Monday, March 14, 2011 === Student/Summer Jobs === Summer jobs can be hard to nail down. When and where do you start looking? Do you look for something relevant to your studies, or grab the first thing that comes to you? Photo by: Andrew Crossett

SAIT students will soon put down their backpacks and books and pick-up tools of the trade for summer employment.
Now is the time to start flooding the job market looking for that “perfect summer job” before someone else gets it.
There are numerous employment agencies and websites out there to help eager student land employment, but a little preparation goes a long way.
Take the old resumé out and give it a quick brush up before sending it off to dozens of potential employers.
Micheal Petras, a professional career advisor and executive recruiter, says there are some common problems that occur when creating the perfect resumé.
Employment gaps, or lengthy stretches of unemployment, can often leave potential employers wondering what you were doing during that period of time.
“Only put on your resumé the years you worked at each job, not the month and the year,” said Petras.
Having a lot of recent job changes or short employment periods reflects poorly. “If these job changes were out of your control, list in brackets beside the company a short explanation,”  said Petras.
You might also consider omitting short-term jobs not related to the kind of employment being sought.
Avoid weak objective statements, said Petras. Your statement should simply be a rehash of the position you’re targeting.
“This makes it easy for those screening your resumé to quickly figure out what job you are targeting or applying for,” said Petras.
Keep pace with that polished resumé, which may just land that elusive job interview, and brush up on interview specific etiquette to avoid a costly faux pas.
Miriam Salpeter is a job search and social media consultant, career coach, and owner of Keppie Careers.
“Interviewing isn’t easy,” she said. “But if you prepare throughout your job hunt to address these inevitable issues you will not be left struggling to answer, why should we hire you?”
To avoid a long drawn out answer, make a list of your qualifications and rehearse your answers, said Salpeter.
Although there’s no dress code on campus and you may be interviewing for an entry level position, professional attire is still a must. You want to show that you care about the opportunity, said Salpeter.
“Studies show interviewees make a defining impression within the first 30 seconds,” said Salpeter. Therefore, eye contact and body language are key elements.
“It’s important to demonstrate what you know about the company,” she said.
This shows a genuine interest in the job as well as provides insight into potential questions for the interviewer.
“If you come up with a thought-provoking question, one that isn’t found on lists of questions to ask, it will help you stand out from the competition,” said Salpeter.
Armed with a fantastic resumé and savvy interview techniques, you may just land your summer dream job after all.