Centre for Distance Education Resource Blog » Business http://mycollegemyway.com/blog Resources for Students Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:01:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Roadmap to Becoming a Professional Freelance Web Designer http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/the-roadmap-to-becoming-a-professional-freelance-web-designer/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/the-roadmap-to-becoming-a-professional-freelance-web-designer/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:45:00 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=234 Exactly as advertised. http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/07/09/the-roadmap-to-becoming-a-professional-freelance-web-designer/ ]]>

Exactly as advertised.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/07/09/the-roadmap-to-becoming-a-professional-freelance-web-designer/

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/the-roadmap-to-becoming-a-professional-freelance-web-designer/feed/ 0 MOO.com | Degree student? It’s show time! http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/moocom-degree-student-it%e2%80%99s-show-time/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/moocom-degree-student-it%e2%80%99s-show-time/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 12:11:07 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/moocom-degree-student-it%e2%80%99s-show-time/ Even though we don’t have end-of-year shows in a physical location, all of you do have portfolios. MOO cards are fabulous and a great way to carry around a bit of your work and make mini-portfolios out of. Lots of examples at the link! MOO.com | Degree student? It’s show time! ]]>

Even though we don’t have end-of-year shows in a physical location, all of you do have portfolios. MOO cards are fabulous and a great way to carry around a bit of your work and make mini-portfolios out of. Lots of examples at the link!

MOO.com | Degree student? It’s show time!

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/moocom-degree-student-it%e2%80%99s-show-time/feed/ 0 Game Artists: The Three Cardinal Rules http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/game-artists-the-three-cardinal-rules/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/game-artists-the-three-cardinal-rules/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:48:19 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=225 What guidelines do video game artists need to follow to succeed? Volition manager Self-Ballard draws from his experience to suggest three key traits of the best game art creators.3. You can only grow so much through school and work. The best artists hone their skills outside of school and outside of work. They keep creating [...]]]>

What guidelines do video game artists need to follow to succeed? Volition manager Self-Ballard draws from his experience to suggest three key traits of the best game art creators.3. You can only grow so much through school and work. The best artists hone their skills outside of school and outside of work. They keep creating even when they’re not “on the clock.”

Game Artists: The Three Cardinal Rules »

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/game-artists-the-three-cardinal-rules/feed/ 0 6 Words that Make Your Resume Suck http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/6-words-that-make-your-resume-suck/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/6-words-that-make-your-resume-suck/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:56:58 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=222 6 Words that Make Your Resume Suck » [via Lifehacker] ]]>

6 Words that Make Your Resume Suck » [via Lifehacker]

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/6-words-that-make-your-resume-suck/feed/ 0 The Paycheck: How Much to Expect as an Entry-Level Game Artist http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/the-paycheck-how-much-to-expect-as-an-entry-level-game-artist/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/the-paycheck-how-much-to-expect-as-an-entry-level-game-artist/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:21:46 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=212 The Game Career Guide does it again! They’ve released all the data for their yearly salary survey for the past three years, all in one place. Average Salaries for Artists and Animators with Three or Fewer Years Experience Year   Average Salary 2005  $45,675 2006  $42,672 2007  $43,657 Full data available at their site » ]]>

The Game Career Guide does it again! They’ve released all the data for their yearly salary survey for the past three years, all in one place.

Average Salaries for Artists and Animators with Three or Fewer Years Experience

Year   Average Salary
2005  $45,675
2006  $42,672
2007  $43,657

Full data available at their site »

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/the-paycheck-how-much-to-expect-as-an-entry-level-game-artist/feed/ 0 Game Career Guide Digital Edition – Now Free! http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/game-career-guide-digital-edition-now-free/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/game-career-guide-digital-edition-now-free/#comments Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:43:48 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=165 Game Career Guide just sent me this amazing news: For the first time ever, Game Developer’s annual Game Career Guide, a special edition magazine devoted to helping aspiring video game creators, is being given away for free! This issue includes a salary report for entry-level jobs in video game development, as well as numerous articles with [...]]]>

Game Career Guide just sent me this amazing news:

For the first time ever, Game Developer’s annual Game Career Guide, a special edition magazine devoted to helping aspiring video game creators, is being given away for free! This issue includes a salary report for entry-level jobs in video game development, as well as numerous articles with tips on breaking into the industry.

