Friday, April 26, 2019

Skillin' it


Think your student job is unrelated to your career goals? Think again. We're here to help you in your journey of identifying important skills so you can leverage them when applying to jobs in the future. 

There was once a young man who attended school by day and then rushed to scoop ice-cream at Baskin Robbins to earn a living. He studied and worked to live the life he dreamed of. This might be an accurate description of almost every student who’s working that minimum wage job to pay the bills. This ice-cream scooper worked hard to become the first African American president that America had ever seen. Yes, the boy is Barack Obama.
To you who's reading this, you’re not alone in this journey! A positive attitude goes a long way in your career path.



Student jobs can be demanding. Take some time to think about how the skills you’re learning while working at the local Boston Pizza gets you one step closer to your dream job or career.
You gave a complimentary appetizer to an unhappy customer? You’re learning to problem solve and take leadership in a situation that may get out of hand. In such a situation, you’re gaining unparalleled interpersonal skills that will serve as a stepping stone to achieve your career goals.




You’re flipping burgers at McDonalds while your friends have gone for a summer beach day? While hanging out with friends can be fun, you’re learning to prioritize tasks that let you enjoy the off days a tad bit more. A strong work ethic takes you one step closer to your dream job!




The jobs you work at as a student will provide you with many skills that you can carry into your future career. Behind every task you do there is also a skill you have used or developed. Don’t undermine or undervalue the work you do. The fact that you are able to balance a job with school work and other commitments is a huge accomplishment! Communication and teamwork go hand in hand with development and success!

Once in a while, have a THINK DAY - envision yourself 5 years from now and pick something to do that your future self will thank you for! Studies have proven that the skills highlighted in this article are some of the key competencies that companies are looking for in prospective employees. It’s never too late or too early to begin working on your dreams! 

Don’t know where to start? Drop by CareerZone and one of our career assistants will be happy to help you in identifying and articulating your skills! We are open all summer, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm or visit our website careerzone.brocku.ca.