Canterbury employers are being urged to get behind students again this summer, by supporting Student Job Search (SJS).

Student Job Search Canterbury Chair and University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) president Richard Neal says he hopes Canterbury businesses will support local students.

“This is basically a cry for help,” said Mr Neal. “Christchurch College, Christchurch Polytechnic, Canterbury and Lincoln University, has finished for the year, and there are hundreds of students out there who are looking for work.”

The number of businesses offering work to students had waned after a strong start, he said. “Apparently, the cold wet weather has stopped employers ringing up and offering jobs to SJS. This is a concern, as there are many students out there still job-hunting.”

Many students failed to find full-time work for the summer, “and so they rely on part-time and casual work to help pay the rent. Many are also trying to earn enough money to pay their fees for next year.”

Mr Neal said many students were not eligible for Government assistance over summer, so work found through SJS was “crucial, and students are always grateful for it”.

Students were able to tackle anything, from bartending to labouring to housecleaning, he said. “There are always queues of students at SJS scanning at the job boards, so it shows they are willing to work.”

Offering summer work “is a good way for the community to get behind students,” he said.

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