Guest Post: Quebec education summit highlights importance of state subsidy on universities, colleges

The recent pre - higher education summit organized by the Mc Gill Post‐Graduate Students’ Society of
McGill University, the Students’ Society of McGill and the Association for Graduate Students Employed
at McGill, has been a welcome development for students and administration officials seeking for an
avenue to discuss on how universities are being governed and how funding is being managed.

Federation Etudiante Universitaire du Quebec made it possible to push for open debates wherein
students can voice out their positions on matters involving their right to education, and soon enough,
for decent employability. The consultation is a product of the collaboration of campuses across the
province, recognizing the importance of multi-perspective approach to university governance and its
significant role in the society.

Panel discussions during the summit started out as productive. It has shown that contending parties are
willing to listen and consider the validity of various perspectives. And despite disagreements, arguments
were found to be constructive and nuanced.

The summit is but one part of newly elected Premiere Pauline Marois promise to hold conference that
would address higher education concerns following the abolishment of the previous government’s
proposal to increase tuition by $1,778 for the next seven years. Prior to the summit, students were
adamant about Marois’ sincerity on the cancellation of the tuition hike. This anxiety proved to be the
recurring issue in the workshops and discussions during the summit.

Parties on the side of the government argue that access to higher education in Canada is hardly affected
by financial constraints. They rather find socio-cultural and geographical factors contributing to the
reason why young people decide not to enter the university.

Government polemics see it this way—whoever benefits the most from higher education should be
willing to pay for it to get the quality they deserve. Clearly, this means that the government finds the
students as the ones getting the most benefits from university education.

But this is not entirely true. The society as a whole benefits the most from university education. Apart
from research and extension, universities are the training ground for future leaders and nation-builders.
Every employment agency in the country is rooting for the best minds to step out of the four corners of
the classrooms straight to the jungle that is out there.

Through government subsidy, we are assured that this generation’s prime movers find a reason to pay it
forward instead of being too preoccupied paying for student debts. It goes without saying then that the
government has the highest obligation to fund the universities despite tuition fees, partnerships with
the private sector and philanthropy. A society supporting the millennial generation is a society assured
of a better future.

Networking – Your gateway to a good job!

It is said that as a rule of thumb, 70% of the jobs are landed through networking, not through responding to advertisements. You, as a graduate, need to step out of your comfort zone and away from the computer. It is true that job applications these days are sent online, but does it also mean that the person who gets the job just needs to send the application online and then wait for a response? Not necessarily. While many students do that, the intelligent ones set out to make their application count. Networking, therefore, is a practice that you must follow to increase your chances of a job. If you don’t, then there will be someone else pushing for an interview call; while you are busy formatting your CV on the computer.

Start with your ‘Initial Network’

Not many of us are good at networking. But all of us have a small network of our own that we can call the ‘initial network’. This consists of our family, relatives and friends. Keep in touch with your friends so that you know what they are up to and what opportunities they are availing. In addition to that, ask your friends questions like ‘do you know any person who could help me get an internship in this field I am really interested in?’ or ‘do you know anyone who is doing research on a similar topic to mine?’

Meet with the people that matter

People working for big companies always seem busy. They actually are, but that does not mean they don’t have time to meet you. Contact them and tell them you want to meet them for an informational interview. If you are lucky enough and end up meeting that person, make sure you are open to talking about your career goals and objectives. People in such positions have a clear understanding of how students think after graduation. It is possible that the person points out an option for you in the same company, not as a hired employee but just as a helper or internee. An opportunity like this means you have at least stepped into the industry. Money will come later…for now, just consolidate yourself in the industry.

Volunteer

Nearly every university has some good contacts in the industry. And in the industry, events, workshops and training seminars are happening all the time. It is not a bad idea to volunteer towards organizing such events. While the company already has enough staff to organize the event, a letter from your university can help you become a part of the event. At events like these, it is quite easy to get in touch with the high-up’s of the company. Even if you cannot reach the senior staff, just knowing how the company works is in itself a knowledge that will help you a lot in job hunting.

There is a phrase known as ‘the six degrees of separation’. It basically implies that a man is only six people away from knowing everyone. Your first contact is a start that will lead to many more connections. The earlier you start making these connections and creating your own network, the better your chances of landing a good job after graduation.

How to Find a Job in Canada after Studies

"The early bird catches the worm"

The above idiom stands true in case of job search. The better prepared you are for the tough times ahead; more likely you are of being successful through the job hunt.

