VOLUME VI, FALL 2012
Would you survive the “Dragons’ Den”?
CBC dragon Bruce croxon on hoW to Be an entrepreneur
hoW to land a co-op position
Where to earn your degree in aDventure sports: Co travels to neW Zealand
Take the plunge! International education is your path to adventure page 22
ContentsWe WoULD LIKe to tHAnK oUR ADVeRtIseRs...34 AlbertaCollegeofArtandDesign(ACAD)
20-21 AlgomaCentralCorporation
29 AlgomaUniversity
33 ApplyAlberta
27 AutomotiveBusinessSchoolofCanadaatGeorgianCollege
17 CanadianAgriculturalHumanResourcesCouncil
31, 33 CareerConnections—InsuranceInstituteofCanada
36 EducationFirst
35 HumberCollegeBusinessSchool
24, 25, 33 HumberCollegeInstituteofTechnologyandAdvancedLearning
2 HumberCollegeSchoolofMediaStudiesandInformationTechnology
26 InformationTechnologyAssociationofCanada(ITAC)
25, 34 McGillUniversity,MacDonaldCampus
33 MiningIndustryHumanResourcesCouncil(MiHR)
16, 34 PraxisSchoolofEntrepreneurship
4, 34 SheridanCollegeInstituteofTechnology
30 UniversityofGuelph-Humber
19 UniversityofWindsor
9, 11, 13, 34 YorkUniversity
[eVen MoRe] CAReeR optIonsAs always, you can check out the latest issue of Career Options online, or browse the archives for more great feature articles from past issues. But there’s a lot more in store at our website, careeroptionsmagazine.com.
BLogspot is a space where guest bloggers share their thoughts about post-secondary education, entering the workforce, finding the “right” job and getting a career on track. Submit your own blog ideas at careeroptionsmagazine.com/blogspot.
pInteRest is the latest social media craze, and Career Options has hopped on the bandwagon. The virtual pinboard is used to share interesting photos and ideas—we use it to help students and recent graduates in all aspects of their careers. Check out our boards for job interview tips and outfits, dorm decoration ideas, university/college application advice, books worth reading and much more. Visit pinterest.com/careeroptions.
Keep up with the latest career advice, news and views: follow Career Options on twitter, join the Facebook page, subscribe to our rss feed and join our linkedin group.
6entrepreneurship: the opportunity of a lifetimeByJordanAdams
8young Canadians Building amBitious ventures8 SimonJalbert
17 BellaHwang
19 EvanPrice
10soCial entrepreneurship: Combining Business savvy with desire to Change the World ByJordanAdams
14intervieW With a dragon: the risks and Benefits of Being an entrepreneur ByJordanAdams
18Where to Find help: resources available to advance your entrepreneurial goals
22sports-mad neW Zealand: Combine adventure with study in Kiwi-landByKathrynYoung
28helpX helps those Who help themselvesByJasmineIrwin
30Be your oWn hero: how to embrace adventure in your CareerByDavidLindskoog
32getting a head start on your Brilliant FutureByJamesDavidson
Co high school edition 3
4 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
Editor-in-ChiefPaulD.Smith
Managing Editor|gordongroupSimonOsborne
Project Management|gordongroupMateiSavulescu
Editing / Proofreading|gordongroupJordanAdams
Art Direction / Print Management|gordongroupLeslieMiles
Design & Layout|gordongroupRenéDick AlinaOliveira
Director of Advertising Sales|gordongroupKirillKornilov
Distribution Representatives|gordongroupRoxanneJoncas CintiaRatmono
Advertising Sales|gordongroupPaulinedeGonzague ColleenHayes AndrewMoore
ContributorsJordanAdams ErinJacksonJamesDavidson DavidLindskoogJasmineIrwin KathrynYoung
Career Options High School Editionispublishedbi-annuallybytheCanadianAssociationofCareerEducatorsandEmployers(CACEE),720SpadinaAvenue,Suite202,TorontoONM5S2T9.
Forsubscriptioninformation,contactPaulD.Smith:Tel.:613-634-2359 Fax:416-929-5256Email:[email protected] Website:careeroptionsmagazine.com
Foradvertisinginquiries,contactKirillKornilov,DirectorofAdvertisingSales,gordongroup:Tel.:613-288-5363 Fax:613-722-6496Email:[email protected] Website:gordongroup.com
ISSN:1712-1183
TheCanadianAssociationofCareerEducatorsandEmployers(CACEE)isanational,non-profitpartnershipofemployerrecruitersandcareerservicesprofessionals.Ourmissionistoprovideauthoritativeinformation,advice,professionaldevelopmentopportunitiesandotherservicestoemployers,careerservicesprofessionalsandstudents.
NOTE:TheopinionsexpressedwithinarethoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflectCACEEpolicy.Nopartofthismagazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
TheNationalStudentResourceof:CanadianAssociationofCareerEducatorsandEmployers720SpadinaAve.,Suite202TorontoONM5S2T9cacee.com
eDItoR’s LetteRCeLeBRAtIng entRepReneURs, RIsK tAKIng AnD LeADeRsHIpInthisissueofCareer Options High School Editionwecelebrateentrepreneurs,thosepeoplewhocreateasuccessfulbusinessfromtheirimaginationandeffort.Startingyourownbusinessisaveryrealoptionfornewgrads,andtherearelotsofsuccessstories,afewofwhichwepresenthere.Andthereareplentyofresourcesavailabletohelpyougetstarted,someofwhicharealsointroducedhere.Forexample,experienceisagreatteacher,andfranchiseopportunitiesofferresourcesandmentorstohelpyougetstarted.Ifyouthinkyoumightenjoyworkingforyourself,thenreadon—thereissomethinginsideforyou.Andifyou’renotsureaboutworkingforyourself,thenyoushouldreadon,too.Thefirstquestionanyentrepreneurmustansweris“AmIcutoutforthis?”Theanswertothatquestionisthemostimportantpieceofinformationyouwillneed.
Successofthetypethatcreatesjobsforotherpeopleisexceptional,andmust,bydefinition,requireanexceptionalpath.Graduationfollowedbyemploymentwithalargecorporationorgovernmentdepartmentisaworthyaccomplishment,anditisawell-travelledroadthatoffersestablishedrewards.Thosewhoseekadifferentkindofsuccessmusttakeadifferentroad,andleavebehindthecomfortofthecrowd.Doingsointroducesanelementofenhancedrisk,asanyinnovativeeffortmust,butitalsooffersenhancedreward.Beingyourownbossoffersthefreedomtodowhatyouwant,andthethrillofmakinganimpactonyourownterms.However,theseperkscomeataprice:theriskoffailure.Balancingthisequationisthechallengeallentrepreneursmustface—howmuchriskwilltheytoleratetocollecttheirreward?
Ifentrepreneursareindeeddifferent,perhapsitistheirwillingnesstotakeonriskthatmakesthemso.Infact,thatisoneofthetheoriesexplainingwhysomepeoplearewillingtogamblewiththeirmoney(ortheirfamily’s)andtheirtime.Butothersdisagree,pointingtostudiesthatshowentrepreneursdon’tseeriskasothersdo.Theybelievesostronglyontheirideathattheysimplycan’timagineitwillfail.Sobeitagambler’sheartorthefaithofthebeliever,somethingdrivestheseexceptionalpeopletomaketheirownway.StatisticsCanadareportsthatthesmallandmediumenterprise(SME)sectoristhelargestemployerofCanadians,anditstandstoreasonthatagoodnumberofthoseSMEsareownedandrunbyentrepreneurs.Canadiansoweagreatdealofourprosperitytotheindividualswhotaketherisktostarttheirowncompanies,andthatisnotlikelytochange.
Enjoytheissue!
paul d. smith
Paul D. Smith is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers and Editor-in-Chief of Career Options magazine. Email Paul at [email protected].
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: cacee.com, careeroptionsmagazine.com
Co high school edition 5
entRepReneURsHIp: tHe oppoRtUnIty
of A LIfetIMe
Risk-taker,innovator,trailblazer,opportunist:manywordscouldbeusedtodescribeanentrepreneur,butwhatexactlydoes
entrepreneurshipitselfentail?Themostbasicdescriptionofanentrepreneurissomeonewhostartshisorherownbusiness,buttheconceptgoesalotdeeperthanthat.
OnefrequentlyreferenceddefinitioncomesfromHarvardBusinessSchoolprofessorHowardStevenson:“Entrepreneurshipisthepursuitofopportunitywithoutregardtoresourcescurrentlycontrolled.”Whatthismeans,accordingtoDaveValliere,professorofentrepreneurshipatRyersonUniversity,isthatyouseeanopportunitythat’s“socompelling,”youhavenootherchoicebuttopursueit—evenifyoudon’thavethenecessaryresources.Yousimplyassumethatyou’llfindawaytogetitdone,hesays.
ThE ATTRIbUTEs OF An EnTREpREnEUR
Thereisno“cookie-cutter”setofskillsyouneedtobeanentrepreneur,saysSimonJalbert,aparticipantinTheNext36,anationalprogramforCanadianundergraduatestudentinnovators.Theonetraitmostentrepreneursshare,however,isdrive.Youneedambitionandastrongworkethicinordertobeasuccess.
