Jobs for Students

But all is not gloomy

Ailing economy takes bite out of student job market

MONTREAL -- Jane Garcia Buhks will be armed with a degree from McGill University soon, but has decided to cut her losses when it comes to seeking a corporate career and instead join, of all things, the Peace Corps.

TOBI COHEN - THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Jane Garcia Buhks, 22, is a soon-to-be McGill commerce grad who decided to join the Peace Corps since the current job market for business students is so weak. (Ryan Remiorz/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Recognizing that the global economic meltdown has reduced the number of available jobs, Buhks, like many business students looking for summer work or long-term employment, was forced to reconsider her options.

"Slowly as the year progressed you started to find on the websites that less and less jobs were posted and slowly as you're sending in applications, instead of even getting a response confirming that they have received your application, you started getting nothing," said Buhks, 22, who will graduate with a bachelor of commerce degree in international management.

2-YEAR COMMITMENT

Buhks, who is from the United States, got the Peace Corps idea from a friend who joined to teach English as a second language overseas.

She soon learned the U.S. agency devoted to world peace was also looking for commerce grads to work with entrepreneurs in Third World countries.

"It's a two-year commitment so I thought it would be excellent to be chosen," said Buhks, who is just part way through the lengthy application process.

Marie-Jose Beaudin, executive director of McGill's faculty of management career centre, said job postings are down 10 to 15% and companies seem to be filling fewer student positions this spring than they have in the past.

Still, many students are responding in creative ways.

While some have sought overseas volunteer opportunities, others have decided to go into business for themselves, she said.

"Entrepreneurship is taking a huge step forward in this economic time," she said, adding it's something the university is encouraging.

"Rather than waiting for THE job in the big corporation, take that time to start something ... Try looking at international internships, go to an NGO... It will look great on a CV. It will be a great experience."

University of Calgary career adviser Lise Stransky agreed that summer job postings in general are down. While the university saw about 500 postings every week at the end of last semester, there are currently just 300 to 400.

But she encourages students not to rely on job boards. Networking, she said, is key to finding work and

students need to be volunteering and joining different professional organizations throughout their academic careers.

But as thousands of high school and post-secondary students embark upon what's become an annual ritual -- the summer job search -- all is not doom and gloom.

The federal public service, a long-time supporter of student employment, expects there will be a 15% increase in the number of job postings this year despite the economic situation.

Spokeswoman Joanne Lalonde said it's risen that much every year for the last four years and she doesn't think things will change. If anything, the student job situation might improve.

In the 2009 budget, Lalonde said the government earmarked $20 million over two years to enhance federal public service student employment.

"So if you take that 15% then you add this new money for $20 million in salaries, this will also increase the number of student opportunities across the country," she said.

FIERCE COMPETITION

That said, competition for the coveted jobs can be fierce.

Last year the government's largest student job program received 58,681 applications for 9,810 positions. Meanwhile, the second largest one received more than 44,000 applications for some 1,700 positions.

Campus recruiting expert Graham Donald of Brainstorm Consulting agreed student jobs are out there but that many employers have cut advertising for positions.

"They may be laying off with one hand and hiring students on the other hand and they don't really want to make a lot of noise about the fact," he said.