Spotlight

The good news is we have most of the technological solutions for transitioning to low-carbon sources of energy. The biggest challenges to adopting them more widely and rapidly are social and political — from funding and investment, to international cooperation, to inspiring mass support for ambitious policies.

Careers

Mixed media image showing a hand holding a graduation cap, a stack of books, and other graphic elements

Support new UBC graduates by sharing your career stories and advice by May 25, 2025.

Asian woman and man in evening wear lean into a kiss

Romance is in the air — and on the page.

Stack of fabrics with tag stating "CO2 NEUTRAL"

An accident spawned three years of research on polymers — and a new career trajectory.

Three colleagues smiling and walking outdoors with greenery on the left

Approaching work with a joyful mindset can change everything. Here’s how.

Woman at a desk shaking hands with a man seated across from her

UBC research shows how staying in touch can have big benefits for both employees and employers.

Woman writing on glass, beside man with tablet

Envious bosses potentially target stand-out employees with a reputation for creativity.

Person taking a photo of cherry blossoms on their phone, with a close-up on phone screen

A UBC alum and career strategist shares how to tap into the power of reframing.

Illustration of two people, each in a speech bubble, talking

How do you prepare for launching or further developing your career?

Close-up shot of four-leaf clover, held in sunlight

Science-backed strategies that can help you generate more good fortune at work and beyond.

Collage of seven South Asian female and male actors

In Canadian, Hollywood, or Bollywood productions, these talents light up our screens.

Illustration showing 2023 surounded by little icons and graphics tied to careers

As 2023 winds down, here’s a reminder to reflect on your own “greatest hits” of the work year.

Group of office workers, engaged in conversation

Does your hard work at the office go unnoticed? These self-advocacy tips can help.

Illustration of the back of a person with arms in a shrug position and arrows and question marks in the background

alumni UBC’s career coaches share their top tips for getting out of the comparison game.

Charlie's / Adobe Stock

Researchers analyzed employment data to find out why a major retailer had high turnover.

Speaker Dr. Azim Shariff stands on stage before audience in front of a TED sign

People attach moral value to hard work — Dr. Azim Shariff calls it “effort moralization.”

Outstretched hand above an illustration of a person's head, with a light bulb and squiggle lines above

alumni UBC’s career coaches share strategies for quieting the critical chatter in our lives.

Wide-angle shot of a skyscrapers and a highway at sunset, with a person in the left staring off in to the distance

Try design thinking, see the possibilities, overcome your fear, and more.

Dr. Kari Marken sits at a desk with lego, smiling at the camera.

UBC Sauder’s Dr. Kari Marken (PhD’19) challenges her Creativity students with purposeful play.

How to be a savvy networker.

A pink question bubble graphic with two people sitting on the oval part of it.

Developing emotional competencies improves well-being and workplace performance.

Asian woman leaning against desk and holding open a film clapboard

An entrepreneur reveals that her “worst-performing year” became her most seminal one.

Zoë Craig-Sparrow and Candice Loring

UBC alumni Zoë Craig-Sparrow and Candice Loring share what’s needed to tackle career barriers.

To retain talent, managers need to buck the status quo and make staff wellbeing a priority.

UBC alumni in Asian pop music

Here’s a look at UBC individuals who pursued careers in Cantopop, K-pop, and more.

Apothékary founder Shizu Okusa

From Wall Street to wellness, a UBC alum takes on challenges with an innovative approach.

An image of Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera

Lessons on leadership from two women who went first

Entrepreneur Mike Quinn with a top Zoona agent in Malawi

UBC alum and entrepreneur Mike Quinn discovers how to draw strength from messing up.

Commit to learning every day.

A picture of Kookai Chaimahawong, smiling, against an orange background.

Young workers are nimble, connected, and redefining employment relationships on their terms.

An artificially intelligent floor-cleaning robot at work on UBC’s Vancouver campus.

Leveraging their uniquely human qualities will give workers the edge in a high-tech future.

A drawing of coins with dollar signs coming out the back of a car as it drives along a street.

A UBC film prof's new documentary offers a glimpse into a dystopian digital economy.

Billy Lan and Tony Liu, smiling.

Two UBC Sauder grads created a platform to connect hourly workers with hiring managers.

Felicia Chan and Bahar Moussavi, laughing.

Three UBC students launched a non-profit to help neurodiverse youth in computer sciences.

Kookai Chaimahawong, smiling.

The venture capital model is undergoing a radical rethink, thanks to the next generation.

