanced diet, it is now more crucial than ever to develop another skill set that can help us navigate change more effectively and, most importantly, more happily: self-care skills.
Self-care skills are not only helpful during unforeseen and stressful circumstances (does anything come to mind?) but can also have a significant impact on your overall academic and professional success.
Here are three easy ways in which you can develop game-changing self-care habits and skills that will make you more adaptable, productive, and serene in the face of change.
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Build your own self-care catalogue
Make a list of all the activities that bring you joy and comfort in a context of social distancing. It can be anything: baking muffins, going for a walk while listening to your favourite podcast, meditating for 10 minutes, getting your fancy sneakers sparky clean, knitting a scarf for a friend, organizing your photos on your computer, repainting your living room, etc. The point is, having a rich repertoire of fulfilling activities that you can do on your own will help you deal with the anxiety that often comes with idleness.
Cozy it up: you’re likely to be stuck at home for a while... Therefore, anything you do right now to make your place more comfortable is likely to have a positive impact on your motivation while studying, working, or looking for jobs.
Find an extensive list of self-care ideas: https://www.developgoodhabits.com/self-care-ideas/
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Start seeing other people. NOW!
For most of us, it is currently impossible to interact directly with other people than our housemates, spouses, and/or children. And as much as we love them… You get my point.
In order to feel fulfilled and connected, we need to nurture the relationships that we take so often for granted. So grab your phone or laptop, and start setting weekly virtual meetings with your family and friends. Not familiar with a specific platform? Ask someone to guide you; it’s way easier than you think. Plus you will be gaining new IT skills: a benefit for your social life AND your resumé.
Here is a guide to the best video calling apps: https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/buyers-guides/131512-video-calling-apps
Switch it up: why not plan a virtual dinner party, wine and cheese, movie night, yoga class, or batch cooking session with friends or family members that you cannot meet with right now. Send invites, set the date, and VOILÀ.
From a live, at-home intro to tai chi with a martial arts instructor classes to a virtual pet therapy session, from yoga and meditation classes to and core and mobility workshops, uOttawa offers you a wealth of wellness-related activities. While some are offered live, others are accessible online at any time.
See what’s offered next week at www.uottawa.ca/wellness/covid-19/virtual-series.
Don’t wait: it’s okay to not feel okay, and you are not alone. We’re all in this together, and there are plenty of free resources available to you, from top tips for coping and well-being, to professional counselling services, which you can access whether you are in Ontario, in Canada or abroad.
“Being a third-year student at the Telfer School of Management, I’ve grown both personally and professionally. From the Ambassador Program to the International Student Coaches Program, from the Telfer Career Centre workshops to the Co-op Program, I was able to acquire solid skills as well as experience that apply as much to daily life as to work.
On top of offering a quality academic formation, Telfer also gives us a wide range of opportunities that we must seize un order to make the most of our student experience.”
– Idriss Diamouténé
Third-year student (Management and Entrepreneurship)
and International Student Coach
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Time flies very quickly as we are heading toward the end of the winter semester and slowly getting ready for summer jobs and internships. In order to get to those joyful points we all need so badly, we must face a period of sleepless nights and hours spent in the library, reading pages of materials, and memorizing countless formulas and facts – the finals period. What can we do to reduce the stress and the pressure we are experiencing in order to finish the semester strong?
Here are some tips to overcome the final exams:
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Get your life together: Yes, this is the first tip to finish the semester strong. If you find yourself showing up at every party, skipping classes, slacking through the semester, always doing your assignments at the last minute, or studying only for the midterms, etc., you must “Get your life together” before the storm. The final exams are not getting any easier, and they might be even harder than the midterms. You will be asked to memorize and understand the material of the entire courses. It is wise to start attending fewer parties and more classes.
- Be well organized: Try to come up with a plan, a strategy to approach the final exams, and work hard to maintain it. A well-designed plan is a plan that is tailored to your timetable, suited you in every way and designed to benefit you the most. Be wise when making a study plan.
- Do not procrastinate: I cannot stress this enough, but do not ever procrastinate, especially during the final exams. This is the time for you to study hard, dedicate hours of reviewing course materials. One day of procrastination may cost you an entire exam. Be aware of the time: the final exams are closer than you think.
- Get enough sleep and water: Staying hydrated will clear your mind and make you ready for hours of studying. Also, getting enough sleep is vital. Pulling an all-nighter is never the best option as your body will be exhausted after a long period of sleepless nights. Throughout the day, you will lose your concentration and start feeling drowsy. Sleep also promotes mental health. A lack of sleep puts more stress on your brain and that’s the last thing you want during the finals.
- Ask for help: There are numerous resources that you can reach out to: your professors (who have office hours), your mentors, teacher assistants, etc. They are here to help you succeed. Don’t be afraid to contact them for questions, concerns, and difficulties. After all, you cannot always find a relevant answer on Google.
With that being said, the finals are approaching and it is wise to be on your feet instead of waiting until the last minute to cram up the entire course in your head the night before the exam. That approach never gives pleasant results.
“Through my two years at Telfer, I have been able to meet so many amazing people, grown personally and professionally and got involved within the Telfer community!
Telfer has given me countless opportunities, one of the most impactful being working with AIESEC in Ottawa. Through being a part of this organization, I have been able to apply myself and learned so much more than I would have learned solely from class. I have been able to discover my potential and met some of my best friends. My current position as VP of Business to Customer has been the most rewarding learning opportunity of my university career.
