AMS Hiring Guidelines
How do I apply?Application packages will be available online (www.myams.org/applynow) starting Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008. Download the packages, read the attached job descriptions, decide if the position is for you and fill out the application form. Make sure you fill out the full form and attach a resume, cover, as well as a proposal if needed. Drop off your completed package at the AMS Front Desk by 4pm on the day the applications are due. Late or incomplete applications will NOT be accepted. If you have any questions regarding the application package, a specific position, the AMS Hiring Policy and Procedures, or the hiring process in general feel free to contact the AMS Human Resources Officer, Kristin Boysen (
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or 613 533 2737) or drop by the HR Office located in the AMS offices.
How do I know when my application is due? All the application deadlines can be found on the application form, the hiring calendar on the website or on the Official AMS Hiring Calendar which can be found right outside the AMS Offices. If you have any questions about application deadlines, what is required for a complete package or concerns with the deadline please contact the AMS Human Resources Officer.
Am I eligible to work/volunteer at the AMS? Salaried positions require that you are enrolled in at least 2.0 credits and have paid your full slate of mandatory student activity fees, both in the year that you are applying and the year in which you will be employed. So for this hiring session, you must have paid your fees for this full year and you must pay them next year as well. Due to the large time commitment salaried positions involve, it is recommended that you take a reduced course load during the school year. For a student to be eligible for employment in any wage position, honoraria position or volunteer position they must be enrolled in at least 3.0 Arts & Science equivalent credits and have paid the full slate of mandatory AMS student activity fees. At the discretion of the commissioner, this provision may be waived for committee members only. Part-time students are eligible if they have opted-in to the full AMS student activity fees prior to hiring.
Which Service/Commission is right for me?Each service and commission in the AMS has a different role, and therefore different tasks and unique environments. Check out their websites, visit their services or offices in the JDUC, or meet with manager or commissioners individually to see where you'd like to get involved. Please refer to our Hiring Research chart to find out the contact information and the names of all the people you should be speaking to for each commission and service or come speak the Human Resources Officer, who can point you in the right direction!
Can I apply to more than one position?Yes, you can apply to as many volunteer, staff or salaried positions as you like. However, please remember that we will be receiving a large number of applications, and will schedule everyone who applies an interview – so please let us know if you change your mind after applying.
Can I work/volunteer in more than one place per year?The AMS strives to provide opportunities for involvement to as many students as possible each year. Therefore, you can only hold one paid position at a time, and never be employed at more than one AMS service each year. You may, however, hold more than one volunteer position if you have the time and energy to dedicate to each position. We suggest that you hold no more than two volunteer positions so that there are lots of opportunities for other students to be involved in AMS as well.
Is experience required for salaried positions?Experience is not required for salaried positions, however these positions are a huge time commitment and require maturity, a great understanding of the AMS and the position you are applying for. To help all candidates who apply for salaried level positions (commissioners, directors, officers, and managers) learn about the positions they are applying for, we require them to write a proposal outlining their knowledge of the position.
What is a proposal and what does it look like?A proposal is an outline of your knowledge of the position you are applying for. In order to write a good proposal it is strongly recommended that you speak to as many people as possible. The list of relevant people one should speak to for each position can be found on the Hiring Research chart along with their contact information in the AMS Recruitment Newsletter as well as on the website (www.myams.org/getinvolved) Proposals should include ideas you have for the service/commission and the specific position you are applying for. It should also contain ideas from previous years that you think should be maintained and how you plan on carrying through with all the ideas you’ve proposed. All salaried level positions require a proposal as part of the application package. If you do not include a proposal in your application for a salaried level position you will not be considered. Commissioner, director and officer proposals should be between 15-20 pages in length and all management proposals should be between 10-15 pages in length. Proposals must be printed in black and white and double sided. Any colour, special paper, binding, or additions of any kind will be removed so that all applications can be seen as equal.
Is there really “no experience necessary” for service staff positions?Yes! You can work at the TAPS if you’ve never poured drinks before, and you can work at Common Ground if you don’t know the difference between a Stacked-on-Sesame and an All-Nighter non-fat Chai. When running its services, the AMS wants to provide opportunities for learning and leadership development, so no prior experience is necessary. However, feel free to use the interview to display any relevant skills you have. Most hiring committees will be looking for customer service skills, a positive attitude, a desire to learn, good people skills, the ability to work well in a team, etc. Anything from being a camp counselor to delivering papers to being part of a club to running a marathon can provide chances for you develop the kind of traits we look for, so feel free to use examples when answering interview questions. especially if they are at the management level.
