5 tips to rock your summer job

School is almost finished and you’re ready to go out and find the perfect summer job. Want to ensure you get the most out of the experience? VIU’s former Lead Student Ambassador, Caitlin Mangiacasale, shares some tips to take your summer job from mediocre to marvellous.

1. Ask questions:The more you learn about your job and different aspects of the company you’re working for, the more opportunities you make for yourself. The job may train you in other areas, allowing you to pick up more hours and experiences, which in turn makes you indispensable and rounds out your resume.

2. Use your campus career centre: VIU’s Centre for Experiential Learning posts jobs for work at community groups and businesses as well as on-campus work-op positions, research positions and other opportunities. The Centre also offers a range of co-operative education programs, and staff can help you revamp your resume and brush up on your interview skills.

3. Offer to do more things: Show your enthusiasm by volunteering to do extra tasks, pick up the slack where needed and try out new things, which leads to gaining new skills you can put on your resume and a stellar reference list. Caitlin says her willingness to take on additional work helped her get the position she has now with VIU’s Recruitment team.

4. Get yourself out there: Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and get to know your co-workers. You never know when a connection in your network could lead to a future job opportunity.

5. Make friends: You’re going to be spending a lot of your day at work, and while you’re there to do a job, making friends makes the time go faster. You’ll also be happier and more productive as well.