Kitchener-Waterloo

Lots of summer jobs available in Waterloo region, but students say they're not told about opportunities

It's still winter but summer job hiring is already underway. The cities and townships in Waterloo region have hundreds of opportunities available for people aged 15 and up, but many students who spoke with CBC K-W said they had no idea those jobs were available to them.

Some students say they're ready to work, but they don't know where to start looking

A man wearing a red shirt reading "Lifeguard" on the back stands facing a pool where several people swim.
The cities and townships are looking to hire high school students for various summer jobs, including lifeguarding and to help run summer camps. But many of the students CBC K-W spoke to said they had no idea these opportunities existed. (Rob Kruk/Radio-Canada)

Seeing snow on the ground may make it hard to believe, but employers are already looking ahead to the warmer months.

In Waterloo region, the cities and townships have announced they're looking for young people to fill various seasonal jobs.

The Township of Wilmot said in a press release that student job opportunities are a chance for young people to "lend their enthusiasm and skills to a wide range of meaningful activities, projects, and programs through several available employment opportunities, boosting their professional development while investing in the community and their future."

In a release from the City of Cambridge, Mayor Jan Liggett said they "value and appreciate" summer workers and the jobs "provide valuable work experience and pathways to economic opportunity, while at the same time helping us continue to offer exceptional programs and services to our community."

The City of Kitchener held a job fair last weekend at the Victoria Hills Community Centre targeted specifically to youth. Kerry Schott, a human resources associate with the city, says there are hundreds of positions available to anyone over the age of 15. 

"It's a great place to work. It's great entry-level positions and there are lots of opportunities." Schott said, adding the city is hoping to fill around 300 positions at places like pools, cemeteries and camps.

She said hiring for camps is a really big need because "camps can't run without students, seasonal hires and volunteers."

Person on a ride-on lawnmower
Some summer jobs include being labourers in the parks departments of local municipalities, which can include maintaining playground and trail equipment, watering flowerbeds and mowing the grass. (Shutterstock / ilove)

Fortunately, said Schott, the city has been lucky with filling most positions but she admits it's been more difficult to get people out to job fairs in the past few months.

To create more buzz and help get the word out, Schott says the city did a "great social media push through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram ... because that's what the youth are all on."

She says it worked well and their job fair drew in around 200 students.

The city is also looking for volunteers. Schott says they accept volunteers as young as 12 to help out with different events around the city during the summer.

Willing to work, but where to look?

CBC Kitchener-Waterloo spoke to some students standing outside Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener to find out whether they were thinking ahead to the summer months in terms of work.

Two students stand with their hands in their winter coats
Dawod Kahn (r) is in grade 10 and says he'd be happy to work anywhere this summer. While Zuiber Hamizai (l) also in grade 10 has already secured a job with a restaurant with the hopes to continue working there during the summer. (Josette Lafleur/CBC)

Many students say they are ready to enter the workforce but they're not too sure what kinds of opportunities are out there for them.

Grade 10 student Ahlaam Abdullah says she'd be interested in working a summer camp job or a leadership role type job.

"I've seen some on Indeed but I haven't looked on the city website," she siad.

Abdullah's peers say that's where they've been looking for work as well but had no idea the city hired people their age.

Daxon Froy, a Grade 12 student, says working with the city would be "pretty cool." Right now he's been looking at retailers like Walmart but said something like landscaping sounds like a good option for work.

Zubeir Hamizai, a Grade 10, said he already has a job lined up for summer with a restaurant but thinks the city would have greater reach with youth if they came partnered directly with high schools to "have an assembly ... that way more kids will realize, 'Oh I can get a job.'"

5 students stand in a row smiling
These students from Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener say they're ready to work this summer, but they're not sure where to look. (Josette Lafleur/CBC)

But not every student is looking for work. Some of the young people who spoke with CBC News said they'll be using their free time during the summer to catch up on some much needed rest and relaxation.

For those who are looking for employment opportunities, the City of Kitchener has more job fairs planned for next month and is posting job listings on its website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Josette Lafleur

Web writer

Josette Lafleur is a multimedia journalist, newsreader and associate producer working with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.