Student Success
Career Services
Tips for Finding Summer Work
Want to work this summer? Set goals and start to look early. Prepare carefully. Don't be afraid to contact potential employers. Be creative. And remember, commitment and effort pay off. Here are the steps!!
Be Aware of Your Goals
Do you want a summer job to make money, to have an adventure or to get experience in your major? Your goals will determine where to look.
Assess Your Skills
Know what you have to offer. Figure out what you can do and be prepared to talk about your skills as they relate to the job.
Write a Good Resume And Cover Letter
You were asked to send a resume? Marketing strategy is a big part of writing a good resume and cover letter. Get help from the Career Services Office; call 215-641-6577 at Blue Bell Campus or 610-718-1850 at Pottstown Campus to make an appointment.
Practice Interviewing
Practice answering interview questions out loud. Use our lists (ask for one) or make up your own. Want a practice session? Call us at 215-641-6577 at Blue Bell Campus or 610-718-1850 at Pottstown Campus.
Use Contacts and Other Resources and Look Everywhere
- Network with family, friends, professors and anyone else you know. Ask for a job or for referrals to more contacts. This is especially helpful for competitive summer jobs in corporations.
- Try cold calling companies you've found in the yellow pages, various directories (try our Learning Resource Center), Chamber of Commerce lists or job ads (any type). Get to the person who actually hires. Be prepared to describe your skills in 30 seconds or less. (Get some good tips from one of our great 30-minute videos, "Dialing for Jobs".)
- Drop by in person. Dress neatly, bring your resume and ask to meet with the supervisor. Be prepared to fill out an application. Stop by and ask for a job at:
- Local Stores
- Corporate Offices
- Hotels and Motels
- Small Businesses
- Country Clubs
- Human Service Agencies
- Grocery Stores
- Local Government Offices
- Malls
- Restaurants
- Parks and Recreation Departments
- Libraries
- Physician/Dental Offices
- Hospitals/Medical Facilities
- Banks
- Museums/Historical Societies
- Theatres
- Construction Companies
- Greenhouses/Farms
- Radio and TV Stations
- Art/Dance Studios
- Laboratories
- Botanical Gardens/Zoos
- Nursing Homes
- Sign up to work for a temporary employment agency.
- Look in the newspaper for summer jobs. Apply for jobs for which you're qualified as well as almost qualified. Also call companies advertising other jobs and check for summer positions. Scan the newspaper for articles about new businesses, new construction and new programs and call early to unearth possible summer opportunities.
- Think about self employment: landscaping, lawn mowing, house painting, child care, dog sitting, catering or whatever else you may think up.
- Want to work as a volunteer or in an unpaid internship but need to make money? Work part time in a paying job (e.g., waitressing) and at the same time volunteer or intern part time.
- Search the Internet. Start with the web sites we've provided in this booklet and go from there. The web is especially helpful for seasonal jobs at summer camps, resorts, and tourist attractions, on cruise lines, overseas and with the state and federal government.
- Check bulletin boards wherever you go including grocery stores, libraries, and at other colleges and universities.
- Register for College Central (www.collegecentral.com/mc3) and access summer jobs as well as full and part time openings at the job posting site of the Career Services Office.
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Make a Good Impression
Bring several copies of your resume. Fill out job applications carefully. Be well groomed and on time and interview as you would for a regular job. Ask questions about the job, not about salary. Send a thank you note afterwards. Don't be afraid to inquire about the status of your application if you don't hear from the employer.
Do a Good Job!
Work hard and be a good worker. While your job may be unimpressive, observing and learning the overall operations of the company enhances your experience too. Put this information together with what you learn in your major and you have great resume material! And don't forget that employers are great sources of job references. Ask for a written letter of reference before you leave.
Web Sites for Summer Employment
Try some of these web sites to find summer opportunities. Company web sites may also list summer jobs or internships. (These links will open in a new window.)
www.campjobs.com
Find summer employment opportunities at various summer camps.
www.coolworks.com
Lists seasonal employment including summer and winter jobs and careers in
scenic settings at ski resorts, national parks, dude ranches, and Alaskan
fishing camps and on cruise ships.
www.summerjobs.com
Look for summer jobs worldwide.
www.careerbuilder.com
Search under keyword "summer".
www.studentjobs.gov
Lists federal summer job openings.
www.jobmonkey.com/main/index.html
Summer, seasonal and year-round jobs worldwide are posted.
www.aplus-summerjobs.com
Lists summer cruise jobs, jobs abroad, outdoor work, jobs in Alaska, etc.
www.snagajob.com/
Search by geographical location. Good assortment of area restaurant and retail
summer jobs.
