Blog Posts

The Top Remote Jobs to Consider After Graduation

You may be unsure about what exactly you want to do after graduation, but you do know one thing: you want to work remotely. Remote jobs are popular because they eliminate the need to commute, allow you to have a more flexible schedule, and mean you don’t need to relocate if you want to take a job on the other side of the country. Some positions in particular are extra likely to be available as remote jobs. Here are a few to consider. 1. Digital Marketer Since being a digital marketer is all about running campaigns online, it makes sense that many positions are remote. You’ll be responsible for conducting market research, coming up with a strategy to improve awareness, and maintaining the image of the brand. Your duties may include creating digital marketing calendars, monitoring the brand’s online presence, and creating reports to explain your results. 2. Project Manager As a project manager, you’ll be responsible for making sure your team members know what they should be doing, sticking to a budget, and ensuring everyone meets their deadlines. Your tasks will be different every day, which means you need to possess a variety of skills, including communication skills, creativity to meet stakeholders’ expectations, and risk management skills. Remote project managers stay in touch with their team and clients through video conferencing, project management, and instant messaging apps. 3. Accountant If you have a good head for numbers, you may like to consider becoming an accountant. As well as helping the company you work for make smart financial decisions, you’ll be managing day-to-day financial tasks to ensure records remain accurate and meet legal standards. 4. Recruiter Many recruiters now work remotely because the candidates they are assessing are located all over the country, perhaps even all over the globe. In addition to conducting interviews, you will be responsible for creating job posts, assessing the resumes you receive, and reaching out to professionals you feel may be a good fit for a job. 5. Cybersecurity Analyst There is often no requirement for IT professionals to be on site because they work with computer systems they can access from anywhere. One such job is a cybersecurity analyst. You’ll need to search for vulnerabilities in the network and infrastructure to prevent the business from suffering an attack in the future. 6. Tutor You may have discovered you enjoy teaching if you’ve been tutoring other students to make some extra money at university. Not only can you turn this into a career after you graduate, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to work remotely. There are opportunities to work with students of all ages and tutor in virtually any subject. You’ll need to read your students’ textbooks to understand what they’re learning, create lesson plans to help them overcome difficulties, and come up with homework ideas. When you give sessions over video chat, you’ll be able to meet with students back to back no matter where they’re located . 7. Business Developer As a business developer, you’ll be collaborating with many departments at your company to improve brand awareness, improve revenue, and grow the business. Communication skills are critical: in addition to coordinating with executives at your business, you’ll need to reach out to clients to pitch, negotiate terms, and maintain relationships. The job also involves a great deal of research, such as about customers, competitors, and opportunities. Although a business developer has a wide variety of duties, it’s typically possible to carry them all out remotely. Even though there are now more remote jobs available, the market can be competitive. To stand out from other candidates, you need to study hard to graduate with the best GPA possible. You can find apartments near UOttawa that meet your needs at THEO. We offer a range of floor plans to suit your budget and preferences, including shared bedrooms, private bedrooms in shared apartments, and one-bedroom apartments. We also have study pods , a lounge area, and quiet cubicles where you can study at any time. Book a tour to check out the facilities for yourself.

