Though many students look forward to getting a break from school during the summer, those ten weeks aren’t necessarily just for relaxing. In fact, the summer can be a great time to gain experience in your field of interest and to make some money to help pay for expenses during the school year. Because the summer can offer so many great opportunities to further your education outside the classroom, it may seem imperative to land that “perfect” summer job or internship in order to get what you need from your college experience. This may make the prospect of filling the summer with something productive (and maybe even fun) daunting for some, especially when you’re supposed to do so while dealing with the stress of school work.
Well, fear not – below are some tips compiled from various sources for college students who may want great summer jobs but don’t know where to start looking.
1. Visit Career Services. Yes, of course, I had to start with this one – but that’s only because the folks at Career Services can offer you a ton of support while you’re finding, applying to, and carrying out your summer job or internship. Attend sessions of the “Internship 101″ and “Resume and Cover Letter Writing” seminars so you can get the skills you need to begin applying. And, as always, you can make appointments to see Career Advisors or Career Assistants and come in during Drop In Hours whenever you have questions. Check out LUworks for more info.
2. Tap Your Network. They say it’s not what you do but who you know that gets you ahead. Personally, I’d like to think it’s a little bit of both – but there’s no denying that one of the best ways to find job opportunities is by talking with people you know. Start with your family, friends, professors, and contacts in the field you’re interested in. If you’ve already got something in mind, tell them. They may have suggestions and know people you can contact for more information.
3. Offer Your Services. Some organizations are not in a position to be bringing in new people that they’ll have to pay, so they’ll say no to your inquiries about employment right off the bat. However, if you’re really interested in working in a certain setting, you may want to offer your services for free — in other words, try to arrange an unpaid internship. Even if you’re not making the big bucks, you can still learn a lot and gain contacts that may be helpful in the future.
4. Consider a hybrid approach. While one summer dream job would be ideal, it may not be practical in today’s market. Consider weaving together two to three jobs to gain valuable resume-worthy experience and pay your bills. Or, go back to that steady job you held in high school during the day while volunteering with an organization you’re interested in during the evenings.
5. Be your own boss. There’s a good chance you’re more tech savvy than previous generations, so put that talent to good use. See if you can make a few extra bucks doing some online or computer work for family or friends, or show your entrepreneurial spirit by starting a summer gardening, dog-walking or child care service. Word-of-mouth is one of the greatest lead generators so even if you start small, you can grow your business over the course of the summer.
Sources: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/8913.html
http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/college-students-face-summer-job-gap-unconventional-tips-landing-summer-pay-check/
Tags: intern, internships, job hunt, Job Search, summer, tips
