by MARELLE REID

Contributer

There is no reason young people shouldn’t be able to find a job if they want one this summer.

The Service Canada Centre for Youth in Abbotsford is open until mid-August to help people ages 15 to 30 find seasonal employment, and with the variety of positions available, even those with few skills or experience can find work.

“Anyone can get a job,” said Mark Wiens, lead youth services officer at the centre.

“For the next couple of weeks we’re expecting it’ll be a lot of high school students because school just got out.”

Wiens said last year more than 500 students came to the SCCY to find work, and so far this year, 178 people have been in.

In June it’s usually students looking for one-to-one assistance with their overall job search, whereas in July most people are simply looking for jobs. An average day will see between 15 and 20 young people stop by the centre, and while some have impressive resumes, others are looking for their first job.

Most job-seekers are successful, and this year is no exception, said Wiens.

Joel Stobbe, 22, finished his first year of architectural studies at BCIT this spring and was hired for a full-time manual labour position with Valley Gravel the day after he dropped by the Abbotsford SCCY. He said the job was exactly what he was looking for and recommends other young people check out the SCCY to bolster their work search.

“Things aren’t going too well with the economy,” he said. “It’s not too easy to find work right now, so this has been great.”

Postings through the SCCY can be found online at www.jobbank.gc.ca, and a “youth/student” job search will turn up summer positions ideal for those going back to school in the fall. Staff update the website on a regular basis, which means all positions are current. Jobs are varied, and as of the first week of July, included positions for mushroom pickers, cashiers, sales associates, manual labourers, and others.

The casual labour program, which involves short-term projects, is especially popular for those looking for temporary work. Jobs typically include one or two days of yard or house work for private homeowners.

“Even while you’re looking for a job you can do this casual labour program and make a bit of money while you’re looking for a more long-term job,” said Wiens.

Though positions through the SCCY are not permanent, many are full-time for the summer, and wages range from minimum to $15 an hour or more.

The SCCY serving Abbotsford and Mission is located at 101-32883 South Fraser Way, across from the Sevenoaks Mall. Free services, including access to Internet, phone and fax are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Staff can help with resumes, cover letters and work search techniques.

“We also offer mock interviews, so if someone has a first interview coming up and they’re a bit nervous and they want some practice then we’d love to help them,” said Wiens.

Call 604-850-7861 or visit servicecanada.gc.ca for more information regarding the Service Canada Centre for Youth.