Archive for the ‘university jobs’ Category

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Summer Job Hunting Tips

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Summer Jobs! Yes, It’s that time of year again –summer… and The Summer Job Hunt.  Despite the temptation of just laying under the sun all summer long, this is the best time to make some extra cash. I wished selling all my used textbooks on LocAZu counts as my full-time summer job. It helps to get some quick cash, but there are always way too many bills and expenses. So whether it’s your first summer job or you’re an experienced worker, here are some things to consider when searching for that awesome summer job:

Experience & Cash!summer_job_LocAZu_holding_Money
Be motivated in finding a summer job. Summer jobs are the perfect opportunity to build your overall work experience and jump-start your career. You get to meet new people and make new friends. You gain references and more connections. Oh yeah, of course the money, too!

Update Resume & Cover Letter
Update your resume and cover letter. It helps to research and write customized cover letters according to each summer job posting.  Kindly ask someone to double-check your resume and cover letter: spelling mistakes, appears and sounds good, not too long, your name is spelled correctly, etc.  You can find sample resumes and cover letters to inspire you.

If you are emailing your CV. Also paste your cover letter followed by your resume in the body of the email. If your prospective employer is checking resumes on her/his smart phone (and many do), it’s difficult for them  to check attachments.

Before you send out your resume, save it with the right name containing your name, last name, then resume, i.e. John_Doe_Resume1. Employers get a lot of responses and if all the resumes are labeled as “resume”, it makes their job harder to manually save your resume with a distinctive name when/if they short list you. Plus it leaves a good first impression about your organization.

Type of Jobssummer_job_Locazu_Lifeguard
Think of what kind of jobs you want.  What type of fields? What interests you? What are your skills? What do you want to do this summer and actually get paid for? Do you want to work with kids (summer camps), people (retail), outdoors (lifeguard), in an office (office assistant), manual labor (construction), etc? Thinking about all this helps kick-start your summer job hunt.

Open-mindedness
It’s a little contradicting to the point above, but also be open to all type of work offered for your summer job. You may discover a new passion or skill you never knew while working at a summer job.

Network
Tell people you’re looking to work this summer. Talk to everyone you know: your instructors, your friends, your hairdresser, your aunt, your neighbor, that guy with the funny eyebrows…Anyone and everyone is a contact that can help you get your summer job. It’s true what they say: “Someone always knows someone, who knows someone who knows…Your Next Summer Job!”

Social Media
Use Twitter and Facebook to land your summer job. Create a Linked-in profile. Follow companies you would like to work for; follow their Twitter feed for any job opportunities, tweet about yourself, perfect your Twitter Bio, etc.

Resource Centers & Job Fairs
They’re at schools and within your city. There are government agencies and centers specialized in helping you find summer work. Job fairs are a hub of organizations eager to hire. Look for career centers and job fairs in local newspapers and online.

summer_student_job_LocAZu_SuccessHard Work
People have told me: finding a job is a job itself. Argh! It’s true. It’s going to be hard work getting that summer job but the ‘pay off’ will be an awesome reward! All that emailing of resumes and researching will get you a summer job that may turn out to be a part-time job. Or the sense of accomplishment and pocketful of money!

Also while summer job hunting and you see postings more suitable to a friend, just take a sec to email/tell them because good karma always has a way back to you! Self-confidence and optimism will get you closer to your summer job. No matter what happens, enjoy your summer and have fun. Good luck with the summer job search!

About the Author _____________________________________________________

Michelle M: I’m a BCom Marketing graduate. Like my posts or have an opportunity for me? Please contact blogsATlocazu.com (replace AT with @ if you are human:) ATTN Michelle M.

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Job Interview Tips for University Students

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
Short on money this semester? Buy and sell used textbooks online with locazU.com. You can save money on Canadian textbooks, earn a little cash back from used university textbooks, or trade textbooks for the classes you need.
Know the company you are applying to and arrive with a plan and attitude to deliver results.

Know the company you are applying to and arrive with a plan and the attitude to deliver results.

But for most university students, it’s not enough to swap used textbooks. That’s why the professional students at locazU.com have complied our best tips for wowing employers in a job interview. 

Tip number one: take a shower and iron your shirt.

The best job interview tips for university students  

If you want that amazing job –the one with the flexible hours, awesome pay, and impressive resume potential – then you need to know a few things about selling yourself in a job interview. 

