Finding a Summer Job: 2015

Summer Employment Programs Identifying Other Potential EmployersResearching Potential EmployersSummer Opportunities Fair 2015Career Planning Services

Summer Employment Programs

Summer Employment Programs Federal Student Work Experience Program - FSWEP

(http://jobs.gc.ca) Youth Employment Strategy Summer Work Experience

(http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/common/yes.shtml) Student Works Program (on-campus – jobs advertised at

www.msvu.ca/careerplanning in March) Nova Scotia Employment Program for Students

(http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/sep/scsdp/) Entrepreneurship programs – Create your own job!

ACOA (http://www.acoa.ca/e/financial/capital.shtml)

Identifying Other Potential Employers

Visible Job Market• www.msvu.ca/careerplanning (new jobs posted

daily!)• Other employment websites• Newspaper ads• Service Canada Job bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca )• Departmental bulletin boards• Company postings (in house, websites)• Employment Agencies

Identifying Other Potential Employers

Hidden Job Market (80-90% of job market!)• Networking• Newspaper articles• Company newsletters and websites• Directories related to your field of study

(Directory of Community Services, Business Directory for the Metro Halifax Chamber of Commerce:www.halifaxchamber.com/content/Business_Directory)

Common Types of Employers that Hire Summer Students

Summer CampsMunicipal Parks and Recreation

DepartmentsTourism related parks, and organizations Various businesses looking for summer

casual helpIdeas?

Researching Potential Employers

Research products and services they offer, what they look for in employees, application methods, special initiatives, recruitment schedules

Researching the employer will help you identify what you can contribute to the organization. It is also great preparation for the interview!

How To Research A Potential Employer

Contact the organization directlyVisit the organization’s websiteUse your network – professors, family,

friends may be familiar with the organization and know of “hidden” job opportunities

MSVU/SMU Summer Job Fair

What: Your chance to meet local, national, and international employers who want to hire you for Summer 2015!

When: Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Saint Mary’s University, Loyola Conference Hall

How to get there: Take the free bus from Seton starting at 10:30 a.m. (full schedule on website)

Info: www.msvu.ca/jobfair

Summer Job Fair Do’s and Don’t’s

DO bring resumesDO research the employers ahead of timeDO approach employers with confidenceDO dress to impress!DON’T leave the employers table without

saying a wordDON’T chew gumDON’T monopolize time

Networking at the Summer Job Fair

Make a list of companies you want to approach prior to the fair

Approach less preferred organizations first Offer a firm handshake Introduce yourselfMaintain eye contact without staringMaintain an open postureLean slightly toward the employerBe ready for an on-the-spot interviewAsk 4-5 open ended questions

After the Fair…..

Organize company information/business cardsFollow-up with another form of contact – a

cover letter addressing specifics of initial meeting, what you learned, and a thank you

Attempt to facilitate another face to face meeting – information interview …more on this later…

Making Contact

If applying for an advertised job:• Follow their application instructions; Send a

professional resume and cover letter tailored to the position

• Make sure you have your cover letter addressed to a particular person

• Follow-up after you apply to ensure they received your information, to restate your interest, and to find out their timeframe for setting up interviews

Making Contact

If accessing the hidden job market:• Make initial contact by mail, email or telephone• Goal is to secure an in-person appointment• When making direct contact (phone, in-person),

always have your resume with you, prepare a short script about yourself and what you can do for the employer (related education, experience, interest in the organization), be prepared for an informal interview

• Options: directly ask about employment opportunities, or ask for an information interview

Sample Script: First Contact

1. Introduce yourself: name, degree“My name is _____. I am completing a degree in _____ at MSVU.”2. Establish common ground (mention referral source, common interest)“I met a representative from your organization at the MSVU/SMU Summer

Job Fair and was excited to learn that you hire Summer students.” (or other appropriate comment)

3. Show that you know something about the organization (research!)“I have also been to your website and learned about some exciting initiatives

that are related to my studies. I am aware that you hire students to do research and would love to learn more about this opportunity.”

4. Ask for an in-person meeting“I’m wondering if I could meet with you briefly to ask some questions?”

Sample Information Interview Questions How did you get started in this type of work? What skills or personal qualities are necessary in this career? How is your organization being affected by the recent expansion of its

services? (or other appropriate question showing your knowledge of what is going on in the organization)

Does your organization offer volunteer or summer employment opportunities for students interested in gaining more experience in this field? (Or if you know they do offer these opportunities, come up with a question about the nature of the work).

Where else could I find people involved in this type of work that I may not have thought of? (get referrals if appropriate)

Note: – Try to find a way to show how your education/experience can help meet the

organization’s needs (give examples of related educational projects, work experience etc.)

– Bring your resume and leave it if asked

Career Planning Services

Resume Critiquing Service Interview Preparation workshopsMock interviewsResource Library Individual CounsellingExplore the jobs and resources at:

www.msvu.ca/careerplanning