“Tobeasuccessfulentrepreneur,youhavetoloveareallylongworkweekwhereyou’rethinkingconstantlyaboutyourbusiness,andhaveadeep-seatedpassionandfocus,”saysClaudiaHepburn,ExecutiveDirectorandco-founderofTheNext36.“Withoutthatyoucan’tsellyourideatoanyone,orbounceoutofbedearlyorstaylatetomakeitsucceed.”
Therearemanyotherusefultraitsthatcanhelpyouachieveyourgoalofstartingabusiness.Whiledriveandworkethicaredifficultto“learn,”therearemanyvaluableskillsthat,expertssay,peoplearenotbornwithbuttaught.
Forexample,anabilitytosellisaskillthatsomepeople,mostlyintroverts,thinktheyneedtobebornwith—butthisisamyth,saysValliere.“There’sresearchtosupportthatyouaren’tbornwithit,”hesays.“Anybodycandothis,learnthis,andbesuccessfulinit.We’velookedatsuccessfulentrepreneursandfoundthatallsortsofpeoplearesuccessful,andithasnothingtodowithyourpersonality.”
Another“learn-able”skillishowtothinklikeanentrepreneur.Infact,programsliketheentrepreneurshipmajoratRyersonUniversity’sTedRogersSchoolofManagementarebasedonteachingentrepreneurialskills.
“It’saboutseeingthingsthatdon’tyetexistandfiguringouthowtocreatethem.Wethinkofourselvesasthecreativeorartisticpartofbusiness,”saysValliere,whoisalsothedirectorofRyerson’sEntrepreneurshipResearchInstitute.“Entrepreneursseepossibilities;theyseethingsthatdon’tyetexist.Theyhaveadifferentsetofmentaltools.”
Forexample,allofthetechnicaltoolsneededtocreatewebsiteslikeAmazonorFacebookalreadyexistedbeforethesesiteswerecreated.Peoplemaythinkthosesiteswerenotinnovativebecause“anyonecouldhavedoneit,”Vallieresays.“Theycouldhavedoneit,buttheydidn’t.Thequestionis,howdoyoudevelopthatabilitytoseethingsbeforesomebodydoesit?Alotofthingsareobviousafterthefact.”ThisiswhatentrepreneurmajorsatRyersonlearn,alongwithopportunityidentification,businessplanningandmanagementofinnovation.
GROwInG ThE EnTREpREnEURIAL spIRIT In CAnAdATheresearchValliereconductshaslookedatcultureasapossiblecauseofwhetherpeopleinasocietywillthinklikeentrepreneurs.
ManythinkthatCanadadoesn’tproduceenoughhigh-impactentrepreneurswhocreateworld-classcompaniesandproducts.Vallieresaysacountry’sculturecanhaveanimpactonhowmanyentrepreneursareproduced:“Canadiansareverymodest;they’renotshootingforthestars.Theycan,buttheydon’t.”
JuniorAchievementisoneprogramforhighschoolstudentsthataimstoinspiremoreyoungCanadianstoaspiretobecomeentrepreneurs.Throughfreeprogramsrunbyvolunteers,highschoolstudentslearnessentialbusinessskillsandcanevenstarttheirownbusinesses.JuniorAchievementalsooffersmanyscholarshipsandawardstorecognizeachievementamongCanadianyouth.
Accordingtotheprogram’swebsite,JuniorAchievementparticipantsare“50percentmorelikelytoopentheirownbusinesswhichleadstoinnovation,newjobs,andwealthcreation.”Theyalsostatethat“byprovidingyouthwiththeskillsnecessarytobecomeinnovative,productive,andcontributingcitizens,JuniorAchievementensuresthecompetitivewell-beingofCanada’seconomy.”
Somehighschoolsarealsobringingentrepreneurshipintotheclassroom.ProgramsliketheBusinessSpecializedHighSkillsMajor(SHSM)inOntarioschoolsteachstudentstheskillstheyneedtobesuccessfulinbusinessandentrepreneurship.TheprogramisabundleofnineGrade11and12credits,includingfourbusinessmajorcreditsandtwoco-opcredits.Studentsarealsotrainedinessentialskillsandworkhabits.
“Igainedspecializedknowledgeandskillsthatarehighlyregardedinthebusinessworldandbypost-secondaryinstitutions,”saysHayleyHeaslip,whograduatedwithaBusinessSHSMfromCanterburyHighSchoolinOttawa.“I’vemoldedavitalpartofmyskills,workedtowardsexploring,refining,andidentifyingmypersonalcareergoals,andIhavebeengivenasafeenvironmenttotestmyideas.”Oneof
By Jordan Adams
6 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
“iT’S ABouT SEEing ThingS ThAT Don’T yET ExiST AnD FiguRing ouT how To CREATE ThEM.”
thoseideaswasherchocolatebusiness,whichshewasabletostartwiththehelpofteachersandskillslearnedinhercourses.
“Ialsohadthesupportofmyfellowclassmates,”shesays.“Theywereabletousethemarketingskillstheylearnedbyhelpingmewithbranding,websitedesign,accounting—and,ofcourse,tastetesting!Ibuiltmyselfabasicbusinessplan,andwithinafewmonthsIhadmyfirsteventbooked,”saysHeaslip.“Thisprogramhasopenedmyeyestotheamazingopportunitiesthatarethereforstudentstobuildtheirfuturesasentrepreneurs.”
ThereareseveralcoursesonentrepreneurshipintheBusinessSHSMforanyofthepost-secondarypaths:university,college,apprenticeshiporworkforce.Courseslike“Entrepreneurship:VenturePlanning
Co high school edition 7
8 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
inanElectronicAge,”“AnalysingCurrentEconomicIssues,”and“Marketing:Goods,Services,Events”teachstudentstheskillstheyneedtobesuccessfulinnovators.
ThE RIsky sIdE OF EnTREpREnEURshIp
“Entrepreneurshipisaveryriskythingtodoandalotofbusinessesfail,”saysHepburn.“Youcan’tbetooidealisticandcaughtupinyourownwayofthinking.Youneedtorespondtomarketsignalsforwhenyourproductisn’twanted.”
Thepublicoftenassumesthatentrepreneursarebigrisk-takers,Vallieresays,butitonlylooksriskyfromtheoutside.“Entrepreneursdon’tliketotakerisks...Theyhaveextrainformation;theyknowsomethingthatwedon’t.Soweteachhowtodothat—howtofigureoutwhatnooneelseknowsyet,”hesays.
Somestudentsmaybewonderingiftheirdegreewillmakethemgoodentrepreneurs.Thebiggerquestionis,doyouneedabusinessdegreetobeasuccess?RodneyLarmand,PresidentofCollegeProPainters,acompanythatdevelopsover700studententrepreneursayear,saysno.“Nomorethanhalfofourstudentsareinbusiness,”hesays.“Alotofartsstudentsfindtheyreallylikerunningabusiness.Thenon-businessstudentslearnwheretheywanttheirlifetogoandhowtogetintothebusinessworld.AndIthinkalotof
themwillsourceoutanentrepreneurialroleinacorporation,likebeingahigh-levelmanager.”
LarmandsaystheCollegeProPaintersprogram—runningforover40years—canhelpminimizeriskbyprovidingparticipantswithmentorshipandeducationonhowtorunabusiness.Studentsleaseafranchiseforoneyearandlearntheinsandoutsofentrepreneurshipastheygo.Anintensetrainingprogramtakesplaceduringtheschoolyeartopreparestudentsforworkinthesummer.Theylearnhowtomarkettheirservices,hireemployees,dealwithcustomers,draftestimates,createbudgets,managefinancesandresolveconflicts,amongotherbusinessskills.
CollegeProensuresitsstudententrepreneursspeakwithpastparticipantstogainasenseofhowtheprogramworks.“Thatwaythey’reabletounderstandthechallenges,andtheupsanddowns,”Larmandsays.“Peopleexcelbasedonhowquicklytheylearn.Youhavetounderstandyou’regoingtomakemistakes.”Entrepreneursmakealotofmistakes,andgoodentrepreneursdon’trepeatthem.Successcomesfromhowquicklyyoulearnfromthosemistakes,hesays.
bEnEFITs OF EnTREpREnEURshIp
Attheendoftheday,havingthatdriveandpassionwillbeyourmostimportantkeyto
successasanentrepreneur.Ifyou’redoingwhatyoulove,anddoingitonyourownterms,youcanachievewhatmanyarestrivingfor:beingyourownboss.
“Entrepreneurshipisagoodmethodofachievingallsortsofgoals:makingmoney,improvingtheworld,andhavingafunandinterestingcareer,”saysValliere.“Alotofpeopledoitfortheautonomy;theydon’twanttohaveaboss.Theywanttodotheirownthingandsettheirownhours.Ormaybetheywanttocreatealegacy.”
Achievingsuccessandautonomymeansyouneedtobeproactiveandself-motivated.“Ifyouhavetobedirectedbyothers,you’renotreallyentrepreneurial,”saysLarmand.
Thesooneryoustartthinkingaboutyourideas,thebetter.
