Author: dorob

Five Things You Have To Do This Summer in Ottawa

Many people say Ottawa is a different city in the summer. One thing is true, Canada’s national capital offers various beautiful spots to visit during this time of the year. There is something for everyone, from gorgeous parks and beaches to street festivals and patios across the city. Check out this list and explore your favourites.

1- Go on a bike ride

Ottawa has more than 800 kilometres of pathways, so going on a bike ride is almost a must if you are spending your summer in the nation’s capital. One of the most popular bicycle routes is the Ottawa River Pathway, connecting you to Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and the Dominion Arboretum at the Central Experimental Farm. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one. Check out a few locations downtown that offer bike rentals and tours here.

2- Enjoy a drive-in movie

If you haven’t had the chance to watch a movie on the big screen under the stars, you are missing out. So, this summer, grab your favourite snacks, get in your car, and experience a drive-in movie. In Ottawa, there are two locations to choose from. It’s time to check this season’s schedule and buy your tickets in advance. Make sure you arrive early to get a good spot.

3- Go on a picnic

Pick one of the many parks or beaches, get some treats and enjoy a great picnic outside. Ottawa has so many green spots, and you can even stay out to watch the sunset in one of the city’s beautiful locations. Here are some of our top picks:

  • Major’s Hill Park
  • Rockcliffe Park
  • Andrew Haydon Park
  • Dominion Arboretum
  • Hog’s Back Park

4- Patio meals and a drink

Patio season is one of the most celebrated times in Ottawa. It’s the time of year we get to enjoy the sun with friends while having a nice drink or a meal. Ottawa has some gorgeous patio options. Some of our favourites are below:

  • Tavern on the Hill
  • Tavern on the Falls
  • Courtyard Restaurant
  • La Terrasse
  • Canal Ritz
  • Umbrella Bar

5- Attend a street festival

From music festivals to outdoor sports and great food, Ottawa’s summer calendar is full of options to explore. Among the many outdoor events held during the season, a few favourites include Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Jazz Festival and the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival. Check out the Ottawa Tourism website for more!

No matter what you choose to do this summer, make sure you treasure the memories and take a photo or two. Use #myACsummer to share your adventures with us!

Free Student Support Services at the Algonquin College Welcome Centre

At Algonquin College, we want to ensure our students have all the tools they need to thrive in their educational journey. The Welcome Centre is the first point of contact for students, and offers a variety of services that will support your student life and academic success. Discover some of the free support options you can find at the Algonquin College Welcome Centre.

Centre for Accessible Learning

The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is committed to creating an inclusive campus through accessibility, advocacy, accommodation and awareness. CAL is open for new and returning students who self-identify with visible and non-visible disabilities. When a student signs up for CAL, a professional disability counsellor is assigned to help support their student journey at Algonquin.

“If students need accessible desks, chairs, or other items, we can assist them. We will also help students with their academic success,” tells Rebecca Valerio, Manager at the Welcome Centre, AC Hub and Aspire.

The CAL offers a technology department where students can find support with needs related to accessing technology. Students can also work with a learning strategist, who will help them with scheduling, study times and organizing their study routine.

Counselling Services

It’s no surprise that the need for counselling has increased in the past two years. Students can access professional, caring, and confidential counselling any time through our services.

“The team offers career clarity, as well as academic and personal counselling. Students can come and get a same-day appointment if they need one,” says Valerio.

Some of the supports offered within academic counselling include helping students figure out their career path, assistance with scheduling, and addressing any stress they are going through that involves their study routine.

“It can be overwhelming. Just sitting down with somebody and talking it out can make a huge difference,” says Valerio.Additional options include online therapy, community referrals, individual sessions, and even group sessions. Ultimately, students can book an appointment as many times as they need.

Employment Support Centre

The Employment Support Centre provides career readiness support and resources to help students and graduates prepare for job and career success. Through an appointment or a drop-in session, the team will help students set up and use LinkedIn, review their resume and cover letter, and develop their skills through mock interviews. The professionals at the Welcome Centre also assist students with job search coaching and strategies.

