Jobs still up for grabs for students seeking summer employment
· Toronto Sun
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For young people who have not found a summer job — or worse, have not started looking for one — there is some good news.
There still are jobs out there for high-schoolers about to have two months of free time or university students looking for extra income.
It’s a situation that Timothy Lang knows from multiple perspectives.
Lang has been the president and CEO of YES (Youth Employment Services) since 2015. YES is a Canadian charitable organization that offers services such as free job counseling, training and job placement and helps employers get connected with those youth.
‘Any job is a good job these days’
He’s also a father to an 19-year-old son who had to look for employment.
“My own son is in this age bracket and had trouble getting work and finally got part-time work dishwashing, while he also found (work at) a stonework and patio company,” Lang wrote in an email conversation.
“Because many youth can only get part-time work, it is normal to get two jobs like my son. Sometimes not what people expect and certainly hard work, but this goes a long way in building one’s experience, resume and, above all, their self-esteem.
“Any job is a good job these days and can lead to growth within the organization or in other areas.”
Youth unemployment stubbornly high
According to Statistics Canada’s labour force survey from May , while Canada’s overall unemployment rate fell to 6.6%, the unemployment rate among youth aged 15 to 24 was 13.4%.
Lang advised young job-seekers to stay positive.
“Starting job search early is always important, but if starting late, it is never too late,” Lang wrote. “There are still jobs available and it’s important to cast a wide net, talk to your network or friends and follow up with any online submissions to try to reach the hiring manager. And definitely leverage the free resources in every community in Canada, like ours.”
The technology available today has affected the job search. Lang said most employers want candidates to apply online.
While technology also has changed the type of jobs available — and Lang mentions that YES provides digital badges in areas such as cloud, cyber, AI and the green economy — he also confirmed that there are opportunities in traditional summer jobs in areas such as hospitality, retail, parks and landscaping.
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Use your local contacts
While online applications for employment are prevalent, job-seekers should not look at them as their only option.
A recent report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that 62% of small businesses recruit through referrals and trusted networks.
“This underscores the importance of taking a well-rounded approach when looking for a summer job,” Marie-Claude Chiasson, a senior communications adviser with Employment and Social Development Canada, wrote in an email conversation.
“Young people should be open to exploring multiple avenues by sharing their job search with friends and family, reaching out to employers they already know (such as local businesses they frequent or community contacts) and actively using online tools and platforms.”
Use government programs
The federal government’s Job Bank website is an available resource.
In addition, the federal government has a Canada Summer Jobs program, in which the government provides eligible employers with wage subsidies. It can be used by people between the ages of 15 and 30 who are eligible to work in Canada and are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or someone who has been officially granted refugee protection in Canada. Summer jobs are posted until July 20 on the Job Bank website.
While the Ontario government has a Summer Company program , which offers startup money to kick off a new summer business and mentorship from local business leaders, applications for that program needed to be made by May 15.
Various programs connected to the City of Toronto are listed on the government’s website .
Make your own job
If a young job-seeker notices demand for a certain resource or service in their community, why not be bold and start a business?
Whether it’s dog-walking, car-washing, being a technology assistant to those who aren’t tech savvy or something else, become your own boss.
There’s always the CNE
Anyone who is willing to work for 18 consecutive days at the end of summer can always apply for various positions with the Canadian National Exhibition .
If you wanted to be a costume character or an EXpress train driver, those jobs and others were still advertised.
And who knows what doors a CNE job might open? Canadian entertainer Samantha Bee ’s resume includes performances as Sailor Moon at the CNE in 1996.