Sure, your prospective employers were impressed with your resume, that’s why they called you. But many students have the same qualifications as you do. 

The best way to stand out from the rest is to bring your best game into the job interview, and here’s how: 

  1. Know the company. You should never go into an interview unless you’ve thoroughly research the company. Know what they do, how they do it, and most importantly, why they do it. Walk in with a value proposition – where do you see yourself add value and what results? What would be your plan of action? You would be amazed at how many students walk in to an interview convinced on what they expect from the employer (pay, experience, how many breaks), but completely lost on what they can deliver to the employer.
  2. Know the management team and the person you report to. In the age of Facebook and Google, there really aren’t any excuses not to. In fact for most jobs it’s an expectation. Granted, not everyone has an online footprint, but you will be amazed at what you can find. You can also try your school’s business library or career services. The alumni office may have good contacts. When you arrive prepared and researched, it shows the employer that you want the job and that you are eager enough to invest your time and energy. Even if you don’t get the job, you are building a good network for the next time they are hiring.  
  3. Know your strengths. The job interview isn’t a test to see whether you pass or fail. It’s an opportunity to sell yourself to your prospective employers. Highlight the strengths you could bring to the job. Let them know how you will add value to their company.
  4. Be yourself. Your best chance at success in a job interview is to act natural. Confidence is communicated through body language: shake hands, maintain eye contact, and stay positive. Take a moment to adapt to your surroundings and relate to the people around you. Remember that a point of connection can be made with every person you meet.

These key job interview tips will put you ahead of the game and ensure you make a good first impression. But the work doesn’t end there. 

Take a moment the night before your interview to role-play with a friend. Anticipate the behavioral interview questions you may be asked and find a clear and straightforward way to answer them. 

And while you’re anticipating that big job interview, save money when you buy and sell used textbooks at locazU.com.

By Ann Schwab

Posted in Job Hunting, Tips, university jobs | No Comments »

Increased unemployment rates for Canadian university students

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

The unemployment rate for students aged 18-24 years old rose by five percent this summer, according to Statistics Canada. This is the highest recorded leap in a decade and  a decline of 43,000 student summer jobs in July alone. 

Partially the slow economy, and partially slow and unorganized government bureaucracy. 

Unemployment rates for Canadian students aged 18-24 years old rose by 5% this summer.

Unemployment rates for Canadian students aged 18-24 years old rose by 5% this summer.

Take the federally funded Canada Summer Jobs Program for instance. It suffers from the same shortage of funding and inefficiencies you feel from your university bursary and scholarship programs. 

The program was responsible for creating thousands of jobs for students across Canada. On top of funding shortages, they have been running increasingly inefficient: 

  1.  They filter applicant companies long after the start of the summer and don’t issue their answer until well into the summer. This leaves companies little or no time to recruit students even if they qualify.
  2. The funding is allocated the most to jurisdictions where students live the most. One problem. Most jobs are offered in city centers and urban areas where they are either commercial and non-residential areas or where the rent is unaffordable for students. 

So why would they not adapt to the basic facts about students? 

Unemployment and financial difficulties seriously hamper graduation.

Unemployment and financial difficulties seriously hamper graduation.

And it’s not just the students who are affected by the cuts: The Canada Summer Jobs Program funded many non-profit organizations, community resource centers, research facilities, and social service centers each year. The ability for these crucial services to exist often depends on the influx of funded student summer positions. 

Katherine Giroux-Bougard, the National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, released a statement warning of the affects of the student job recession: “With students facing record high tuition fees, summer employment is essential for many students to be able to return to class.” 

With tuition fees, student debt, and student unemployment at a historical high, it’s time to get vocal. With no plans to increase funding for the Canada Summer Jobs Program or reduce student debt, the government has left university students out in the cold. 

The question is: what are you going to do about it? Here are few hints from the expert anarchist students at locazU: 

  • -   Get out the soapbox and protest on campus. Freedom of speech is the best perk of a democratic society. So use it.
  • -   Pass around petitions and write letters to local and federal government representatives. Let them know that you exist. Tell them first hand how the lack of funding to the Canada Summer Jobs Program has affected you.
  • -   Use technology to get the word out. If there’s one thing separating you from “the man”, it’s your expert abilities on the web. You have twitter, facebook, myspace, podcasts, and home-brewed blogs. Never before has it been this easy for students to be heard globally.
  • -   Become a citizen journalist on campus. Interview students about the lack of federal support for student funded summer jobs. Interview the non-profit organization that had to close down for the summer because you weren’t there to help them run things.  

