What should you do this summer? Well, we’re halfway through so it’s a little late to be asking. But, if you’re asking us, we’re going to say: get a job. A paying job. One that is probably service industry-centered or adjacent.
We can’t stress enough how great of an idea it is to think seriously about working once you’re of age to obtain a working permit in your state of residence. We know it might not sound like the most glamorous thing of all, but we believe that work experience trumps all in terms of what “looks good” to do over the summer for colleges. Why? Because, while a fancy internship might sound and look better *to you* colleges often see right through it and understand the reality, which is that a friend of your family helped you land that internship. A job, on the other hand, say at an ice cream shop, a coffee shop, or a retail business, is a position that most anyone can acquire and requires grit, commitment, and work ethic. It also is an incredible way to humanize yourself in your applications. Sitting at a desk all day might require some work ethic depending on the position, but as anyone who has ever worked in the service industry knows, those sorts of positions are hugely impactful on your spirit and your view of the world.
First, a brief list:
List of ideas for places to work if you’re a high schooler:
Local coffee shop
Local ice cream shop
Book store
Music/record store
Clothing/retail/vintage store
Research (nearby universities sometimes hire high schoolers)
Paid camp counselor (CITs don’t really count, it’s mostly a glorified camper and everyone knows that).
Next, we’ve gathered a few suggested steps for getting your brain cogs whirring on the summer job front:
First, walk your neighborhood for inspiration
You’d be surprised how many shops you never noticed before when you have the work bug in the back of your mind. Think about where you can be helpful and make note of the shops in your area, inclusive of: coffee shops, restaurants, book stores, other assorted small retail establishments, cafes, etc.
Make a list
Literally take a notebook with you and write down the places that look like they could be of interest to you. If you’re comfortable, go in and ask if there’s someone in particular to email if you’re interested in applying for a position. If not, that’s okay. You’ll have to make contact eventually though.
Tailor your resume to the positions you’re interested in
If you’re interested in working in the service industry, you’re going to want to tailor your resume so it highlights any experience you have that’s customer or consumer-facing. Even being a counselor is a valuable experience to list here. Literally any experience interfacing with multiple entities is something good to highlight. This is not an academic experience, so they don’t really care about when you placed first at the state debate championship. But they do care about if you have 9 years of babysitting experience.
Get comfortable with cold-calling, emailing, and walking
Once your resume(s) are formatted and ready to go, start with calling the establishments and asking to whom you should send your resume if you’re interested in applying for a summer position. If they give you an email, sent it on over along with a couple of paragraphs on why you want to work there (this can, and should be, brief). They might not pick up the phone or ask you to come in and fill out an application. Do that.
Getting a job During Coronavirus
We know that current circumstances definitely add a challenge to getting a job. And we empathize with this. But, contact tracers are needed, ice cream shops are still open, and parents truly need babysitters more than ever.
We know this can be a new and foreign process so let us know if you need some help navigating this job search.