The Value of a Summer Job

07 Jul The Value of a Summer Job

Why Should I Get a Summer Job? How Do I Find One?

A summer job is an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in an industry you may
want to enter. It offers you the chance to “taste test” a prospective career and build
valuable contacts.

Why Get a Summer Job?

• Gain critical skills like time management, communication, teamwork, and decision-making.
• Build your resume with professional experience that will help you land future jobs and internships.
• Learn how a workplace operates and how leadership is structured.
• Develop your network – those connections will likely help you land a job after graduation.
• See what you like and don’t like about a role or company. A takeaway from a job may be that you want to do something else – that is a valuable insight too.

How Do I Find a Publicly Advertised Job?

• Your school guidance office staff can help you with job search advice. There may be a
  bulletin board with job postings, a notebook with listings, and/or an online job board.
• Consider places where you are curious to learn more about what they do
• Seasonal jobs, like outdoor services and care are often particularly open to hiring teens and young adults.
• Target specific openings listed on companies’ websites.
• Search more broadly on general sites including Indeed, SimplyHired, and ZipRecruiter.

How Do I Find a “Hidden” Job?

• Share your interests with friends, neighbors, relatives, teachers, and other influential people
  who may alert you to openings or refer you to hiring managers.
• Consider jobs in your neighborhood like lawn care or site cleanup. You can
  ask around or put up flyers on local bulletin boards to advertise your services.
• Meet new people at career-related events or job fairs.
• Follow companies on social media to learn about openings.