With final exams around the corner and summer on the way, you may be
thinking about what you will be doing once classes are over and you have
plenty of time on your hands. Most students don’t have the luxury of
traveling or relaxing by the pool for the summer, so it’s imperative
that they find something where they can make some money and/or gain
experience working in the real world.
Depending on where you live
or where you will be during the summer, there are many employers that
seek students to fill their summer jobs. Whether it be seasonal employment
or filling in for regular employees who are on vacation, summer jobs
can provide students with a chance to take their skills out of a school
environment and apply them to the workplace.
Here are some simple facts to remember:
1. There are three ways to look for summer jobs.
2. If you don’t live in a big city, prospecting is the best way to find a job.
3. Be proactive in your search and you will land a summer job.
Local Resort Type Jobs:
For students living
close to a resort town, there are a wealth of opportunities for summer
jobs available. For example, I live in a small community in Queensbury,
NY, which just happens to be 10 minutes from Lake George to the north
and 20 minutes from Saratoga Springs to the south. In these two resort
communities, they are continually looking for students to fill their
summer jobs. In this article I am going to talk a little bit about the
summer jobs that are available in this area so that you can brainstorm
similar jobs that may be available in your area.
For example,
students interested in the Lake George area may choose to work at Six
Flags Amusement Park where many different types of jobs are available.
For students who love the water, you may decide to work for one of the
local companies such as the Lake George Steamboat Company or Shoreline Cruises or perhaps get a job working as an aquatics instructor, or lifeguard at one of the summer camps for children in the area.
For Those Seeking Employment Working in the Out of Doors:
In
addition, if you enjoy the out of doors you may want to look into jobs
such as being a rafting guide, summer camp counselor, aquatics
instructor, lifeguard, or may work for a local national park. You may
want to check out Cool Works
to find seasonal jobs available in your area. The hospitality industry
continually seeks summer employees to help keep up with the constant
influx of tourists that visit the area between May and October. Retail
is another area where many jobs come available for the summer.
For
a small village that only has a pizza and coffee shop open during the
winter months, once summer hits, employers need people in order to keep
their businesses running. Or, if you have the entrepreneurial spirit,
you may even decide to open your own landscaping business and learn many
valuable lessons on how to become successful in the business world.
Do You Want to Make a Difference?
Perhaps you are interested in making a difference by helping people in need, then you may look into volunteering at an organization something like the Double H Ranch
in Lake Luzerne, NY. Double H is a camp for children with life
threatening illnesses founded by Charles R. Wood (founder of Storytown
USA which much later turned into the local Six Flags) and Paul Newman.
There are many organizations that continually seek volunteers and they
rarely turn people down who want to help. Idealist.org is a great place
to find volunteer and internship opportunities listed on the web.
For Students Interested in Environmental Science:
Students
interested in environmental science may enjoy working at a local farm
helping farmers weed, water, and maintain their summer crops. Local
farmer’s market can often give students an opportunity to work on the
business end by marketing and advertising the local market to the
community and by creating articles and glitzy ad campaign to include in
local publications in the area.
Jobs for Animal Lovers:
For
those that enjoy animals, you may have a local horse riding stable in
your area or even a zoo where you will get a chance to work with many
different kinds of animals. Going 20 minutes south of where I live is
the Saratoga Raceway that provides employment opportunities as well as a
chance to volunteer and work with the backstretch workers on teaching
English and providing wellness and advocacy programs to help them live a
better life. Working for a veterinarian, pet shop, or an animal shelter
is another way to get a chance to help pet owners care for their pets
while gaining knowledge and getting exposure to career fields that are
focused on our four legged friends. Mary Hope Kramer, Animal Careers
Expert, lists many opportunities, including animal behavior internships, on her own Animal Careers About.com site.
Jobs in Sports:
For those interested in sports,
you may decide to work for a local sports team and do ticket sales,
concessions, or selling souvenirs to fans coming to the games. Sport Teams
also look for individuals that may assist with the advertising and
marketing of the team through local publications or by using social
media to promote the team and let people know about its upcoming
schedule.
Brainstorming is Key:
As
you can see, with just a little bit of brainstorming and researching
employers in your area, you will find many summer opportunities
available. Be sure to check out local hospitals, libraries, newspapers,
museums, marketing firms, or any other types of organizations where
summer opportunities may be available. You may begin by looking in your
local newspaper or Chamber of Commerce to identify local companies and then begin by calling them to ask if they ever hire students to fill in for the summer.
By Penny Loretto
Internships Expert
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