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By Shelley Nicholl
Last year, students looking for work in the summer could probably go out in the morning and be hired by the afternoon.
Those days are gone.
“Someone told me that last year he didn’t even need a resume,” said Mike Thompson, resource area coordinator for the YMCA-YWCA Career Contact Centre for Youth. “This year, it’s three or four weeks of working hard trying to find work.”
At the Y, there were almost twice as many young people looking for work during the winter months than in the previous year. Now it’s slightly better — about one-and-a-half times as many — but it’s still not as easy as in 2008 , said Thompson.
“It’s taking longer and more of an effort to find jobs,” said Thompson.
The downturn in the economy is the main culprit. It has made employers more leery about filling the employee roster, especially in the seasonal employment areas. Hospitality employers seem to be waiting until the tourists come and they have a better idea how business goes, rather than the usual practise of hiring in anticipation and having everyone ready and trained for the summer business.
The situation has hit everyone, but for college or university students who only have a few months to earn money for the year, losing time finding work can be a financial blow.
Barry McGillivray from the business administration program at Okanagan College said if students don’t get summer work, it could mean adding $10,000 to their debt load.
For the business students, he noted, employers have a rich resource available.
“Students in their third or fourth year of business have some pretty amazing skills in planning, spreadsheets, accounting and marketing,” he said.
McGillivray also noted that many college students don’t have family or roots in the Okanagan, which can be more expensive for living as well as tougher to get work connections. But this is just a tough year for everyone.
“They start looking for a job to utilize their skills,” said McGillivray. “Now they’re simply looking for a job.”
Employers who are hiring or students looking can contact the college coop department at 250-762-5445 or the Y at 250-717-2561. Other opportunities exist at UBCO, Human Resource Development Canada and other job seeker locations.