Neon light sign with the words "open".

These tips can help you cope with the re-opening of workplaces, schools and more.

Illustration of audience of people looking around at each other.

A welcoming and inclusive workplace requires a willingness to change the status quo.

Overhead shot of a student sitting at a desk, typing on her laptop

COVID-19 has changed the world of work. Here's how you can still work toward your career goals.

Claudia Faggioni

How this French teacher adapted her lively, interactive classes to online when COVID-19 hit.

Rotimi Ojo

Rotimi Ojo's journey of graduating university amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manasi Kulkarni

Here's what shifting from TELUS to a small Silicon Valley startup taught this UBC grad.

Annika Lofstrand

Annika currently resides in White Rock, BC, and is a partner in Leda HR Consulting. Upon...

Cicely Blain of Bakau Consulting

Three alumni who are business owners shared what this past year has been like for them.

Clarifying your career goals: The benefits of taking time to reflect

Pausing to reflect can help you get clear about your values — and help chart your next steps.

Robyn Freiheit, BHK’15

How this alum decided to make a career shift from project management to public health.

Si Jia Wen, BCom’18

How this alum navigated the changes involved in relocating to a new country for work.

Ragini Kapil, MEd’98

Words of wisdom on navigating change in any career.

3 Questions

How to make your resume a persuasive “pitch” on your value as a prospective employee.

Exploring your career through different lenses

When someone is uncertain about their career, there's often a sense of being lost.

The study focused on a group of nearly 5,000 people in the U.S. born between 1957 and 1964. Credit: Unsplash

After becoming parents, only men start to reap many leadership returns from their academics.

Tips to land a new job virtually

Focus on these three areas to adapt your job search to this new digital environment.

Tips For Doing Business In A Time Of Crisis

Advice for managing a business during COVID-19.

Brent Cameron

Since lockdown, networking and job opportunities have changed. Here's how to navigate it.

Annie Wang, BSc’17

From Beijing to Vancouver, from Manitoba to Shanghai, Annie Wang has many stories to share.

Ivy Hui, BCom’18

Now working in marketing, Ivy discusses how to move from academia to the corporate field.

Grant Munro

Is an entrepreneurial mindset an advantage in times of change and job uncertainty?

Fall marks the season of slowing down, acceptance and being strategic.

Let’s change the narrative on what it means to fail and see it as a tool and motivator.

A few favourite responses from the newly launched Alumni to Alumni program.

How this UBC grad followed his passion for sociology while living an intentional life.

UBC Professor Rita Irwin shares her experience navigating change throughout her career.

How this UBC alum navigated the change from non-profit work to law school.

Learn how UBC alum Sara made a significant career move and how she navigates change.

How you can reflect on your past experiences and identify your strengths while job-searching.

This alum shares his skillset and experience by providing mentorship through his non-profit.

Dani shares how she is driven by her passion and how to navigate these current times.

How this alumna's work is helping other organizations transition into the future.

UBC alumna Sharon shares the importance of Indigenization in post-secondary education.

Hear from this UBC alum, who shares advice for graduating students looking for work.

Quiet Confidence Coach Faris Khalifeh answers your pressing questions.

Marks shares his experience in the healthcare field and advice for new graduates.

UBC alumna shares tips for finding work post-graduation and solving career ambiguity.

UBC alumna shares how her work in sports and education has helped her help others.

Now a healthcare worker, this alum shares what she learned from her degrees at UBC.

UBC alum shares his top career tips, including lessons he's learned from his first job.

Local entrepreneur shares how he navigates ambiguity and uncertainty with the pandemic.

Here are three areas of your job search that can work to your advantage right now.

What industries that are not only hiring during this time, but those that are thriving.

Advice from students who were once in similar positions as those graduating during COVID-19.

How the COVID-19 pandemic is shaping an alum's career and how she navigates uncertainty.

How often do you set a goal, and then stall when it comes to taking action on it?

An alum shares his story of graduating during a recession and entering an uncertain job market.

Serena shares the useful skills she has gained in her "unplanned" career after graduating.

UBC alum Xiao Ping (Andy) shares his learnings from UBC and how to find passion for your work.

For new graduates, the future may seem uncertain and ambiguous. These resources can help.

UBC alumna shares her thoughts on leadership and her experience working in government.

Kim Kiloh shares her leadership experience and how to strengthen leadership skills.

Angela discusses how volunteering has strengthened her feelings of community and purpose.

UBC alumna discusses how volunteering has helped her academic and professional career.

