Student Job Search (SJS) Assists Students With Hardship

Students who apply for hardship grants through the Waikato Students Union (WSU) are now directly being lent a helping hand by Student Job Search. The initiative kicked off at WSU after the union realised students who approached them for financial assistance, could be further assisted by ensuring they had the security of employment during their studies.

Student Job Search stepped in to assist students by providing an SJS clinic where each referred student had a 20-30 minute meeting with the SJS ambassador. Each student is provided with relevant information to their employment needs, but at a minimum they are taught how to register and use the website, and given basic tips for their job hunt.

Jasmine Retief, the SJS brand ambassador who holds the clinics, says every student she has talked to has walked out more confident that they will find a job to assist with their financial situation. “There was one person who was living in the halls and they have to have $300 for rent each week and they’re about $80 short so they need a job to cover that. International students often just want to know how employment in New Zealand works, and how we can help them appeal to employers.”

The SJS clinic runs alongside the WSU advocacy service and is one of three clinics that WSU offers students. Pene Delaney, Services and Relationships Manager for the WSU says they deal with the immediate issue with their hardship client and then refer them to the SJS clinic. “We feel that the SJS clinic and the service SJS provides helps students in the medium to long term find employment, and addresses the issues of financial sustainability.”

Student Job Search is continuing to seek ways to assist students individually that are in a financial crisis and inform them of the employment options in their area. They plan to extend this SJS clinic initiative across the country to target students in all areas.

Student Job Search’s vision is to improve the lives of all New Zealanders by supporting tertiary students to develop the skills and will to drive New Zealand’s economic, political, and social prosperity by helping them to gain skills, work experience, career opportunities and financial freedom. They achieve this by giving students friendly advice, linking them to job opportunities that fit around their study and giving them a competitive advantage over other job seekers.

For more information on Student Job Search, please go to the website at http://www.sjs.co.nz .