Caps McGill University Career and Placement Service
Looking for a Summer Job
Introduction
Besides providing you with an income to finance your studies, a summer job can
enhance your chances of getting a good full time job after you graduate.
How?
By giving you career-related skills and experiences
By building a network of employer contacts
By helping you decide which job or career you'd like to pursue
The purpose of this brochure is to give you the information that should enable
you to find the summer job of your choice.
Some Commonly Asked Questions
There aren't many summer jobs out there, are there?
Don’t be discouraged by the jobs that you see, or don’t see, in newspapers or
on bulletin boards. Less than 20% of today’s employers tend to post their summer
job openings. You have to network to access the remaining 80% of available jobs.
What is Networking?
Most students find their summer jobs through networking. Networking involves
meeting people and letting them know about your skills and interests and that
you are looking for work. It also involves harvesting information about employers
to help you decide to whom you would like to apply.
How can I find a job related to what I’ve been studying?
You can find career-related jobs posted at CAPS on our Job Listings Database.
But degree-related jobs are often not posted. The majority of unposted jobs
are found by networking. The best thing you can do to find a career related
job is to learn how to network. CAPS has workshops on networking. For details,
see our website.
I’m a first year student and my academic background isn’t strong enough yet
to get a job in my chosen field. Until then, is there some way I could get a
job just to earn some extra spending money?
Yes there is. The CAPS Job Listings Database has a section dedicated to non-career
jobs. These are jobs that do not require you to have completed a degree or be
in a specific degree program.
Click on “non-career jobs” from the Job Listing section. You can search for
jobs either by occupation, location, date of postings or view all postings at
once. Check the list regularly.
International students may apply only to jobs found in the On-Campus Jobs category
through the occupation field.
What about “Treeplanting?"
Treeplanting can be a lucrative and skill-building experience, but we advise
you to attend the CAPS workshop called “Treeplanting” before signing any contracts.
How do I find a job in another city?
Start by telling everybody you know in that city that you’re looking for a summer
job there.
If you don’t have any contacts (family or friends) in the city you have targeted,
try to make new contacts.
Search the CAPS Job Listings Database for jobs posted from the city you have
targeted.
Search the Internet to look for your targeted city’s own municipal Job Listings
Databases, e.g. Maintenance, Tourism, Public Relations.
The Chamber of Commerce is also a useful contact.
Check other various Job Listings Database websites (listed in this brochure)
i.e.: campusworklink.com, monstertrak.ca, Human Resources Development Canada,
Youth Employment Services for job postings listed in your targeted city.
Check out the major newspapers from that city, focusing on the Careers and Business
Sections. Don’t forget Telephone Books and Yellow Page Directories are also
useful sources of employment leads.
How can I find a summer job on McGill Campus?
CAPS has a list of McGill’s Administrative Assistants and Area Personnel Officers
who can provide valuable information and contacts about summer jobs in their
departments.
McGill’s Work Study Program provides jobs on McGill Campus during the academic
terms and during the summer.
Ask your professors! They often hire students to help them on their research
or they can give you other contacts.
The gym, libraries & McGill bookstore hire students. Go directly to them
for an application.
Steps in Looking for a Summer Job
Start working on it early - most people start in November.
Consider taking a part-time Job during the academic year- one that may continue
as a summer job.
The more targeted you are, the better your chances are of finding work. So,
as much as possible know what kind of summer job you are seeking. Decide what
field of work you'd like (finance, education, info. tech., media, etc.) and
what type of job you'd like to obtain (clerical, service, research, teaching,
etc.).
Prepare cover letters and a CV. Attend workshops at CAPS on CV Writing and buy
the CAPS book "Samples of CVs, Cover Letters, CACEE Forms in English &
French for McGill Students."
Tell everyone you know what field you'd like to work in or what type of job
you are interested in.
Network by asking everyone you know for names of good contacts for you to meet
who could help you find the job you want. Attend the CAPS workshop on networking.
