5 Useful Tips for a College Student to Land a Summer Job

As a college student, finding a summer job in this economy is quite tricky. In fact, it’s hard for everyone to find a job right now. However, teenagers and young adults are hit the hardest.  Many university students need and want a summer job in order to finance their tuition. If finding a summer job is on your to do list this summer, think about these things in order to land a summer job.

Start as Soon as Possible

You should not be looking for a summer job a few weeks before class lets out. Instead try applying for summer jobs one to two months in advance of your classes ending. There are many places you can look to in order to find a summer job. This includes contacting your past employers. As long as you have been a good employee in the past, getting in touch with your past employers can be very beneficial in finding a summer job. Even if the job that you had is no longer available, many employers will be willing to find a job for you if you proved to be a good worker.

Get Help From Your College

A great place to look in order to obtain a summer job is at your university. Most universities have great job boards that have an extensive list of job postings up for grabs. On top of this, many universities have job openings at the school itself once the summer begins and often offer free room and board to those who have a position over the summer.

Determine What Kind of Job You Want

As a college student you have several options that you should consider. For start, are you interested in an unpaid or paid job opportunity? Although making money is most likely very important to you, finding an unpaid internship can be extremely beneficial to your future. This is because it can be difficult to find a paid job in your area of interest, and idealistically you want to find a job that will give you experience in the area that you are interested in. You may also want to consider creating a job for yourself. Many college students are able to make a substantial amount of money soliciting their skills as a lawn mower, pet sitter or babysitter. By being an enterprising student not only can you make a substantial amount of money, but you could also gain very valuable experience.

Dress the Part

If you land a job interview then it is crucial that you look the part. The formality of your apparel should depend on the type of job interview you have. If you are interviewing for a waitress position or to work at a clothing store then casual but nice apparel is appropriate. However, if you’ve landed a job interview with a professional company then business casual or business professional is more appropriate. If you do not have the appropriate attire then don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help, as people will most likely be more then willing to lend you the proper clothes for an interview.

Do Your Research and Prepare

Before interviewing for a summer job make sure to do your research about the mode of employment you are interviewing for. Knowing its history and policies before hand can be a great way to get ahead of the game and show the interviewer that you came into your interview prepared. Practicing interview questions is also a great way to land the job by ensuring you know what to say for the typical interview questions.

Finances - 16 May, 2014 - No Comments