At Issue: Education...

Finding that elusive summer job | Non-guaranteed ideas on finding summer employment.

BY BRUCE DAVISON

O.K., LET’S FACE IT- FINDING A SUMMER JOB can be one of the most discouraging and disheartening tasks in the world, especially if you’re trying to find one on P.E.l. It is not, however, impossible, or even as difficult as it seems if you start as early as possible and keep a few things in mind.

This briefarticle does not contain any guaranteed, sure-fire paths to blissful, meaningful summer employment. Instead, | want to go over a few ideas that I thinkarevery important to keep in mind while looking for a summer job and, next week, to de- mystify a few particular employment opportunities. I've spent the past two summers as a student placement officer at the Canada Employment Centre for Students (CEC-S) in Charlottetown; however, the opinions and ideas in this article are my own.

Important things to keep in mind if you’re looking for a summer job:

1) Start looking as early as you possibly can.

Probably the biggest mistake made by people looking

for a summer job is that they start earnestly looking only after school ends. With the economy as bad as it is, looking for summer employment that pays as much as possible and is a source of useful experience should almost be a year-round job. It is not uncommon for a lot of the government- related summer jobs to have application deadlines well before Christmas. Citing an example close to my heart, | have had to apply for the job at the CEC- Sin November. Summer may seem a very long way off during fall or winter, but the earlier you start looking for a job, the better your chances. This is true regardless of the type of job you're looking for, from clerical work to scooping ice cream.

The earlier you let employers know you'd like to work for them, the better they'll remember you when it’s time to hire.

2) You needa resume. I’m not going to go into any great detail about what should be on it or what format to use (drop mea line at the X-Press, on paper at room 06 in the basement of Main, or by e-

mail at “xpress@upei.ca). Instead, here are a few things that are important to keep in mind concerning resumes. First, you need one. A serious job search is extremely difficult (at best) without a resume. Second, put some effort into the appearance and content of your resume. Employers get lots of resumes, and the more effort you put into yours, the more likely it is to make you look different from

. the other people trying for the job. Having a reume

that stands out and looks good really can make a difference. Third, give your resume to every place you’d possibly like to work (again, as early as you possibly can). Fourth, include your references on your resume. Some people will tell you that it’s alright to simply state that they are “available upon request,” but | strongly believe that it’s important to skip the extra step of having an employer ask for them. Finally, never, ever, ever let your resume exceed two pages in length. It’s a cardinal rule. 3) Be persistent. Very few people are lucky enough to get a job after a few tries. We used to

tell clients at the CEC-S that looking for a jol a full-time job in its own right. After you dr« a resume or fill out an application, check in wit employer regularly. Polite persistence is one: best things you can show an employer.

4) Never limit your serious job search t reading the newspaper and going the CEC-S. job openings don’t make it to either one. Tt filled by people coming in off the street and ap, in person. This does not, however, mean tha can afford to neglect reading the jobs ii newspaper or going into the CEC-S and che the jobs posted on theJob Information Centre computers in the Robertson Library, malls, C or main employment centre.

5) Aboveallelse, DON’T GET DISCOURA If you do, you’ve put a further barrier bet yourself and that summer job you need. COMING NEXT ISSUE: Information on sp employment programs that offer experience r to your field of study.

To e-mail or not to e-mail Students complain about abuse of

electronic mail

BY REBECCA MOORE

NOT EVERYONE LOVES THE WONDERS OF electronic mail (e-mail). A number of students have complained to computer services about abuse of computer privileges says Bruce Davison, a student representative on the computeradvisory committee.

Student complaints range from not being able to finda free computer when needed for an important - paper or project, to people e-mailing someone across the room. “There is no question that it is

Thursday to discuss these problems and Bruce Davison is trying to get student feedback on the issue. No one was available comment on the meeting at press time, though Davison is hoping that the committee won’t make any decision until he gives them the opinions that students have communicated to him (he was unable to attend the meeting).

If the committee finds that there truly is a problem, there are some options for dealing with

Student complaints range from not being able to find a free computer when needed for an important paper or project, to people e-mailing someone across the room.

being abused” says Todd Petrie, a fourth year student. Even though he has never hadany problems finding a free computer, he does get peeved when people are using e-mail for unnecessary things. “Half the people are having ongoing conversations with someone else on campus [on the computer] when they could just go and talk to them.” Monica MacKenzie, on the other hand, has almost no problems at all with e-mail use. “Most people don’t stay on for hours ... | don’t mind it so much here [computer room in Main building], but sometimes people get loud over in Robertson”. The computer advisory committee met last

it. Todd Petrie suggested restricting frosh from using e-mail,as was done for the vax system in years past. Other students have said that this is a discriminatory practice and should not be used. There are a number of other ideas: limiting the number of computers that e-mail is available on, similar to Internet; giving a time limit for e-mail use; or eliminating the privilege completely.

ls electronic mail necessary? Petrie feels we could live without it, but does think itis a useful tool. Davison says most students agree that e-mail is useful, and that the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to e-mail use here at UPEI.

Are you:

Canada;

The future isin your hands

¢ Caring, conscientious and self-motivated? ¢ Looking for professional and personal growth?

Consider a career in chiropractic... ¢ the third largest primary contact health care profession in

¢ anatural approach to health care.

The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College is the finest chiropractic college in Canada and offers a four-year programme leading to a Doctor of Chiropractic Diploma.

Interested? Find out more by contacting:

The Registrar

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College 1900 Bayview Avenue

Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3E6 1-800-463-2923

Deadline for applications is December 31, 1994

[_x.press march twenty-second 1994 page 6 |

tien