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 Schools out soon and guess what? The parental units say you're not going to lie around the house all summer long. That's got you starting to think that finding a summer job wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. You could use the extra money to help pay for college. Even better, you could get some new clothes!
But how do you get started searching for a summer job? It's not like you've got five offers sitting on the kitchen table. If you've got this job thing covered this summer, then great. Otherwise you might want to take a look at some of the job finding tips we're offering - read on.
Benefits of Summer Jobs
Some of you might be thinking that Mom and Dad have enough pocket change to keep you good through the summer. But even if this is true, the benefits of a finding and working a summer job go well beyond the monetary rewards.
Summer jobs are a great learning experience for those that are new to the roles and responsibilities of the workplace. It helps you to realize that others will depend on you to show up at work on time. You might even figure out what kind of work you like to do. Here is a real life example:
"I worked for my Dad one summer, helping to maintain the facilities at his work location. This was not a desk job; it was six days a week outside around the grounds.
I helped build a retaining wall that summer. I shoveled entire truckloads of gravel for days - mountains of gravel greeted me each morning. I was as strong as an ox by the end of the summer, but I made up my mind that I didn't want to do that kind of job forever."
Summer jobs also help you build the interpersonal skills you'll need later in life. You'll learn to deal with your boss. You might even learn how to deal with inpatient customers. At the end of the summer you'll be a little bit smarter, a bit richer and you might even have some work experience that looks good on your resume.
Getting Started Finding a Summer Job
Now that you're convinced that a summer job will help you to build character and will teach you every one of life's lessons, one big question still remains. How to get started finding a summer job? Like most things, you start at the beginning and that means putting a resume together.
Summer Jobs and Resumes
Now it might seem like a waste of time to put together a resume just for a summer job, but the time spent putting one together might just give you the edge when it comes to actually getting a job. We've got a lot of resources here on resume writing. We've even got one that can help with summer jobs - our Resume Writing Guide. We're not going into detail here, this is one of those "just do it" things.
Job Networking
Now that you've got your resume together, you can start to hone your job networking skills. This means talking to your relatives and letting them know you're looking for work this summer. Since you've got a resume together, it's easy to send them a copy so they can shop it around at their company.
Friends, neighbors and relatives are a great network that might be able to open doors for you this summer. Don't forget to talk to your school counselors; they might have a good lead or two to share with you. But just in case, let's look at some other ways of finding that dream job this summer.
Help Wanted Ads
Your local newspaper is another great source of job leads. Some of the best summer jobs can be found right near your home. Check the local newspaper's classified section or help wanted ads. The Sunday edition of you paper usually has a much larger selection of help wanted ads.
In the local newspaper you should find ads for summer camp counselors, retail store jobs and the like. Just be careful about those get rich this summer schemes. These ads usually start to appear in the newspaper and stapled to utility poles starting in May.
If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If you need to satisfy your curiosity, then give them a call. If you don't get paid, then at least you'll have a good story to tell everyone when you get back to school.
Volunteering
If you really don't need the money, then volunteering is a great summer job - especially for those that are 14 or 15 years old. You will very likely gain quality work experience and this type of work really shines on your resume.
You can find volunteer work by calling local state and national parks. Local hospitals often look for volunteers all year round. Your township officials may also be a great source of volunteer work.
At the very least they should be able to direct you to a listing of volunteer activities in your community. There are also national organizations such as Habitat for Humanity that are always looking for a helping hand.
Starting Your Own Company
If you don't think a traditional summer job is right for you, then you might want to consider starting your own company. The ideas for this kind of job are only limited by your imagination and what others are willing to pay for your service.
Examples of summer jobs that are good for those of you that are 14 through 17 include start up companies such as cutting lawns, house painting, making customized t-shirts, car detailing, house sitting, grocery shopping for others, and pet care. For some of these jobs, you might want to consider having a partner or two just to make sure you've got enough resources when business is booming.
Finally, don't be upset if you can't find the right summer job this year. Any job you find will provide you with enough experiences to help improve your resume and your chances of finding an even better job next summer.
About the Author - Finding a Summer Job
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