Start your summer job or internship search in the fall - some opportunities have November or December deadlines and all require

Research, Networking and Strategizing!

Finding a summer job requires many of the same strategies as locating an entry-level position. The techniques you learn now will be valuable when you begin a job search in your Senior year.

There are some initial questions to ask yourself in order to determine your priorities:

·         Interests: What are you interested in? Do you want to gain experience in a specific field? Do you want to try something totally new? Where do you want to be geographically--home or away?

·         Skills: What skills do you possess that could help you get a particular job? Which do you most want to use? Are there certain skills you want to acquire, or others that you wish to improve?

·         Needs: What financial constraints, if any, do you have? Can you volunteer, or is there a monetary quantity you must earn? Is it financially feasible for you to live away from home, if that is what you desire? Do your future plans require that you obtain certain skills/knowledge before you graduate?  

Trinity Recruiting and the Liberal Arts Recruiting Network

These are two extensive databases available in one place through Career Services. All the “Summer Job Pick of the Day” emails that you receive are in Trinity Recruiting, along with over 12,000 other summer jobs in a variety of career fields and geographic areas. Through Trinity Recruiting, you will be able to search through paid and unpaid internships for almost anywhere and at anytime of the year, students can even search for opportunities available during winter break! Once you have located a position in which you are interested, you may use the following techniques in applying for and obtaining the position.

The Trinity Urban Leadership Program (TULP)

TULP is a highly selective 10 week summer program offered through Trinity College which provides first and second year students:

• Professional work training and skills
• An 8 Week internship in the Greater Hartford Area for a non-profit or for-profit organization
• Social, cultural, and educational activities
• Community service and field experience activities
• Housing on campus
• $3,500 stipend for working in a non-profit organization.  If you choose to work at a
  for-profit organization, you will receive housing on campus through the program and your employer will fund and determine your salary.

Other Web Resources

Click here to browse some other helpful summer job sites.

Research 

Research is essential to provide you with background information on the organization and to prepare you for an interview.  See CSO guide on Researching Employers.  Review the CSO Networking & Informational Interviews guide as another excellent resource in researching a company. 

Cover Letters and Resumes

Because cover letters and resumes are an extremely important part of any job search (summer, full-time, part-time or internships), we strongly recommend you pick up the Write a Resume and Write a Cover Letter guide or download from our website.  Prepare for and schedule interviews.

Interviewing

Although interviews are not always a requirement for summer employment, they are an excellent way to reiterate your qualifications for the job.  Telephone interviews are sometimes arranged instead of a face-to-face interview.  Be prepared to explain how your past and present experiences positively relate to the position you are seeking.  One effective way to prepare for the interview is to sign up for a practice interview through Career Services.  Do not forget to send a thank-you letter when you're done! See the CSO Thank you and other Business Letter Guide.