With the advent of summer, college students start thinking beyond their finals and their impending college degree programs and concentrating on another right of the season. No, it's not going home to catch up on laundry or having a home cooked meal. They are thinking about a summer job.
True, one goal is getting a little extra coin for the academic year to come. At the same time, there isn't a college student out there who isn't thinking beyond purely financial reasons. They are thinking about finding gainful employment where they can get direct work experience and even internship credits. With the current economy that isn't as easy as it used to be. It's still obtainable, if one comes up with the right game plan and puts it into place.
The first step in this program is to assemble a presentable resume. True, before going to college your work experience might have been working for the corner grocery store or fast food place, but that still shows you are a hard worker. Also make mention of your college, grade point average, and any commendations and referrals you have. Make it look like bringing you on board makes you a worthy summer or part-time employee.
The next step is to get in touch with your personal college advisor. Make sure they review your resume and make any corrections they suggest. Also, career advisors often have a list of companies that offer work-study programs, so take advantage of those.
You should also show your own initiative. If you are studying accounting, grab the Yellow Pages or go online, and make a list of companies you'd like to work for. Send the resume, wait a couple days, and then follow it up with a phone call. See if you can get something more than working the mail room or filing. Believe it or not, recruiters respect a person who displays ambition.
If you do get an interview, be clear about your plans and how working with the company will benefit the company, too. If it's a company that's not on your college's list, ask your counselor if something can be worked out. If not, but the offer is just too good to refuse, take it and add it to the resume. Do well and you have an in with the company when you graduate or at minimum something that will make you look good when it's time to get a full-time job.
In its own way, hunting for a summer job is a valuable experience in and of itself. It's a great way to prep for when one does get that degree and it's now time to enter the working world. Students who do this become familiar with the entire hiring process. It also gives a student a preview of life after school.
Keep in mind the country is still going through the recession, so it may take a number of interviews before one lands that job. Students going into online college are preparing themselves for some hard work and that applies to summer jobs. The work-related experience is the real pay-off. Keep that in mind when you do land that summer job. Be sure, even when working, you are on the look out for online degree grant and scholarship opportunities to save some of your hard earned money.
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