Finding Summer Jobs

Finding Summer Jobs



When school lets out for the summer, young people all over the country start looking for work. With so many people in the market, the competition for jobs is keen. Here are some suggestions that should improve your chances.

When to Start

To give yourself the best chance for jobs in private industry, start looking in the late winter or early spring. Large businesses usually have personnel offices that will take your application early. Check back with them regularly on your job prospects.

Often, you can get priority for their summer jobs by working part-time or Saturdays during the school year.

Small firms may not take applications until they are about ready to hire, but checking early will let employers know you are interested and you'll get a better idea of your prospects and the best time to apply.

Be Prepared

A useful exercise to help you plan your job search is to write down what you think you have to offer an employer — any work or volunteer experience, plus what you have learned in or out of school that may be useful on a job.

For example, being good at a craft, working around cars or machines, or helping children or working with people of all ages, ought to be listed.

Ask a teacher or counselor at school about jobs in your area, and how you can put your skills and talents to work. Your school may be able to suggest fields that are right for you.

Keep a written record on hand for job interviews — include your work experiences, names and addresses of previous employers and organizations you've done volunteer work for, and a few personal references. Teachers and adult friends are good reference choices; don't list relatives. Always ask permission first before using anyone as a reference.

Places to Check

Tell everyone you know — friends, relatives, neighborhood employers — that you want summer work, and ask if they know of any openings or will let you know if they learn of any.

Read newspaper want ads. Watch bulletin boards and factory and store windows for help-wanted signs. Check with places that usually hire summer workers — camps, resorts, playgrounds, amusement parks, plant nurseries and farms, and ice cream and soft drink companies.

Another possibility is to "fill in" for a regular employee who is on vacation. Ask at such places as business offices, stores, factories, theaters, hotels, motels and hospitals.

Start early. It may give you priority over other applicants. If your job search isn't successful at first, check back with employers two or three weeks after school is out; there may be vacancies because someone quit or didn't work out.

State government also hires summer workers, with the individual agencies deciding, in most cases, how many and when. Check with the particular agency you're interested in.

There are only a limited number of summer positions available with the federal government. Application deadlines for these positions vary from agency to agency, and applications should be sent directly to the appropriate agency. For federal job listings and further information, write the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at 175 W. Jackson Blvd., Room 519, Chicago, IL 60604.

Job Interviews

Do some advance homework on the company you're interviewing with. Ask the personnel or business office for printed material, consult an employee who works there, or check with your public library. Knowing about the company's history and jobs may help you decide what to say about yourself, and it may give a prospective employer a more favorable impression of you.
Practice interviews with a family member or friend — especially one who has been successful in getting jobs and will tell you frankly how you did in your "trial run."
Take along your work record and names of references.
Dress conservatively — in a dress or dress pants and a blouse, or in trousers and a neat shirt. Do not wear "fad" or flamboyant clothes for most jobs.
Report for your interview on time — and alone.
Answer the employer's questions honestly and briefly. Don't talk about personal matters unless you are asked. Do tell about your qualifications completely — without exaggeration. Your job is to show why the company should hire you instead of another applicant.
If your first interview does not lead to a job offer, don't be discouraged. Few people get the first job they apply for — and often not the second or third, either.
Think about each interview afterwards and decide what you did that made a good impression — and what you might do better. Then try again. (And don't knock yourself for every mistake you may have made in the interview — you'll do better with practice.)
Volunteer Work

If you don't find a job in the summer you still can do something useful with your time — and use the experience to make you a more attractive job applicant in the future.

You can work as a volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, youth center, playground, or in other community services, for example. Helping other people can be personally rewarding, while giving you more experience for a paid job in the future.