This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Vic chapter.

Steps for Finding Your Summer Gig

We’ve almost made it through another semester, and if you’re doing part-time summer courses or looking for full-time work, there’s a good chance you’re in the market for a new job. Unfortunately, not only is everybody else, but they might have started already.

There’s no time like the present, so this article will help you get started on finding the perfect way to spend your summer.

1. Figure out what you want

The first thing to do before you log into your local job search website is figure out what kind of jobs to prioritize. In my mind, there are two kinds of jobs. There are jobs that are static and repetitive that I can do to earn money. There are also dynamic jobs that require you to be independent and accomplish lots of different goals throughout the work term. You can make a lot of money doing both.

It’s also good to consider what you want out of a job. Is money or experience the ultimate goal? A job at a busy restaurant or a mill can get you money, but a job like tree-planting or working at a summer camp will be a more rewarding experience.

Knowing what you want will help you narrow down options when you’re applying and prioritize if you get more than one job offer. Once you’ve figured out what you want, you can move on to step 2.

2. Set parameters

This is a similar step to the first one, but more logistical. How far are you willing to travel for a job? If you are only willing to work within your hometown, you’ll probably need to be open to more varied opportunities than if you’re able to travel anywhere. If you decide you’re willing to move anywhere in Canada to get a specific kind of job, you can be a lot more choosy.

You should also consider how many hours you’re willing to work. Farm jobs may require longer days than office jobs. You might not get your Saturdays free if you work in tourism. Know what you are absolutely not willing to give up and what you can be flexible on.

3. Contact possible references

Talking to people is hard! But having references lined up will take away lots of stress when you come across a job with a tight deadline to apply.

Come up with a list of people to contact and write each of them a quick email to see if they would be willing to be listed as a reference for a few job applications. Let them know you’ll contact them when you apply for a job.

If you’re going to list someone, make sure to give them a heads-up about what the job is and if there’s anything in particular they should focus on when giving a reference. If a job posting specified that they need someone creative, suggest that your reference mention an anecdote that shows that.

And thank them. Thank them so much for being there for you.

4. Have a basic resume ready and refine when necessary

Having a resume probably goes without saying, but even if you have last year’s resume ready, it can probably use some polishing.

Start with a generic resume that lists whatever experiences you’ve had that make you seem like a fantastic employee on a general level: a resume you can give to minimum wage jobs that just want to know you’re reliable, good at multi-tasking under pressure, and ready to learn new skills. My number one tip with resumes and cover letters? Keep it to a page.

If you have a specific kind of job in mind, refine it to show your interest in the field.

You can find some interesting resume tips here and here.

5. Repeat step 4, but with a cover letter

If you hate cover letters as much as I do, you just groaned when you read that heading and decided to live your life in the mountains and never work a job again. I get it. But don’t stress! Here are some places to go to for tips and guides on writing one: a cover letter guide from Canadajobs.com, and my personal go-to guide from the blog How to Grow the Fuck Up and Act Like an Adult.

If you’re only applying to restaurants or retail jobs, you can probably get away with only writing one cover letter and changing only small details to make it fit each position.

Just like with your resume, you may need to individualize for jobs that have unique and dynamic work involved. Having experience in stressful situations and being organized are good general skills, but sharing an anecdote about volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters might be what gets your foot in the door for a camp counsellor position.

6. Start your search

Now that all of your materials are in front of you, you have references lined up, and you know what you want, it’s time to search.

The first place to look is online. At this point, you’re more likely to find jobs on the internet than a sign in a store window (but don’t rule that out as a possibility). Some places to look for a general idea of what your area has available are Indeed and WorkBC.

If you are looking into student specific positions, those are usually funded by grants. Young Canada Works is great for heritage, arts, and bilingual jobs. Here is a Government of Canada page with resources to help you find a job, including a link to a job bank.

Here’s the BC Tourism job board, if you like meeting new people and are passionate about where you live.

If the web doesn’t work for you, you can get dressed up in some business casual clothes and start bringing your resume into stores that interest you. If you do, here are some tips:

Go alone.
Don’t apply at the same time as your best friend, because there’s a really good chance they won’t hire either of you.
Ask to give the resume directly to the manager, but be kind to the other employees. They will form an opinion of you right away and probably tell the manager what that opinion is.

If you need some one-on-one help and resources for your search, head into your local WorkBC branch and see if they can help you with what you need.

Whew. You made it through. Job searching can be frustrating and stressful, but it’s also a great opportunity to practice your writing and people skills. Plus, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Just remember that as long as you believe in yourself and put your best foot forward, your potential employers will see what a gem you are.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a successful job search? Did I miss any great websites or student opportunities? Drop a comment down below!