Summer Reading List for University Students

Summer break is a great time to catch up on some reading unrelated to your studies. This will keep your mind active, give you the chance to explore new ideas , and remind you of how enjoyable reading can be. In addition to any books you’ve had on your reading list for some time, you should definitely make sure you read these. Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult Reread all your childhood favourites in a new way with Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult. In this book, Bruce Handy uncovers interesting facts about everything from what the stories mean to biographical tidbits about their authors. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind If you haven’t already read Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, don’t wait any longer. It was a hit as soon as it came out and has since been recommended on countless book lists. All about the history of humanity, it starts at the very beginning — 70,000 years ago, when other species in the Homo genus were still in existence — and spans all the way to the present and beyond with predictions for the future. You’ll learn a huge amount of information you never even realized you needed to know. Meet Me in the Bathroom Music is a passion of most university students. In Meet Me in the Bathroom, music journalist Lizzy Goodman details the adventures of some of the top rock bands that were active in the early 2000s in New York City. The book consists of just under 200 interviews with band members and others connected to the music scene. The focus is on the hidden (and often dark) side of rock music. The Answers Make sure to also read some novels this summer. One that should be at the top of your list is The Answers by Catherine Lacey. The story is about a woman who needs expensive medical treatment but has no way to pay for it. Desperate for money, she ends up applying for something called the Girlfriend Experiment. As well as having an intense plot, the novel will leave you with many questions about love, relationships, and romance. Things That Happened Before the Earthquake Another novel you must read this summer is Things That Happened Before the Earthquake. Chiara Barzini takes us back to LA in the 90s — through the eyes of an Italian teenager who has been taken away from everything she knows and transplanted in the U.S. An intriguing coming-of-age story, this tale has a unique perspective to keep things interesting. You’ll be able to continue reading when you return to university if you have a comfortable room in off-campus housing. Ottawa students can find a home at Theo. Choose between your own apartment, a private bedroom in a shared apartment, and a shared room. All the units are spacious with full-size kitchens and stylish living rooms. Plus, you can head to the study station or lounge whenever you want a change of scenery. Book a tour to check it out.

Tips for Move-In Day

The biggest day of all for any university student is move-in day. To make sure it goes smoothly, here are a few things you need to do. 1. Make a Packing List Write down everything you’ll need to pack to both ensure you don’t forget anything important and avoid bringing things that may be unnecessary. Include some basic cleaning products on your list, as you’ll need these as soon as you move in — especially trash bags, dish soap, and a sponge. Plus, have some snacks and water easily accessible for the trip and for when you’ve built up an appetite after you finish unpacking. 2. Decide What to Buy or Bring Later To ensure you have enough space in your car for everything, it makes sense to purchase some things when you arrive. This includes any cleaning supplies you won’t need immediately , most of your food, some stationery, and perhaps even textbooks. If you’ll be going back to your parents’ home between semesters, you can also leave behind any clothing you won’t need until the spring. 3. Pack in Storage Bins When packing, remove new items from their packaging to free up more space and reduce the amount of trash you have when you arrive. Then, pack everything in storage bins rather than boxes — you’ll be able to use them in your apartment to store things like out-of-season clothing, extra bedding and towels, and old textbooks. Make unpacking easier by packing similar items together and labelling the bins. 4. Recruit Help You should find that at least a couple family members or friends will be happy to help you move in, as they’ll appreciate the opportunity to say goodbye. Bring just enough help to make carrying items easier, but not so many people that you lack space in your car for all your belongings and your apartment becomes too crowded when you arrive. 5. Reach Out to Your Roommates Find out who you’ll be sharing your apartment with and contact them. It will be useful to know who is moving in on the same day, since you may like to coordinate what time to arrive to avoid everyone piling into the apartment at the same time. Plus, you can decide who will bring what household items — after all, there’s no need for multiple coffeemakers, vacuum cleaners, and area rugs. 6. Wear Comfortable Clothing Never dress to impress on move-in day — it’s much more important that you’re comfortable. You’ll need to be able to lift items and perhaps carry things some distance from your parking space to your apartment, which could include going up and down stairs. You’ll need sensible shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. 7. Introduce Yourself to Other People in the Building Once you’ve unpacked and had a chance to shower, start socializing. As well as introducing yourself to your roommate, try to meet other people in the building. If you’re living in student housing, you’ll find there are plenty of places where you can do this. 8. Take Time to Relax Move-in day can be overwhelming. Be prepared for some strong emotions (particularly when your family leaves), but don’t worry too much about homesickness — the feelings will soon pass. After you’ve taken a few photos to remember this special day, the best thing you can do is take some time to relax in your new home. Long before move-in day, you need to have found a place to live. For uOttawa student housing, there’s no better option than THEO. It’s just steps from campus, in the heart of the city, and provides you with everything you need for a great student experience, including free WiFi , a gym, and flatscreen TVs in every apartment. Book a tour to visit THEO before you move in.

