Summer Jobs: Do your Homework, Now!

While many students are still thinking about spring break, seasonal employers are already hiring for summer.

Students looking for a great summer job should be on the look-out now. There are summer job fairs and ads for student workers all over the Greater Toronto Area and throughout the province, according to Toronto Job Classifieds.com associate editor Maddie Woods. “Amusement parks, golf courses and camps are among those hiring right now. There are lots of seasonal opportunities,” says Woods, “Students should have their resumes polished-up and out there now.”

When looking for a summer job Woods advises that students check their school career centres, local papers, and on-line services. When using on-line job boards Woods cautions, “There are services out there asking students to pay for job leads, which is absolutely ridiculous! There is lots of work out there, especially if you start looking early; there are plenty or free services, like ours, so no one should have to pay to find job openings—that is just taking advantage of those who can ill-afford such a service.”

Big seasonal employers like Canada’s Wonderland and Ontario Place are hiring now; students can apply on-line through those company’s websites. Outside of the major, summer opportunities, there are many smaller employers looking to hire seasonally as well. “We get a lot of ads from student painting companies across the GTA,” notes Woods.

Some of the smaller, ‘summer-only’ businesses will not have commercial spaces where they can interview prospective employees. Woods advises that while these opportunities may well be legitimate, job seekers should never agree to meet in a private residence, car or secluded area. “Arrange to meet in a public place, like a coffee shop. A reputable employer will understand that it is inappropriate to meet in private,” says Woods, “Your personal safety is more important than a job interview.”

Woods recommends that students do a little research too. Summer experience can provide much needed networking opportunities and experience on one’s resume--for career searching after graduation. “Some employers offer great incentives for students, UPS for example, offers its student employees the opportunity to win scholarships, so it pays to look around.”

The message to students: Do your homework and don’t wait for the last bell in May or June to get the ‘leftovers’. Take some time now and find a terrific summer job.