Summer is a time to enhance student resumes

TRACY WOOLCOCK

Students use the resources at the Career Centre to assist in finding summer opportunities.

The clock is winding down as students prepare for the final weeks of classes and await the vacation period.

Rather than reflexively returning to their part-time jobs, however, career counsellors note that such alternatives as volunteerism and study abroad can create long-term benefits.

“While many students need to make money over the summer, it’s a great time to focus on building experience that will help them to test out their career interests and make them more competitive after graduation,” says Susan Thomas, Manager of Career Services at Guelph-Humber.

With a little research, students can discover an array of opportunities.
Volunteering often goes unnoticed because it does not generate income. Yet even though it lacks a salary, it does provide an opportunity to gain experience.

Lisa Gibbs, a second year Law Clerk student at Ryerson University enjoys volunteering at a law office downtown.

“Volunteering at the office has made me realize that this is something I would like to do with my life,” she says.

Thomas says, “Students should use their time to do anything that helps them to learn about what they love to do. There are many great career-related summer jobs out there through both the provincial and federal programs.”

Interning is another prospect that provides students with the chance to see all the possibilities their field has to offer. However, there is more responsiblity and it may also not be paid, depending on the intern position.

Moreover, intern performance is evaluated and employers will take their observations and pass them on to other employers, putting the student’s reputation on the line.

Derryon Williams, a production assistant intern at Rogers Television admits that the work can get hectic.

“It’s a real eye-opener; classes never prepare you enough for the work environment,” Williams says. “I’m happy that I’m doing this now because if I didn’t, I would probably quit the first week of my job.”

Another option for students is studying abroad. This exposes people to new cultures and venues. Students can develop new social skills while interacting with international contacts.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 200,000 students study abroad. It often requires financial assistance for extra expenses such as travel, accommodations and study materials, which can make it a greater commitment.

“Students need to find time to relax and enjoy the break from classes,” says Thomas. “However students should also be devoting time thinking about what their next steps will be. University goes by quickly. Try and make the best out of the resources that are available to you now.”

Tags: Employment, Jobs, students, Study-abroad, Summer, volunteer