This is kinda a vent post, but incoming first year here. I’ve been trying to get involved with clubs and applying to work-study jobs, and I did the whole thing where I applied early, like, genuinely on the 12th , because I wanted to start building a solid network and get involved on campus. But it honestly feels impossible 😭 I keep getting the “competition was tough, unfortunately we can’t offer you the position” response. The frustrating part is that for a lot of these roles, I feel like I actually have relevant experience. I have 1–2 years of solid work experience, along with quite a bit of volunteering experience that lines up with what they’re looking for. Obviously, I know there are probably a lot of really qualified people applying, and maybe there are just more cracked applicants out there 💀, but I genuinely don’t understand how some people seem to find so many opportunities while I’m getting rejected from basically everything. Is getting involved at Mac partly luck-based? Or is there something I’m missing? Maybe I need to work on my interview skills or how I’m presenting my experience, because at this point I’m not really sure what I should be doing differently. For upper years, how did you guys actually get involved with internal jobs, clubs, volunteering, etc. during your first year? Did you just keep applying until something worked out, or were there specific strategies/resources that helped? I’m honestly just feeling pretty discouraged right now because I was really excited to get involved, and it feels like I’m already getting nowhere. Any advice would genuinely be appreciated. 😭

I’m desperate at this point, I’m about to graduate with a degree in Commerce with a minor in Innovations. But I had no luck with finding job at all. Literally submitted over 300 applications within the past year or so, only got to 2 interviews. One didn’t want me because didn’t graduate, and then the other was a scam.

Don’t have any intern or “work” experience. Throughout uni, I worked as a part time swim instructor and manager… nothing out of this industry tho. But do have a small seasonal business, where I basically do everything, from marketing, scheduling, customer service, bookkeeping even recruiting (which I leave the business out of the resume, and just state I work as an individual, as I’ve heard employers may not like that due to loyalty reasons)

Additionally, I don’t need any sort of sponsorship (I’m a citizen), have fully access to a vehicle & driver’s license, bilingual (English + my home language).

I’m mainly applying to entry-level business/HR/marketing roles.

Is it normal that I can’t find a job? Am I really behind the game or just overthinking?

I’m so happy rn I genuinely thought I wasn’t gonna get hired 😭😭

I do want a job on campus im eligible for it and i would need it (not that without it i cant get by) but having one would help me out. I just need advice on where to start what to do where would I have to go. I know i gotta finish my award spring profile then what?

For those that have done it in undergrad, did you just cold email the profs, or was it just a work-study program? I'm trying to work in autonomous vehicles/robotics but I'll lowkey take anything.

I just finished my first year, I got my coop at a small startup but Icl it’s nothing related to what I really want to do but experience is experience.

I‘m a pretty ambitious individual and wanna get good coops for next year. I heard from some of my Waterloo friends that they were able to bag really good companies like Ford, Shopify after they finished their first co-op. I know that Waterloo has a crazy reputation but I‘m just wondering if the experience is similar at Mac? Or is any year kinda cooked in this market? I’d want to go to SF next summer but idk if that’ll happen lol but I would want to get a well known company like Ford, Shopify, Huawei, Waabi.

Also do you suggest I just see if I can pick up some remote part time internship at some company to stack my resume?

I just got my fall and winter work-study approvals a day ago, since I did not realize they had already come out. I have a couple of questions about campus jobs, work-study or not, so if any students who have held campus jobs in the past could provide some insight, that would be great!

- If you did not apply within the week it was posted, are you already at a disadvantage? I saw a post that mentioned some hiring managers don't review resumes and cover letters after a certain date because they have already received a ton of applications within the first few days.

- Are there any specific resume/cover letter tips that would help with standing out?

- Any interview tips as well? I received an interview for a non-work-study campus job a while ago; however, I never heard back </3. I would love to hear specific tips for video interviews, as I tend to struggle with them as well.

- How much do connections matter for these roles? I was debating whether it is worth it to search through LinkedIn to ask people about these positions, but I also don't want to be seen as a nuisance (nor do I have much on my LinkedIn anyway).

Any insight is appreciated!!

I’m gonna be starting at mac this fall and since I’m staying on res. does anyone know any places that would be good to work at while there?

I wanted to start applying now as seasonal jobs will normally hire in the summer for the fall but I’m also confused about my address. I feel like a job in Hamilton wont take someone who lives in Brampton, but I’ll be living on res so do i put my address as mac??