Will I be too busy if I get involved with the AMS?The AMS is run by other students just like you, so we understand how hectic school can be. Service jobs and volunteer positions vary in their time commitment, but all are part-time and student-friendly. Some positions, such as those on AMS Council, or as a Manager of one of the services require a large time commitment and students in these roles are required to take on a reduced course load that year.
Will I get paid? How much?Salaried staff (AMS Council, Service Managers, etc) are paid a yearly salary, while committee chairs, committee members, are all volunteer positions. Service staff members are paid minimum wage. If you have any questions about wages, please contact the Human Resources Officer.
I have never written a cover letter or resume before, what should I say?A cover letter is a chance to give the hiring committee a bit more information about yourself, your experiences, and why you’d make a great member of their team. Be professional, but be yourself! Focus on what makes YOU unique, and what might set you apart from other candidates. For tips & tricks on cover letter or resume writing, check out Career Services’ website (http://careers.queensu.ca/students/resumes.asp).
What will the interview be like?
Interviews will differ depending on the position you are applying for. However you can expect the following. The interview panel will introduce themselves, and they will go over some basic questions at the beginning (confirm the position you are applying for, that you have paid your student fees, etc). Everyone who is interviewed for that position will be asked the same core set of questions, and there will be a chance at the end for you to ask questions if you have any.
Interviews for salaried positions (AMS Council, managers, etc) will be in-depth and usually are scheduled for 45 minutes to allow for discussion and follow-up questions. As in all AMS interviews, all applicants will be asked the same core set of questions, with follow-ups that may vary as needed. The hiring committee varies depending on the positions, you can ask in the HR Office if you have any questions. Interviews for Committee Chairs, Committee Members and Service Staff will be about 10-20 minutes long depending on the position, and will usually be lead by the managers of the services or commissioners of the committee you are applying to. The atmosphere of the interviews is usually pretty laid back (sometimes managers do hundreds of interviews, so they want to enjoy themselves!), but they will still have a professional tone. Wearing business casual is usually a good idea, and always arrive a little bit early and with a positive attitude! The AMS is a no-experience needed organization and because of that we are looking for a particular attitude, rather than a resume full of experience. The interview is meant to be your time to shine and to prove to interview panel that you are a hard-working, positive, open-minded individual who will be dedicated to the position you are applying for.
I have special needs that may require accommodation in my role as a staff member or volunteer. Can the AMS meet these needs?The AMS is committed to employment equity and accessibility. If you require special accommodation during the interview process please let the HRO know so that we can ensure you are comfortable during the interview. If you are hired, the AMS will try to accommodate any special needs brought to its attention. If you have specific concerns, feel free to contact the manager/supervisor of your desired position or the Human Resources Officer.
What other jobs are available for students on campus?
There are many jobs available on campus outside of the AMS. If you are part of the Work Study program, there is a list of available positions on the Career Services website. Career Services also has a part-time job search listing which is available to all students. Popular on-campus employers include
Queen’s University Athletics & Recreation (http://www.goldengaels.com/employment.html),
Campus Security (http://www.queensu.ca/security/index.html),
Queen’s University Food Services (https://housing.queensu.ca/foodservices/employment.asp) and
ITServices (http://www.its.queensu.ca/about/employment.html).
How else can I get involved on campus?There are many other opportunities to get involved! For example, AMS members have formed over 200 clubs that will be accepting new participants this fall. Be sure to check out Clubs Night to find out more. Your faculty societies (ComSoc, EngSoc, ASUS, PHESA, CESA, COMPSA and NSS) will also have many leadership or volunteer opportunities for you to take advantage of.
At any time during the application, interview or hiring process feel free to contact the AMS Human Resources Officer. The AMS exists to provide Undergraduate Queen’s students with valuable opportunities to learn new skills and gain leadership experience and as such we want to make sure that you are confident and clear about our hiring process. So if you ever have any questions regarding any part of the Hiring process or the AMS in general please contact Kristin Boysen, the AMS Human Resources Officer at
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or stop by the AMS offices at any time during the week.
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AMS Hiring & Appointment Policy