Dear Working Wise:
I’m in my last year of high school and I need a summer job to help save for university next year. I heard that the Service Canada Centres For Youth, aka Hire-a-student offices, are not opening this summer. Are there any other services to help students find jobs this summer? Signed, Hire This Student
Dear Hire:
Yes, help is available for students who are looking for summer employment.
Summer jobs and part-time employment play an important role in helping students pay for their education and keep their student loans to a minimum.
Here are some resources to help you find a summer job or part-time employment.
1. ALIS website (http://alis.alberta.ca) is a one-stop online career resource where you can do anything from explore career options to research post-secondary institutions, to look for a job. The site includes links to Alberta Work Search Online, tips on writing resumés and giving job interviews, and links to job postings. The site also offers a free online resumé review service staffed by professional career counselors.
2. Career Information Hotline (1-800-661-3753) is staffed by professional career counselors who can help you write your resumé, prepare a cover letter, find job opportunities, and market yourself to potential employers. In Edmonton, call 780-422-4266.
3. Canada-Alberta Job Bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca) has thousands of job postings that are searchable by community, industry and key word. The site offer a student-youth job search feature along with Job Match and Job Alert features that alert you when a new job is posted that fits your criteria. And employers can post free job ads on this site.
4. The Government of Canada’s Youth Canada website (www.youth.gc.ca) offers information and resources on preparing your job search, writing resumés and cover letters, job opportunities, and how to gain work experience.
5. Alberta Works social media sites give job seekers a place to find local employers who are hiring along with news about upcoming local job fairs. Employers can also post free job advertisements on these sites:
· Calgary www.facebook.com/calgaryjobsfeed
· Calgary www.twitter.com/calgaryjobfeed
· Central Alberta www.facebook.com/centralalbertajobs
· Edmonton www.facebook.com/edmontonjobs
· Fort McMurray www.facebook.com/fortmcmurrayjobs
· Lethbridge www.facebook.com/lethbridgejobs
6. Job Fairs page http://employment.alberta.ca/jobfairs lists all of the upcoming Government of Alberta sponsored jobs fairs.
7. Alberta Works Centres (http://employment.alberta.ca/offices) are job-search centres staffed by Career and Employment Consultants, which offer free:
· Job-search tips and advice;
· Job postings and links to employers who are hiring;
· Resumé, cover letter and job interview workshops;
· Access to computers, photocopiers and fax machines for job searches.
8. Other resources for student job seekers may be available in your community. For example, the Calgary Youth Employment Centre (www.nextsteps.org) helps young Calgarians plan their careers and find employment. Many post-secondary institutions also offer summer job-search assistance. Check with your local Alberta Works Centre to find out what is available in your community.
Good luck!
Do you have a work-related question? Send your questions to Working Wise, at charles.strachey@gov.ab.ca. This column is provided for general information.