AC students even have access to an exclusive job search platform, Hire AC, where they can find summer positions, including part-time and full-time opportunities

You can read more about their services here.

Reach Out

For the winter term, the team at the Welcome Centre is operating remotely. When in-person services resume, you can find the team on the third floor of the E building above Student Commons.

The Welcome Centre operates Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. To book an appointment for any of the above services, call 613.727.4723 ext: 7200 or email welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com.

Three things to do before looking for a job as an international student in Canada

1-Update your resume to meet Canadian expectations

The resume format employers look for might be different in Canada. Here is a list of some important tips when developing your resume:

  • Do not list personal information such as nationality, gender, religion, marital status or date of birth. A photo is not necessary and is generally best to exclude, though may be accepted in specific situations, for example, when applying for creative roles.
  • Personalize your resume to reflect skills and accomplishments from paid and unpaid experiences.
  • Include your international experience and education if it’s related to the position you are seeking.
  • Emphasize any languages that you speak in addition to English.
  • Include a customized cover letter, even if it is not requested.
  • Have your documents triple-checked for syntax, grammar and spelling errors.

2-Look for opportunities to gain experience in Canada

Getting local experience will help you become familiar with the culture and language and show employers that you can adapt to the employment market around you.

Gaining this experience doesn’t necessarily need to be a paid position. A volunteer or internship position is beneficial to building experience in your field, and will add value to your resume.

3- Get ready for the interview process

What employers look for and evaluate in an interview process might be different in Canada. Here are some recommendations to help you make a good first impression:

  • Arrive 15 minutes early – don’t let anyone wait for you.
  • If you have an online interview, check your internet connection and open the link a few minutes before. You will likely wait in a virtual waiting room.
  • Respect the personal space and privacy of others.
  • Dress the part. This applies whether you are in person or online for your interview. If you’re unsure what is appropriate, always air on the side of being one step higher than you think you should be.
  • Practice good hygiene.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Prepare a few open-ended questions for the end of the interview.

If you need help preparing for a new job or career, the Employment Support Centre at Algonquin College is here to guide you. This Thursday, March 31, the Centre is hosting an online Job and Career Workshop designed for International students. Register now to learn how to improve your interview skills.

The Employment Support Centre is located within the Welcome Centre. Visit the website for more information and tips. You can also book an appointment by emailing welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com or calling 613.727.4723 ext. 7200.

Co-op placements at AC can be the gateway to career success

When Marconi Fonseca started his first semester in the Computer Programming program at Algonquin College (AC), he chose a co-op program because he thought it would help him have more opportunities to enter the job market. He had his co-op placement with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and after completing the program, he was invited to stay as a full-time employee.

“The co-op department helps students get ready to find a co-op opportunity,” says Fonseca. “They helped us with our resumes and mock interviews. It was a great support system. In the AC co-op portal, we have access to all co-op opportunities, and there are great partnerships with various companies and even the government.”

Fonseca says that the content taught in the program and his experience working on campus were two crucial pieces that helped him succeed while doing his placement.

He worked as a Student Printer Supporter Technician during his program at AC. In this position, he wasresponsible for ensuring that printers throughout the campus were up and running, monitoring printer lab print activity, assisting students with downloading and installing print software, drivers and more.

“I’ve been able to use all the background education we received at Algonquin in the co-op position,” says Fonseca. “With the work on campus, I learned about teamwork, working with different people and cultures, and it helped me to adapt.”

When Fonseca started his co-op with the CRA, he began as a Local IT and held a four-month position. He then saw another opportunity with the CRA through AC’s co-op portal, and he applied for an IT developer position. When he graduated, he was hired full time, and a year after, he was promoted to an IT Analyst.

“Co-op is a plus. It gives you more possibilities in my opinion. It is a great opportunity to enter the job market,” says Fonseca.

Yene Paz, User Experience Researcher at a private company, was also hired full-time after her co-op placement. She was in the Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Centred Design program at AC and said that having professors that work in the field was one of the most significant assets in the program.

“The professors have the knowledge from different projects and real experience in the field, so I feel that the program is really good and prepares everyone for success,” says Paz.

