Students hunt for summer work

Like many university-aged students, Luke Greener had a job lined up for the summer in the hospitality industry.

Then, in the blink of an eye, provincial shutdowns happened and the Port Williams, Kings County, man found himself laid off as quickly as he was hired.

The thought of not having a job for the summer was a source of stress.

“I’m living in the city next year, and I would love to have enough money saved to live there comfortably,” he said.

Boredom — and the idea of having nothing to do all summer — was also daunting, especially after having done his first year of university studies entirely online. He was excited to have a job and finally get out and about.

Things were pretty uncertain for Greener for a while, not knowing if he would be able to go back, and if so, the number of hours he would get.

Luckily, since then, restrictions in Nova Scotia have been lifting, and he is working almost full-time hours.

FEWER JOBS

The stress of summertime employment is being felt by many high school and university-aged students around Atlantic Canada.

“Getting people back to work is crucial for the province’s post-pandemic economic recovery,” said Gerry Byrne, minister of immigration, population growth and skills for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The staff at P.E.I. Career Development Services say there is guarded optimism in terms of employment as the economy slowly rebounds and they believe there is a strong employment outlook for individuals seeking summer employment on the Island.

Although there is no concrete data available, Lyndi Goulden, a summer student intern working as an information resource specialist and youth employment outreach worker at the Kentville Works Centre, says it does seem, anecdotally, that the number of summer jobs available for students is a bit lower than non-COVID years.

Goulden largely attributes this to the impacts COVID has had on the tourism industry, food service and the retail service sector, and that tends to be where a lot of students are employed.

“We will likely not see much growth in that sector until it is deemed safe enough to open up beyond our province and Atlantic provinces,” she said.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t summer jobs available.

All businesses are eager to reopen and make up for lost time during the recent Nova Scotia lockdown, Goulden said, and they need dedicated, hardworking staff to make sure that reopening goes smoothly.

Right now, the restrictions in Nova Scotia are limiting the number of persons who can be in a building and therefore limiting employers’ ability to hire, she said.

But, as gathering limits continue to change and as we move through the summer and the phases of the provincial reopening plan, more summer job opportunities will open up, said Goulden.

To help encourage the hiring of students, Byrne said the Newfoundland government has increased funding and flexibility for student employment programs in response to the unique challenges created by COVID. This change will help to create 600 additional jobs, securing summer employment for 1,600 students. Eligibility has now newly expanded to include part-time employment.

Richard May, executive director of the Community Business Development Corp. in the Nortip office based in Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula, acknowledges there are many anecdotal stories about students having a hard time finding employment. He points out that although there are fewer jobs in tourism-specific businesses, not every restaurant or takeout is tourism-dependent. There are some that serve the local traffic and visitors are a bonus, he said.

These establishments are having difficulty finding enough workers. There are many retail stores and services that are not directly related to tourism, said May.

TIPS FOR STUDENTS

“My biggest advice for students seeking summer employment is to use all resources to their full advantage and not to wait and let opportunities pass you by,” said Goulden.

This means starting early. The P.E.I. Career Development Services points out that while it’s easy to be consumed by the grind of school, the most successful job searchers begin their quest for summer employment weeks, even months, in advance.

Next, do your research and prepare well. There are many programs to assist students with finding a job and CDS recommends contacting an employment services office in your area for information and support.

Part of this preparation is having a strong resumé, outlining previous work history and the skills you offer an employer.

Once ready, Goulden said the moment you see an employment opportunity advertised, look into it.

“If it suits you and you meet the criteria, apply as soon as possible, because you can always deny it if you change your mind, but you do not want to miss out on an opportunity,” she said.

Use the internet and social media to your advantage, adds Goulden.

“Students are very capable when it comes to technology, especially after pandemic online schooling, so it is important to put that knowledge to work,” she said.

Facebook, for example, has an entire section dedicated to job postings in which job seekers can specify their interests and they will receive notifications when a related job is posted, making it an incredibly simple yet effective way to seek jobs.

Networking is also important, whether in person or online, adds the CDS. You never know what contacts you will make. Be sure to let friends, family and those in your circle of contacts know you are looking for a job

BUILD RESUMÉ

Janet MacDonald of mycampusGPS Education Consulting in Halifax has spent the past five years helping high school students find and apply for scholarships.

Whether or not students are working this summer, she says high school students in grades 10 and 11, especially, should be building their resumés, especially through volunteer experience.

“Students will qualify for many more scholarships if they have volunteer experience,” she said.