“It’snevertooearlytostartthinkingabouthowyoucansolveaproblemandmakelifeeasierforpeople,”saysHepburn.Co
Jordan Adams is a Carleton university journalism graduate.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: ryerson.ca/ent, tedrogersschool.ca, thenext36.ca, collegepro.com, jacan.org, edu.gov.on.ca, careeroptionsmagazine.com
Thisyoungentrepreneur’spassionforbusinesssparkedfromanunlikelybackground:sports.SimonJalbert’sloveofbeingpartofateamand
playingaleadershiproletranslatedwellintohisstart-upcompanies.AftercompletinghisbachelorofcommerceatSaintMary’sUniversity,Jalbertwasselectedtoparticipate
inTheNext36entrepreneurshipprogram.Withhisteam,hedevelopedatabletapplicationcalledStrokeLink,whichhehopeswillempowerpeoplewhohavesufferedastroke.Theappincludesexerciseprogramsspecifictothepatient,progressmonitoringandeducationalmaterial.
“Everyoneseemsextremelyexcitedaboutit,”saysJalbert.“We’vebeeninvitedtospeakathealthtechnologyconferencesalloverCanada.Peoplearetakingnotice,whichisdefinitelyexcitingforus.”
JalbertandthethreeothermembersofhisteamtakeondifferentrolesfortheStrokeLinkproject.Hedoesmostofthefinancialwork,butsaysentrepreneurshavetodiptheirhandsinallpots.“I’lldosomedesignworkandqualityassurance—youfindyourselfdoingabitofeverything,”hesays.
Asamemberandpresidentofhisuniversity’sStudentsinFreeEnterprise(SIFE)chapter,JalbertalsohelpedtodevelopanemploymentassistanceprogramforyoungpeopleinHalifax.“WeidentifiedthatalotofkidsinHalifaxdon’tcomefromwealthyfamilies,”hesays,“soweanalyzedHalifaxandasked,
‘Whatindustryhasthemostjobstoofferpeople?’Outofthatresearchwestartedaprojectwherewetaughtthosekidstheskillstheyneedandhowtodowellininterviews.”About97percentofstudentsintheprogramgotjobsintheend,hesays.
Hisadviceforyoungentrepreneursistodeveloptheirattentiontodetail.“Anabilitytomovebacktothebiggerpictureisimportantaswell,”hesays.“Andfinally,youhavetodevelopideas,youalwayshavetobepitchingandbethebestsalespersonyoupossiblycan.”Co
yoUng
CAnADIAns
BUILDIng
AMBItIoUs
VentURes:
sIMon JALBeRt
Co high school edition 9
10 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
Isthereaprobleminsocietythatyou’dliketoseeeliminated?Doyouhaveanentrepreneurialspiritandnewideas?Doyouhavepassion,drive
andoptimism?
Socialentrepreneurshipmaybethecareeryou’vebeensearchingfor.Notonlyisitfulfillingtoworkforyourselfasanentrepreneur,butyou’realsoworkingforothersandforthebenefitofallsociety.
Twoleadingsocialentrepreneurswhohavehelpedchangetheculturesurrounding
sOCIAL EnTREpREnEURshIp:
CoMBInIng BUsIness sAVVy WItH DesIRe to
CHAnge tHe WoRLD By Jordan Adams
Co high school edition 11
12 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
charitableactivitiesandventuresareCanadianbrothersMarcandCraigKielburger.ThroughtheirorganizationsFreeTheChildrenandMetoWe,theyhaveinspiredagenerationtopushforsocialchange.
“Socialentrepreneurshipiscreatingalifestyletocreatebetterchoicesforabetterworld,”saysMarcKielburger,co-founderofFreeTheChildrenandMetoWe,whospoketoCareer OptionsatarecenteventforyoungentrepreneursinvolvedinTheNext36—anationalprogramfortopuniversityundergraduateentrepreneurs.
Socialenterprisescanbeeithernot-for-profitorfor-profit—aslongastheyareworkingtosolveaprobleminsociety.Throughdomesticprogramsandinternationaldevelopment,non-profitFreeTheChildrenaimstofreeyoungpeoplefrompovertyandexploitation,andinspireyouthtobecomesociallyconsciousglobalcitizens.
Whenthebrothersstartedtheircharityin1995,itwas“uncool”tocareaboutchangingtheworld.“IspentGrade9inalocker,”saysKielburger,addingthatmakingit“cooltocare”isanimportantfactorinthesocialentrepreneurshipindustry.
“It’saboutusingpeerpressureinapositiveway.It’scomingupwithactionsandopportunities,andusingcelebritiesandFacebook,”hesays.TheKielburgerbrothershavedonethatthrough‘WeDay’—ayouthempowermenteventheldacrossCanada,whereguestspeakersandperformersentertainandengageyoungvolunteers.
Inrecentyears,socialentrepreneurshiphasgainedmorerespectandattention,saysClaudiaDeSimone,ProgramDirectorofVenture,FellowshipandUniversityPartnershipsatAshokaCanada,aglobalorganizationofsocialentrepreneurs.“Tenyearsago,orevenfiveyearsago,people
didn’tunderstandthewords‘socialentrepreneurship,’”shesays.“Moreandmoreyoungpeoplearededicatedtocreatingapositivedifferenceintheworld,andcanseethemselvesactuallydoingthatforalivelihood.”
“Socialentrepreneurshipisgoingtobethedominantforcewithinsocialchange,asopposedtotraditionalcharitableactivities,”saysKielburger.Thetimeisripetostartasocialventure.“Getonthewaveandrideitbecausethisistheopportunitytojumponnow.Andyou’regoingtobecomealeaderinasectorasopposedtoafollowerinsomethingthat’sveryestablished.”
Sowhatadvicewouldtoday’sestablishedandyoungsocialentrepreneursgivetostudents?Theone,overridingrequirementisthatyouneedpassion;withoutthat,itwillbehardtogetthroughtoughtimes.
“Don’tstartuntilyou’vefoundaproblemthatyou’resopassionateaboutsolvingthatitjustmakesyoucrazy,”saysHeatherPayne,whostartedherownsocialventurecalledLadiesLearningCode.Hernot-for-profitbusinesshasbeenaroundforjustoverayearandhasalreadyseenmorethan1,700women(andsomemen—shedoesn’twanttoexclude)learntechnicalskillslikewebsitebuildingandphotoeditingfromover400volunteersinToronto’stechnologycommunity.Heraimistoreducetheinequalityofwomeninthetechnologyindustry.
“Wefoundawaytocreateareallywelcoming,comfortableenvironmentforwomenwheretheycanlearn.Plus,ourworkshopsareaccessibly-pricedandactuallyalotoffun,”saysPayne.For$50,womenspendafulldaywithtechexperts.
Paynehasworkedinatechstart-upcompany,butpreferssocialentrepreneurship.“I’mnotinterestedinbuildingthenextFarmville.Ilovesocialentrepreneurshipbecauseit’s
aboutlookingatanissueinsocietyandsaying‘Ithinkwecancomeupwithasolutionthatwillatleastmoveusintherightdirection.’”
Payne,whois25yearsold,saysstartingasocialventurewasriskyandabitscary,butitpaidoffintheend—she’sopeningachapterinVancouver,andhasplansformoreinCanadaandtheUnitedStates.Herbusinessbackgroundandentrepreneurialmindhelpedhersucceedinsocialentrepreneurship.“Ilovethewaythatsocialentrepreneurshipcancombineprinciplesfromthefor-profitworldandtheissueswereallydoneedtosolvetocreatereallyinnovative,interestingandsustainableenterprises,”shesays.
Onceyou’vefoundthecausethatdrivesyou,DeSimonesaystojumprightin.“Justtakearisk…Ifnothingishappening,createsomething.”Shesaysit’smucheasiertoattractpotentialinvestorsorpartnerswhenyoualreadyhaveyourideaandplaninplace.
Kielburgersaysthatonceyouhavethe‘why’ofyourventureready—thesocialproblemyouwanttofix—thenfigureoutthe‘how.’Hesaystobeshamelesslyidealisticand“comeupwithalargervisionthanyouthinkyoucanfulfill.”
“Getyourselfoutofyourcomfortzone.”Co
Jordan Adams is a Carleton university journalism graduate.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: freethechildren.com, metowe.com, canada.ashoka.org, ladieslearningcode.com, careeroptionsmagazine.com
“Don’T START unTiL you’VE FounD A PRoBLEM ThAT you’RE So PASSionATE ABouT SoLVing ThAT iT JuST MAkES you CRAzy.”
Co high school edition 13
14 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
Co high school edition 15
CBC’shittelevisionshow“Dragons’Den”hasbroughtentrepreneurshipintotheprimetimespotlight.AspiringventuristspresenttheirideastotheDragons—someofCanada’sbrightest,mostsuccessfulentrepreneurs—inthehopeofstrikingadealthatwillbringtheirproducttothemarketplace.
OneofthoseDragonsisBruceCroxon,adigitalpioneerwhoco-foundedtheonlinedatingserviceLavalife.Henowinvestsindigitalstart-upsandownsachainofholisticspas,whilealsopartneringwithpromisingventuresheencountersontheshow.HetalkedwithCareer Optionsaboutwhatyoungentrepreneursneedtoknowtosucceed.
Career options: What is a typiCal day liKe For an entrepreneur?