Paz has also highlighted her professors’ commitment to help students find placement opportunities, and always incentivizing them to apply for any position.

Paz’s program was fully remote, and she says that learning how to work in that environment has helped her in her current remote position.

“I work remotely, and it’s totally different from the interactions that you have when you’re working in person. We had the opportunity to see and use different tools to collaborate and work with each other remotely, so I think it was also something important that prepared me for my co-op and for my job as well.”

To learn more about co-op programs and opportunities, visit the Cooperative Education website.

 

 

 

 

Five things you can do in college to support launching your career after graduation

We all dream about getting that perfect job after graduating. But did you know that you don’t have to wait until graduation to start working towards that goal? You can start getting ready from the first day you start your college program. One of the Employment Officers at AC’s Employment Support Centre has she shared some valuable tips that will make a difference in your student and career journey. Check them out!

Get in touch with AC’s Employment Centre

“The sooner, the better,” says Lindsay Bortot, Employment Officer at AC. The Employment Support Centre gives students access to several services such as customizing your resume and cover letters, preparing for interviews, building a LinkedIn profile, and learning how to use it. The professionals at the Centre also assist students with job search methods and strategies.

Network with your classmates and professors

It’s important to note, that there is a “hidden job market” and that not all companies post their jobs publicly. Sometimes they will share opportunities through internal emails and that is one of the reasons why it is so important to network with your classmates. Talking to your professors will also help! Don’t forget that many of your professors still work in the industry and they might be watching you. They can be great references when you are searching for your dream job.

“If a company can reduce their time and efforts with recruitment and selection, they will,” says Bortot. “If they know they’re going to get 100 resumes online, but they just don’t have time to recruit and select, they might rely on word of mouth or look for internal referrals.”

Attend recruitment events

Lots of organizations host recruitment events, in person and/or virtually. Sometimes the jobs they promote at these events aren’t shared online or through traditional channels. Even if the company you are interested in working for doesn’t have a job in your field at that moment, going to these events will give you the chance to talk to people you wouldn’t normally have access to and make an impression. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect and network for the future!

“These are all important pathways in order to uncover opportunities and put yourself in front of the competition, so that you can actually find a job faster,” says Bortot. “Your job search will typically be longer if you’re just using one method of job searching, like looking online.”

Reach out to potential employers!

If a company you dream of working for doesn’t have a job opening right now, this shouldn’t be a reason for you to give up. Reach out and ask them for advice (not a job!). This will help you make a professional impression and let them know that you are interested.

“You can look up a company you want to work for, and then you can look to see who works for the companies who have a LinkedIn page,” says Bortot. “Then you can look at their career path, connect to them directly, send a message and ask questions.”

Check out AC’s job search platform

Hire AC is exclusive to students and graduates of Algonquin College and there you can find new jobs posted every single week in a wide range of program areas. The job posts include summer positions, part-time opportunities, and full-time opportunities.

“Students can actually filter their searches by their program area and see what kind of jobs are being posted that would relate to their goal,” says Bortot.

Getting started on your career preparation early will help you stand out when you’re ready to land your dream job. Find more information on AC’s Employment Support Centre LinkedIn page.

 

 

Tips for building a professional online presence

Have you ever googled yourself? What comes up when you search for your name? Now, imagine if your future employer was the one googling you? Do you think this might help or hinder your employment or how they view you?

Building a strong online presence that reflects your personal brand can make a great first impression and put you ahead of other candidates. Here are some tips you can follow to showcase yourself in the best light!

Adjust your privacy settings on your social media accounts

Choose a professional looking photo and clean up your social media accounts. . Familiarize yourself with your privacy settings to limit what the public sees. Whatever things are available to the public, make them something you would feel comfortable with your future employers or professors knowing.

If you don’t have one yet, create a LinkedIn account, and make sure it stands out

LinkedIn is known as the key social media account for professional networking. Many recruiters use this tool to search for candidates. The platform is a great way to highlight your skills, show examples of projects you have worked on and tell employers about your employment history and education in a concise and simple format. Don’t forget to customize your headline, adding keywords that will help employers find you!

