instructor

grader

research assistant

teaching assistant

tutor

University of Manitoba

I work with vulnerable students helping them face academic challenges, organize their time and work on study skills.  I have a background in special needs and literacy. I began work with this department just before the pandemic and was overjoyed because I hoped I could quit my other part time job where the work environment was extremely difficult. I enjoy working with chikdren and adults in education, and I hoped the job would be lower stress than my other job, and be more fulfilling. 
 Firstly, hours come and go too easily, so I wasn'table to leave my other job, presenting me with more time running back and forth on the bus . If you have a student who bails on a meeting-which, given their challenges,  could be quite common- you don't get paid. So you can be scheduled for 20 hours work and only work ten. It's untenable.
However, I worked hard and cultivated relationships wherein the students understood that showing up for appointments is important, bc those appointments and other commitments are for their benefit.
When the university "went remote" I didn't hear from my manager for months. My position-negotiating schedule, dealing with anxious parents, students' increased anxiety and difficulties going through the pandemic- was entirely on my shoulders. When my manager did show up again, he never alluded to his absence and then proceeded to pile more hours on top of me and my colleagues, in violation of university policy of capping hours at 20 a week, rather than hire more help. We got the students through the pandemic at the detriment of my own schoolwork and mental health, and no one has ever said a word about it  let alone suggested a raise or a bonus. No one has asked how we're doing or if we need access to any resources, either for ourselves or our students. They are completely apathetic about students, and take advantage of our need for work. 
In recent months, my manager has just stopped responding to emails. I have better communication with the payroll officer and I don't know why. I just haven't heard from him since January. We are also used inappropriately for the job that we're supposed to be doing. We are not mental health professionals, we are not ESL tutors, we're not supposed to be exam adjudicators (as well as scribes) and we aren't essay editors. And yet, we're asked to do all these things, regardless of if it's the best thing for the student in the long run. When I've raised these questions, I'm told not to worry about it. Given the relationships we build with the students and the absence of any management, it's too easy to say "that's not your job, don't worry about it." To which I reply: that's what I'm saying. It's not my job, but I am presented with these problems every day, and management isn't handling them.
Since we're on casual contracts, I've had no recourse, no ability to ask for a raise and no technical support from the university. I haven't quit this far because I have students who prefer to work with me and rely on me. It seemed like the worst time to ditch students. That said, when we go back to in-person classes, I don't think I'll be putting up with all this and dealing with 2 hours on the buses and no time for a  lunch break for the pleasure of being on campus again for the same amount of money. The university offers relatively high wages, but they are paying themselves a lot of money, also, to do the bare minimum, as far as I can tell. What ends up falling on the shoulders of casual student workers doesn't make it worth it in the long term. 

As a paid research assistant and full time honours student, I would work in the lab (as a research assistant) after class and on weekends. Although it was hectic, the graduate students I worked under were very knowledgeable and I learned a great deal. 

I really enjoyed collaborating with other students on projects, but also enjoyed the responsibility and independence. Once tasks were delegated, I was free to do my own work and ask questions when necessary. The other undergraduate students (co-workers) were wonderful passionate people with a drive to succeed. I really never had any issues with anyone that I worked with in the lab. 

I would say the most difficult part of the job was sometimes too much independence. Without any training I would be tossed into a situation and be expected to figure it out (which can be stressful). However, from such experiences, I learned how resourceful I can be and became a more competent and capable individual because of it. 

Overall, I would say the most enjoyable part of the job ended up being the required growth and responsibility that was given to me. I learned a lot about adapting, problem solving and thinking critically which I consider very valuable lessons. Other than that, it was the people; when you work in an environment in which people respect you and trust you to get things done, you are motivated to do the best you can.

Being a caretaker is mainly lock and unlock the entrance of the building. Then I will sweep the floors and empty the garbage. Before class started, I would set up the classroom. Sometime I also do set up for some events, like gallery opening, exhibition, etc. During the class time, I will clean the washrooms and stairs. Then I will clean up the door and window. 
From my experience, I have learnt another division of school. And I get to know all the staff that work for university is hard-working so that school can keep running. In addition, if you want to do something big, start from small things. 
The management in university is really good. My supervisor is very considering. And he is really good at organizing. Sometimes when we lack of help, because people may take holiday or they are sick. He can always fix the problem and make arrangement easily. 
My co-workers are all very friendly and helping. They are from different culture, so it is more like a big diverse family. 
The hardest part of the job is that I have to wake up really early in the morning, around 4:30am. 
The most enjoyable part of this job is the working environment and atmosphere on campus.