BruCe CroXon:Iwouldsaytheansweristherereallyisnotypicalday,becauseIthinkbyitsnature,youhavetobereadytoadapttochangingsituationsdependingonthesizeofthebusinessyou’reinvolvedwith.Butifyou’rejuststartingup,therereallyisnotypicalday.You’reusuallyunderfunded,doingeverythingyourself.Itcanbeascramble.Thechallengeistotakethatchaosandthetemptationtoloseyourfocus,andtrytobringsomefocustowhatyou’retryingtodo.Sotheshortansweristhereisnotypicalday.
Co: What are the risKs and haZards oF Being an entrepreneur?
CroXon: Thechallengeofbeinganentrepreneuristhatitcanbeaverylonelyexistence.You’retakingresponsibilityforthesuccessorfailureofwhateveritisthatyou’rebeingentrepreneurialabout.Theriskisthatyoucanworkandworkandwork—andthere’snodoubtthatit’smoreworkthanamoreconventionalcareerpath—andtheriskisyoucanworkreallyhardandnotgettheresultsthatcanbeconsideredasuccess.Youhavetoletgoofthenotionthatyouputineighthoursofwork
andthereforeshouldgetthismuchmoney.Therealityisyou’llhavetoworkreallyhard,andtheamountofmoneyyougetfortheamountofeffortyouputinmaynotbeequal.Youhavetokeepgrindinguntilthingsstarttohappen.
Co:What are the BeneFits?
CroXon:It’saverypersonaljourney.Youacutelyfeeleveryvictoryandyouacutelyfeeleverydefeat.Ifyou’rethekindofpersonwhocanlivewiththeupsanddownsofit,andnotletitkeepyouawakeatnight,andifyou’restillanicepersontobearoundandtherollercoasterdoesn’teatyouup,there’snobetterfeelingthanworkinghardatsomethingandhavingthefruitsofyourownlabourcomeouttheotherside.It’saveryrewardingexperience.
Co:What are the qualities needed For a suCCessFul entrepreneur?
CroXon:Staminaandstick-to-it-ness.Youneedtoworkharderthanthenextperson.Youneedtobecomfortable[withthefact]thatyouneedtobethinkingaboutyourbusinesssevendaysaweek,24hoursaday.Inthiscompetitiveenvironment,ifyou’renotdoingthat,someoneelsewillbe.Ithinktheotherqualityofagoodentrepreneuristheabilitytolookinthemirroronceinawhileandrealizethatyoudon’thavealltheanswers.It’safineline,becauseyouneedenoughegotohaveenoughconfidencetodoitonyourown,butyouregocan’tbesobigthatyouignorethemistakesyoumakeorthelearningyougetfromotherpeopleandsituations.Sointrospectionwouldbeaqualityyouneed.Theabilitytoworkwithothers,too,unlessyou’reanexceptionallybrightperson—ofwhichI’vemetveryfewinmylife.
Co: When is a “good” idea really a Bad idea?
CroXon:Itdependsonwhatareayou’reworkingin.Iworkinthedigitalworld.The
goodandbadthingisyougetfeedbackveryquickly.Youknowhowpeopleusetheserviceandrespondtowhatyou’redoing.Youjustreallyneedtolistentoyourcustomersandpaycloseattentiontohowthey’readaptingtotheservice.Inmostindustriestoday,becausethingsmovealotquickerthantheyusedto,ifyou’vegotyoureyesandearsopen,thatfeedbackcomesprettyquickly.
Co: hoW do you KnoW When to quit?
CroXon:Ifyou’reanentrepreneur,you’reanentrepreneur.Quitdoesn’treallyenterintothevocabularyofthebestones.Theyjustneedtochange.It’snotaboutquitting,it’saboutadapting.Whenyougetacertainamountofinformationandyou’regettingevidencethatyourideadoesn’twork,youneedtogobacktothepeoplethatyou’retryingtogetascustomers,andaskwhatitisaboutwhatyou’redoingthattheydidn’tlike,andjustchangewhatyou’redoing.Oneofthequalitiesofagoodentrepreneuristhewillingnesstochangedirection,tonotgettoolockedintoyourownpointofview.Whentheevidencecomesinthatyourpointofviewisnotsharedbyamarket,youneedtoshiftgearsandchangeyouridea.That’sreallydifferentthanjustthrowinginthetowel.
Co: What adviCe Would you give to high sChool students as they enter post-seCondary With the intention oF Being an entrepreneur?
CroXon:Ifyou’regoingwiththeintentionofbeinganentrepreneur,I’dthinkseriouslyaboutwhetherpost-secondaryisgoingtohelpyoudothat.It’sgettingmoreandmoreexpensivetogoforaliberalartseducation,sounlessyou’regoingspecificallytostudybusiness,I’dthinklongandhardaboutit.Ifyouknowit’swhatyouwanttodo,thereisanargumentforgettingonwithit.Alotofparentswon’tliketohearmesaythat,butwhileIhadalotoffunatuniversity,asfar
InteRVIeW WItH A DRAgon:
tHe RIsKs AnD BenefIts of BeIng An entRepReneUR
By Jordan Adams
16 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
aspreparingmetobeanentrepreneur,I’mnotsureitdidthat.Alotmorepeoplegointouniversitythaneverbefore,andtowhatend?Aretherejobsfortheseguystowalkinto?I’mnotsureyou’llgetthatsittinginphilosophyclasslearningaboutVoltaire—notthatthere’sanythingwrongwiththat.Butdoyouwanttobeanentrepreneuroraprofessor?
Co: What do you Wish you KneW When you Were a young entrepreneur?
CroXon:Lookingback,IwishIhadknownalittlemoreaboutfinancingandtherighttimetobringcapitalintoabusiness.Sothebalancesheetandfinancialpartofthings,Icould’veusedabitmoreknowledgeabout.Theotherthingisit’sprobablyaseasytogowithabigideaasitisasmallidea.It’sthesameamountofwork,soyoumightaswellgoforthebigone.Co
Jordan Adams is a Carleton university journalism graduate.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: cbc.ca/dragonsden, brucecroxon.com, careeroptionsmagazine.com
Co high school edition 17
bellaHwangisproofthatnotjustbusinessstudentshavetheentrepreneurialspirit.Theoccupationaltherapy
majorwasworkinginahospitalwhensherealizedshewantedtopursuebusiness,aftergettingatasteofentrepreneurshipwithafoodandculturemagazineshelaunchedwithafriend.Atthepediatricclinicwheresheworked,Hwangsays,she
“wasalwaysexcitedandkeentolaunchnewprogramswithmycolleagues,including
startingafeedingprogramandanaquaticprogramforchildrenwithdisabilities.”
Shethenstartedherownprivatepractice,andsuccessfullyhelpedotherslaunchtheirownpracticesaswell.Sherealizedshewantedtolearnmoreaboutbusiness,soshecompletedanMBAatSimonFraserUniversity.ThisledtoherhelpingtolaunchamaternalhealthcentreinruralUganda.
“Ithinkfrommyhealthbackground,I’vealwayshadaninterestincombiningentrepreneurshipandhealth,andworkinginthefieldofsocialentrepreneurship,”shesays.Shenowworksinthefieldof
“mHealth,”shorthandfor“mobiletechnologysupportinghealthcare.”
Hwangsayshersuccesshasbeenduetoherabilitytosayyestoeveryopportunity,leadingtoherwiderangeofexperiences.“Ithinkthishasbeenthekeytounderstandinghowtheworldworksandhowmyskillsandgoalsfitintoit,”shesays.
