Student Job Link's Resources

Let me open this blog in true Canadian style, with a caveat bordering on apology. I write from experience (in modern parlance, ‘cred’), and will keep the human resources theory to a minimum.

Secondly, my advice is free, so remember what your Nana told you about accepting free advice. That said, I have held more or less continuous paid employment since age ten, when I first lied on an application form to secure a job reserved for those aged 13 and up. During the next quarter-century, the jobs have become more complex, the experiences more intense, and the learning more valuable. And the pay has gone up a little bit, too.

If you follow the news you will probably have an inkling that we are very likely heading into the worse economic period since the Great Depression (for those of you who slept though History 101 think 1930’s, Grapes of Wrath, soup lines, stock brokers jumping out of windows).

 As a result, students graduating this year are going to face a much more difficult job search than students who graduated a year ago and it is very likely that this will be the reality for the next couple of years…at least. 

So, as a student what can you do about it?

Well, first off, take heart knowing that smart companies are still hiring students because they realize that recession, depression or neither, they will still need workers to replace their baby boomer employees who eventually will retire (and for the love of God let’s hope that’s sooner than later).

Now the reality check for you is that while there still will be jobs available for new graduates, there will be fewer of them and there definitely will be more competition for them.

 So now is the time to put on your game face and get into a competitive state of mind. Look around your class and ask yourself who stands out as a high achiever.

If it is not you, then it is critical that you immediately begin taking steps to set your self apart from the rest of the herd of average performers. The following are some ideas that can help get you started: 

Excel academically. How much your grades matter varies by industry/field. Personally, I have never been asked for my marks. What is always important though is that your fellow classmates and instructors see you as intelligent and hard working. These people should be part of your professional network throughout your working life and their opinion of you counts.

Join a professional organization related to your field. Attend their events. Join their committees and look for opportunities to volunteer within the organization. Often the people who run these organizations are well connected in their industry/field of work. Get to know them- they could end up being great references.

The 2008 collection of the 100 Best Companies to Work For ...with links to their websites and career pages.

You will want to bookmark this handy resource!

I know what you’re thinking, “Work for free, are you crazy?” Okay, let’s rephrase:  It’s the summer, why not work for no monetary wages, but make contacts that can help you get a great job in the future.

Sounds a lot better, right?  Summers are the perfect time for internships and other similar types of programs.  Why?  Because a lot of people take vacations in the summer, and when a lot of people take vacations, that means that the employer needs somebody to pick up the slack left by that person leaving for a week or two.  See where this is going?

Packing your bags and heading off to study in a foreign country can prove to be the adventure of a lifetime.

However, studying abroad also entails a lot of commitment and dedication.  International students often spend several years in a foreign country to get that much sought after internationally recognised diploma or degree.

Many surveys indicate that college students are finding it harder than ever to complete their studies and graduate. 

While budget cuts in the education system and the current gloomy economy have both contributed greatly to the decrease in enrollments and increase in college dropouts, it is believed that failure to set specific goals from the get-go has also influenced the chances of success for college students.