Department of Pediatrics is very disorganized. The administration is the weak link and needs a lot of work. They hire bodies rather than skill sets, and they struggle to retain strong staff due to their biased ways of handling straight forward HR cases. Many should not have passed probation but have, and management insists on doing everything rather than delegate down to their admin team who do nothing all day. Education teams work very hard to give medical students and residents the best learning experience, but are not supported by administration. They ask education to do their job - so they do not educate themselves on the impacts the education teams have on the department as a whole bringing in new potential physicians. Administration is full of problems with staff who do not know their jobs and/or do not perform. In true UofM fashion those are the staff who are still there while others have left and moved on. Faculty members are fabulous to work with, but have also expressed disappointment in administration and the lack of leadership.

A typical day in the dairy barn starts with an 4 AM milking shift followed by regular barn cleaning and animal care. Once all of the regular duties are completed, other duties such as vaccinations, treatments, and repairs are to be completed if there is time before the 3:30 PM milking begins.  
There is never an ordinary day, there are always new challenges to be faced which requires quick problem solving. 
Management at Glenlea provides support and guidance when it is needed.  
Overall workplace culture is enjoyable, the other members of the barn staff are always ready to lend a helping hand when it is needed, and we all share a good laugh from time to time. 
The hardest part of the job is some of the physical demands and extremely long work hours. 
The most enjoyable part of the job is being able to use some of my education in agriculture in the workplace, as well as working with qualified and experience co-workers.

categorized as “student office assistant” means we’re basically nobodies on campus, zero job benefits and unorganized management. Cutting them some slack as this is a brand new COVID position but we have no on-site supervisors 99% of the time and have to figure everything out ourselves, then the supervisor tells us what we should have done. High turnover as it’s an unskilled position with no benefits or job security, we’re given no clue how long the position will even last. No priority given to people who have worked here longer, they keep hiring new people so they can give us less hours/shorter shifts and cut down on overtime pay. I lucked out and got some amazing coworkers but I’ll be quitting as soon as I have a full time position lined up. Also for some reason students are paid less than non-students for the same position and duties??

I worked as a evening shift caretaker and enjoyed most of the work

The areas that need improvement are fixing the absolutely awful communication and the system the management team put together has major flaws but they take the easy way out and blame that issue on us caretakers 

Supervisor seemed nice but didn’t care about obvious workplace bullying that went on, and I don’t think he was really qualified to be a supervisor 

It was somehow heavily disputed whether I worked full time or part time despite working 40 hours per week 

They were too cheap to spend $6 on a vacuum attachment that was needed 

They don’t even provide uniforms and that causes chemicals to get all over your skin and cause major irritation 

Overall thoughts are that you can do much better elsewhere or look at a different job within the UofM




I held different positions in UofM. As better opportunities come, you are more than welcome to change positions or secondments. 

Holiday, days off are AWESOME, no where else can give you 2 weeks off in Christmas and you GET PAID !! on top of your min 3 weeks vacation to start with ;) i know !

Benefits are wonderful, so far, better than public sector as my experience. 

love all the family/personal days off, especially for sick family or kids. and all other entitlement are all listed in their site. 

mat/pat leave is great with 45% top up from 55% EI for like 7 months. 

one thing is, seniority doesn't really matter to them, they don't necessary fav the internal.. external applicants are welcome in lots of units and departments. 

just be ready for a steady to busy environment, don't think you will get a job that is so free yet very best pay. reasonable pay with reasonable-to-high work load. which is already so hard to find

good luck!

	Planting, maintaining, harvesting and   discarding canola and wheat in the greenhouse, growth room and field conditions.
	Experience in applying pesticides, managing insects and fertilizing, crossing designated plants in the greenhouse. 
	Collecting, organizing, recording data and samples, greenhouse maintenance, and cleaning.
	Cleaning the lab, greenhouse and growth rooms, ordering instruments and maintaining lab supplies.
	Inoculation, recording data and evaluation of canola and wheat for diseases.
	Preparation, numbering, randomization of canola seeds for field trials.
	Arranging  plots, labeling, seeding, weeding, harvesting and testing for black leg and Fusarium diseases for canola and wheat. 
	Preparation, autoclaving and pouring of media, inoculation and harvesting for colonies for field trials
	Assisted graduate students do their research activities

- teaching clinical and dental technology for dentistry
- evaluated students cases 
- solve problems with patients cases and showed ways on how to fix them
- had my own office and won 2 awards for outstanding support staff 2 years in a row
-managed cases and paper work and order forms 
-looked after 120 students attending the faculty
-active fire warden

Most enjoyable part of the day is helping students become better dentists, it gives me pride knowing a part of my legacy of what I taught will be passed on to them and also having the satisfaction of graduating dentists knowing they are more confident in their work because of me.

hardest part of my job: nothing, I loved it and worked long hours and didnt care if I got paid or not.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Instructor 90 salaries reported	$6,669 per month
Grader 96 salaries reported	$17.51 per hour
Research assistant 28 salaries reported	$27.30 per hour
Teaching assistant 27 salaries reported	$22.63 per hour
Tutor 76 salaries reported	$23.03 per hour

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