Summer Jobs

Summer may seem a long way off, but effective Summer Jobs search takes a great deal of time and preparation. It is easy to let Summer Jobs hunt fall by the wayside in the midst of academics, activities, campus jobs, friends, and all of the other things that students must worry about.

Summer Jobs search is much like any other kind of job search. It requires awareness of what you really want, an understanding of the available options, and the training in job search strategy and techniques necessary to accomplish your objective.

Types of Summer Jobs:

Seasonal: There are many Summer Jobs positions available at camps, resorts, country clubs, national and state parks, summer arts programs, etc. Because these types of organizations operate seasonally, they depend heavily on summer workers.

Internships: Internships are available in all fields and in all types of organizations. They can be paid or unpaid. An internship is usually a learning experience and is a good way to test a potential career field. It is important to remember that many people apply for intern positions at the large, prestigious companies and that the programs are very competitive. Many small companies would be eager to have an intern either on a volunteer or paid basis.

Temporary: Temporary employees are hired to replace staff people on vacation. Agencies such as Kelly Services can place you in these positions. Working as a temporary employee is usually extremely flexible and allows you to gain a great deal of exposure to a variety of work environments.

Self-Employment: Many students opt to start their own businesses during the summer. There is a great need for reliable people to perform services such as house sifting, lawn care, pet sifting, house painting, etc. This type of employment works well when combined with a volunteer internship. It is also a chance to develop marketable skills through these Summer Jobs.

Moreover, to begin finding Summer Jobs, it is helpful to take a look at yourself and make decisions about what you would really like to do and where you want to do it. Make these decisions a little easier by considering the following questions in almost every Summer Jobs.

• Interest in Summer Jobs: What am I interested in? Should I test my interests in the working world? Do I want to experiment with something different? What kind of experience am I looking for? What type of environment do I want to work in? What can I do to promote my career development?

• Skills: What skills do I have to offer? In what types of jobs can I utilize these skills? Which skills would I like to acquire, improve, or develop? What types of skills are important in specific types of Summer Jobs?

• Location: Where would I prefer to spend the summer? Do I want to live at home or go somewhere new? Where are my contacts? Where is the best place to find Summer Jobs in my field?

• Experience: How much money do I need to earn? Can I do this by working in my field of interest? If not, can I volunteer for Summer Jobs in my field while making money doing something else?

By answering these questions, you will more easily pinpoint some possibilities to investigate to land up in right Summer Jobs. Setting priorities when beginning Summer Jobs search is very important. You will also need to rank your priorities and know in which areas you might be willing to compromise. It is much easier to find Summer Jobs if you have some direction instead of being willing to do "anything, anywhere."