LinkedIn is also a great way to do some networking. Take the time to engage in conversations, and join groups. This will show that you are active and interested in learning more about your field of interest, and that you have something to say.

Create an online portfolio

If your field requires a portfolio, create a website where you can showcase some samples of work. Even if you don’t need to have one, showing off your work with an online portfolio is a great way to let employers know the quality of work they can expect from you.

Having everything ready to go will also show employers that you are organized and prepared. Here is a list of great portfolio website builders.

Watch out for your grammar

Spelling and grammar matter. Whatever you write online and in public posts on your social media accounts should be error-free. Watch for typos, use proper spelling and grammar, avoid slang, and use full sentences, especially in professional accounts. Grammarly is a free online tool you can use to double check that your online writing is ready to post.

Be mindful of any content you share as well. The kinds of content you share and what you have to say online all contribute to your personal brand and tell people about who you are.

Access AC’s resources and workshops

Algonquin College’s Employment Support Centre is here to provide career readiness support and resources to help students and graduates prepare for job and career success. Book an appointment, attend one of the many events they host and access their online resources. Here are some upcoming AC events to watch for:

Build Your LinkedIn Profile (International Students) – February 16, 10:30am-12:00pm ET

AC Career Week – February 28 – March 4 (registration opens Feb. 14)

Here are some other great resources you can check out to improve your online presence and personal brand:

LinkedIn Learning:

Review tips for setting up your LinkedIn profile right from the platform itself

Collections: Building an Online Presence, Developing Your Personal Brand

Haven’t signed up for LinkedIn Learning through AC yet? Click here to find out how to set up your account.

The Learning Portal: Personal Pitch, Digital Portfolios

We hope these tips you help you find great opportunities. Good look in your job search!

 

 

Five tips to build relationships in a virtual environment

One of the best things about college is the friendships we make. We know that in a virtual environment, it can be hard to get to know people, but there are still ways you can connect from a distance. Check out this list!

Set up a virtual game night

Here is a great way to meet people while having lots of fun! Whether you like scavenger hunts, trivia, or escape rooms, the internet offers a long list of games that you can play virtually. Here are a few we recommend you check out. You can also play all sorts of multiplayer games on your phone. See a list of top apps to try.

Have a movie session with friends

Invite a group of friends and get your popcorn ready! Using Teleparty, you can watch content from Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max and Amazon Prime, while having a group chat. Leave comments and compare reactions, while you watch a movie together.

Attend AC online events

There are so many amazing events that we have been putting together to make you feel part of our AC community. These events are a great way to meet people. This Friday, January 28th, AC’s Student Association is hosting Speed Friending. This virtual event is a great way to bridge some new connections. Speed Friending is happening from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm ET. Register online now to participate.

Start a virtual book club

Book clubs can be a good way to share ideas and reflect on your latest read. It’s no different in a virtual environment. Pick a list of books, choose your video chat platform, and invite your friends for an engaging discussion about your favourite books.

Build a virtual classroom “space”

Creating a virtual space for your classmates is an easy way to stay connected after classes are over. Discord is a great example, but there are lots of options to choose from. The Discord app supports text, video calls, and voice chats.

 

Six things you can do to relieve some stress

Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week at Algonquin College. From January 24th to January 28th, you will learn more about the resources and services available for the AC community. To kick off an important week of discussion about mental health and wellness, we have put together a list of our top tips for taking care of yourself and relieving some stress.

Keep moving

Exercise pumps up our endorphins. Even a 20-minute workout at home will make a difference. When we exercise we increase our sense of well-being. Keeping active also helps you sleep better, another stress-reduction tip. If you are not a big fan of online workout videos, consider other activities such as dancing and going for walks. Anything active will produce the feel-good substances our body needs to stay well.

Get some sleep

While we’ve mentioned sleep already, it’s an important stress-reducer, so deserves to be a tip of its own. When you are tired, your chances of feeling stressed are higher. A good night’s sleep helps you concentrate better and achieve more during the day.