Forhighschoolstudents,Hwangrecommendskeepingyouroptionsopenbytakingbusinesscoursesbutalsoa“widebreadthofdifferentcoursestolearnmoreaboutyourselfandwhatyouareinterestedandpassionateabout.Youcanalwayschangewhatyoudecidetomajorin,andIthinkthatlifeisallaboutcontinuouslearning.”Co
yoUng
CAnADIAns
BUILDIng
AMBItIoUs
VentURes:
BeLLA HWAng
18 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
if you want to be an entrepreneur, it’s never too early to start developing your skills and business ideas. there are plenty of programs available to high school students across Canada—here is a small sample of the supports available to budding Canadian entrepreneurs:
Junior aChievement:ThisCanada-widenon-profitprogramhelpshighschoolstudentsbuildtheskillsneededtobecomeentrepreneurs.Alongwithfinancialliteracyandpreparingfortheworkforce,studentsdevelopbusinessskillsthroughseveraldifferentprograms,suchasCompanyProgram,wherehighschoolstudentsdeveloptheirownventurewiththehelpofmentors.JuniorAchievementprogramsarefreeforstudents,andtheyalsoofferover$500,000inscholarshipsandawardsacrossCanada.Learnmoreatjacan.org
ontario hs Business maJor: Ontarioschoolsoffera“SHSM”—specialisthighskillsmajor—inbusiness,wherestudentscanlearnawiderangeofskillsrelatedtotheirprofessionofchoice.Grade11and12studentstakeabundleofcoursesintheirstreamofchoice:apprenticeship,college,universityorentry-levelworkplace.AlongwithcreditsinEnglishandMath,studentsalsotakefourbusinesscreditsandtwoco-opcredits.Therearecourses
availabletohelpaspiringentrepreneurs,suchas“Entrepreneurship:VenturePlanninginanElectronicAge,”“BusinessLeadership:ManagementFundamentals”and“AccountingforaSmallBusiness.”CheckwithyourguidanceofficetoseeiftheBusinessMajorisavailableatyourschoolorvisitedu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/program.html#business
manitoBa high sChool investment Competition:ThiscompetitionforhighschoolstudentsisheldbytheUniversityofManitoba’sStuClarkCentreforEntrepreneurship.Studentspresenttheirrealbusinessestolocalbusinessprofessionals.ThereareawardsforBestWrittenPlan,BestTradeshow,BestElevatorPitchandBestLogo,amongothers.Pastprizeshaveincluded$2,000scholarships,iPadsandlaptops.Learnmoreatbit.ly/ononjo
aBoriginal youth entrepreneur Camp: ThiscampforGrade11and12AboriginalstudentsishostedbytheFirstNationsUniversityofCanadainRegina.Foroneweek,studentslearnaboutentrepreneurshipandsmallbusinessmanagement—includingskillsinmarketing,businessplans,networkingandcashflowprojections.Therearealsoactivitiessuchasshootingacommercial,meetingtopAboriginalentrepreneursandcompetingforprizes.Learnmoreatentrepreneurcamp.ca
sage Canada: StudentsfortheAdvancementofGlobalEntrepreneurship(SAGE)isaprogramrunforhighschoolersbystudentsatRyersonUniversity.Itispartof“aninternationalnetworkthatlinkshighschoolstudentswithopportunitiestomaketheworldabetterplacebycreatingandimplementinginnovativeprojects.”SAGEoffersworkshopsandcompetitions,andprovidesstudentswithreal-worldexperience.Moreinformationisavailableatsagecanada.com
BdC e-spirit aWards: ThesebusinessplanawardsarepresentedtoAboriginalhighschoolstudentsfromacrossCanadabytheBusinessDevelopmentBankofCanada.StudentsareexposedtoentrepreneurshipandthepossibilitiesoftheInternetwhendevelopingnewventures.Thewinnersoflastyear’scompetitionwereagroupofstudentsfromWinnipegwhocreatedabusinesstosellaffordableAboriginalcraftkits.Moreinformationabouttheawardsisavailableatbit.ly/TgsVrd
Askyourguidancecounsellorifthereareopportunitiestolearnmoreaboutentrepreneurshipinyourarea!
WHeRe to fInD
ResoURCes AVAILABLe to ADVAnCe yoUR entRepReneURIAL goALs
Co high school edition 19
Throughaprogramcalled
“IWanttobeaMillionaire,”EvanPricereceivedasmallstart-upfundof$200tocreatea
business.Hewentontoturnaprofitwithhis“High-techHygiene”service—whichincludedcleaningandenergyauditsonappliances—allatthetenderageof10!Hehasn’tlookedbacksince,andtodaydescribeshimselfas“atruesalesmanatheart.”
Hisentrepreneurialspiritservedhimwellinlaterventures;mostnotably,hecultivatedthelargestcropoffiddleheadseastofOntario,andfoundedthelargestorganicbeerhopsfarminNovaScotia.ThesebusinesseshelpedhimpayforhisbachelorofcommerceatDalhousieUniversity,wherehewasVice-presidentofFinanceandOperationsforthestudentunion—handlingover$6.4millioninspendingand$2.7millionininvestments.
Impressedyet?Hewasalsonamedoneofthe“Top10entrepreneursunder35”byNovaScotia’sHighFliersprogram;receivedbusinessdevelopmentfundingtothetuneof$10,000;andwasnamedthebestco-opentrepreneurialstudentatDalhousiefor2010,receivingtheSagewoodgrantof$4,000.
Hissuccesseshaven’tallcomeeasily.“Thehardestpartsarealwaysaroundgettingtheconfidenceofothersandfindingpartnersorstart-upfundingtokeepgrowing,”Pricesays.“Butifyoutaketimeandbuildrelationships,that’smuchhardertobreakthansimplyhavingthebestprice.”
Pricesaysthatwhileeducationisimportant,buildingrelationshipsiskey.
“Makefriendswithsuccessfulpeoplearoundyou.Family,friends,parents—theyhavethekeystowhatworksforthemandknowthebusinessmodelstheyworkin.Themoreyouknownow,thebetteryouwillbeabletonegotiatelater,”hesays.Co
yoUng
CAnADIAns
BUILDIng
AMBItIoUs
VentURes:
eVAn pRICe
20 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
Lessthantwohoursaftergraduation,DannyDempseylandedajobintheshippingindustry.ArepresentativefromAlgomaCentralCorporationtookhimoutfordinneraftertheceremony,offeredhimajobasafourthengineer,andhehasn’tlookedbacksince.
Theuniqueenvironmentandcompetitivewagesmakeitarewardingcareer.
“Shiplifeisdifferentfromanyotherlife,”hesays.“WorkingwithAlgomahasgivenmetheopportunitytomeetcountlessindividualsfromportsallovertheworld.Oftentimesyou’llleavetheshipattheendofyourstretchfeelinglikeyouhaveleftbehindanotherfamily.”
Theshippingindustryworksdifferentlythanotherjobs.Mostofthecrewworksonarotationalbasis,whichinDanny’scaseisonemonthatwork,followedbyonemonthofscheduledtimeoff.HelivesinCapeBreton,NovaScotiaduringhistimeoffandenjoysusinghisfreetimetoscubadive.Hisinterestinalifeatseasparkedatanearlyage—hisfatheralsoworkedinthemarineindustry.Whileit’ssometimesdifficultbeingawayfromfamilyforperiodsoftime,thefreetimeathomemorethanmakesupforit,Dannysays.
Whenit’stimetostartwork,AlgomafliesDannytotheship,whichtravelsthroughtheSt.LawrenceSeawayandGreatLakes—providingplentyofopportunitytoexploredifferentcities.Danny’sfavouriteportofcallisHalifax,wherehecanenjoythewaterfrontanddowntown
area,meetingnewpeopleandreconnectingwitholdfriends.Whileonboard,Dannyhashisownprivateroomandtheopportunitytousetheship’sexerciseequipmentandrecreationroom.
Aboardtheship,Dannydoesavarietyofjobs.“Theengineerisinchargeofeverythingmechanical,electrical,orstructuralontheship.Fromthecomputerstothecrankshaft,airconditioningtorefrigerators,doorstowindshieldwipers,younameit,wemustbeabletomakeitwork.Wemustbeknowledgeableenoughtorecognizeaproblem,theneitherfixit,makedoorcallinthespecialists,”saysDanny,whorecentlycompletedathree-yearcadetprogramattheNovaScotiaCommunityCollegeNauticalInstitute.
Algomaofferstechnicallysophisticatedpositionsatvaryingskilllevels,butthetwomainpathsaretostartasacrewmemberandworkuptocertification,ortoattendapost-secondarycadetprogram(whichcombinesacademicswithco-opplacements).Bothofthesestreamsleadtocertificationasanofficerineithernavigationorengineering.Therearealsoopportunitiesaboardtheshipthatdon’trequirecertification,likegeneralpurposewatchkeepersandmechanicalassistants.
Ifalifeatseaisn’tforyou,Algomaalsohasonshoreopportunitiesinshipmanagement,engineering,navalarchitecture,accounting,informationtechnology,humanresourcesandmarketing.
LearnmoreabouttheopportunitiesAlgomahastoofferatwww.algonet.com.
aDvertorial
aBound in Canadian
shipping industryopportunities For young
people
Co high school edition 21
AlgomaCentralCorporationisaleadingCanadianshippingcompany,owningandoperatingthelargestCanadianflagfleetofdry-bulkcarriersandproducttankersoperatingontheGreatLakes–St.LawrenceWaterway.Algomaspecializesinthebulkmarinetransportationofironore,stoneaggregate,grainproducts,cementandoilandchemicalproductstomanydifferentcustomersinCanadaandtheUnitedStates.
algoma Central Corporation’s investment in human Capital is CritiCal to the suCCess oF the organiZation.TheoverallperformanceofAlgomaCentralCorporationisdependentondedicatedandhighly-skilledemployees,includingseafaringpersonnel,captains,chiefengineers,shore-basedmanagementandsupportstaff.
AllofAlgomaCentral’speoplearealignedtoensuretheachievementofthecorporation’sgoalsandobjectives—includingOperationalExcellenceandCustomerSatisfaction.Wearecommittedtoourcorevaluesofintegrity,responsibility,respect,leadershipandteamworkandencourageanenvironmentwherethesevaluescanbefostered.ThisfocusonOperationalExcellencemakesusproudtosay,“WeareAlgomaCentralCorporation.”
Welcome aboard!AlgomaCentralCorporationoffersemployeessomeofthemostchallengingandtechnicallysophisticatedpositionsavailabletoday.Weoffercompetitivewagesandauniqueenvironmenttoutilizeyourskills.
shipboard opportunitiesShipboardopportunitiesthatrequirecertificationasan“officer”includethefollowing:
navigation: engineering:• Captain • ChiefEngineer• FirstMate • SecondEngineer• SecondMate • ThirdEngineer• ThirdMate • FourthEngineer • Electrician
Therearetwomainstreamsforofficertraining.OneisthetraditionalrouteofstartingasacrewmemberandgainingseaexperienceandthenwritingtheTransportCanadachallengeexamstoobtainthenextlevelofcertification.
Thesecondmethodistoattendoneofthemajorpost-secondaryinstitutionsthatoffercadetprogramsandcombineacademicswithco-opseatimeplacementstosittheTransportCanadaexaminationsforcertificationsasaThirdMateoraFourthClassEngineer.
