Make your Summer Job Work for You

(Continued)

So now you know you have a bit of direction in terms of the kinds of things you should be thinking about when getting started. It is at this point you need to put some of those ideas into practise. You will want to get a head start on your competition so try to get yourself organised early. The summer market for teen job seekers is highly competitive. Anything you can do to give yourself a competitive edge will help you land the summer job of your dreams.

The Competitive edge:

§ You need to figure out what you enjoy, your possible skills and talents and what you can offer potential employers. Also what you want to get out of your summer job experience. This process will help you narrow down your options. You should be able to define what types of jobs you will be going for and in what areas.

§ Be prepared, get started early and really take the time to think about your objectives. Now think about how you are going to achieve them. Goal setting is a good way to record your ideas. Keep it simple when it comes to goal setting, set challenging but realistic goals. Anytime you challenge yourself you grow so don’t be afraid to push yourself. This way you will see what your capable of and you will properly be surprised.

§ Resume – Keep it simple, concise and to the point. Gear your resume towards the job you are going for. Give any relevant experience, this does not have to paid work, it can be volunteering work, community projects, sports achievements. Anything that shows your skills such as teamwork, commitment and versatility. Give references if you have them, these can be written or verbal. If you don’t have a professional reference you could supply a character reference from a teacher, coach, tutor or a mentor in the community. Add a cover letter, this is a brief summation of your resume. It introduces you to the potential employer. It should include who you are, a bit of background information and what your offering potential employees.

§ Networking – Make use of all your contacts, parents, friends, teachers anyone that might be able to give you a lead or help you get a foot in the door. Get your resume out there. Use the vast resources available to you. These may include websites, notice boards, newspapers, recruitment offices or school career advisors. You can also cold call or visit potential employers and ask if you can leave a resume.

§ Interview – Once you have secured an interview there are a few simple things you can do to help your chances. The three Ps are fundamental to mastering the interview process. Presentation, Punctuality and Preparation are the essential ingredients you will need to perfect your interview style. These are covered comprehensively in Mastering the Interview – Teen Jobs.

§ Follow up – Learn from your unsuccessful job applications, ask questions and always try to gain from your experiences.

Now you have some basic tools to help you get underway, the best advice anyone can give you is to make use of the resources available to you. Be persistent, learn from the process and try to make your experience count. You have options, follow these guidelines and make your summer job work for you.

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