My work study experience

a screen-capture of the work-study page on the career learning network Work study positions are posted on the Career Learning Network and are open to most students who meet the minimum course enrolment requirements. These positions are part-time jobs on campus that incorporate learning opportunities for students. Positions for Fall 2018 will be posted on August 8. I decided to apply for positions during the summer of 2017. I landed a spot at the Office of Global Public Health Education and Training. My boss described this position as a student-internship, where the work-study students fulfilled a variety of tasks. My job included, but was not limited to, developing databases, compiling relevant research, and helping to organize the various events held by the office. What it was like I clocked in under 12 hours most weeks and worked around my school schedule. Because of the nature of the work, I did not need to be in the office at any specific time unless there was an event or meeting. I was lucky to have a high level of flexibility in scheduling that allowed me to see projects through from start to finish. I applied for the same position during the school year. Being a work study student was, by far, one of my most valuable experiences at U of T, for both professional and personal development. Pursuing a job that allowed me to apply the skills I learned in school to the ‘real-world’ helped me put my education in perspective and encouraged me to explore the potential for a career in academia. Undoubtedly, a key benefit of my work study was working with people who are both excellent mentors and great leaders. Overall the experience was well worth the time commitment. How I applied I applied to diverse range of positions. Things that I never saw myself doing, and things that were out of the scope of what I thought would be career. I even applied to positions that that I had a low chance of getting. My position became the first legitimate professional work experience on my resume. Logging on to CLN, I scanned through all available options. I applied filters for things that would 100% prevent me from getting the job, like year of study or degree type that would exclude me. I applied early, and I applied to many. I managed to secure a couple of interviews and acceptances, however I chose the position ignited my interest the most. One thing I noticed was that I was getting called in for interviews for applications in which I wrote strong, borderline passionate cover letters. Although my resume was uniform, and probably resembled that of most others applying, my cover letters made my applications stronger. Stay tuned to our social media channels for further information about my work study experience. Feel free to drop your questions in the comments. 

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