IInadditiontotheofficerpositionsthereareanumberofotherrewardingshipboardpositionsnotrequiringpost-secondaryeducationincluding:
• BridgeWatchman • Able-bodiedSeaman• OrdinarySeaman • GeneralPurposeWatchkeeper• MechanicalAssistant/Oiler • Tunnelman/CargoMaintenance• Galleypositions
shore-based opportunitiesInordertoeffectivelymanagethesafeandefficientoperationofthelargestcombinedCanadianmerchantfleet,therearemanyshore-basedpositions.Shore-basedcareersincludeopportunitiesinshipmanagement,engineering,navalarchitecture,accounting,informationtechnology,humanresourcesandmarketing.Therequirementsforthesepositionsdifferbasedonthelevelofresponsibilityofeachpositionbut,generallyeachpositionrequiressomepost-secondaryeducation.
Ifyouareinterestedinmoreinformationonamarinecareer,pleasecontactus.
aDvertorial
guidanCe Counsellors: For more information about careers at algoma, or
to arrange for a representative to speak with students, please contact Brooke
Cameron, manager of human resources, at [email protected].
22 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
spoRts-MAD neW ZeALAnD: CoMBIne ADVentURe WItH
stUDy In KIWI-LAnDBy Kathryn Young
Co high school edition 23
bungeejumping,blackwaterrafting,zorbing,jetboating,heliskiing:NewZealandisthemeccaforadventuresports,says19-year-oldB.C.
studentJuliaThrift.
“Whynotstudyinthecapitalofadventuretourism?”asksThrift,whoisenrolledinthesnowsportbusinessmanagementprogramatQueenstownResortCollegeonNewZealand’sSouthIsland.“Myfriendsaresojealous.”
SnowsportsisaspecialtywithinQRC’sadventuretourismmanagementprogram,wherestudentslearnmorethanjustthevisitorexperience.Theyalsolearnhowtodevelopandoperatedifferentmodelsofadventuretourismcompanies,andtheskillsneededforleadership,marketing,humanresources,writingbusinessplans,communicationsandmore.
“It’sallinternationallytransferrable,”explainsProgramManagerChrisWarburton.Infact,QRChasanagreementwithThompsonRiversUniversityinB.C.,wherebyQRCgradscanautomaticallygointothethirdyearofThompsonRivers’degreeprogram.Similaragreementsareinplacewithotherschools,includingOntario’sUniversityofGuelph,wherestudentscanstudyforoneortwosemestersatLincolnUniversityinN.Z.andpaytheregularUofGtuitionfees,ratherthanhigherinternationalstudenttuitionfees.
AdventuretourismisjustoneofmanyN.Z.post-secondarysportsprogramsthatareopentoCanadianstudents.AndEducationNewZealandisopenlycourtinginternationalstudents,especiallyfromNorthAmerica,fortheseprogramsthatgobeyondeliteperformancetoincludesportsbusinessadministration,recreationmanagement,sportsmassage,outdoorleadershipandevensportsturfmanagement.
great environment For sports
“Veryfewpeopleareeliteathletes,”saysDonMilham,TeamManagerattheSchoolofSportandExerciseScienceatWaikatoInstituteofTechnology,knownasWintec.“Buthealthandwellnessisacrossthelifespan.Wehaveagreatenvironmentforthat.”
WintecislocatedinthesmallcityofHamiltonontheNorthIsland,wherewinterdaytimetemperaturesareusually10to14°C.Andthat’spartofwhatmakesN.Z.asports-madcountry:it’seasytogetoutsideandbeactive
whenthetemperaturerarelydipsbelowzero,andthenonlyinthemountains.
“It’saverysports-dominatedsociety,”saysStewartBrougham,Wintec’sDirectorofInternationalization.“Itimbuessocietywithaviewthatsportissomethingyoushouldcontinuewith…Thatpassionforsportsfuelsthesupplyindustry.Youneedpeopletorunandmanagethesportsclubs,tomanageandcoachtheteams,workforcompaniesorteachsportsinschools.”
N.Z.offersCanadianstudentssomeattractivepost-secondary(theycallit“tertiary”)options.YoucanstudyinthelandoftheKiwiforasemesterortwo,takecoursesduringagapyear,doanexchangeprogram,orcompleteanentirediplomaordegree.YoucanevenearncreditsthatwillberecognizedbyyourCanadiancollegeoruniversity,throughpartnershipagreementsorindividualnegotiation.Andstudyingabroadcanofferacompromisebetweengapyeartravelandgoingontopost-secondary.
“Ireallywantedtotravel,butMomwantedschool,”saysThrift,fromWhiterock,B.C.ThecompromisewasQRC.“Queenstownhasblownmeaway—theconnectionsyoumake.I’vedonethingsthere’snowayIwouldhavedonebefore,likecanyoning.”
LincolnUniversitystudentJennHalliday,alsofromB.C.,urgesCanadianstudentstoapplyforN.Z.programs.“You’llneverknowifyoucouldhavemadeitifyoudon’ttry,”shesays.
“Youcanmakeitworkandyoucangethere.”
StudyingatLincoln—abeautifultreedcampussurroundedbyfarmlandjustoutsideChristchurch—isadreamthatHallidaymadecometruewithhardworktohelpoffsetthecosts.WhilestudyingabroadcanbemoreexpensivethaninCanada,shewasabletobringdownthepriceofherBachelorofSportandRecreationManagement.AndPhDstudentstakenote:youpaydomestictuitionfeesinN.Z.,notthehigherinternationaltuitionfeesthatundergradspay.
“Theprocessofstudyinginanothercountryenrichesyou,”saysBrougham.“You’reabitmorethoughtful,youlearntobemoretolerant.Itjustchangesyou.”Andthat’ssomethingyougetnomatterwhereintheworldyougo.
N.Z.isaneasyplacetoliveandstudy.Thecultureisdifferentenoughtobeinteresting,yetfamiliarenoughthatyou’llfeelathomeamongstfriendlypeople,speakingEnglish—
sortof.TherearelotsoffunKiwitermstolearnifyou’reinterested.
“IfoundNewZealandlikehome,butwithatwist,”saysHalliday.“Therearesomanyadvantages:youlearnaboutyourselfanddifferentcultures.”
many sports programsAswellasbachelor’sdegrees,Lincolnofferspostgraduatedegreesandcertificatesinsportandexercisephysiology,parks,recreationandtourismmanagement,plusaneliteSportsScholarshipProgramandtheAsiaPacificFootball[Soccer]Academy.
Wintecofferscertificateprogramsinsportsmassage,outdooreducationandrecreation,andfitnessindustrytraining.Bachelorprogramsareavailableincoaching,nutrition,exercisephysiologyandbiomechanics,andthere’saone-yearteachingprogram.Thecommunicationsschoolofferssportsjournalism.
OtagoPolytechnic—basedinDunedinontheSouthIsland,butwithothercampusesaswell—hascertificateand/ordiplomaprogramsinarangeofsubjects:snowsportinstructing,avalanchesafety,outdoorleadershipandmanagement,physicalconditioning,andsportsturfmanagement,plusabachelorofappliedscienceinphysicalactivity,healthandwellness.
QRC’sadventuretourismmanagementprogram,withitsspecialtyinsnowsportbusinessmanagement,includespaidinternships.
spoRts-MAD neW ZeALAnD: CoMBIne ADVentURe WItH
stUDy In KIWI-LAnD
“Why not study
in the Capital
oF adventure
tourism? my
Friends are so
Jealous.”
24 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
“last year
We lived on
a BeaCh For
a WeeK, roCK
ClimBing and
sea KayaKing.”
Co high school edition 25
N.Z.hasapopulationofjustfourmillionpeople,soitscolleges,universitiesandpolytechnics(degree-grantinginstitutionsthatarelikeacrossbetweencollegeanduniversity)aresmalltoo.Classesaresmallandprofessorsreallygettoknowtheirstudents.
“Astudentsaidtome,‘Ican’tbelieveyougavemeyourcellphonenumbersowecancallyou,’”saysChrisHutchinson,Lincoln’sacademiccoordinatorforsportsmanagement.“Here,it’sfirst-nameterms.”
“Anybodywhocomesherecanbeabigfish,”saysMilham.
hands-on, praCtiCal sKillsThesportsprograms—whetherattheuniversitydegreeorcollegediplomalevel—focusonpracticalskillsandcareerbuilding.
“Realpeoplewithrealskillsgetrealjobs.That’salwaysbeenmyphilosophy,”saysGarySmith,programmanagerforOtago’ssportsturfmanagementprogram,wherestudentscompletepaidinternshipsatgolfcourses,rugbyfieldsandcricketpitches—andthengetsnappedupbyemployers.
“Whenyoucomeoutofthecourse,you’resetuptogointotheindustry,”saysDavidJamesMoseley,20,studyingoutdoorleadershipandmanagementatOtago.“Lastyearwelivedonabeachforaweek,rockclimbingandseakayaking.”Aftercompletinganinternship,henowhasafull-timesea-kayakingjobwaitingforhimwhenhegraduates.
