After being vacant for a brief period, the Student Employment Officer position at the Human Resources Centre is now filled.

Bevan Ledingham of Weyburn and Holly McKenzie of Tribune have been thrown into the fire of the busy summer season finding jobs for students.

The two started June 30 and are getting oriented and making plans for activities over the next few months. They took over after the initial student employment officer left for another job after opening the office in May.

Young people aged 15-30 can go to the student employment office for help finding full-time, part-time or just odd jobs.

A lot of odd jobs will need to be filled, McKenzie said, noting those could range from babysitting to lawn mowing to construction.

Ledingham and McKenzie will be in search of places they can talk to young people about their services and let them know "we are here to help," McKenzie said.

"We are planning on getting into the community" and spreading the word about the office and the services available for young people, McKenzie said.

For example, the office has free Internet access that can be used to conduct job searches, Ledingham pointed out.

Students can also fill out application forms and leave them at the office so they can be contacted if any jobs come up.

The office is starting to get busy, Ledingham said, but the exact number of jobs currently available could not be determined.

They are planning to hold the annual Odd Job Challenge that takes place between Weyburn and Estevan every year, and are considering holding Hire-a-Student Week, possibly the week of July 13-18.

Having two officers instead of one helps ease the work load, Ledingham said, noting "if anything, one can be out doing promotional things" and the other can be focused on work in the office.

Because of the late start, the two have a lot of work ahead of them and are "still trying to put the pieces together," Ledingham said.

McKenzie is a second-year student in the pre-journalism program at the University of Regina.

Ledingham recently received a General Studies Diploma in Lethbridge and will attend the University of Arkansas business program in the fall.