Summer work can be the key to building skills, learning about yourself and making enough money to afford your constantly rising tuition.

Plenty of opportunities exist, whether through standalone postings or broader summer work programs. Cast your net wide and apply for a few to keep your options open.

Remember, a tailored, well-written resumé and cover letter made specifically for the job you are applying for is an excellent strategy to get an interview.

Here are some ways to find a great summer job this year.

 

Canada Summer Jobs

Canada Summer Jobs is providing funding to various employers to hire about 70,000 young workers this summer. Employers will find out whether they are funded in April, so expect postings to begin popping up this spring on jobank.gc.ca.

Applicants must be between 15 and 30 years of age and legally allowed to work in Canada.

Postings are not always clearly marked as part of the Canada Summer Jobs program, so try searching keywords on the government-operated Job Bank website related to the eligibility criteria, such as variations of “15-30” or “summer.”

Previous employers funded by this program in 2017 included Genome Prairie, Sierra Leone Refugee Resettlement, Inc., and about 20 positions at the University of Manitoba.

 

Urban/Hometown Green Team

The Manitoba government funds non-profit organizations and municipal governments to hire youth each summer who are 15 to 29 years old and entitled to work in Canada.

Jobs funded by this program are often outdoors, but not always. Expect to see jobs focusing on conservation, trail enhancement, community beautification and children.

In 2018, there were plenty of positions available at local community centres, churches, camps and sports associations.

Keep an eye on the Urban/Hometown Green Team page on the Manitoba government website for the list of 2019 employers, which should be released soon.

If you are interested in an employer, consider reaching out to them directly to inquire about how to apply for a position at their organization. You might also find the jobs advertised on a local job board.

Ensure any communication with a potential manager is professional and carefully proofread.

 

CareerCONNECT

Online job boards also host plenty of other opportunities for summer employment. CareerCONNECT, which can be found at uofmcareerservices.ca, is a job board maintained by U of M Career Services.

It has a section dedicated to summer jobs. The number of jobs posted fluctuates each day, but as of mid-March there were several summer jobs posted and rising.

Employers specifically post positions on this site with hopes of attracting students.

To access these jobs, you will need to sign up for a CareerCONNECT account as a current U of M student or alumni.

 

Federal and Provincial Government Jobs

If you want a career in government, it is critical you get your foot in the door as soon as you can.

The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) hires students to work in the Canadian government while the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) hires students to work in the Manitoba government.

Both programs require applicants to be full-time students returning to school in the coming year.

Your FSWEP and STEP applications begin with a lengthy personal skills inventory you will have to fill out.

Be generous but honest about your skills. What you check off determines which searches you show up in within the database.

For FSWEP, hiring managers within the government will describe the type of candidate they are looking for to the Public Service Commission, who will then search the database for those skills and send a random selection of candidates to the hiring manager.

Similarly, STEP also searches their database for keywords to create a list of qualified candidates who will receive an interview for each available position.

Remember, many positions are administrative so do not forget to include your computer and Office capabilities.

Both systems allow you to upload a resumé. Since you do not know what specific job you are applying for, do your best to expand on your skills and demonstrate your abilities, keeping in mind the types of positions you are hoping for.

Whenever you are applying for a government job, it is fine to go beyond a two-page resumé if necessary. Their hiring criteria require detail.

 

Young Canada Works

Young Canada Works is a great program for full-time students 30 years old and younger who want a heritage career.

Manitoba currently has 16 postings including a curatorial assistant, cultural and natural history interpreters and programming and marketing assistants.

You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee for this program.

 

Use your network

There is opportunity all around you. Applying for jobs online with a killer resumé and cover letter is just one way to find a job.

Remember to talk to your connections about possible summer opportunities.

By keeping your eyes open and actively engaging with those around you, you will have better luck with your summer job search.