Students seeking summer jobs: Tips from the Tignish ER Centre

by Ruby Arseneault, Facilitator/Employment Coach, Tignish Employment Resource Centre

It is that time of year again when the days become longer, and spring is here. Soon many post-secondary students and high school students will be looking for employment for the summer months.

I have been the facilitator of the Tignish Employment Centre for almost 20 years. I help a great number of students each year, so I thought I would share some tips on resumé preparation and job search.

⇒ Start the process now because many employers may have already hired for the summer season.

⇒ This is a perfect time to update your resumé. Take time to reflect on what you did in the past year, such as work duties, new skills gained, volunteering, and training sessions you may have attended.

⇒ Volunteering is HUGE. If you do not have a lot of paid work experience, elaborate on any volunteering you have done. This shows your willingness to work.

⇒Give thought to your references. Always ask individuals before you use them as a reference. Your reference list should include details on the resume such as name, job title, phone number, and email address, and if they are a character reference or a work or volunteer contact.

⇒ If your contact information changes after you pass out a resumé, you need to drop off an updated resumé. Employers often tell me they cannot reach applicants due to discontinued contact information.

⇒ Another huge suggestion: do it yourself. I know it is intimidating to drop off a resumé in person, but employers want to meet YOU, not your parents. I know parents want to help but most employers will think that the applicant is incapable of making the contact.

⇒ Resumés should include an objective, which lists the job title they are applying for and the name of the employer. Many businesses have various open positions, and this allows management or human resources to know what type of work you are seeking. For example, if you are applying to work at a resort, in the objective, state the name of the position, such as front desk agent/hostess/housekeeping.

⇒ Ask someone to take a quick look at your resumé before sending it off. There are many FREE services out there who can assist, such as the Employment Resource Centres in Tignish/Alberton and CDS offices across PEI.

⇒ During these unprecedented times of COVID-19, I would suggest contacting employers and asking how they would like to receive your resumé as some facilities may not want paper copies or drop ins. Always follow the instructions on a job posting.

⇒ In conclusion, keep the resumé short and precise, and keep sheets of paper tidy, clean, and wrinkle free.

Checkout the following job search links: Register as a job seeker: www.workpei.ca/join

Check out the daily job postings at Tignish ER Centre: www.facebook.com/tignish.employmentcentre

Alberton ER Centre: www.facebook.com/alberton.ercentre.14

Career Development Services: www.cdspei.ca/jobboard

The Employment Journey for all PEI Job Sites Listings: www.employmentjourney.com/pei-job-opportunities