Summer-job season has arrived for most post-secondary students, and is on the way for those enrolled in high school too. Here’s some advice for getting through, whether you’ve secured a job yet or not.
Set a helpful goal, and track your progress
Whether you’ve got a summer job you bet you’re going to love, or one that you feel is a last resort, it can be helpful to set a goal for the season. Are you trying to earn a certain percentage of your tuition fees for next year? Would you like to learn a new skill or hone an existing one? Would you like to get a new job, period? Setting one goal (or a few!) at the beginning of the summer and posting those goals in a highly visible area—be it your fridge, doorway or smartphone screen—can help you stay motivated; so can tracking your progress towards those goals every day, week or month.
Remember that small steps can lead to big career gains
Say that you want to work as a writer, but are stuck doing clerical work in an office for the summer. It’s still worthwhile looking for opportunities to improve your writing skills. For example, does your employer need copy to be created, updated or edited for its website? Do any contracts or brochures need to be proofed for accuracy? Finding small steps like these towards your area of interest can help you secure work that’s more engaging down the line.
When in doubt, volunteer
As all recent grads are no doubt aware, the job market is extremely tough right now for young people. But even if you’re stuck working in a part-time job, or a job that doesn’t relate to your desired field, there are likely volunteer opportunities available in your city or town that could help you to grow your resume in your area of interest. Contact your favourite arts organizations or local volunteer centre to inquire about opportunities. (Don’t know where your local volunteer centre is? Volunteer Canada‘s website is a good place to start.)
Don’t forget about the possibility of self-employment
For students and graduates alike, self-employment is a growing sector of the Canadian labour market. From babysitting and yard work to freelance photography and design, the incentive to run your own business has never been stronger. Even if you’re fulfilling labour demand in a field that’s of little interest to you, the budgeting, invoicing, organizational skills and drive required for self-employment success will come in handy when launching an independent creative career as well.