How to Prepare for Your First Semester Off Campus

Moving off campus comes as a relief. You finally have freedom, your own space, and living areas you only share with a few people (at most). To make the move as successful as possible, here are a few things you need to do. 1. Decide Who You Want to Live With Some of your friends could make ideal roommates — whereas others not so much. You want to share with people who have similar lifestyles to you, including similar ideas about how much time to dedicate to studying and how much to socializing or partying. They should also have the same standards of cleanliness as you and be people you can trust. When picking your roommates, have an open conversation about your expectations to ensure that you are compatible. 2. Create a Cleaning Schedule To avoid conflict with your roommates and to keep your home tidy, you’ll need a cleaning schedule. Decide what is everyone’s responsibility (such as washing the dishes after you’ve used them) and how often you need to do other tasks (like cleaning the bathroom). 3. Calculate Your Budget You should already have a budget from when you were living on campus, but you’ll want to update it when you move into an apartment. You’ll most likely be saving a large amount of money, but you’ll now need to account for new expenses, such as food, cleaning supplies, and perhaps furniture . If your rent doesn’t include utilities, remember to include these in your budget. 4. Figure Out What You’ll Eat Talking about food, your meals will now be up to you. Whereas this is cheaper than relying on a meal plan, it does require extra effort. You’ll need to be ready to cook plenty of your own meals to avoid exceeding your budget. This involves deciding what to eat each week and purchasing the necessary groceries. Shop smart by buying healthy, inexpensive ingredients to create simple meals. 5. Assess Potential Apartments Take a thorough tour of every apartment you’re interested in. Since you’re already living in the area, there’s no excuse to rely on pictures alone. Whenever possible, talk to the current (or past) residents and your future neighbours to find out if they’ve had any issues with appliances, the landlord, or noise. You’ll also need to figure out how you’ll commute from the apartment to campus to determine if this is feasible — especially in time for your morning classes. Finally, assess the safety of the buildi ng. It should require a key to enter through the main door and all the windows should lock securely. 6. Take Out Renters Insurance It’s important to have insurance to cover you in the case of theft, fire, and natural disaster. You can often find decent coverage with low monthly payments — and it’s definitely worthwhile for the protection you’ll receive. The most challenging thing about moving off campus is finding the ideal student apartment. For all-inclusive uOttawa housing, though, it’s easy: you have THEO. You’ll be close to campus and still around other students, but it will be up to you whether you want to share a room — or even share an apartment at all! Book an onsite visit to check out the apartments and facilities.

You Forgot an Assignment. Now What?