Focus, but Stay Open-minded

It is really important to stay focused during your job hunt. At the time of graduation, students in Montreal have many opportunities to progress in different paths. Keeping a lot of options open is a good idea but you still have to be focused on your main goal. Don’t let the other doors distract you from the one you really want to go through.

Having said that, an open mind is what you need when taking the final decision. Your first job may not be the job you want to do for the rest of life. It is therefore a good idea to get into the first job you are offered, stay flexible with the contract so that you can leave when you have to and as soon as you get the opportunity for your dream job, grab it with both hands.

Be Patient and Talk to People

Many students get frustrated when the graduation time nears and they still haven’t found a job. This is not at all something to be worried about. There are many people who get their jobs after getting their degrees. Getting a job during the last semester of your studies is a great achievement but in no way a pre-requisite for success. The key is to stay patient. And while you are at it, make sure you are not closing yourself out to the outer world. Stay in touch with people who are already in their professional careers in Montreal. Talk to them about your difficulties, take tips from them and let them know that you are searching for a job in Montreal. In many cases, luck plays a huge role and if you want to be at the right place at the right time, you surely can’t do that by staying in your bedroom!

How to Find a part Time Job in Canada

In Montreal, many people, including moms, teens and students work on part time jobs or on summer jobs to make both ends meet. For students, doing a part time job in Montreal is as important. Even though students are well qualified to get a better full time job In Montreal, the schedule of their studies does not allow them to work on a full time job. Let us examine the few options that students have when looking for a part time job in Montreal.

Job Bank

Student-jobs.ca is a Canadian website that helps students get in touch with employers who have part time work. In your city, there is also the possibility of a Youth Job Bank or a Youth organization that helps students get part time jobs. These people are the best ones to help you since they know a student’s condition and are committed to providing them a job.

Canada Revenue Agency

The Canadian Revenue Agency is another platform that helps student get a part time job. They always have some full time or part time job to offer to the students.

Working in the heritage Sector

Canada is a country that is rich in culture and heritage, and Montreal is a city rich in Culture. The tourism industry is always looking for people who can help them manage the tourists. This means there are potential job openings in places like Museums, Parks, heritage sites and tourist information offices.

Working for the Government

The government of Canada maintains a website for displaying all the government job openings. For Canadian citizens, this is a good way of earning some money during studies in Montreal. However, for students coming from other parts of the world, the situation can be slightly different because of the Visa restrictions imposed by the Canadian government. Even then, it is an area worth exploring.

Others

Apart from all the above options, there is the internet that can help you earn some money. Freelance sites are getting increasingly popular among students. In addition to that, many websites have sprung up that just display part time jobs in Montreal. Using those job search engines, you can easily find out what jobs are available in your city.

Impact of tough financial times on students

The financial crisis that started in 2008 has hit the world quite badly. The companies in Montreal are no different. Every company is fighting hard to stay on the same level and survive through the recession. In such circumstances, it comes as no surprise that students who graduate and look for jobs in Montreal have to face a lot of problems especially regarding their first job.

Companies Downsizing, not Hiring

The biggest problem at the moment is not that students have to work hard to come to the level that companies in Montreal demand of them. The situation is completely different. Many of the companies, instead of hiring new workers, are downsizing. Hence, students have to search hard just to find a job opportunity and once an opportunity arises through an employment agency or newspaper ads, there are so many students vying for it that the competition becomes fierce. On the other hand a lot of the baby boomers soon will retire which makes the demand for employees go up again.

Less part time jobs

Bad financial situation has also affected the small businesses, which in turn means those people who relied on part time jobs to make both ends meet have to look for other options, which aren't many to be honest. As far as students are concerned, part time job in Montreal is something that they rely on for their monthly expenditures. Once that is gone, financial management is a headache for the students. Compared to European countries it shows that Canadian employers are not too enthusiastic about part timers. Only one on six jobs is part time according to Montreal’s statistics.

Loan

In Canada, there are many students who take loan from the bank to manage high tuition fees. With the financial crunch, banks have to be careful who to lend the money to since all the companies want money. The banks also know that students will take a lot of time in returning the loan and they can’t get much out of the students. As far as companies go, the loan amounts to millions of dollars which banks are happier to loan as they will in turn earn more interest. This means students have to look to their parents for paying their tuition fees.