Make some comfort food

Eating healthy is super important to creating balance in your life. BUT, we say every now and then you can choose to make your favourite comfort food to lift your spirits. Go ahead and pick a recipe you want to make this week that will bring that comfort to your heart and will make you smile!

Do something for yourself

It could be taking a bubble bath, learning a new hobby, reading a book, watching that next episode of your favourite show, or anything else that you enjoy. Make sure to take a break and do something for yourself this week.

Don’t forget to socialize

We cannot be physically close right now, but luckily the online world has plenty of options that will help you stay connected to your friends and family. Chat with friends and family on Zoom or watch a movie together on Netflix. “It is always better when we are together.”

Access our AC support services

We have so many people ready to help you, so don’t take on your stress alone. Services are currently available virtually. Seek support from Counselling Services, access resources and services from Health Services, get study help from the Student Learning Centre, Library, or Peer Tutoring, and feed your soul with the Spiritual Centre and Mamidosewin Centre.

We hope our tips will help you feel a little lighter and keep you steady and ready for the rest of the semester. Don’t forget to check out our activities during AC’s Mental Health Awareness Week, January 24-28.

Algonquin innovates with new programs that will bring unique opportunities  

The past two years have presented many challenges that have changed industries across the globe. As part of this shift, Algonquin is introducing new programs that will offer unique opportunities to students in Canada.

Degrees launching in Fall 2022

Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Food Science (Honours)

This new program will combine food and science, and it is the first of its kind in Ontario. It’s not only about teaching people advanced skills in cooking and baking, but also teaching them food science and food safety.

 “Students will start the program by being introduced to food science, microbiology, culinary arts fundamentals, chemistry and physics. Then continue to develop the link of food safety, food operations, food chemistry, and nutrition, says the program coordinator David Fairbanks.

For Fairbanks, the new program comes at a great time in a sector that continually addresses opportunities, challenges and innovations.

“There is a growing demand and opportunity for our students to engage with and contribute to food product research, processing and development. With the college resources and the diverse agricultural, food service, and food development and processing sector resources that can be found locally, it was an excellent fit to offer the program here,” says Fairbanks.

Bachelor of Business Administration (Trades Management) (Honours)

The four-year business degree will focus on skilled trades and will be offered through a partnership between three colleges in Ontario: Algonquin College, George Brown and Mohawk College.

This new program will be the first-of-its-kind with all instruction being provided remotely and virtually. The degree is intended for people working in the skilled trades sector who are looking to grow their own businesses, take on greater responsibilities in their current work environments, or pursue management careers in medium-to-large organizations.

The online Bachelor of Business Administration (Trades Management) degree will concentrate on business administration, managerial skills, accounting, project management, leadership, marketing, communication and applied research competencies. This theoretical instruction will be combined with 420 hours of structured work experiences (or equivalent), for which students receive credit.

Upon completion, graduates should be able to manage and employ human resources, marketing, finance and accounting aspects of skilled trades business operations, as well as conducting research, executing strategic plans, assessing risk and foster healthy workforce and business growth.

Bachelor of Science (Building Science) (Honours) 

This program is the only Building Science program offered at the Bachelor level in Canada. During the four years of study, students will learn all about how buildings are designed, built, operated and maintained.

For the Program Coordinator Stephen Vardy, the new program offers a unique opportunity for students in Canada. “It fills a large void for an industry that is in need of skilled graduates and prepares students for career opportunities in a wide range of fields related to buildings.”

Some of the skills students will learn in the program include learning how to create a computer model to understand energy performance of a building, designing strategies for energy efficient buildings, learning how to design, constructing and testing building envelopes and much more.

  Students graduating from the program may work in architects’ offices, engineering firms, contracting companies and government agencies and departments as researchers, junior analysts, project officers, building specialists, technical staff, architectural and construction project team leaders and consultants.

Vardy emphasizes that the program content has been chosen with everything the industry is looking for.

“Our industry partners were heavily involved in the program revisions, ensuring our graduates are best suited to meet the needs of an exciting and rapidly evolving industry.”