The transition from high school to university is difficult for a number of reasons, but particularly because of the extra responsibilities you have. A major responsibility is remembering due dates for assignments. Your teachers at high school likely reminded you and even checked your progress in class. At university, you’re expected not only to remember but also to create a schedule that will allow you to work toward large assignments, as many will be too extensive to complete the night before they’re due. If you forget about an assignment until it’s too late and there’s no chance you’ll finish on time, your initial reaction may be panic, especially if the paper is crucial for your grade. Instead, though, you should take a deep breath and think about what you can do to deal with the situation. 1. Communicate with Your Professor Let your professor know as soon as possible that you’re unable to finish the assignment on time. If you mention that you had other things going on in your life that led you to forget the assignment, your professor may be lenient and grant you an extension. In any case, your professor will appreciate it if you don’t wait until the last minute — or, worse, after the assignment was due — to explain your situation. Depending on how close you are to the deadline, you may be able to pay your professor a visit in person during office hours. This way, you’ll be able to have a proper conversation to discuss the next steps. You could even show your professor what you’ve done so far. 2. Send an Email If there are no office hours before the due date, you may need to send an email. It’s critical to strike the right tone in your email — both to show respect to your professor and to increase your chances of a favourable outcome. Keep the email short and think carefully about what you write. In your message, get straight to the point: explain that you’re unable to submit the assignment on time. Next, specify the reason why you’ll miss the deadline — be honest and take responsibility, rather than placing the blame on someone else. Finally, apologize and ask your professor if there’s a solution to prevent you from receiving a failing grade. You may like to suggest meeting in person to discuss a new due date. 3. Submit Whatever You Have If your professor doesn’t give you an extension, you may need to submit an unfinished assignment. Spend as much time as possible between now and the due date working on the paper. If you’re unable to finish some sections, include a bullet list of what you would have written. Receiving partial credit could be enough for at least a passing grade. 4. Drop the Class In some cases, a missed assignment may mean you fail the class or receive a grade that brings down your GPA. To avoid this, you may need to drop the class and retake it next semester. Talk to an academic advisor about whether this is a suitable option for you. 5. Commit to Doing Better Next Time A forgotten assignment could be the wakeup call you need to motivate you to become better organized. Figure out what you can do to prevent similar mistakes in the future, such as by sticking rigidly to a study schedule, spending less time on social activities, or investing in a planner. Where you live can make a big difference to your performance at university. When you’re constantly facing distractions, you may find it difficult to focus or just be tempted to do something other than schoolwork. If this is the case for you, it’s time to find a better room for rent. Ottawa, Ontario, has THEO. Our student housing has one-bedroom apartments, private rooms, and shared rooms available. Sign up now to secure the floor plan you want.

7 Ways to Seamlessly Adjust to College Life

Almost every aspect of your life will change when you go to college, and you may initially find it difficult to adjust. After a while, you will settle in — but it helps if this happens sooner rather than later. Here are a few things you can do to make the transition as seamless as possible. 1. Focus on Your Studies College is a time for learning about yourself, making lifelong friends, discovering new passions, and much more. However, its main purpose is to give you an education. To ensure you graduate on time with the credential you want and a good GPA, you’ll need to study hard. Avoid pushing your schoolwork to the side by dedicating a certain number of hours each day to your studies and finding a place where you’re able to concentrate without falling victim to distractions. 2. Attend Your Classes Although some classes at college may be optional, you should attend them whenever you can. They will help you understand the material, resulting in better grades — which can boost your self-esteem. 3. Participate in Campus Activities Feel like part of your school by participating in some of the many activities taking place on campus. There will be plenty happening during the first few weeks of college — and these are great for introducing you to clubs and organizations that you may like to join. You’ll find it easy to meet like-minded people and immediately begin expanding your social circle. 4. Stay Healthy Use college as a time to develop healthy habits for life. Prepare your own meals often to ensure you eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, exercise regularly, and stick to a bedtime (at least on weekdays). If you want to go to parties, have a limit for how many you’ll attend and only go when you don’t have assignments due. 5. Manage Your Stressors All the above will help you reduce stress, but there are more things you can do to manage your stressors. In particular, recognize when you’re starting to feel stressed and take action . Occasionally spending time alone to practise self-care can do wonders for your mental health. 6. Surround Yourself with Positive People A great thing about college is that you can choose who you want to be part of your life. Maintain friendships just with people who value you and make you feel good about yourself. Plus, stay in touch with people you care about back home and friends who are attending other schools. 7. Stay Positive Yourself In addition to being around positive people, try to maintain a positive attitude yourself. Be tolerant of people who have different views to you, and stay open-minded to others’ opinions. If you find yourself in a situation where conflict does arise (such as with a roommate or during a group project), communicate to work through the problem. You’ll find it easier to settle into college life when you’re living in off-campus housing. Ottawa students can find a home at THEO — you’ll have a fully-furnished apartment either to yourself or shared with other students. Plus, there’s a range of activity areas to make your life more comfortable, including a gym, study station, lounge, and basketball court. Book an onsite visit to meet THEO.