A first-generation immigrant, Sherry believes deeply in the power of diversity.

Julie shares career advice and her leadership lessons from working in government.

UBC alum shares what makes a strong leader and how he achieves his career objectives.

A UBC alumna, now coach shares seven simple truths about finding our purpose.

People with a growth mindset will generally prosper over those with a fixed mindset.

How to maintain motivation, new year’s resolutions and achieve your desired goals.

Chris Howe, BA'15, works as Operating Manager at GrantMe. He talks career advice and goals.

Julia shares her top tips for showing leadership and how to start goal-setting.

Find out how Aisha goal-sets for the year and reflects on the past to help plan for the future.

Hear this alumna's career advice, including her insights into what leadership means to her.

Why having a specific call-to-action is important when reaching out to your network.

These alums share their own unique insights and perspectives on leadership.

Hear Aarondeep’s tips on being a great leader, even in fast-paced environments.

Here are key fundamental steps to help you define your own leadership-style.

What if leadership could be the new management? Find out how in this article.

UBC alum shares what leadership means to him, lessons he’s learned, and how alumni can enter

Learn about the importance of taking initiative and being able to understand those around you.

Crystal shares her leadership experience with the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Unit.

Deliberate practices to integrate to combat seasonal changes and still maintain high energy.

Being confident in a new environment doesn’t always come naturally, but these tips can help.

These tips can help you if you’re just beginning a new role.

Here are 10 tips to help you grow through your career transition feeling brave and strong.

How to incorporate your strengths in your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile.

Lessons from an alum who has recently navigated the shift from student life to full time work.

Looking for a new podcast? Try out these suggestions to enhance your career development.

Tough conversations are important as you advance in your career. These tips can help.

Hear advice from a UBC aluma, who is now one of BC Business’ Top 30 under 30 award recipients.

Briefly describe your career journey so far.

My career has been a combination of three themes...

UBC. It’s yours. My hope for the international graduates reading this post is that the...

Journaling can create greater self-awareness. Here are tips, benefits and prompts to start.

liz

UBC alumna shares her vision for her carer and how it's evolved, plus tips for other alumni.

Current Role

PR & Community Liaison and Executive Assistant

After running my own Public...

Current Role

Founder, HR & Recruitment Consultant, Author and Speaker

From agency recruitment...

UBC alumna discusses the positive learning and career growth that can come from “job hopping.”

From banking to pilot, this alum shares how he made a career transition in his thirties.

After an overwhelming positive response to alumni UBC’s Stepping Up to Leadership webinar...

Hundreds of UBC alumni attended alumni UBC’s live webinar on Stepping Up to Leadership...

Take advantage of all your job has to offer, especially outside of the organization, to meet

Whether you are seeking an academic career or hoping to take a different career path with your

More than anything else, my degree programs taught me skills to research, analyze issues, and

It is valuable to engage in professional development each year and create a plan to challenge

There are countless articles written about the job search. They often contain resources to help

During my studies at UBC, education was not on my radar at all. Between school years, I spent

When I was in law school, I thought that I would be an international trade litigator (I even

Applying for an internal role comes with its own unique considerations and challenges. If you

I had always wanted to travel overseas so jumped at the chance to work in Iceland. This led to

This article by UBC Professor and alumna Dr. Kim Snowden, PhD'07 will help you maximize your

I think maintaining a positive attitude is very important. I’ve had setbacks but generally

During my years at UBC, I participated in the co-op program, and had the opportunity to try out

Most people prefer praise to criticism. It simply feels better to hear that we are doing

We are proud to welcome our Spring 2018 graduates into the alumni UBC family. Here are some...

What ever happened to Freedom 55? This popular 1989 life insurance ad came with a clear message...

alumni UBC has launched a new online mentorship program. If you are a graduate of UBC or a...

network

This month the alumni UBC 100 campaign drew to a close, bringing an end to our 100th birthday...

My ‘aha’ moment was when I realized that I had become a leader. When I was younger I did not

Outdated notions of what it means to be a mentor can prevent successful mentorship interactions

Career development is not (just) about job searching. It is an ongoing process of growth and

Imagine your career like a professional journey. As the traveler, the quality, content and pace...

handshake

While there’s not one ‘right way’ to ask for a raise, there are some important considerations

CarmenLee

UBC alumna, Carmen Lee, BA’01 (Political Science & International Relations) discusses some of...

holiday season

The holidays can be a frustrating time for a job seeker. With most people focused on...

