Finding a Summer Job: 2015
Summer Employment Programs
Identifying Other Potential Employers
Researching Potential Employers
Summer Opportunities Fair 2015
Career Planning Services
Summer Employment Programs
Summer Employment Programs
 Federal Student Work Experience Program - FSWEP
(http://jobs.gc.ca)
 Youth Employment Strategy Summer Work Experience
(http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/common/yes.shtml)
 Student Works Program (on-campus – jobs advertised at
www.msvu.ca/careerplanning in March)
 Nova Scotia Employment Program for Students
(http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/sep/scsdp/)
 Entrepreneurship programs – Create your own job!
ACOA (http://www.acoa.ca/e/financial/capital.shtml)
Identifying Other Potential
Employers
Visible Job Market
• www.msvu.ca/careerplanning (new jobs posted
daily!)
• Other employment websites
• Newspaper ads
• Service Canada Job bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca )
• Departmental bulletin boards
• Company postings (in house, websites)
• Employment Agencies
Identifying Other Potential
Employers
Hidden Job Market (80-90% of job market!)
• Networking
• Newspaper articles
• Company newsletters and websites
• Directories related to your field of study
(Directory of Community Services, Business
Directory for the Metro Halifax Chamber of
Commerce:www.halifaxchamber.com/conte
nt/Business_Directory)
Common Types of Employers
that Hire Summer Students
Summer Camps
Municipal Parks and Recreation
Departments
Tourism related parks, and organizations
Various businesses looking for summer
casual help
Ideas?
Researching Potential
Employers
Research products and services they offer,
what they look for in employees,
application methods, special initiatives,
recruitment schedules
Researching the employer will help you
identify what you can contribute to the
organization. It is also great preparation for
the interview!
How To Research A Potential
Employer
Contact the organization directly
Visit the organization’s website
Use your network – professors, family,
friends may be familiar with the
organization and know of “hidden” job
opportunities
MSVU/SMU Summer Job Fair
 What: Your chance to meet local, national, and
international employers who want to hire you for
Summer 2015!
 When: Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 11:00 a.m. –
3:00 p.m.
 Where: Saint Mary’s University, Loyola
Conference Hall
 How to get there: Take the free bus from Seton
starting at 10:30 a.m. (full schedule on website)
 Info: www.msvu.ca/jobfair
Summer Job Fair Do’s and
Don’t’s
DO bring resumes
DO research the employers ahead of time
DO approach employers with confidence
DO dress to impress!
DON’T leave the employers table without
saying a word
DON’T chew gum
DON’T monopolize time
Networking at the Summer Job
Fair
 Make a list of companies you want to approach
prior to the fair
 Approach less preferred organizations first
 Offer a firm handshake
 Introduce yourself
 Maintain eye contact without staring
 Maintain an open posture
 Lean slightly toward the employer
 Be ready for an on-the-spot interview
 Ask 4-5 open ended questions
After the Fair…..
Organize company information/business
cards
Follow-up with another form of contact – a
cover letter addressing specifics of initial
meeting, what you learned, and a thank
you
Attempt to facilitate another face to face
meeting – information interview …more
on this later…
Making Contact
If applying for an advertised job:
• Follow their application instructions; Send a
professional resume and cover letter tailored to
the position
• Make sure you have your cover letter addressed
to a particular person
• Follow-up after you apply to ensure they received
your information, to restate your interest, and to
find out their timeframe for setting up interviews
Making Contact
If accessing the hidden job market:
• Make initial contact by mail, email or telephone
• Goal is to secure an in-person appointment
• When making direct contact (phone, in-person),
always have your resume with you, prepare a
short script about yourself and what you can do
for the employer (related education, experience,
interest in the organization), be prepared for an
informal interview
• Options: directly ask about employment
opportunities, or ask for an information interview
Sample Script: First Contact
1. Introduce yourself: name, degree
“My name is _____. I am completing a degree in _____ at MSVU.”
2. Establish common ground (mention referral source, common
interest)
“I met a representative from your organization at the MSVU/SMU
Summer Job Fair and was excited to learn that you hire Summer
students.” (or other appropriate comment)
3. Show that you know something about the organization (research!)
“I have also been to your website and learned about some exciting
initiatives that are related to my studies. I am aware that you hire
students to do research and would love to learn more about this
opportunity.”
4. Ask for an in-person meeting
“I’m wondering if I could meet with you briefly to ask some questions?”
Sample Information Interview
Questions
 How did you get started in this type of work?
 What skills or personal qualities are necessary in this career?
 How is your organization being affected by the recent expansion of
its services? (or other appropriate question showing your knowledge
of what is going on in the organization)
 Does your organization offer volunteer or summer employment
opportunities for students interested in gaining more experience in
this field? (Or if you know they do offer these opportunities, come
up with a question about the nature of the work).
 Where else could I find people involved in this type of work that I
may not have thought of? (get referrals if appropriate)
 Note:
– Try to find a way to show how your education/experience can help meet
the organization’s needs (give examples of related educational projects,
work experience etc.)
– Bring your resume and leave it if asked
Career Planning Services
 Resume Critiquing Service
 Interview Preparation workshops
 Mock interviews
 Resource Library
 Individual Counselling
 Explore the jobs and resources at:
www.msvu.ca/careerplanning