The Last Minute Job Search!
I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend! Exams are now in full swing which means that summer is right around the corner. Though an exciting thought, this may be worrisome for some students if they haven't yet found employment for the summer. Searching for a job when school is in full swing can be a definite challenge. It’s hard to take time away from assignments and midterms to look for summer employment. I hope that all of your students have managed to find summer employment but in case they haven’t, this blog may be useful for them.
Today I’m going to write about the summer employment search and what your student can do to find a job if they haven’t already!
After my second year, I had a job all lined up. I was returning to the camp I had worked at the previous two summers and I was really excited. When I returned home from a volunteer trip to Tanzania, circumstances at the camp had changed significantly (for the worse!) and I decided not to return. This put me in a position where I was searching for a job in June!
Recruit Guelph, offered by the University of Guelph’s Co-Operative and Career Services, was a great resource for me. Even into June, new jobs were posted nearly every day. Click here to go to Recruit Guelph.
Other great resources were:
Encourage your student not to give up! It was frustrating sitting at my computer day in and day out for weeks applying to jobs but in the end, it worked out. I had to change my expectations of the types of jobs that I was applying to... Finding my dream summer job in June was perhaps a bit unrealistic. I applied to every job I could find (even those that I wasn’t exactly qualified for!).
I also started searching for volunteer positions that were related to my field of study. Even if your student doesn't get paid, getting that specific experience can be really beneficial for finding a paid position in the future.
Though I had no experience in the hospitality/food industry, I ended up getting a position at a cafe and one at a restaurant as a hostess. Though not my ideal summer job, I wasn’t in the position to be very picky. I ended up learning a lot and gained really valuable experience in the cafe/restaurant industry which can be applied anywhere in the world! I also found a volunteer opportunity and was able to gain some experience that was really related to my studies.
If your student hasn’t found a job yet, encourage them to not lose hope! The best thing they can do is apply apply apply! They can also check out Co-Operative Education and Career Services for tips and information on how to write a great resume and cover letter, how to interview well and more! Click here to go to their website.
I wish your student the best of luck finding summer employment!