The ACS Foundation (ACSF) is now a national charity dedicated to increasing the number of students entering IT and STEM careers. Through scholarships, internships, and work-integrated learning programs, ACSF helps bridge the gap between education and industry.

There’s plenty of advice on writing résumés and preparing for interviews but not enough on the importance of being yourself. The best careers are built on honesty, self-awareness, and authentic fit — not on trying to be who you think employers want. Read my new article on why being yourself is the most valuable skill when finding your first (or next) job.

Could teaching people how to make decisions would be good for society? Some forward-thinking programs and leadership courses are starting to address this gap, but in many organisations, employees climb the ranks by learning from experience (and often, by making mistakes first). Recognising that decision-making is a skill, one that can be studied and improved is a pivotal mindset shift. It opens the door to using tools and methods to make better choices consistently.

A mentor in a career or business context is someone who offers their knowledge, expertise, and advice to individuals to help them.

How often have you interviewed a recruit, who has a resume that shows all the skills sets except one skill is missing, Soft Skills.

The success of STEM industries is not solely due to the technical skills of their workforce. Leadership plays a critical role.

The ACS Foundation recently released scholarships for Women of STEM. There are powerful role models for women looking at a career in STEM.