How to find a summer job

Find a Summer Job

The process of looking for a summer job or internship can never begin too early. Acquiring a good summer job or internship takes a lot of time, research, and planning. The purpose of this guide is to assist you in getting the summer experience that you really want.

The basic steps towards locating a summer job or internship that you really want are as follows:

Choose a field of work that interests you.

Research the field of work and company/networking & informational interviews

Create a resume and write a cover letter

Prepare for and schedule interviews.

Send a "thank-you" letter following the interview.

Choose a field of work:

If you have no idea what really interests you, you may want to begin by looking through the "Fields of Employment" section of this guide. If many of the jobs in the listings interest you, one way to narrow your focus is to ask yourself the following:
What am I really interested in?
Do I want to use this time for career related experience or just for fun?
Do I want to live at home or near school? Do I want to travel and be independent? How much money do I need to make?
How much time (weeks, hours, days) do I want to work?

Research:

Research is a very important part of this process. Not only will researching a prospective employer provide you with background information on that organization, but it will also help prepare you for an interview. See the Career Services Office (CSO) guide How to Research Employers.

Networking & Informational Interviews are another excellent way to research a company. The Alumni Career Advisory Network is an excellent place to begin, but "contacts" from your family and friends as well. Getting your name out there will help in any job search, and informational interviews provide practice talking with strangers about your career goals

Write a resume and cover letter:

Because cover letters and resumes are an extremely important part of any job search (summer, full-time, part-time or internships), we strongly recommend that you pick up a copy of How to Write a Resume and How to Write a Cover Letter in the CSO. These guides give you detailed, step by step instructions to help you create the best cover letters and resumes possible.

Prepare for and schedule interviews:

Although interviews are not always a requirement for summer employment, they are an excellent way to reiterate your qualifications for the job. Be prepared to explain how your past and present experiences positively relate to the position you are seeking. Effective ways to prepare for an interview include reading How to Interview Successfully and scheduling a practice videotaped interview with a career counselor.

Send a thank-you note:

After an interview, you should send the interviewer a "thank-you" note. Not only is this a nice gesture, but it will also reassure the employer that you are still interested in the position. Most importantly it will reinforce the employer's memory of your interview. You may use the guides on How To Write Thank-you and other Business Letters available in the CSO.

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF GET A SUMMER JOB

Keep an eye on the classified section of a newspaper from the area where you would like to work. You never know what will turn up. Ads for full-time, regular jobs can provide leads for summer possibilities.

Take advantage of any contacts that you may have, including parents, friends, and professors. Don't expect them to get you a job, however they can suggest openings or other contacts. The Trinity Alumni Career Advisory Network and the Trinity Summer Experience Network have listings of students and graduates who would be happy to chat with you about what they are doing, or what they have done. Remember these interviews are for information, not job openings.

If you are interested in finding a job outside of the Greater Hartford area, contact or visit the career service offices of colleges in the area where you would like to work. Many local Chambers of Commerce keep listings of all businesses and services. Directly contact those that interest you.

Think about self employment. If being your own boss appeals to you, consider lawn mowing/landscaping, house painting, child care, catering, or whatever else you can think of.

Consider signing up to work for a temporary agency. It can provide new contacts, great exposure to a variety of work settings and even lead to a full time job.

If you think that there is some type of volunteer work or unpaid internship which you would like to do, but cannot afford to do it on a full-time basis, consider doing it part time and getting another part-time job which provides a salary. (Waiting tables is a good example of this.)

Try smaller companies. Although they often do not publicize openings as much as the larger companies, and they may not pay as well, you will often be given more responsibility sooner and offered the chance to stand out. You can locate some great companies through Career Search on our homepage.

Be creative! Just because you do not see a listing for a specific job within a company does not mean that one does not exist. Take initiative and get in touch with prospective employers.

Do not be afraid to apply for a position for which you may not have all of the exact qualifications listed. If you think there are reasons that you could do that job, let the prospective employer know those reasons, through either a cover letter or personal interview. This will show not only your interest in the position, but it also shows that you can take initiative.

Think success and be persistent (but polite)!

HOW THE CAREER SERVICES OFFICE CAN HELP

Be sure to check the summer/internship notebooks in the CSO library for job listings. New information arrives daily so it is important to stop by the office often. The "ideal" position may be in the next day's mail!

There is a special section with books on summer/internship opportunities, however, do not limit yourself to reading from only this section. There are also summer/internship opportunities found in resources in the other sections, such as government, international, the arts, etc.

Remember to keep an eye on your email for the Summer Job pick of the Day. The information will be available at the front desk in the CSO.

The Internship Office is also a good place to look if you are interested in pursuing an internship for credit. It is also possible to do these internships for no credit.

