The Centre is pleased to announce the recipients of the Winter 2010 Centre for Continuing Education Permanently Yours Bursaries.

A $500 bursary was awarded to Jennifer Pincombe. Jennifer is enrolled part-time in Business Administration courses.

A second $500 bursary was awarded to Patrizia Mancini. Patrizia is enrolled full-time in the Graphic Applications in Desktop Publishing diploma program.

The Centre wishes to thank all of the Winter 2010 applicants for their participation.

The Centre is excited to announce that the Spring 2010 Centre for Continuing Education Permanently Yours Bursary competition is now open.

The application form:
Spring 2010 Application form (PDF)

The application deadline: April 16, 2010

This submission from, Andee Shuster, for Leanne Sanders’ class in Copywriting for Advertising. The assignment was to create a Double Truck (two-page spread magazine ad) for Concordia’s Continuing Education program, including a parallel headline and new slogan for the school. My assignment earned me a gold medal, awarded by Professor Sanders.

The Centre for Continuing Education offers a wide variety of Business Administration courses that can help you fine tune your company’s processes or get you on the path to starting your very own small business. The internet is always a good source of information, and many successful business people will tell you just how useful it can be. Whether your interested in the business lifestyle, starting your own business, or looking to perfect your current business, Why not Check out Small Business Forums for a great collection of information and tips from people around the globe!

This submission from Christopher Morin shows off the skills learned in the following courses: ADOBE INDESIGN II, DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION II

Early Registration: February 8 to March 24, 2010
Register On-line*, by Fax, Mail or Drop it off
*On-line registration is only available to Continuing Education students who have a Netname. Log into the MyConcordia Portal to register on-line
Payment Methods: MasterCard, Visa or Money Order

In-Person Registration: March 9 and 10, 2010
Register in-person between 9:00 and 19:00 each day
Payment Methods: MasterCard, Visa, Money Order or Debit Card
*On-line registration is closed on these dates.

**Late Registration: March 11 until classes begin
Register On-line*, by Fax, Mail or Drop it off
*On-line registration is only avaiable to Continuing Education student who have a Netname. Log into the MyConcordia Portal to register on-line
Payment Methods: MasterCard, Visa, Money Order or Debit Card
**Late Registration Fees may apply

Click here to access the Registration Forms

This said, we are excited to announce that the Spring 2010 Centre for Continuing Education Permanently Your Bursary competition is now open.

The Continuing Education Permanently Your Bursary is an “in-class” bursary intended to recognize and encourage deserving part-time or full-time (intensive) students currently enrolled at the Centre for Continuing Education. Candidates must be in acceptable academic standing, enrolled at the Centre for Continuing Education in the Spring 2010 session, have an overall grade average exceeding 75% and be in need of financial assistance.

The application form: Spring 2010 Application form (PDF)
The application Deadline: April 16, 2010

CELS 100  GRADUATE MANAGEMENT ADMISSIONS PREP. COURSE
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) is a test of certain skills and abilities that have been found to contribute to success in graduate programs in business and management. The Graduate Management Admissions Test is designed to help graduate schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Reasoning skills, analytical writing skills, and problem- solving strategies are the focus of the GMAT Preparation Course. This preparatory course consists of two components: Part A consists of the Quantitative Component and Part B is the Verbal Comprehension component. This course will illustrate and anticipate questions that are likely to appear on the GMAT.

CEEN 160 EPT 1 – PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL
This course is designed for students who want to write the TOEFL iBT and to learn general test taking techniques and strategies for the four (4) components of the test (listening, speaking, reading, & writing). Registrants must be aware that this is not an ESL course and a high intermediate to advanced competence in English, in all four language skills, if necessary. The materials used in this course will focus on listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking from reading/listening, and writing from reading/listening. Students must also have the computer skills necessary to meet the requirements of the TOEFL iBT.

CEEN 165  EPT 2 – PREPARATION FOR THE CELDT
This course is designed for students who want to prepare for both the standardized components of the Michigan Test and the written component of the Concordia English Language Diagnostics Test (CELDT). The materials and activities for this course will focus on simulating the various components of the Michigan Test and also on simulating the writing tasks required on the CELDT. Students in EPT 2 improve their written English by generating ideas, by developing the ability to organize a composition, and by learning to edit their writing.

