Yellowknife (July 11/03) - Every summer, both high school and post-secondary students look for jobs. This year was no different.

Luckily, the Hire A Student office, located on the lower level of the YK Centre, offers assistance.

Since May 7, Morgan Michelin and Rebecca Wong have been helping students locate jobs.

"A lot of university students are looking for government jobs," Wong said.

The government sector was hiring at the beginning of the summer and even before the students got back.

However, right now "the private sector is hiring," she said.

Wong has found that it's usually only university students looking at specific sectors, usually having to do with their field of study.

She's found that high school students veer towards construction or the service industry.

"That's been the trend for the last two summers at least," Wong said. "Generally, people looking for anything (will) get hired the first week they look."

Michelin said that "it ranges. Some people are still looking. It just depends on what you're willing to do."

However, some students are taking a second, part-time job.

Both Michelin and Wong recommend spending some time at the office, where they offer resume tips and teach interview skills.

"Typically students will say 'thanks, you gave us a good heads-up,'" said Michelin.

The office has numerous resources including a job posting board and computers where students can search for work at www.jobbank.gc.ca.

A WCB instructor will come by and teach a Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) class on July 26.

Hire A Student also has the Odd Job Squad, where they line up casual labour jobs that last for one to five days.

These jobs can be anything from shovelling gravel and painting to baby-sitting.

"We're getting the word out," Wong said.

"Instead of hiring a company, it's a way to support students."

As an incentive, the office offers free advertising on their Web site.

"Typically, most skills (students have) are used, if not enhanced," Michelin said.

A few tips all students should follow is to have a cover letter with their best resume and make sure they adhere to a company's dress code.

"Do some homework," Michelin said. "Phone and find out who's staffing the company."

They should also follow up a dropped off letter and talk to somebody.

"Make sure they remember who you are," Michelin said.