Make an appointment with one of the career specialist in the CSO. They can give you helpful tips and assist you in using the available resources. Remember, the Career Services Office is not only for seniors.

ACAN listings are available in the CSO to get you in touch with alumni in your area of interest and geographic region.

FIELDS OF EMPLOYMENT

The following list provides examples of industries which hire summer and internship employees. Read through these descriptions of different types of employment and see what sounds interesting.

Camps

The salary at a camp will not be very high because room and board are usually included, and the season generally lasts only eight weeks. If you are interested in any type of career that involves working with children, this could be an ideal experience, especially if you can find another job (perhaps with a temporary agency) for the remainder of the summer. If you have a special skill which you can teach to children (athletics, theater, arts, crafts, etc.) you may have an easier time finding a position.

Construction

Although the pay in construction is high, the work is quite strenuous, and you may be required to join a union. Employment possibilities are often listed in the classified section of the paper. Another way to get information is to write to the State Department of Labor. Before you accept a job in construction make sure that you know exactly what will be expected from you on the job.

Financial Institutions

These jobs are difficult to get because they often pay well and offer great experience. They can include anything from being a bank teller to interning at an investment banking firm. If you are interested in this competitive field, begin doing research and sending out your resumes and cover letters early in the year.

Food Industry

A waiter/waitress is what most people think of when considering the food industry. If you do not wish to be a waiter/waitress think about being a busperson, cook, host/hostess, cashier, bartender, manager, or even a dishwasher. The hours in the food industry are flexible and it is usually not difficult to find a job. Remember, the positions in the better restaurants (with better pay) will fill up early.

Government

There is more to summer government jobs or internships than working in an office. There are many state and local jobs including park and recreation workers, road crews, clerks, or bookkeepers. Apply directly to the Federal Agency with which you are interested in working, or contact your State Employment Office. If you are interested in a Legislative Internship check the internship office or write to the House or Senate Placement Offices for more information. These internships are extremely competitive.

For more information contact:
U.S.  House Of Representatives		Senate Placement Office
Office of Human Resources		Hart Office Building
Rm 263, Cannon House Office Bldg		Room 142
Washington, D.C.  20515-6610		Washington, D.C.  20510
Attn: CAOKEF				202-224-9167
202-226-6731	(job hotline)					
Health Care

This can include anything from working as a lab technician in a hospital, assisting a dietitian, custodial work in a nursing home, or being a receptionist in a doctor's office. These types of opportunities provide a wide range of pay scales and hours. If you are interested in a career in a health related field these are great ways to begin.

Museums & Libraries

Paid positions, other than a stipend, in these fields are difficult to find. Internships are often available, but you should begin your search early in the year as positions fill quickly.

National & State Parks

If you want a job in which you can spend your days outdoors, consider working for a Park. You could be doing anything from working as a seasonal park ranger, working on a conservation project or as a lifeguard. If this field interests you it is possible to get the addresses of specific parks from the Federal and State Departments of the Interior. You should apply directly to the park for which you wish to work. For information on Seasonal Park Ranger positions, call 202-208-5074.

Resort & Recreation

These jobs can include anything in food service as well as chambermaids, lifeguards, ground care crews, entertainers, and tour guides. The "pros" of working in this field are that you will be living with, or near, a lot of other people of your own age group in a tourist town, and room and board may often be included. The "cons" are that if room and board are not included it may be very expensive to live in a tourist town, and many of these jobs pay close to minimum wage. Try to get a position where you are earning tips; you will probably make more money. If you are interested in a job in this field, contact the Chamber of Commerce of a resort town for more information.

Retail

If you have an interest in going into retail after graduation, seriously consider a summer job or internship in the field. If you know that you will want to work over holiday breaks, you can be fairly confident of being hired back for a month or so during the holiday season.

Summer/Community Theater

The positions available in theater range from acting to publicity and everything in between. If you are interested in an acting position you will probably have to audition, so make sure that you begin your search early. There is information on theater internships available in the CSO both in the Summer/Internship section and the Arts section.

FINAL HINTS

Start this process early in the year, some of the best internships and summer jobs have early deadlines such as January 15!

Do not limit yourself to one particular field...explore! This is a rare chance in your life to do this.

At the end of each summer/internship, ask your employer for a written reference and keep it on file. It may come in handy the next time you're looking for a job.

Some Resources in the CSO Library are:

Adventure Careers, Your guide to Exciting Jobs, Uncommon Occupations & Extraordinary Experiences by Alex Hiam & Susan Angle

The Back Door Guide to Short Term Job Adventures by Michael Landes

The 1998 Peterson's Internships Guide

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