What I love about my TMU summer job
When I first arrived at Toronto Metropolitan University, I had braced myself for the country’s brutal winters and long snowy weeks. What I hadn’t prepared for was what comes right after those cold days– a bright and sunny summer! During these four glorious months, the city comes to life, and we students get to hit pause on school and use this time to recuperate. Many flock away to home or to foreign cities for vacations, some enter their co-op or internship terms, and others (me included) use this time to work and add experience to our resume.
As an international student going into my second summer of working full-time on campus, I find it interesting to go from my 5 lectures-a-week schedule to 9-to-5 office hours. My role as a student changes during this time and I get to take advantage of the work-study Career Boost (opens in new window) program on campus, with many work opportunities being full-time, i.e. 35 hours a week. Career Boost jobs are designed to help students learn new skills and build a strong network, all while learning to navigate a work environment.
After my first year at TMU, I decided to apply for Career Boost jobs for the summer. After a three-round interview process, I was selected to be the International Orientation Events lead. My role involved creating the framework for events catered specifically for international students. Four months of rigorous planning and promoting culminated in ten events that were attended by hundreds of international students. Through this role, I learned about the university’s inner workings and worked with a great team of people across different faculties. All of us brought unique sets of skills and experiences to the table, making the resulting orientation week an exciting mix of different identities and backgrounds.
The most intimidating aspect of applying for jobs is creating your application. Unsure of how to craft the right cover letter, I attended workshops conducted by the Career & Co-op Centre. I learnt how to be authentic and professional in my application and give the right answers during interviews and group discussions. These workshops also came in handy when I started working, helping me express my ideas during meetings and presentations.
The summer work culture at TMU comes with several benefits. On top of getting paid, you may have the opportunity to carry your role to the fall and/or winter term as a part-time job. Your supervisors, invested in creating a memorable learning experience for you, help you gain relevant experience and enhanced knowledge of your field of study. As a marketing student, I was able to work on social media and create promotional content on different platforms.
Working during the summer can look different for everyone. There are tons of opportunities everywhere, including internships and co-ops. If you don’t have a scheduled work term during the summer and still want to gain experience, you can check out platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. You can also filter your search by choosing the experience level you have, the city you want to work in, and the number of hours you want to work.
This summer, I am working as an International Student Ambassador and helping prospective students make the crucial decision of choosing their university. Through all my time at TMU, I have gained important learnings that I am eager to share with others and hopefully help them choose TMU. This campus has always been a place where I can learn, study, build connections, and enjoy – all the same!
As an international student, it is also important that you enjoy your summer in the city. With the sun setting later in the day, you have plenty of time to step out after work and enjoy the city’s patios, beaches, and parks. All campus services are operational during summer and with there being fewer people in the quad, lining up at Oakham cafe, and occupying the fitness centers at the Recreation Athletic Centre, you get to have the campus all to yourself and enjoy its amenities to the fullest.