Degrees Coming soon

Bachelor of Commerce (Strategic Human Resources Management) (Honours)

This new degree is one of the limited Human Resources Management programs offered across Ontario. Program Coordinator Carol Ann Samhaber said that human resource management is an in-demand profession and the degree opportunities in the province are still limited.

“This program, among the suite of our human resource management programs, will ensure students have ample academic choices.”

For Samhaber, human resource management professionals are essential for the success of an organization. The new program will teach students how to consider human resource management through a strategic and organizational wide lens.

“This degree will move students through an HRM business model, stimulations and artificial intelligence, and IT sandboxes to acquire HRM knowledge and skills to be industry-ready,” said Samhaber.

This profession is changing as we see shifts happening inside workplaces, and the program curriculum was created taking those changes into consideration.

“Students will explore the importance of managing human capital in the remote employment and COVID workplace contexts,” said Samhaber.

Graduates of this program will have the opportunity to work as coordinators, generalists or in any specializations inside human resource management.

Bachelor of Event, Sport and Entertainment Management (Honours)

This four-year program will be one of the only dedicated Event Degrees in Canada. Students will get to learn how to create design and execute multi-faceted events. “Event programming topics will include Sports, Concerts, Expositions, Government, Conference, Corporate, Non-Profit and Special Events,” says the Program Coordinator Sylvia Densmore. Global event trends, sustainable and green events will also be part of the curriculum.

For Densmore, the new program will fill an identified gap in the Canadian event industry. Something unique about the program is that students will have a variety of work-integrated learning experiences such as two paid event co-placements.

  “As communities emerge from the pandemic, they will utilize event tourism as a destination marketing tool to attract visitors and boost their economies. Graduates of this program will be uniquely positioned for this challenge,” says Densmore.

Students who take this program will be ready to work in the tourism industry, government sectors, sports organizations, the entertainment and arts sector and much more.

“The combination of academic excellence and experiential learning offered at Algonquin College will ensure graduates are ready to jump into a career in the explosive event industry,” says Densmore.

The 10-minute chat that will help you with your career choice

Career Advising Meet up posterAre you wondering which college program you should choose? Or maybe you are not sure about your program requirements?

You can now book a 10-minute drop in with our college career advisors at Algonquin College and get your answers right away.

The College already offers career counseling, but the idea with the Career Advising drop in is so that students don’t have to wait to have quick questions answered.

“If they’re (Prospect students or students) looking for a specific job in their field or if they want to kind of have some assistance and help figuring out which program to take in the future, or maybe to add on to a current program that they have more targeted learning. Maybe just to learn what courses might be in a program that they’re looking or interested to take, so just helping them navigate the website a little bit more on finding that information,” says Karen Barclay-Matheson, one of the career counsellors at Algonquin College.

Barclay-Matheson notes that the 10-minute chats are a great start, especially for those who have never done any counselling. “It allows us to start the conversation and then give them an idea of what to expect of career counseling because some people hear counseling and they freak out, and so we’re like, ‘No, no, no, this is what it looks like, this is what we would go over’, we give a little bit of a blurb about that.”

After the chat, if the person needs a follow-up, they can to book a regular appointment with our career counselors.

“I think it’s always beneficial to look at your options, because that’s what we’re doing, we’re exploring with them. What are their needs, what has changed, have their career values changed or are they going through a life transition?” says Barclay-Matheson

One of the great benefits of career counseling is being able to look at your options and career values with a professional that has many years of experience in the field and are there to help you make the best decisions regarding your student journey and career path.

“It’s always good to sit down and talk with someone who’s impartial, says Barclay-Matheson.

“It’s one thing to talk to your friends and family. They think you look like a great fire fighter or, ‘Oh, you should be a doctor’, like your parents. What about you? What is it that you need? And just providing information so that they have as much as they can to make a good informed choice.”

The pandemic has made people re-evaluate not only their careers, but also their self-care and this a great time to do so.

The chats happen through Zoom and they are open to prospect students and students. You can book an appointment in our website and the Zoom link is emailed one hour before the chat.