University of Alberta students face difficulty finding summer jobs

With the winter semester over and the summer break just starting, students have begun to look for summer jobs to stay busy and earn some money. 

Lately, however, students have said it has been difficult for them to find a summer job, and that they worry about the limited options to develop the necessary skills for their future career. Additionally, students say that with the difficulties of the pandemic, and with increases in tuition expected for the next academic year, seeking employment is even more urgent. 

Tia Marko, a fourth-year french student, said that when COVID-19 happened, it became more challenging to find a job, or even return to her previous employment. 

“I had a job [the summer before] COVID, and when I wanted to work again next summer, it just didn’t really work out,” Marko said. “[A few weeks] before COVID, I had five interviews scheduled and then they all got cancelled.”

Marko shared that before finding a summer job around two months ago, she had been applying for a year and a half. 

“I applied for over 80 jobs last summer,” she said. “It is a tough market out there and I think it is very hard for students to find work because pretty much everyone is looking for entry-level jobs.”

Looking for work a “demoralizing” process, students said 

Marko shared that she felt discouraged after submitting many applications and not hearing back from employers or receiving any feedback. 

“It was a challenge to keep my spirits up and hope for the best,” Marko said. “At the most I received an automated email from places, and I found it a little demoralizing. At the rate I was applying and not hearing back from people, it was more like applying to win the lottery.”

Marko expressed how tiring the process was for her. 

“It took a bit of a mental toll,” she said. “It is so draining and discouraging to see applications go out and [receive] so little responses in return, if none.”

Marko mentioned that as she struggled to find a summer job, she became involved with the community through volunteer opportunities. 

“If someone is struggling to find a job, in the meantime they can try to get involved in volunteer opportunities, stuff you can build up in your resume,” Marko said.

Summer job and career goals often a mismatch, students said

Dave Konrad, a fourth-year human dimensions of environmental management student and the Undergraduate Board of Governors Representative, shared that he has found work this summer in construction. 

“I’ve been coming back every summer for a job I got six years ago,” Konrad said.

He expressed that while entry-level summer jobs are an option to earn some money, he is also on the lookout for paid opportunities to further develop what he has learnt in class. 

“Students can work at [retail and first entry jobs] because it’s true that we are young and still have a lot to learn,” Konrad said. “But it’s hard when there seems to be very few opportunities to find a part-time position during school that utilizes the skills and strengths [we are] actively learning in university.”

Konrad said that most students get more job opportunities as they acquire experience over the years in university. 

“I have friends who are doing internships this summer, but they are in their third or fourth year. ” Konrad said. “I think some students might face challenges during their first years, as they gather experience and qualifications.”

Konrad argued that over time, employers have requested that candidates have more qualifications, increasing the minimum educational level to fill the position. 

“I do not think that the jobs do not exist, but they are hard to get into,” he said. “We are competing with peers who have a mix of experience, maybe someone that the employer would have to do less training with.”

Vinay Medapati, an international student entering his fourth year of computer science, said that he will be working this summer, but finding that opportunity was very challenging. 

“When I tried [to apply] for a job in winter, it was really difficult,” Medapati said. “There were not many options available.”

Medapati said that he is interested in finding a job related to his future career, but that he wasn’t picky when recently looking for work. However, he expressed concern about how not finding a summer job in his field could affect his future job applications. 

“Finding a job that is related to my major is kind of hard, because most of them require two years of experience,” Medapati said. “It’s difficult to get work when you cannot get your foot in the door.” 

Students said summer jobs could help alleviate part of their financial struggles

Marko expressed that the job she took this summer would be helping financially, both for part of her living expenses and to save for her postgraduate education. 

“It is nothing to live off of, but it helps with the day-to-day things and paying some bills,” Marko said. “This summer job is helping me save for my law degree which is fast approaching.” 

Marko pointed out that students reaching the end of their degree are especially financially burdened. 

“When you are approaching the end of your studies, you have [either] a postgraduate degree to pay for or student loans to start paying off. Money pressure adds on,” she said. “With an undergraduate degree you might not necessarily get a job in the field you want to, so you have to [take] additional schooling before you get a job.”

Marko remarked that without the CESB (Canada Emergency Student Benefit) being offered this year, students are at the risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the ongoing nature of the pandemic. 

“It is still very hard to find a job and I think there should be more opportunities and resources out there for students,” she said.

Medapati, who was ineligible for the CESB as an international student, said that what most international students earn in part-time summer jobs does not help substantially with tuition, because of the limited hours international students are allowed to work per week and the high rate of international tuition. 

“The only time international students can save money is during spring and summer, but even when you work many hours over the summer, you [can only] pay a small part of tuition” he said. 

Students shared optimism about a brighter future for summer jobs

Marko said that as COVID restrictions ease and places begin to reopen, she is hopeful it will become less difficult to find work.

“I think finding a job this year has gotten easier as the pandemic situation has improved, but it is still very hard,” she said. “There is still a lot of room for improvement right now, but the situation seems to be getting better”. 

UPDATE: This article was updated on March 26 at 10:05 a.m. to remove one of the interviewees because of safety concerns.