Sometimes we can land in careers that are out of sync with who we really are and what matters

If you’ve ever contemplated a career change, you've likely wrestled with doubts. You're not

hinda

My happiest times at UBC were during my visual art classes, where I was able to learn from and

It might be the most important paragraph (or two) you ever write. Maybe that’s why it’s so hard...

People see the world through their own lens that is affected by their past experiences. You

I spent a lot of time paralyzed with doubt. I'd love to tell my younger self that doubt is no

In the mad rush to expand our external networks, we overlook an equally important network: our

In June, alumna Candy Motzek, BASc’85 presented a live webinar to UBC alumni on how to shift...

This past week alumni UBC launched the pilot of an online career development program called...

When I started my first year at UBC, I was planning on studying to become a dentist. Career

By Wilson Lee, BA'09

Entrepreneurs, small businesses and independent retailers face numerous...

One of the common misconceptions about the Alumni Career Development program at alumni UBC is

I went to UBC to study political science. I wanted to be a lawyer or to work in human rights

What are you doing to build and nurture your professional network? In an era where career

It takes agility to navigate today’s workplace. A time of rapid change demands the willingness...

Pharmacy Leaders of Tomorrow (PLoT) is an innovative grassroots alumni networking platform

There's no way to predict where your career will take you. Just focus on learning in the moment

Today's alumni UBC Live Career Webinar featured social media maven Nicola Fairweather, owner of...

Want to learn how to create and leverage a strong personal brand to achieve more professional

Getting a taste of failure and rejection will let you know before you're in the workforce

I have had many important connections over the years, many of which are sustained today. One

Begin with the end in mind. Follow your heart and make career choices that reflect this. Where

Recently I was coaching a mid-career alumna to make a career transition. She had found a new

tcc

It was a rainy night, but that didn't stop over 200 UBC alumni from attending last Thursday's

What can I do with my degree? It's a question I hear often. I never know quite how to answer it

networking

Wondering what to do with all those business cards you collected? The magic happens in the

Why work?

It seems like a simple question but it’s generally a tough one for people to answer...

You’ve probably come across that famous career quote by Steve Jobs, the one telling you not to...

How Paying Attention Can Power Up Your Career

Last night a group of UBC alumni gathered in Vancouver’s historic Gastown community to engage

Humaira

What was your first job after graduation?

I interviewed for my first full-time job in the...

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I am currently enrolled in UWO in the doctorate in...

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Professional problem-solving field: data analytics or...

What was your first job after graduation?

Following Graduation, I was living in New York and...

What was your first job after graduation?

Working as a research assistant at UBC Hospital

Wha...

Rachael L'Orsa (BASc’10, BA’11) shares her experience with math, science, robots and children...

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

As I start to reach the tipping point in both my...

shahzia

What would you tell your graduating self?

You’re going to have to fake it ‘till you make it, a...

What was your first job after graduation?

After graduating from UBC in 2012 I moved to...

Alyssa

What was your first job after graduation?

I graduated with my B.A. right in the heart of the...

Sonia

What did you think you would be doing when you started university?

When I started University...

Amanda

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I see myself well on my way to having...

Deirdre

What is the biggest mistake you've made at your job / a job interview?

Early in my career, I...

Jordan

What was your first job after graduation?

My first job after graduation was as a sales...

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

With the current release of my first children's book and...

ricardo

What was your first job after graduation?

I was hired as an Associate Researcher by the...

rosalyn

What was your first job after graduation?

My first job after graduation was working as an...

Ahava

What was your first job after graduation?

In the summer after I graduated, I reconnected with...

What was your first job after graduation?

I took an articling position in Vancouver with...

jane

What would you tell your graduating self?

It will get better. Although I enjoyed my time at...

What was your first job after graduation?

My 1-year co-op/internship at Bayer Pharmaceuticals...

What was the most important connection you made?

Two groups of people are still part of my...

What was your first job after graduation?

My first job after my BSc was teaching English in...

What was your first job after graduation?

Events Manager, Eastern Canada. I worked for an...

What was your first job after graduation?

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Where do you see

...

What was your first job after graduation?

Bank teller, CIBC

What would you tell your

...

Tell us about your job

I have my own business, Beth Cougler Blom Facilitation, through which I...

stanley

UBC alum reflects on his career mistakes and advice he wish he had when graduating.

UBC alum Craig Hudson shares tips for when you're struggling in your career.

UBC alumna reflects on the best advice she's recieved, her career journey and more.

victoria

UBC alumna Victoria Gerso shares tips for new grads and current students.