I’ve read this issue and trust me, it is jammed with info. There’s a definition of each discipline within the games industry (including artists), the results of the game-school student survey I mentioned a while back, and an enormous directory of game schools. Visit and download!

Game Career Guide Digital Edition – Now Free! »

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/game-career-guide-digital-edition-now-free/feed/ 0 Nova Scotia Graduate Tax Credit http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/nova-scotia-graduate-tax-credit/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/nova-scotia-graduate-tax-credit/#comments Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:50:35 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=132 The Nova Scotia Graduate Tax Credit is available to anyone living and working in Nova Scotia who graduated from an eligible post-secondary program on or after January 1, 2006. This credit could reduce your Nova Scotia income taxes by $1,000 in 2006 and 2007 and by $2,000 in 2008 and later years. To be eligible, you [...]]]>

The Nova Scotia Graduate Tax Credit is available to anyone living and working in Nova Scotia who graduated from an eligible post-secondary program on or after January 1, 2006. This credit could reduce your Nova Scotia income taxes by $1,000 in 2006 and 2007 and by $2,000 in 2008 and later years.

To be eligible, you must:

  • be a graduate of an eligible program from an approved institution on or after January 1, 2006; this includes eligible post-secondary programs outside Nova Scotia
  • be a resident of Nova Scotia and file a 2006 or later Tax return
  • claim the credit on your tax return. Provincial certificates are no longer required to claim the credit.
  • claim this credit in the year you graduate; any unused portion may be claimed in the following two years
  • claim this credit only once

NEW - You no longer need to apply for a Graduate Tax Credit Certificate.

Just claim the credit on your 2007 or later tax return.

  • you need to attach your diploma to your 2007 (or later) tax return (paper version). If you are filing electronically, keep all of your documents in case the Canada Revenue Agency asks to see them
  • you can claim this credit only once, even if you graduate from more than one post-secondary eligible program
  • claim this credit in the year you graduate; any unused amount may be claimed in the following two years

Have more questions? Check out the website for lots of helpful tips!

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/nova-scotia-graduate-tax-credit/feed/ 0 How to Write a Cover Letter http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:55:35 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/?p=130 You could write the best resume in the world and be highly qualified for a job, but if your cover letter is poorly written, generic, or misguided, you can pretty much throw your chances out the window. The cover letter is your first, and sometimes your only opportunity to grab an employer’s attention and let [...]]]>

You could write the best resume in the world and be highly qualified for a job, but if your cover letter is poorly written, generic, or misguided, you can pretty much throw your chances out the window. The cover letter is your first, and sometimes your only opportunity to grab an employer’s attention and let them know why your resume is worth reading. Since there are many different ways to write a cover letter, depending on the employer and the method of transmission, for example, here are some ways to make yours stand out along with some examples you can tweak to your liking.

We of course have lots of information at our Job Find Club website (students, login to the students’ centre to find it!), but this is a nice step-by-step walkthrough of writing a really good cover letter.

How to Write a Cover Letter –> [via LifeHacker]

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/feed/ 0 Use a Reverse Dictionary to Help You Spell http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/use-a-reverse-dictionary-to-help-you-spell/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/use-a-reverse-dictionary-to-help-you-spell/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:46:47 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/2008/04/10/use-a-reverse-dictionary-to-help-you-spell/ OneLook’s reverse dictionary lets you describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept. Your description can be a few words, a sentence, a question, or even just a single word. Just type it into the box above and hit the “Find words” button. (Keep [...]]]>

OneLook’s reverse dictionary lets you describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept. Your description can be a few words, a sentence, a question, or even just a single word. Just type it into the box above and hit the “Find words” button. (Keep it short to get the best results.) In most cases you’ll get back a list of related terms with the best matches shown first.

You can use this to look up what the name of that little nub on the end of your shoelace is called, use it as a thesaurus, generate a list of words in a category such as Canadian authors or identify the longest river in the world.

