Written by Christine Wincetaylo, General Member
As students, finding work that pays well and doesn't require a degree for a job can be challenging.
Being a student offers unique opportunities that non-students would not be able to find, and remember, still apply to jobs you don’t think you have all the requirements for because you have unique knowledge and skills that can differentiate you from other candidates.
Take a look at these different work opportunities and job board websites.
Mitacs
The first opportunity is from Mitacs. They work with international students worldwide and help students who want to do a paid research internship in Canada within a post-secondary program across provinces.
Mentors are an excellent position for students interested in working with international students and supporting students with finding and accessing basic needs within your community.
This type of work is excellent for anyone who wants a flexible schedule to meet new people and learn about new cultures while having fun and showing your community to your visiting students.
https://www.mitacs.ca/careers/
Blue Futures Pathways
They have a range of opportunities for those interested in gaining experience within the environmental sector, such as the expedition pathway program, internship programs, and mentorships. They have a job board that shares job postings for youth ages 18 to 35.
Blue Futures provides opportunities for high schoolers and university students for educational expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, and other places.
https://soifoundation.org/en/jobs/
Federal Student Work Experience Program + Youth - Job Bank
The government of Canada has multiple programs that offer student positions with the federal youth network, including The Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities and The Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity.
The government of Canada has a job bank specifically for youth to find work across Canada, and it is a great way to start your employment search.
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/youth
Riipen
Riipen provides paid short-term projects, usually for 2-8 weeks for 60 hours of work, and you can do five projects within the school year.
The projects can range from working with non-profits across North America providing research for marketing, and more!
These projects are excellent if you are still determining what you want to do with your education or if you want to learn new skills.
At most post-secondaries, there is a code you can get from the Carriers and Experience office or center at your school for Riipen, which will provide more remote projects for you to apply to.
https://www.riipen.com/levelup
Venture For Canada
Venture for Canada is similar to the Riipen Platform, but Venture for Canada has a program called Intrapreneurship, which offers projects for 60 hours over seven weeks. They provide other types of opportunities such as fellowships (12-month program with training, access to roles in start-ups, while networking and mentorships are available), Internships (working in start-ups and getting paid, and training provided by VFC can help for post-graduation opportunities), and fellowship alumni (Opportunities for providing mentorships, volunteering, and other services within the network).
There are a lot more job opportunities for youth that I did not explore because I would need to make a booklet to show all the possibilities. Either way, this is an excellent start if you are looking for permanent or non-permanent work as a student. Money is always a stressful part of being a student, but when you have the resources, it can be more accessible.
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