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Where Students Can Find Summer Jobs

Lightning HR Solutions Inc.


Are you a student having trouble finding an internship for the summer? Summer is a great time to relax and go on vacation. However, it’s also the perfect time to get a taste of the workforce. According to a report released by Statistics Canada, 50% of post-secondary graduates participated in work-integrated learning, such as co-op placement, internship, practicum, or clinical practice.


Summer is often the most competitive season for internships and co-ops since post-secondary students are off from school and are trying to get as many opportunities as they can. This should not discourage you from trying to get one because they are a great way to gain hands-on experience in a field that you may be interested in.


With the right tools and knowledge, you can increase your chances of getting an internship in no time! Here are some tips for when and where students can find internships and co-ops for the summer.



Student-Related Resources


If you’re in post-secondary, chances are that your school has plenty of resources you can use while job hunting. Most academic institutions have job portals that are open to all students to access. These portals are a great place to start your job search since most of the job listings are meant for students who go to your school. Plus, recruiters may take a closer look at your application if they see that you applied through your school portal.


If you’re unsure whether or not your school offers this service, it would be best to contact an academic advisor.


Do you have any professors whose work you particularly are interested in? — don’t be afraid to reach out about any opportunities! If you know that you want to work for a particular professor one day, like in graduate school, it is crucial that you start building a relationship with them early on. Those who succeed make a good impression by taking the time to have conversations with their professors outside the classroom and attending office hours. Keep in mind that you don’t want to ask for an internship during your first conversation with a professor — building a genuine relationship takes time.



Professional network


Networking is essential to tapping into today’s hidden job market. If you plan to network, it would be best to narrow down the industries that you’re most interested in so that you can bring them up during networking sessions and coffee chats. Remember that you can network with just about anyone! You don’t need to be tied to just networking events — consider connecting with professors, school alumni, academic advisors, and LinkedIn professionals.



If you’re struggling to build a professional network, mentorship is a great way to get your foot in the door and build a relationship with an industry professional. There are many websites, such as ADPList, which give you access to thousands of industry professionals with whom you can have virtual 1:1 chats with. These mentors are most likely giving up their free time to chat with you, so make use of their time! Even if you only end up having a 5-minute conversation, they now have a face to a name, and will most likely want to continue the conversation if you were to reach out to them on LinkedIn or by email.




Don’t give up, be persistent


No matter how many rejections you get, never give up because the next internship you apply to may accept you. Even if you feel underqualified for a position you really want, you should still apply because feeling underqualified means that you have room to grow. If you’re truly passionate about the company and the work that you will be doing, let that be visible in your application and push you towards success.


Also, something that you may not know is that the government actually provides many job banks for students. In particular, they opened up Canada Summer Jobs where young Canadians aged 15 to 30, can search from thousands of job posts. If you’re an international student, don’t worry because we also found a list of internship programs that you can apply to. With the power of the internet, anyone living anywhere can access these opportunities!


Job hunting season — especially in the summer — can be a scary task with an uncertain outcome; however, if you were to ask any student looking for a summer job, they’d say that the outcome is worth it. Remember to not let rejection discourage you, but rather give you room to grow. Always ask yourself what you can do differently from the last job application and interview. Don’t let a job rejection be the end of the world, even though it may feel like it at the moment; let it be an opportunity to build resilience and keep going.


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