If I could give any piece of advice to future Telfer students, it would be to seize every opportunity that comes your way! If you spend your 4 years at university only going to class, you'll never grow. Go to those networking events, join clubs, and meet new people; it'll be incredibly valuable in the long run”
– Ihsan Yousif, 2nd‑year International Management and
VP, Business to Customer, AIESEC, Ottawa
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
The exam period is back, and for many students, it is the most stressful week of the year. Between review sessions, work and personal life, it is often difficult to find balance. Here are a few behaviours you would be wise to adopt in order to go through this period more easily. I hope these tips will be useful to you. Wishing you great success in your exams!
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Get organized.
During the exams period, time is precious. We need to manage our time, our studies and all our other activities. The best way to achieve it is to plan our tasks carefully. A revision calendar and a to-do list organized in order of importance or priority can help us to use our time efficiently as we prepare for exams.
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Sleep!
We often assume, incorrectly, that during the exam period, sleep is a waste of time. We would rather get extra caffeine than a few extra hours of sleep. The truth is, when well rested, we are better equipped to understand and assimilate what we learn. So next time you get the chance, get some rest!
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Take time for yourself.
Just as sleeping well, taking time to relax during the exams period improves efficiency and facilitates anxiety and stress management. Going out with friends, watching a few episodes of your favourite show or reading a few pages from a good book are only a few of the numerous, beneficial activities that you can do to recharge your batteries and to approach your exams with a positive attitude.
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Eat well.
As you prepare for exams, diet is an important factor of success. So you need to eat healthy, and this means getting enough hydration. A healthy diet boosts your memory and allows you to stay in great shape.
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Ask for help.
If you worry, for example about your classes, or if you’re experiencing stress, don’t hesitate to ask for help. We often imagine that we can manage everything all by ourselves, but a little bit of support can have unsuspected benefits.
To receive additional advice, go to wwww.uottawa.ca/communitylife/studyfest.
As students and professionals, you are all profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Your classes are now given online, you may have been forced to interrupt your professional, volunteer and extracurricular activities, and many of you had to move out or even back home. Although you may feel powerless, you need to remember this:
There is PLENTY you can do RIGHT NOW to become more desirable candidates on the job market.
Here are three unsuspected ways in which you can not only cope with the current situation but really make the most of it.
Tip #1: Highlight your adaptability on your resumé
For each of your experiences (academic, professional, volunteer and extracurricular), take stock of the ways in which you are adjusting to current circumstances, and provide concrete evidence.
- Are you cultivating working relationships with your community (professors, coworkers, classmates, student club members, etc.) through social media and technologies?
- Are you significantly improving your proficiency with new tools and platforms?
- Are you finding creative solutions to problems you’ve never encountered before?
- Are you actively supporting your peers, providing them with academic or emotional support?
- For those who are parents, are you successfully honouring all your academic and professional commitments while also homeschooling your kids?
Tip #2: Prepare for interviews
“Tell us of a time when you had to adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances?” If you’ve never been asked some version of this question in a job interview, chances are you will be sooner or later.
This is the perfect opportunity to prepare your answer: you are forced to learn and work (and potentially even parent!) in a new environment. Think about: the ways in which you are growing; the strategies you are putting in place; and the positive outcomes you are experiencing as a result.
Tip #3: Complete your LinkedIn profile and USE IT
If you find yourself with some extra time on your hands, why not use some of it to finalize your LinkedIn profile (you know, the one you’ve created 5 years ago and never got to complete or even use ;0)
First, make a list of what’s currently missing. You should focus first on your photo, headline, Summary section, and your two most recent work experiences.
Second, build a new habit. Do something useful on LinkedIn every day: add a contact, add a skill, ask for an endorsement or recommendation, share an article, make a small improvement to your Summary, etc. You will generate views and attract potential employers.
Overall tip: make the most of it!
Some things may have stopped, but our career development services have not. Go on Career Launch and book an appointment with a Telfer Career Centre advisor. You won’t regret it!
“I have been an ambassador for two consecutive years, and this can be attributed to the 3Ps that make up the Ambassadors Team: 1) the People; 2) the Passion; 3) the Purpose. The Ambassador Program has definitely opened up numerous opportunities for me and helped me grow. Most importantly, I found a family!”
– Melanie Lock Son, Senior Ambassador, Telfer Career Centre, and 3rd‑year Finance student
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
With the finals season a couple of days away, here are three tips to ace your exams in a new context.
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Make a study schedule and stick to it
Although you may have more time on your hands, it is important to take a moment, sit down and plan your study schedule in order to manage your study time wisely. To make a study schedule, you can use your daily planner, a blank calendar or even your cell phone. When filling out the schedule, make sure to schedule realistic time slots for every class. After having filled out your schedule, the most important part is to stick to it! You will be more productive if you follow the schedule you have created. It will also allow you to be sure to spend enough time studying on each subject.
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Make sure to get enough sleep
During the finals period, it is easy to get carried away and to go to bed very late. Although sometimes it might seem like studying all night is the best option, trust me, it isn’t. In order to be productive and remain healthy, it’s very important for your brain and body to rest. By having a good night sleep (about 8 hours) you will feel refreshed, energized and ready to tackle your studying!
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Take some time to yourself
Finally, it can be easy to forget to take breaks during your finals, especially in a context of social distancing. Taking some time for yourself and doing something not school‑related is a great way for your mind to take a break and to recharge itself. Reading, watching a movie/tv show, taking a nap, talking with friends and family online and exercising are all great ways to take a small break from studying. Scheduling personal time is also a great way to motivate yourself to study in order to then be able to do a fun and relaxing activity!
I hope these tips will help you as much as they have helped me. Good luck with all your exams and stay safe and healthy!