Now that summer is almost at our door, students all across the country will be looking to gain some work experience by seeking out a summer job. Some students will take a summer job to fill the downtime, some do it out of necessity to pay for tuition, and others to put some money aside for other projects such as traveling or buying a car.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been an increasing number of high-school and college students looking for summer jobs in the past few years. In fact, that number rose to over 23 million students in July of last year.
Finding a summer job may be easy for some, but for many it can be a struggle since many employers are weary of hiring students with little to no work experience. How can you, as a student, overcome this obstacle and find a summer job that will be both satisfying and help you reach your goals?
Here are 5 tips to guide you:
Do charity and volunteer work
Finding work may not be an easy task, especially when you have no work experience. A great way to overcome this while also helping your community is to do charity or volunteer work. While you may not earn any money doing so, you will gain valuable work experience that will translate well on your resume. Future employers will most likely find it intriguing that you did volunteer work and it may score you some points during interviews.
There are many organizations such as churches, museums, eco-centers, non-profits, and fundraisers that are always looking for motivated people to help out in their daily tasks in exchange for valuable work experience.
Find a paid summer internship
If you are interested in earning some income during the summer months, a paid internship is a great alternative to charity work. No matter your field of study, chances are there are companies and organizations in your industry that offer paid internship programs.
Your school may even be affiliated with organizations that are looking to hire students for paid internships during the summer months. Let your advisors or professors know that you will be looking for an internship, they should be able to guide you through the process of finding the right one for you. Make sure you initiate the process early if you want to land a paid internship.
An internship is also a win-win for you and your prospective employer as it allows them to assess whether you would be a good fit for a full-time position within their company. Depending on your performance, this may lead to a formal job offer after the internship or after you graduate. If not, at least you’ll have the opportunity to grab a few professional recommendations along the way.
Use a staffing company
With the increase of students seeking employment during the summer, many staffing companies have summer jobs local to most areas. Using a staffing company has many benefits. Staffing companies have relationships with companies that are specifically looking for seasonal workers, but it doesn’t stop there. A staffing company can help you find the perfect job for you according to your skills and proficiencies. Keep in mind that their success is dependent on finding you a job.
Family & friends
Word of mouth is still a great way to find work. Does a relative or friend own a business? Ask around! It is definitely worth letting your friends and family know you are looking for a summer job.
In the event that none of your contacts own a business, they may still be able to put you in contact with someone they know who does, and put in a good word for you. But don’t let them do all the leg work. Show your enthusiasm by reaching out yourself, instead of having Mom or Dad do it for you.
Be available!
This is probably the most important tip on this list. Of course you’ve worked hard all year on your studies, but you have to be ready to start work right away and make yourself available as much as possible. Whether your goal is to earn money this summer, or simply gain work experience, employers and managers need to know when you are available to work.
While more availability on your part won’t necessarily equate with more job opportunities, it certainly won’t hurt.
Summer positions usually get filled pretty quickly. Start your search early, research all your options, and remember that the summer job you get this year may influence the job you will get next summer, so choose wisely. And happy job hunting!
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