“Someeducationalinstitutionslosesightoftheendgoal,whichisjobs,”saysCharliePhillips,CEOatQRC.“We’rereallyfocusedoncompletingthatloop.”Studentsaretreatedasprofessionalsrightfromthefirstday,whenthey’regreetedwith:“Welcome.You’restartingtoday,notintwoyears’time.”
Studentswearuniformsappropriatetotheirstudies—fortheadventuretourismstudents,it’sblacktrackpantsandblackQRCt-shirts—andaremarkedongrooming,attendanceandpunctuality.“It’sallaboutgettingreadyfortheindustry,”saysPhillips.“Ninety-sevenpercentofgraduatesgetjobs.”
Lincoln’sBachelorofSportandRecreationManagementdegreeincludesarequirementtocomplete480hoursofpracticalworkinasportorrecreationrole.Forexample,studentsrecentlyorganizedanOlympicgaladayfor800schoolchildren,whileothershandledtheregistrationandfinish-linefacilitiesfortheTourofNewZealand10-daycycleracethroughthewholelengthoftheSouthIsland.
“Oursisaveryenthusiastic,hands-on,fundegree,butdoescontainrobustacademictheorybeforethefunstuff,”Hutchinsonsays.“We’reworkingquitecloselywithindustry,notjustinChristchurchbutaroundNewZealand.”
early involvement in researChManyofthesportsprogramsalsoemphasizeearlyinvolvementbyundergradstudentsinresearchprojects“sobythetimetheygettothemasterslevel,it’snotnewtothem,”saysMilham,leadingatourthroughWintec’sbiomechanicslab.Onestudentisperiodicallyjumpingonametalplateonthefloor,sometimesusinghisarmsandsometimesnot,whilehiscolleagueslookatalaptopmeasuringhisimpact.Anotherlabhousesanaltitudemachineandaheatchamberwherestudentscancontrolforheatandhumidityduringexperiments.
26 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
LeahHutching,22,isasecond-yearmastersbiomechanicsstudentresearchingregularshoesversustoeshoes,andhowhumanmechanicschangeatdifferentspeeds.ShehopestoworkforasportsshoecompanyaftergraduatingfromWintec.
AtLincoln,MikeHamlin,academiccoordinatorforthesportsscholarshipprogram,describesresearchintonewtechnologiesaimedatboostingperformance,includingcompressiongarments,altitudetrainingforrugbyplayersgoingtoJohannesburg,andtheeffectsofblood-flowrestrictiononnetballathleteswhilethey’retraining.Result:increasedmuscleenduranceandstrength.(Netballissimilartobasketball.)
JennHallidaysaysstudyinginN.Z.hasbeenthebestthingforher.ShetalksregularlywithherparentsviaSkype.“They’resupportiveandproudofmethatI’mbraveenoughtotakeontheworld,”shesays.
SowhatwouldshetellCanadianstudentsthinkingofstudyinginN.Z.?
“Iwouldtellthemtogoforit,”shesays.“Don’tjustdreamaboutit,butactuallydoit!”Co
kathryn young is the former managing editor of Career Options. Education new zealand and Air new zealand invited her to tour n.z. tertiary education schools and sponsored her trip.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: airnewzealand.ca, newzealandeducated.com, learnmorestressless.com, newzealandpostgraduate.com, lincoln.ac.nz, apfa.co.nz, queenstownresortcollege.com, otagopolytechnic.ac.nz, wintec.ac.nz, careeroptionsmagazine.com
Co high school edition 27
28 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
“Ijustwishtherewasasimple,hassle-freewayformetoworksomewhereinterestinginreturnforfoodandlodging,”Isaidtoafriendaswe
waitedforatraininBarcelona.WewerebothstudentsonexchangeinFranceforthespring,andIwastryingtoplanwhattodofortheshortperiodafterschoolinEuropeendedbutbeforemysummerjobinCanadabegan.
“Well,thatexists,”shetoldme.“It’scalledHelpX.Lookitup.”Iwasinitiallyskeptical—IhadneverheardofHelpXormetanyonewhohadtriedit.MostinternationalvolunteerorganizationsIresearchedpresentedmazesofadministrativeredtape,sometimeswithheftyparticipationfees.
However,whenIreturnedhomeandvisitedthewebsite,IlearnedthatHelpXactsasaliaisonbetweenindependenthosts(familiesoremployersseekingassistanceinreturnforhousing)andhelpers(labourerslookingfortheopportunitytostaysomewherenew)foraminimal,one-timefee.Hostsofferpositionsthatincludefarming,hostelreceptionist,goatherderandchildcareworker.
Iwasstunnedatthesheernumberofpostings;therearethousandsofthem,organizedbygeographicalregion.AprospectivehelpercouldgardeninAlberta,tendsheepinIreland,assistinanelementaryschoolinMorocco—thepossibilitiesseemedendless.ThiswasexactlywhatI’dbeenlookingfor.
Severalmonthslater,IspenttwobeautifulweeksworkingoutdoorsinsouthernFrance,
stayingina17th-centuryfarmhousesurroundedbyvineyards.IamcertainitwillnotbemylastHelpXexperience.
HelpX.netlaunchedin2001andhasgrownsteadilyeversince.Thesiteisn’tflashyoraestheticallyarranged,butisveryeasytonavigate.Eachhostpostsaprofileofvaryinglengthanddetail—someincludepicturesandlengthydescriptionsoftheirhomeandthejob,whileothersareveryminimal.Thestandardarrangementbetweenhostandhelperisfivetoeighthoursofworkforfiveorsixdaysaweek;thesetermsaredependentoneachhost’sneedsandpractices.Toaccesshostcontactinformationandreadreviews,theuserpaysa
‘Premiership’fee,whichgrantsthematwo-yearHelpXmembershipfor20euros(around25dollars).Indoingso,theuserconstructsahelperprofile,whichdetailsiftheyaretravelingalone,withafriendorasacouple.Thehelpercanlistskills,qualificationsandintereststhatthehostmaylaterbrowse.Onceregistered,thehelpercansiftthroughpostingsandcontacthostsofferingjobsthatinterestthem.
HelpXershavetobeatleast18toparticipate(orbeaccompaniedbyaparentiftheyareunder18).Forstudentswhodon’tknowwhattheywanttodoafterhighschool,takingagapyeartotraveltheworldorpursueanunpaidinternshipisappealing,butcanalsobreakthebankwhenitcomestolivingexpenses.HelpXprovidesaninterestingalternative:youcantravelaslittleorasmuchasyouwantandtryyourhandatavarietyofdifferentvocations—allwhilelivingforfree(exceptforthecostoftransportation).HelpXcommitmentsvaryinlength—itcanbe
difficulttofindaplacementforlessthanoneortwoweeks,andtheycanlastuptoayear.Hostsoftenofferlongerstaysinexchangeforteachingskills,suchashowtobuildahouseaddition.Alotofhelperschoosetostayatavarietyofplacementstooffsetthecostoflong-termtravelingandexperiencenewjobs.
IfyouwanttotailoryourHelpXexperiencetofurtheryourcareerdevelopmentinspecificareas,thatisabsolutelypossible.ManyHelpXplacementstakeplaceintheareasofsmallbusiness,agriculture,buildingandhospitality.Evenifcareerdevelopmentisnotyourspecificobjective,it’shardtocomeoutofaHelpXplacementwithoutexperiencingsomeremarkableskillsandgrowth.
“MyinterpersonalskillsgrewinjustthefewweeksthatIdidHelpX,”saysKellyAgnew,astudentfromVirginiawhodidaplacementthisspring.“Iwasexposedtonewexperiencesthathavemademeamoreadaptableperson.”
IhopeI’veservedthesamepurposemyfrienddidwhilewewaitedforthetrainallthattimeago,givingasmallpieceofinformationthatcouldleadsomeoneelsetoabigadventure.ThebeautifulthingaboutHelpXisitisthereforyouwheneveryou’reready,foraslongasyouwant.ThesheepinIrelandarewaiting…Co
Jasmine irwin is a media and public interest student at western university.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: helpx.net, careeroptionsmagazine.com
HeLpX HeLps tHose WHo HeLp tHeMseLVes
By Jasmine Irwin
Co high school edition 29
1. loCation Look for placements in an area where you want to spend some quality time! There are helpx locations all around the world, with concentrations in north America, Europe and Australia. it is less common for developing countries to have helpx placements, but they certainly exist and are growing in number. you don’t need to go abroad to participate in helpx; there are over 300 hosts in Canada, from yukon to P.E.i. if you’re interested in traveling between helpx stints or on your days off, it’s important to consider transportation options in the area of your host’s location. hosts are often unable or reluctant to make frequent trips to a train station that might be hours away. working on a gorgeous and remote Croatian island is incredibly appealing—however, that makes it hard to go on fun, tourist day trips.
2. hosts Premier members can look at host reviews left by former helpers. “For a first time i’d go for a helpx with a lot of recent, positive reviews, and for a profile which is comprehensive,” says Frances kelsey, a British student who has been travelling and helpx-ing for more than eight months. “For example, it should explain what you’ll be expected to do, how many hours, what you could do on your days off, what the accommodation will be like, etc.” when contacting a host, ask as many questions as you need to get a complete picture of what the placement entails before you commit. Be respectful and honest when it comes to what hosts are seeking—if they require someone with cement and construction experience, don’t apply based on your grade 9 woodshop class.
