Tri-City youth seeking summer employment should be prepared to put in some effort to get the job they want, says an employment specialist working in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.
Although the youth unemployment rate, at 13%, is about double that for adults, jobs are available for savvy young people who know what they want and are willing to work hard to get it.
"Just keep trying. It's about effort," says Tyler McCauley, program coordinator for Work BC offices that recently opened in Coqitlam and Port Coquitlam in a province-wide overhaul of labour market services.
Although he's new to the Tri-Cities, McCauley said youth job search principles apply everywhere and students should use the summer to research the career they want and gain valuable experience.
For example, jobs in retail are good for developing people skills, he said, while any entry level job is good for researching future careers.
"I see way too many people with a criminology degree and don't want to be a cop and they're scrambling."
GET BUSY, FOCUSED
Youth should consider the summer as an opportunity to find out what they are good and and what they like to do.
But don't dally, he says, with holidays looming, the summer job market is heating up and now is the time to sharpen up that resume and begin making inquiries. There are jobs out there, McCauley says, in manufacturing, retail, landscaping and construction.
"Job search is a skill," said McCauley, it takes persistence and marketing.
His office provides free workshops for people who want to know more about the labour market and how to get a job.
Some other places to look for summer positions are the city and non-profit groups who are looking for youth to provide recreation services for children. The federal government has a searchable job bank for students at www.youth.gc.ca.
Work BC on the top floor of a Shaughnessy Street office building provides a variety of free services for anyone looking for work. There is also bank of computers linked to online job banks. Unemployed people on Employment Insurance 19 years and older can also get access to case managers who will help them with their job search.
To find out more, visit the Work BC Services Centre at 206/208 - 2540 Shaughnessy St.,
Port Coquitlam, and 3030 Lincoln Avenue and 405 North Road in Coquitlam. A Work BC office in Port Moody offers the same services at 130 Brew St, Port Moody, 6th floor. For more information, visit www.workbc.ca
