Hunting for the Perfect Summer Job

School is quickly coming to an end and plans for your summer break quickly come to mind. Some kids get ahead and take summer school, while most of us look for a summer job to help fund the upcoming school year.

Here are a few tips on hunting for that perfect summer job:

Start Early

Summer jobs are limited so start looking as soon as possible. Do not wait till the end of the school year, instead, start looking around March. This allows you two to three months to inquire about upcoming summer jobs, interview, and then process all the necessary documents when you finally get hired. Starting early increases the chances of getting the first job you desire, instead of getting stuck with the least favorable jobs when you apply during the summer.

Networking

Your family is the best place to start when it comes to hunting for a job. They know you inside and out and can help you decide what job fits your personality. They also serve as a great reference, after all who knows you better than your family?

Friends are also a key element when you are looking for a job because they are usually your age and in most cases are similarly as qualified as you. If they already have a job, they can easily refer you at their place of employment because they would know what positions are available and what exactly management is looking for. If they do not have a job, this is a great opportunity to team up and job hunt together. You can both utilize each other’s resources and knowledge to cover more ground and possibly make job hunting more enjoyable.

Online resources

Take advantage of technology and utilize your online tools! There are plenty of sites that help you search for the perfect job, and the best part is you can do all this in the comfort of your home. Here are some online sites to be aware of:

1. www.Linkedin.com – A professional network where you can set up an online profile, store/update your resume, connect with classmates/colleagues, and discover a new job or business opportunities.
2. www.indeed.com – One of the world’s top job searching sites with over a billion job searches per month.
3. www.careerbuilder.com – Chances are if you’ve been in the market for a job since the late 90’s, you would have come across this site at one point in time. You can search for jobs, post resumes, and set up email alerts to alert you when the latest jobs in your field are posted.
4. www.monster.com - Another well-known online site that has been around since the late 90’s. You can post resumes, search for jobs based on hourly/part-time/full-time, and also research tips on finding the right job for you.
5. www.craigslist.org - Craigslist is usually known as that site for selling personal belongings quickly within your city. However, it is also a great resource for quickly searching for those one-of-a-kind jobs that are looking to hire in a short amount of time. There’s nothing fancy or remarkable about this site, it’s basically just a simple listing of jobs in your city.

Applying in Person

As you drive around town, have you ever noticed the signs that say “now hiring”? Well this is one of the oldest forms of applying for a job. Sometimes timing can be a major factor when employers are looking to fill a position. Online applying is easy for the normal person but can be the result of a longer process when it comes to hiring. Applying on the spot when you see that a company is hiring can be beneficial to you and the employer. The employer will get to see you in person, your application can be handed directly to the hiring manager, and more importantly interaction with the manager is always a plus when applying for any job.

Summer job hunting can be a headache for anyone that is in school and trying to search for the perfect job for the summer. Following these simple tips will help you overcome those obstacles and ultimately get you that summer job that you’ve been dreaming of.