Summer-jobs

Summer Employment

Your Guide to Finding a Summer Job

How do I find a summer job?

ResourcesFACT: Your chances of finding summer employment improve

Now that you are ready for you summer job search, its time to explore some options.

Summer employment programs

If you are a full time student who will be attending post-secondary education in

the fall of 2017, you should apply for the Student Employment Experience

Program (SEED). * Visit nbjobs.ca in January 2017 for program updates.

Young Canada Works. This is a federal government program for students that

you may qualify for. Note: High school students may be eligible for this program

as well.

Posted Job Ads

Some summer jobs are posted on job banks by employers or through their

company websites. Newspaper ads are becoming a less popular form of

posting jobs but check out those resources as well.

There are many ways to find a summer job that will not only earn you a paycheque, but can provide you with valuable skills and career experience.

Three key things you need are preparation, resources and a solid job search plan. While nothing is guaranteed, your chances of finding summer employment may improve by following this guide.

Step 1: Interests

Knowing your interests, skills and talents helps you to develop an appropriate

resume for your skill sets and is more likely to get you noticed by potential

employers. This also helps with your confidence with expressing your

qualifications during a job interview. Research shows that people who enjoy

their jobs are often happier in general, are more productive at work and stand

the best chance of getting promoted.

Step 2: Research

If you know where to look for job postings and how to network with employers to

find jobs, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration. By researching

companies, you may find a job that is well suited to your skills, interests and field

of study. This can also help you to weed out companies that you are not

interested in working for, allowing you to prioritize your job search.

Step 3: Action Plan

One reason that some job seekers do not succeed at finding a well suited job is

disorganization. If you are not organized, you might miss important application

deadlines, forget to follow up with resumes you dropped off or worse - miss an

interview. Make a list of employers you want to contact, schedule times to visit

and do followups. It's a lot of work, but it pays off! This step is so important you

will see it again below in the " Your job search plan" section.

Step 4: Workplace Essential Skills

Do you want to get more out of your summer employment than just a paycheque?

You can make strategic summer job choices that will help you learn new skills

and improve your chances of working at a job you like. Download this "Summer

Job Checklist" and use it to help find a job that's right for you.

Step 5: Job Search Strategies

Your letter and resume are often your first (and sometimes only) chance to make

a good impression on a potential employer. If your documents are well structured,

well written and showcase your strong skills sets effectively, the employer may

want to contact you for an interview. Templates and other job search tools are free

for you to download/view in the right hand column.

Preparation

The truth is, it takes a lot of work to find a summer job and the more preparation work you do, the more confident you will be developing a resume, networking with employers and having successful interviews. It is a competitive job market and you need every advantage you can get. Prepare for you summer job search by going through these 5 easy steps.

Summer employment programs like SEED and Young Canada Works do not have the capacity to hire every student looking for summer employment. There are limited funding opportunities available through these programs so students should never limit their summer job search to these programs alone.

Also, remember that employment programs change over time and though you may have been selected for an employment opportunity in the past, it doesn't mean you might get selected in the future.

Your Job Search PlanFACT: Your chances of finding summer employment improve

Summer employment programs and posted job ads are only part of the picture of an effective job search. You need to network with employers if you are going to land a job before someone else does.

The "Hidden" Job Market

Have you heard the saying; "It's not what you know, but WHO you know"? There is some validity to that

statement. While people have to have the skills to be able to do a job, they frequently get their opportunity

to be hired based on someone referring them to an employer.

Your strategy should be to network with as many people as you can to make sure employers get to know

you. You should strive to be not just another faceless resume or application that is undistinguishable from

all the others.

Seek out the managers and business owners who make the hiring decisions and get to know them. Drop

by their places of business with your resume, cold call, and email them. Show that you are eager to work

with their company. Be persistent, but always professional.

Enlist your allies

Let your friends, family and former employers know that you are in the market looking for work. They can

be your best source for leads and job recommendations. Secure great references from people who are

familiar with and can speak positively about your work. Ask your allies to ask their friends and employers

about job opportunities.

Stick to the plan

DON'T GIVE UP! The job search process takes time. Many people fail because they are either not

prepared properly, do not put forth the effort required and/or give up too soon.

Troubleshooting

If you are really having difficulties, don't forget there are resources through the Department of Post Secondary Education Training and Labour (PETL) that can help you.

An employment counsellor

An employment counsellor is a qualified career professional who can provide

you with the resources and advice you need to begin your job search. An

employment counsellor is also an important advisor to have if you have

questions or run into any difficulty in finding a job.

The Work Room Career Resource Centres

There are many additional resources on the Work Room website to help you

with your job search. You can also visit a centre in person to work on your

resume, practice interview skills or explore summer job options.

Your chances of finding summer employment improve dramatically the sooner you start contacting employers and sending out resumes. Preparation for summer employment should start in January!