Dear Working Wise:
I need a good summer job to help save money for college this fall. What’s the job market looking like? Do you have any tips for finding a good summer job? Signed, Strapped Student
Dear Strapped:
As you may have read or heard through the media, Alberta is bursting with opportunities for job seekers right now.
We have the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.8 per cent and there are thousands of jobs on the job bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca) right now.
Here are some tips to help you find a good summer job.
Write a resumé
More and more employers, even fast-food restaurants, expect resumés. If you are not sure how to write a resume, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) web site at http://alis.alberta.ca and check out their tip sheets and sample resumes.
Show your future boss that you mean business by ensuring that your resumé is free of errors and looks professional. Ask a parent or someone else you trust to review your resumé and make suggestions. You can also use the free e-Resumé Review Service on the ALIS website or attend a free resumé workshop through your local Alberta Works Centre.
Target your resumé and cover letter
Write a new cover letter for each job you apply for and use it to highlight your most relevant skills and experience right up front.
Network
Let your network of friends and family know that you are looking for work. Many jobs are not advertised—networking is a great way to tap into that hidden job market.
Target your search
Check all the usual places for job postings like the job bank www.jobbank.gc.ca, online job boards (Kijiji, Indeed), your school’s job board, the My Job Finder magazine, and the Help Wanted ads in your newspaper. You can try targeting businesses that get busier in the summer.
You might also want to target industries that interest you. A summer job is a great way to try out a career before you invest years of post-secondary training. The experience and people connections you develop may also make it easier to break into your chosen career after you graduate.
Attend job fairs
Did you know that there are job fairs happening all year long around the province? Check out upcoming job fairs near you at http://humanservices.alberta.ca/jobfairs.
Like your local Facebook jobs page
Get job opportunities and news of upcoming job fairs sent straight to your Facebook news feed by liking your local Alberta Works Facebook jobs page http://bit.ly/IGmZK4.
Visit your local Alberta Works Centre
Alberta Works Centres are one-stop job-search centres staffed by professional Career & Employment Consults. You can find the Alberta Works Centre nearest you by visiting http://humanservices.alberta.ca/offices.
Prepare for the job interview
Put your best foot forward, once you get a job interview, by checking out the job-interview tip sheets on the ALIS web site at http://alis.alberta.ca/.
Good luck!
Do you have a work-related question? Send your questions to Working Wise, at charles.strachey@gov.ab.ca. Charles Strachey is a manager with Alberta Human Services. This column is provided for general information.