There are many creative ways to fight the recession blues. Cut the excess: trade textbooks with other students to save money. You can keep your university costs low when you buy and sell used textbooks at locazU.

By Ann Schwab

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Posted in Student Loan, Student unemployment facts, university jobs | No Comments »

How university students make money online

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
Make money online as a university student.

Make money online as a university student.

Make money when you buy and sell used textbooks to university students online at locazU. Or trade free or used textbooks and save money on expensive bookstore markups. The online world is abundant with ways for university students to make money. 

So what are you waiting for? Get in the game. Thre are more alternative university jobs with descent pay and flexibility.

More ways to make money online as a student 

Paid surveys. Filing out paid online surveys is a savvy way to generate extra cash while you’re in school. The best part is you can work anywhere your laptop takes you – your dorm, the coffee shop, or while in a boring lecture. 

But that’s not all. Filling out online surveys offers more perks than the average part-time job. Flexible schedule. No training. No minimum wage. All you have to be is 18 years or older. 

Don’t get too excited but you can earn as much as $100 per survey (that’s the cream of the crop; the average survey pays $5-$50). You can also collect bonus points for prizes like gift cards, electronics, cash, and more. 

How to earn money from online surveys  

First things first: you need to register with the best online survey companies. There are over 500 survey sites and research companies operating on a global level. But that doesn’t mean they’re the best. 

So do your homework and find the best survey jobs online. Just in case you need an extra hand, check out this list of requirements that you should look for in online survey companies: 

  • -  The availability of surveys. I think that’s self-explanatory. The more surveys, the more money you can earn.
  • -  Payment, compensation, and rewards. How will they pay you (cash, cheque, paypal), how much will they pay you per survey, and what bonus rewards do they offer?
  • -  Customer service. How do they interact with their survey takers? Can you deal with real people when you have concerns, or do automatic messages take care of all their business concerns? 

Register with as many of the best companies as possible, and as soon as surveys that fit your criteria pop up, you’ll be notified. Earning money online from surveys is a numbers game – the more you register the more invitations to take surveys you’ll receive. 

Here’s a final tip from locazU: online survey companies should be 100% free to join, if they ask you for any money, move on to brighter horizons. With online surveys, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.

By Ann Schwabb

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Posted in Job Hunting, university jobs | No Comments »

10 High paying Canadian university jobs – part II

Monday, August 10th, 2009
Be a video game tester.

Be a video game tester.

Still contemplating outside the box ideas for high paying Canadian university jobs? Here are more leads and tips. 

5. Get paid to test video games. Seriously. You can get paid playing and testing the latest games, often between $10-$15/hr. Contact a major video game publisher near you. PS, software testers of any kind make great university jobs especially if you are interested in software development.

6. Start your own business. Why not? Turn that brilliant idea into business while you have access to a lot of learning resources. There are also some government and school resources to support your new venture anywhere from mentoring, to financial support.

7. Teach. Cash out on those ballet lessons you received when you were younger, sports, or other skills you have.

8. Tutor. That’s a no brainer.

9. Paid surveys are a great way to make some extra cash and often from home. Carefully research the survey companies, then register. When you meet the criteria, you will be contacted. But watch out, there are some really dodgy survey companies out there.

Focus groups are another way to get paid an average of $20 – $70 for your input and they usually last no more than 2 hours. Focus groups are where you participate in a group exchange of ideas about a new product or concept. Both surveys and focus groups provide a good exposure to market research and marketing if that is your area of interest in college.

10. Work at your university. There are a range of interesting positions that provide you with valuable experience and connections, as well as descent pay. Try lab technician, research assistant, student affairs, or teaching assistant. 

All those great ideas aside, some of the most university student friendly jobs are right under your nose. Most universities offer work-study positions to full-time students. You can earn real on-the-job experience as a research assistant in most faculties on campus.  

So get to work. You’ve got a pile of books to read, burgers to sling, and rent to pay. Isn’t being a responsible adult great? 

And meanwhile, you guessed it, minimize your student expenses, and instead of buying new university books, trade used textbooks with other students on locazU.

Read part I of 10 High paying Canadian university jobs.

By Andrew Tocco

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Posted in Job Hunting, Tips, university jobs | No Comments »

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