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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