If you were registered in a course during the calendar year 2009 then a Federal Tuition tax (T2202A) receipt has been prepared for you. If you studied full-time during 2009 then a Quebec (Réléve receipt has also been prepared for you.

The official Tuition tax receipts for the 2009 taxation year will be available to students by February 28, 2010 through the MyConcordia Portal.

If you were registered in a course during the calendar year 2009 then a Federal Tuition tax (T2202A) receipt has been prepared for you. If you studied full-time during 2009 then a Quebec (Réléve receipt has also been prepared for you.

Important: You will be required to provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN) in order to access the Quebec Réléve 8 receipt.

To access and print your tuition tax receipts:

1) Log into the MyConcordia Portal

2) IN the MyConcordia Menu click on the Financial link

3) Then click on the Tuition Tax Receipt link

If you have any questions regarding the Continuing Education tuition information on your receipts please contact Barbara at Compinst@alcor.conocrdia.ca. Make sure you Identify yourself in the email.

Marketing Instructor
Centre for Continuing Education
School of Extended Learning
Concordia University
lpcamozzi@gmail.com

In these very competitive times for employment, students might want to consider applying some basic marketing principles to their job search.

As an advertising practitioner since 1975, I’ve seen many changes in the business world.  With the increased use of the internet, change has become exponential.  It’s challenging to keep pace but it’s also something that keeps me motivated as a marketing instructor.  I can learn something new from my students every day!

Despite the many networking opportunities emerging online, I would like to throw one caution out to jobseekers.  It’s very easy to get caught up in the rush to Google, Facebook, Monster, Twitter, Linkin, Plaxo and God knows how else you can network and job search online.  But before you do, take some time to think about how you are going to market yourself.

First and foremost what sets you apart from the hundreds of resumes that will land on a human resource person’s desktop every day?  What makes you different? What makes you stand out? What exactly are you offering to the prospective “buyer?”  In other words how are you “positioning” yourself?  Because you are the “product.”

Once you’ve got your “product positioning” figured out you should also have a “value proposition” for your prospective employer.  What “price” are you prepared to accept for your shot at your chosen career path?  Hint. Accept less to start.  You’ve got a long working “life cycle” ahead of you and getting in the door is the hardest part.  Be patient but have a long term “vision.”

Before you blog, chat or post a photo of yourself online, think how you are “packaging” yourself in this very public domain?   Will your funky, weekend shades appeal to accountant you want to work for?  Even if she wears them too, it’s doubtful.  On the other hand, if you are applying for a creative job, they might.

If you are fortunate to be granted an interview your resume must have jumped out in some creative way. Before you get to the interview (on time) conduct some “market research” on the company.  With the vast amount of information online today, there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing the company you want to work for inside out.  That same market research will help you develop some killer questions that will an impress and “promote yourself” to the employer.  And by the way, if you do not “ask for the order,” you will not “sell” your “product.”’

Today is a “buyers market” so only the very best marketed and connected individuals will get that elusive job.  Note that I did not say the best individuals.  It’s a sad but true fact that good people often lose out to those who have marketed themselves better or have a good “word of mouth” referral.  But you can’t argue with their success.  And you can’t argue with the fact that they established a better “customer relationship” with the employer before, during and after the interview.

As a final note, I’d like to offer a word of encouragement to all students.  That word is “demographics.”  Simply translated, it means that young people who manage to break into the job market have nowhere to go but way up!  And fast.  Because aging boomers like me are going to pushing daisies in vast numbers before you know it.

To give yourself an edge in today’s job market, put together a personal marketing plan first.  If you need extra help, you can always take my Principles of Marketing course.  Lessons learned here could help jump-start your job search on whatever career path you’ve chosen to take.

Concordia’s Centre for Continuing Education offers photography courses that will help you understand the best practices for gathering panoramic shots, see what we can do for you now!