Finding A Summer Job

Pardeep Sanghera
June 17, 2012
Filed under Student Life, Uncategorized

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2aUk_yjVCE/TvNexT3Q8-I/AAAAAAAAMMg/JGoLQz6WN5k/s1600/summerjob.jpg

With the end of the school year just around the corner, students are preparing themselves for a summer full of sleeping in, going out, recovering from the school year, and preparing themselves for the next. But what if that isn’t how you want to spend your summer? If you’re looking forward to a summer to earn some extra cash, you’ll probably be looking for a part time job soon. As most students in high school and post secondary can agree finding your first part time job is the hardest because of lack of experience. This article is here to give you some tips on how to get that first job for the summer.
One of the hardest parts about getting a job is standing out to the employer. You want your resume to not only showcase your skills and any previous
experience (if any), but you want it to be different than the other resumes your employer will be looking through. Imagine that hundreds of other, more qualified, applicants are applying for the same position you want You need your resume to stand out to make the employer stop and take a second look at yours. You can do this by adding a bit of colour to your resume. Since resumes are very formal documents, colour doesn’t mean printing it out onto hot pink sheets, but rather making your name stand out a little bit by making it a dark blue or dark grey to make it pop and bring attention to it. Other things you can add to your resume can include a list of skills. Employers want to see what you’re good at, so make sure it’s included somewhere on your resume. Skills don’t have to be very complex, it can be simple like “able to operate Microsoft Word”, or “able to speak, read and write fluent English and French”, or even something about how you work well independently or in group settings. If you don’t have any prior work experience, a great way to gain some is to volunteer somewhere. Volunteering is a lot easier to get into than finding a job, but you gain just as much experience.
Now that your resume has been touched up, the next step is finding a place to apply to. Don’t just apply to places that offer an employee discount (even though that is a plus), but apply places that you think will fit your personality and goals in life. Most students find it easiest to start small by applying to McDonald’s or other fast food chains to build experience to add onto their resume. If McDonald’s doesn’t appeal to you, check in newspapers or online for places that are hiring. A lot of part time and full time positions tend to open up in the beginning of summer, so it’s best to start applying as soon as you can to get an early bird advantage. When handing out resumes or applying for positions online, don’t be discouraged when you don’t get a phone call or an e-mail for an interview. You have to consider that hundreds of people apply for one position and it’s a difficult task for employers to choose who they want to hire. The easiest way to get a job, however, is to get somebody that you know to recommend you. If you know someone working somewhere that is hiring, ask them to hand in your resume for you and throw in a good word. Chances are that whoever is in charge of hiring will favor you, therefore giving you a head start.
Now that you have your resume and you’ve applied to multiple businesses or organizations, you may be contacted for an interview. Important points to remember for job interviews is to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to what you’ve been asked to show up for. Be sure to bring a copy of your resume and a list of references so your employer has the opportunity to contact others to hear about your worth ethics and if you’re a good candidate for the job. Be polite and dress up to leave a good impression and show that you can be professional.  With these tips for your resume, applying places, and how to handle your interview, you’ll be sure to find employment for the summer in no time.