3. saFety i chose to try helpx by myself, which as a young woman was fraught with the standard dangers of any solo travel. i chose my first placement in a family environment only a few hours from my ‘home base.’ There are many placements available for couples or friends, which would make for a great trip. if you’re helpx-ing alone (which is also a blast), just ensure you leave the contact information of your host with someone at home in case of a problem.
4. preparationSome countries (like Australia) require a work visa for volunteer labour. Make sure you check out the visa requirements before leaving home. Bring work clothes and footwear—one of my friends had to mulch in the outfits she brought for springtime in Paris. She sure looked cute but tomato plants didn’t appreciate it.
MORE TIps On hELpX-InG »
30 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
heroes:they’reinourbooks,ourmovies,ourvideogamesandourimaginations.Theyoccupythecentralroleinmost,ifnot
all,mythsfromvariouscultures.Theyareadventurers,navigatingfromonechallengetothenext,narrowlyavertingdisaster,andultimatelyetchingstoriesofcourageandfortitudeintoourmemories.
Therearemanymetaphorsthatseemtodescribelifeaptly,butnonesocompelling,norsouniversal,asthemetaphorofadventure.JosephCampbell,thescholarwhopopularizedtheterm
“thehero’sjourney,”sawenoughcommonthemesacrossmythsfromdifferentculturestoproposetheideathatallmythessentiallyrelatesbacktothesamebasicpatternofaheroembarkingonaharrowingjourney.
Inproposingthisidea,Campbellprovidedaunifyingtheoryformythology.Buthisideasalsoprovidethefoundationforsomegreatcareeradviceforstudents.Sowhatdoes“thehero’sjourney”reallymean?Iftheadventure
narrativeisuniversal,howcanwetakeadvantageofittomoveforwardmeaningfullyinlife?
yOU ARE ThE hERO, And ThE AdVEnTURE TOO“Aheroventuresforthfromtheworldofcommondayintoaregionofsupernaturalwonder,fabulousforcesarethereencounteredandadecisivevictoryiswon,”writesCampbellinhisbookThe Hero with a Thousand Faces.Idoubtthatmanypeoplewouldhaveaproblemwiththinkingofthemselvesasahero,butitmightseemtooeasyandobvioustothinkofacareerpathasanadventure.Butthat’sbecausemostpeoplejumptotheconclusionthatacareerisstrictlyanexternaljourney,whenintruthithasveryinternal,introspectivecomponents.
Infact,the“regionofsupernaturalwonder”thatCampbellspeaksofresideswithinourselves.The“fabulousforces”thatwemustovercomeareourownpersonaldemons:complacence,apathy,self-doubt,others’
By David Lindskoog
HeRo:Be yoUR oWn
eMBRACe ADVentURe
HoW to
In yoUR CAReeR
Co high school edition 31
expectationsandlackofconfidence,tonamejustafew.Theyarethebarrierstoourself-awareness—thesmokeandmirrorsalongthepathtowarddiscoveryofourpurposeinlife.Onlybylookingwithinareweabletodiscoverhowwecanmakeourmostvaluablecontributionstotheworld,andtoourselves.
OkAy… sO whAT dOEs IT ALL MEAn?Despitethefactthatthemythologybehinditissoold,the“careerasajourney”metaphorisactuallyarelativelynewconcept.Sincetheindustrialrevolution,thedominantwayofthinkingaboutcareershasbeentomovefromonejobtoanother.Whattheadventuremetaphorsuggestsisthatweshiftfromthinkingofworkasaseriesofjobstoseeingitasonecontinuous,lifelongjourney.Asignificantpartofthatjourneyisasearchforpurpose—forwhateachofusseekstocontributetotheworldthroughourwork.
Ofcourse,therearen’tanyconcretestepsonhowtomakethisdiscovery,butmany
peopleareabletomoveforwardontheirown.Theytendtobecuriousandopentonewexperiences.Theytaketheoccasionalrisk,andallowthemselvestomakemistakesandlearnfromthem.Theyalwaysseemtobetakingaction.Mostimportantly,theytaketimetoreflectontheirexperiencesandhowtheywantthechaptersoftheirlivestobewritten.
Whenallissaidanddone,that’sreallythekeyword:reflect.Discoveringwhat’smeaningfulforyou,andhowyouwanttocontributetotheworldwithyourwork,isanongoingprocessofreflectingontheactionsyoutake,theworkthatyoudo,andtheknowledgeyougain,eachandeveryday.Overtime,youmightjustlookbackandnoticethatyourcareerhasbeenoneheckofanadventure.Co
David Lindskoog is a career advisor at Simon Fraser university and blogs for the Career options website.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: careeroptionsmagazine.com
HeRo:Be yoUR oWn
In yoUR CAReeR
32 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com
picturethis:You’reheadingintoyourfinalyearofhighschool.You’redebatingwhethertoenrollinuniversityorcollege,andwhatyouwanttostudythere.Don’tworry,you’renotaloneintheprocessofmakingthesetoughlifedecisions—
therearemanystudentsinthesameboat.
Theideaofparticipatinginaco-opprogramtohelpwithyoureducationandcareerdecisionsisn’tnew.Thechallenge,however,istosecureaco-oppositionthatwillhelpyouachievethosegoals.Inordertostandoutagainstthecompetition,studentsneedtolearnhowtobestpresenttheirskillsandexperiencetoemployers.
GET sOCIALIzInG Inadditiontoresearchingaboutyourco-opcompanyofinterest,oneofthebestwaystolearnaboutanorganization,itsworkenvironmentanditsstaffisthroughinteractiverecruitmentinitiativesthatinvolvealotofcommunication,bothonlineandoffline.
AnexampleofthisisPwC’sBrilliantFuturesprogram,wherestudentscanreceiveinsightonhowtostarttheircareerattheprofessionalservicesfirm.CurrentandformerstudentsnowatPwCsharetheirstoriesandexperienceswithotherstudentsviablogs,events,videos,FacebookandTwitter,etc.,onhowandwhattolookforwhentryingtosecureacareerwiththefirm.
Herearesomeotherinteractivewaystolandyouridealco-opposition:
• Sellyourself!Remember,manycompaniesuseco-opstoidentifythebeststudentsearlyintheirschoolcareers.Ifyoutellacompanythatyouwanttheco-opto“seeiftheroleinterestsyou,”they’lllikelypass.Theywantthecandidatewhotellsthem,“ThisisthecareerIreallywant.”
• Buildrelationshipswithotherstudentsandadvisorsinyourco-opprogram.
• Attendnetworkingandrecruitingevents.
• Askto“jobshadow”anemployeewhoholdsapositionyou’reinterestedin.
• Reviewcompanysocialmediatoolsandparticipateinonlineforumsandchatshostedbycompaniesthatofferco-opprograms.
MAkE A LAsTInG IMpREssIOnYou’vemadealistofyourdreamco-opgigs,andthenexthurdleistoshowthatyouhavetherightskillsforthejob.Here’saninsiderrecruitmenttidbit:yourresuméisthefirstdocumentapotentialemployersees—evenbeforeyourcoverletter.Recruiterstendtoreadthecoverletteronlyiftheylikeyourresumé.
By James Davidson
gettIng A HeAD stARt on yoUR BRILLIAnt fUtURe
Co high school edition 33
Targetwhatyoulearnedfromyourresearchorfromstaffatnetworkingevents,andincorporateitintoyourresumé,ensuringthatyouhighlightachievements,notjustjobresponsibilities.Thekeytoagoodresuméistocapturethereader’sinterestwithmorethanjust“facts.”That’swhatwillmakethemwanttomeetyouinpersonforaface-to-faceinterview.
Thenextstepisacingyourco-opinterviews.Rememberthattheinterviewshouldbenefitboththecandidateandtheemployer—bothpartiesarelookingfortheright“fit.”Thecompanywantstolearnaboutyourskillsandachievements,andyoucanlearnmoreaboutthepositionitselfandtheoverallworkenvironment.
Herearesomehelpfulhintsforyourco-opinterview:
• Beyourselfnomatterwhat.Asastudent,youwon’tbehappyinaplacewhereyoucan’tbeyourself.Bydoingso,youwillfindyourrightfit!
• Remembertosmile.Asmilegoesalongwayanditshowsthatyou’reexcitedtolearnaboutacompany.
• Beconfident!Thismakesyoumoreenticingtohaveaconversationwith—sohaveconfidenceinyourselfandinyourexperiencesandcapabilities.
Youcanbuildconfidencebybeingpreparedfortheinterview;conductthoroughresearchandpracticeyourinterviewskills.Asyoustarttothinkaboutco-opplacements,remembertoseekoutfellowstudentswithexperience,attendnetworkingevents,conductresearchonline,usesocialmediatoolstointeractandlearnmoreaboutcompanies,andmakethemostofhelpfulrecruitmentprograms.Thesedifferentavenueshelpstudentswiththeco-opapplicationprocessand,mostimportantly,provideinsightintotherecruitmentroutine—impactingfuturecareeropportunities.Co
James Davidson leads the national campus recruitment team at PwC Canada, a company that provides assurance, tax, consulting and deals services.
FoR MoRE inFoRMATion, ViSiT: pwc.com/ca/en/campus-recruiting, careeroptionsmagazine.com
34 VOLUME VI, FALL 2012 careeroptionsmagazine.com