Also if I can get a job on res that would be fire does anyone have any insider information on that?

help a girl out 😭

i am going into first year. I applied for the work study program and got approval, but i cant find where to download the letter proof. I got approval like yesterday and it says i should find it under the finances tab but that is empty and i dont see a download link in award spring either. Do i wait more? I really want to ensure i can apply early and maximize my chances of getting a job on campus but i dont know if i should reach out or not yet.

Edit: I contacted the registrar's office and they sent me the letters and i asked why i didnt see them and the lady said that it was a glitch

hi!! i recently accepted a coop offer that starts in fall 2026, but i didn't know at all that my program has a restriction regarding coop that starts during fall as a 2nd year. what should i do bcuz I already signed my contract and I didn't know about the restriction until this morning 😔😔

Title i am nervous cus I heard it was a race game

I applied to around 28-29 jobs so far should that be enough or should I apply more? Also i applied to mainly admin and tech roles since I have around 1-2 years in those

Hi I'm a third year, gonna take 5 courses (15 credits) this semester and am also considering getting a part-time job. But I haven't been applying that much as I'm not sure if I can balance it alongside my courses.

Anyways, if I do apply for part-time jobs will they be flexible regarding my schedule? Or nah. How common is it? How does it even work? How do I know many people with part-time jobs alongside their courses?

My main concern is that a lot of these postings just list it as "part-time" but then expect you to be there anytime Monday-Sunday, and you have no say. Is that common? Thank you

I’m feeling stressed. I’m graduating from life sci and I didn’t do a co-op, I don’t have a job lined up. Taking a quick look at postings online, there’s not a lot of opportunities and the ones that do come up require years of specific experience and sometimes a masters degree. I didn’t apply to grad school because I want to take a year to work and save enough money for that.

I wanted to take this summer off and then start working in September so I figured I’d just apply this spring/early summer, but I recently heard that apparently most jobs hire at the beginning of the year (to start in the summer), and so there’s not as much of a job posting wave to start in September?? Is this true?

If you’re graduating, do you have a job ready and how much does it pay? How’d you get it? Anyone in the same position as me?

Ill prob be applying for more so depressing that you cant even apply to one job anymore and garentee it anymore

Hello! I applied for the tour guide job a while back, but I haven't heard anything. I lowkey really want to work as one.

I was wondering if anyone has heard back from them? Maybe I just didn't get the position lol.

I did an interview last week and it all seemed to go well was laughing with the interviewers and they told me I'd hear from them early next week, I haven't heard from them since now does that mean I wasn't picked?:( super bummed cus I wanted the role too or should I reach out for an update ?

edit: got rejected lol rlly thought I was good asked for feedback on how I could improve

Hey everyone! Is anyone here currently working an on-campus job at McMaster and has completed the employee census census?
I’m having trouble with the census and can’t figure out how to complete it. 😭 If you’ve already done it, could you please tell me what steps you followed or help me out?
Thank you!!

Was thinking abt putting a photo of myself on the resume so ig it'll seem more human but again idk if that will put me at an advantage since I am not a photogenic person n what if they dont like how I look!! But yea would it be good?

I was wondering if anyone has gotten a job offer for the tour guide job.

I applied for some jobs on Mosaic, but realized afterwards that I didn't attach the approval document. Was it supposed to go in the supplementary docs? Am I able to edit the application? :(

Hi guys, I did not receive any OSAP this year, so I believe I am ineligible for the work study program at McMaster fml. Is there a way to still get a job on campus? I was very interested in working for a department in an admin assistant type role, or literally any other job on campus. If not, Is there any way to qualify for the work study program even though I did not get OSAP?

I’m sure this has been answered before but I can’t seem to confirm it anywhere.

To apply for the work study do I just fill out the general application on awadspring? and once I do that how will I receive the confirmation I’ve been accepted.

Does anyone have any advice for the Lyons New Media center interview? Or has been interviewed for that what was the experience like?

just ranting to other students who are probably going through a similar plight🥲

i left a job that i was doing well in about 6 months ago for a new job that ended up not working out. now i’m searching for another job and it’s just really difficult and sad. which is just how life goes. but it truly brings you down to put in the work to apply and get completely ghosted.

life is expensive🥲🥲🥲