Getting a Summer Job is a ritual for all College students and most High School students but with this extremely bad recession even Middle School and Elementary School students are getting in on the act.
With this very bad recession students more then ever need money and with a summer job you will not only have that money you need, you will also be getting that valuable experience you must have in your future career. Companys are cutting thousands of full time jobs and summer jobs are being cut along with them. There was a time when you could have gotten a summer job putting bumpers on GM cars, but those days are gone forever. This is madding but don't let it get you down, because there are still good summer jobs out there, you are just going to have to work and be a little more savvy to get them. Now there is nothing like applying in January for that summer job in June, but don't think because it's after July Fourth that you can't get one. Many students leave their summer jobs for various reasons and that means a new summer job opening for you!
The first thing you should do to find one of the 2009 summer jobs is check with either your Guidance counselor or career service representative.
Your Guidance Counselor will most likely have a bulletin board in his office with new daily to monthly local job openings. This is the obvious place to look for a summer job, and it is also the best place because not all local jobs are printed in your local newspapers. Some employers just need a student to do some part-time work and they don't want the whole town or city coming in for a job interview, so they only post on school bulletin boards. Remember the school's Guidance Counselor is a professional who is there to help you, so use his or her resources to help you land that 2009 Summer Job.
High School students did you know that even if you have no job experience you could still put down on your first job application that you are or were a Boy Scout or Girl Scout. Employers are impressed with this because it shows team leadership. For Elementary School and Middle School students, if you help around the house you could put that down too, do you help dad with painting? this could impress a painting contractor and do you help mom planting roses? this could impress a landscaping business. Lastly for College students, you most likely have many summer jobs under your belt, so don't forget to update your resume to include all of your previous jobs.
You also want to make sure you apply in person. Although it is more convenient to do it online or through the mail you want people to put a face with the resume and name.
There is a golden rule about jobs that goes "If you always want to be working, always be making contacts" Now you maybe thinking that only applys to people on wallstreet but it could easily apply to your first job. Think of all the stores and fast food restaurants that you go to every week? They know you and they like you because you are a regular customer, and because you always purchase from them they will listen to you. Tell them that you are looking for summer work and are they hiring or do they know another business that is hiring? All businesses have dozens of contacts and chances are they will tell you on the spot the business they know who is hiring. You talked to that business person and you got that job, because you made that contact!
Making contacts and talking to grownups is the key to a summer job, and contacts can come from just about anywhere. When I was a 16 year old girl, I desperately wanted a summer job but I didn't know any grownups who would give me one in the small town we lived in. But one day my 10 year brother had his new friend sleep over in our house and the next day his father came to pick him up. Well I was sitting in our kitchen looking so sad when he walked in and he asked me what was the the matter with me? So I told him I needed a summer job, and he said he was looking for a girl to work in the snack bar in the Miniature Golf Course he owned in the next town. Well, I got my new summer job that day just by talking to a grownup and you will get yours too! (c) 2009 Sandy Kenton Ph.D.
With this very bad recession students more then ever need money and with a summer job you will not only have that money you need, you will also be getting that valuable experience you must have in your future career. Companys are cutting thousands of full time jobs and summer jobs are being cut along with them. There was a time when you could have gotten a summer job putting bumpers on GM cars, but those days are gone forever. This is madding but don't let it get you down, because there are still good summer jobs out there, you are just going to have to work and be a little more savvy to get them. Now there is nothing like applying in January for that summer job in June, but don't think because it's after July Fourth that you can't get one. Many students leave their summer jobs for various reasons and that means a new summer job opening for you!
The first thing you should do to find one of the 2009 summer jobs is check with either your Guidance counselor or career service representative.
Your Guidance Counselor will most likely have a bulletin board in his office with new daily to monthly local job openings. This is the obvious place to look for a summer job, and it is also the best place because not all local jobs are printed in your local newspapers. Some employers just need a student to do some part-time work and they don't want the whole town or city coming in for a job interview, so they only post on school bulletin boards. Remember the school's Guidance Counselor is a professional who is there to help you, so use his or her resources to help you land that 2009 Summer Job.
High School students did you know that even if you have no job experience you could still put down on your first job application that you are or were a Boy Scout or Girl Scout. Employers are impressed with this because it shows team leadership. For Elementary School and Middle School students, if you help around the house you could put that down too, do you help dad with painting? this could impress a painting contractor and do you help mom planting roses? this could impress a landscaping business. Lastly for College students, you most likely have many summer jobs under your belt, so don't forget to update your resume to include all of your previous jobs.
You also want to make sure you apply in person. Although it is more convenient to do it online or through the mail you want people to put a face with the resume and name.
There is a golden rule about jobs that goes "If you always want to be working, always be making contacts" Now you maybe thinking that only applys to people on wallstreet but it could easily apply to your first job. Think of all the stores and fast food restaurants that you go to every week? They know you and they like you because you are a regular customer, and because you always purchase from them they will listen to you. Tell them that you are looking for summer work and are they hiring or do they know another business that is hiring? All businesses have dozens of contacts and chances are they will tell you on the spot the business they know who is hiring. You talked to that business person and you got that job, because you made that contact!
Making contacts and talking to grownups is the key to a summer job, and contacts can come from just about anywhere. When I was a 16 year old girl, I desperately wanted a summer job but I didn't know any grownups who would give me one in the small town we lived in. But one day my 10 year brother had his new friend sleep over in our house and the next day his father came to pick him up. Well I was sitting in our kitchen looking so sad when he walked in and he asked me what was the the matter with me? So I told him I needed a summer job, and he said he was looking for a girl to work in the snack bar in the Miniature Golf Course he owned in the next town. Well, I got my new summer job that day just by talking to a grownup and you will get yours too! (c) 2009 Sandy Kenton Ph.D.
About the Author:
Dr. Kenton was a High School Guidance Counselor for 14 years and worked as Corporate Head Hunter and Student Employment Consultant for three relocation companys. Her articles and excellent Free Report "Getting Student Jobs 101" can be found at: You Will Get Your Summer Job
0 comments:
Post a Comment