By Anmolpreet Singh [1]
BELLEVILLE – Many international students at Loyalist College are having a hard time finding jobs. The rule that limits them to working only 20 hours a week is a big part of the problem according to student.
Three students, Parminder Singh, Sukhmanpreet Singh and Gagandeep Kaur recently shared their experiences, with QNet News about looking for work.
All three students are from India and are studying different programs at Loyalist. They explained that the 20-hour work limit reduces their chances of finding jobs because employers prefer workers who can offer more time and flexibility.
Parminder Singh: From Agriculture to Job Hunting
Mr: Parinder Singh shared his experience how hard it is to get a job.
Parminder Singh, who has a background in agriculture, has struggled to find a job. He uses Indeed and other online tools, but he also hands out resumes in person to local shops and agencies. However, he has found that most employers want someone who can work more hours.
“Even when you go in person, they want workers with more flexibility,” Singh said.
He shared that it’s frustrating because employers often hesitate to hire international students due to the 20-hour limit.
“Even in person, they want workers who can be more flexible,” Singh said. “It’s frustrating because many jobs need food industry experience, which I don’t have.”
Not having local experience makes it hard for him to get hired, he says.
Gagandeep Kaur: From medical student to General Arts and Science
Gagandeep Kaur used to study medicine in India, but now she is in the General Arts and Science program at Loyalist College. She has applied for jobs using websites like Indeed and has attended college job fairs, but she hasn’t been able to find a job yet.
“Employers want people who can work more hours,” Kaur said. “Because I can only work 20 hours a week, it’s hard for me to compete.”
She also said that many employers don’t want to hire international students because of the work-hour restrictions.
She also mentioned that many employers don’t want to hire international students because of this limit. Without local work experience, it’s even tougher for her.
Sukhmanpreet Singh: Biotechnology Student’s Career Focus
Sukhmanpreet Singh shares his experience about findings jobs.
Sukhmanpreet Singh, studying Biotechnology, has a different view. He is focused on finding a job that will help him in his future career. But he said it’s hard to find such opportunities when international students are limited in how many hours they can work.
“I want a job that helps with my career, but the 20-hour rule makes that difficult,” he said.
“Plus, many jobs require experience that I don’t have from my home country,” he added.
The students advised others to stay persistent and keep trying, despite the difficulties. They continue to manage their studies and job searches, hoping for better opportunities in the future.