Most summer jobs already taken

It's the time all students have been waiting for, school's out for the summer; so now what?

Students may be considering getting a summer job. Not only is this a good opportunity for students to enter the workforce, but it's a great way to earn some extra money. Who knows, it could give insight into a student's future. Or, if they're like my grandfather, Bill Cumberland, who got a job at his local grocery store at 17 years old and retired from the same spot 47 years later, a summer job could just be where they stay.

Unfortunately, if a student is unemployed now, chances are there won't be many job opportunities this summer. According to Tyler Bell, at Service Canada, the best time to apply for a summer job is in January. This is especially important if the student is in high school. Typically, college and university schooling ends in April, giving those students a two-month advantage over their high school comrades. So, high school students planning to apply after their final exams have been completed will probably lose out on their desired position.

That being said, Bell has some tips for students wishing to get a job.

The first step is to do some networking. Develop a complete and impressive resume by volunteering and getting more references for a potential employer. Get to know people in the workforce, like friends and family; especially those in the field of interest. They may be able to find openings in the future.

When a resume is completed, and students are ready to apply, they should do it in a professional manner.

If an online application is requested, submit it that way. Likewise, if requested to submit an application in person, avoid sending it through e-mail. It's also a good idea to follow up, to ensure that the application was received.

It's also important to understand that the job may not always be fun, but students must remain professional and on-task at all times.

It's the student's responsibility to arrive on time and complete what has been required, otherwise an employer may not have a problem with finding another person to do the job.

Typically, students will be required to work either part time, which consists of anything under 35 hours per week, or full-time, which is about 35-40 hours. Expectations shouldn't be too high when it comes to the salary. Most students will be paid minimum wage.

Of course, there's never a shortage of the traditional lemonade stands, and babysitting or taking care of pets is always an option for employment.

Or, if money is not an issue, relax and use this summer to build a resume. Then when January comes, be prepared to apply. If an application is impressive enough, the workforce could be calling next year.