Search for jobs that are posted on the CAPS, campusworklink.com, and monstertrak.ca
websites.
Ask at the CAPS reception to consult our reserve books, and speak to our librarian
about books in our Career Resource Library.
Apply to jobs that match your skills & personality.
At interviews, be on time and dress neatly. Ask relevant questions about the
company and what will be expected of you.
Attend the CAPS workshop on "Successful Job Interview Techniques."
Keep trying. It takes a persistence to find a good summer job.
Reference Books
Many books and magazines are available at the CAPS office, to help you find
summer work. Here are just a few examples:
On Reserve at CAPS Reception
Canada Student Employment Guide.
Directory of Overseas Summer Jobs.
Peterson’s Summer Jobs USA - Everything you need to know to find a summer job
searching by your interests and reading employer profiles. An indispensable
catalog of interesting and enriching summer work experiences in the U.S. organized
by state.
The Tree Planter’s Survival Guide - Written by a tree-planting expert. Find
out what the job entails and how to go about getting hired.
Working on Cruise Ships - Relevant information on over 150 different types of
jobs at sea with addresses of employers for people of all backgrounds.
The Career Directory - a valuable Canadian source for job hunters which lists
and describes 100's of employers interested in hiring students.
CAPS has prepared a set of Internship Binders which include information that
we have received on internships available in Canada, USA, & internationally.
International Development Opportunities Binder with a comprehensive summary
of programs.
Canadian Guide to Working & Living Overseas- Contains a section “Short-term
Programs Overseas” for those who want a chance to land a job overseas.
Overseas Summer Jobs 2000 - a rich source of employment opportunities, opening
a door to travel, knowledge, fun and adventure.
In Career Resource Library - (Mainly Sections 5.5 & 5.6)
Pick up FREE magazines and pamphlets ( e.g. Job Postings Magazine, SWAP - Student
Work Abroad Program, Youth Link booklet).
Check the bulletin boards at CAPS for jobs.
Read the Part-Time & Summer Opportunities: Newsclippings Binder, which is
a list of articles relating to part-time and summer jobs.
Summer Jobs Britain - While the majority of jobs are in the fields of tourism
and agriculture, this book lists many opportunities ranging from market research
to archeological excavation.
Jobs in Paradise - Lists jobs in the U.S., Canada, South Pacific, and Caribbean,
a perfect resource for getting terrific jobs in great locations.
Vacation Traineeships for Students.
Summer Jobs for Students 1999 - Includes a list of who’s hiring, kinds of jobs
available, and how and where to apply.
Survival Jobs – 154 ways to make money while pursuing your dreams.
Websites (these sites are hyperlinked on the CAPS website)
www.caps.mcgill.ca - there are 2 Job Listings Databases: career-related jobs
and non-career related jobs
www.campusworklink.com
www.monstertrak.ca
www.peq.mic.gouv.qc.ca (Placement Etudient Quebec)
http://youth.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/programs/summer.shtml (Human Resources Development)
www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/menu/profile-search.shtml#profile (Student Resource Centers)
www.gov.on.ca (Ontario Government)
http://jobs.gc.ca (Federal Student Work Experience Program)
www.yesmtl.org (Youth Employment Services)
www.canadiantreeplanting.com (Canadian Treeplanting Information Site)
www.tree-planting.com (Planting a Tree: A Step by Step Guide)
www.petersons.com (Peterson’s Education Center)
www.cruisedreamjob.com (Cruise Services International)
www.cooljobscanada.com (Cool Jobs in tourism across Canada)
www.queensu.ca/iaeste (International Association for the Exchange of Students
for Technical Experience) – international work opportunities for Engineering
and Science students.
Summer Camp Directories
The following is a list of Websites to various Summer Camp Associations and
their Directories. Some will allow you to search for camps that focus on improving
campers’ skills in music, computers, sports, etc. Other sites will allow you
to register with them (for a small fee) to be called later by their Camp Directors.
All of these sites will have a Job Listings Database that display their available
jobs and how best to contact them.