I found this particular reverse dictionary a little cumbersome in that you have to click three times to find out if the word you chose is the correct one, but it’s still more useful than the paper version I have on a shelf at home!

However, the most useful part of this site is the wildcards. With some creative wildcard use, you can have it help you spell words! For instance, I always have to think about how many Cs are in recommend, so I typed in rec*end and was rewarded with the correct spelling! Not sure how many Ms and Rs are in tomorrow? Type in to*ow and there you are!

Use a Reverse Dictionary to Help You Spell –>

]]> http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/use-a-reverse-dictionary-to-help-you-spell/feed/ 0 Student Loan Contact Information http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/student-loan-contact-information/ http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/business/student-loan-contact-information/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:53:04 +0000 Gayle Bird http://mycollegemyway.com/blog/2008/04/09/student-loan-contact-information/ If you have questions about obtaining a new student loan, or if you want to check on your repayment options for a current student loan, please see below to find the correct loan office in your area. Provincial and Territorial Student Financial Assistance Offices Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid Division Tel.: 709-729-5849 Fax: 709-729-2298 Toll-free: 1-888-657-0800 www.edu.gov.nl.ca/studentaid/ Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services Tel.: 902-368-4640 www.studentloan.pe.ca Nova [...]]]>

If you have questions about obtaining a new student loan, or if you want to check on your repayment options for a current student loan, please see below to find the correct loan office in your area.

Provincial and Territorial Student Financial Assistance Offices

  • Nova Scotia
    Student Assistance Office
    Tel.: 902-424-8420
    Toll-free: 1-800-565-8420 (within Canada)
    TTY: 902-424-2058
    www.studentloans.ednet.ns.ca
  • New Brunswick
    Student Financial Services
    Tel.: 506-453-2577 (Fredricton area)
    Toll-free: 1-800-667-5626
    www.studentaid.gnb.ca
  • *Quebec
    Aide financière aux études (AFE) reception and enquiries desk
    Tel.: 418-643-3750
    Toll-free: 1-877-643-3750 (within Canada/US)
    www.afe.gouv.qc.ca/en/index.asp
  • Ontario
    Student Support Branch
    Tel.: 807-343-7260 (Ontario students attending a post-secondary institution outside Ontario)
    Students attending a post-secondary institution in Ontario must contact the financial aid office at their post-secondary institution for assistance.
    Tel.: 1-866-330-3331 (automated telephone voice response system for status of application; available only in Canada)
    TDD/TTY: 1-800-465-3958
    http://osap.gov.on.ca
  • Manitoba
    Student Aid Branch
    Tel.: 204-945-6321
    Tel.: 204-945-2313 (outside Manitoba)
    Toll-free: 1-800-204-1685 (within Manitoba)
    TTY: 1-866-209-0696 (within North America)
    www.studentaid.gov.mb.ca
  • Saskatchewan
    Student Financial Assistance Branch
    Tel.: 306-787-5620 (Regina area and outside Canada)
    Toll-free: 1-800-597-8278
    www.student-loans.sk.ca
  • British Columbia
    Student Aid BC
    Tel.: 250-387-6100 (Victoria area)
    Tel.: 604-660-2610 (Lower Mainland)
    Toll-free: 1-800-561-1818 (anywhere else in Canada/US)
    TTY: 250-952-6832
    www.studentaidbc.ca
  • *Northwest Territories
    Student Financial Assistance
    Tel.: 867-873-7190
    Toll-free: 1-800-661-0793
    www.nwtsfa.gov.nt.ca
  • *Nunavut
    Student Assistance Office
    Toll-free: 1-877-860-0680 (can be used locally)
    Tel.: 867-473-2600 (Baffin)
    Toll-free: 1-800-567-1514 (Baffin)
    Tel.: 867-645-5040 (Kivalliq)
    Toll-free 1-800-953-8516 (Kivalliq)
    Tel.: 867-983-4031 (Kitikmeot)
    Toll-free: 1-800-661-0845 (Kitikmeot)
    www.gov.nu.ca/education/eng

* Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the province of Quebec operate their own student assistance plans. If you are a resident of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories or Quebec, contact the provincial or territorial student assistance office for further information.

Student Loan Contact Information –>

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