Frustrated that college-going son can't find a summer job

[fendergirl]

Miller, do you work anywhere that would be hiring extra help for the summer? I know my moms work hired my sister one summer and I have seen several kids get hired at my work when their parents work there. Usually our summer help is assigned to correspondence... they sort through mail that comes in, do filing, things of that nature. They mail things out to customers. It's a job at a major company and looks good on a resume. do you have any big companies near you that would do something like that? Maybe he could just send in his resume even if they aren't advertising that they are hiring.

[ihs76]

Let *everyone* you know that he's in need of work and not picky. You never know who might have something (unadvertised) that needs done. We have a college student painting our house this summer.

I know a rising senior Ivy engineering student who tried to get internships this summer without success. Ended up taking a grunt job elsewhere. I heard about it and mentioned to an engineer I know and he said "Oh, I could have given him a job." So.... Word of mouth can be very effective.

[bucasmom]

Jobs for students are very scarce around our area, too. Son volunteered as an assistant sailing instructor for 3 summers during high school. He just completed a 40 hour course to get certified as an instructor (had to pay $350 for it) and he headed off to his first paying job this morning (at the same program he volunteered at). Apparently the unpaid internship (in hopes of getting a paid job) has trickled down to summer work, too. Fortunately, the volunteer hours did translate to some awards and scholarship money.
I was a rising sophomore college student during the summer of '75. Most of my friends could not find a job. They painted their parents houses or barns. I was laid off my waitress job (they reduced the whole work force). I had a life guard certificate, so I was able to get a part time job doing that (that I had applied for 12 months earlier) and I also worked part time as a dishwasher. That kitchen's dishwashing staff was 3/4 college students that summer. Even now, my 45 year old brother would be unemployed if not for his dishwasher job (which would normally go to a high school student in good times).

[footballmom104]

I remember this kind of thing from the recession of 1981, when I was in college. I was working in a supermarket and people who never would have worked there in good times were coming in there begging for work, especially as even part-timers could get health insurance. I knew that recession (which was a pin prick compared to the present one) was ending when I started seeing help wanted signs in places like fast-food restaurants.

[swattiechick]

Those are the hard to come by and low paying jobs. I flyered two upper middle class neighborhoods and advertised $30/hr SAT prep and got 7 calls! 0 overhead and great money.

[MiamiDAP]

Do not be stuck in frustration, enjoy your summer as much as you can. Many are (or were) in the same situation (if it is helpful to know that there are legions as many "summer" positions are filled with "year around" employees ). If not a job, then travel. If you can find volunteering (which might be also very challenging), then volunteer. Or just relax and spend time with friends, not that many opportunities like this in you future....

[cnp55]

Just a small employer vent and a suggestion.

VENT If you want your child to work at your local shops, you should be supporting said local shops with your shopping dollars. Otherwise, we won't have payroll dollars to pay the teens.

SUGGESTION And, it's best if they start working at the small local shops when they are in high school. I want to have a year ahead of them (i.e. the oldest I want is a rising senior) but I bring them back summers and holidays with increasing pay and responsibilities.

[TheGFG]

Two of D's college-age friends in our area found jobs through a temp agency. The work is not in their field, but it pays and making money was their priority. In fact, one of the two boys had turned down an unpaid internship. Temp agencies were our D's next step, since until yesterday she was in the same boat as your son! (A while ago I started a thread on the topic too, LOL.) But hurray-- she just got an paid internship!!!! I am so grateful.

[Miller514]

Hey, everyone, thank you, all of you, for your replies. Sometimes the internet gets a bad rap, but for these kinds of situations, and this type forum, I am always thankful for the support, insight and suggestions I receive. It's a wonderful tool to have at hand.

TheGFG, I wasn't aware of your previous thread, but will look it up, interested in reading the responses.

cnp55, you make very valid points. I live in a small town of about 5,000 and try to support local businesses when possible.

MiamiDAP, I agree wholeheartedly with your post. I have some health issues, so I truly want to make the most of our time as a family.

[Miller514]

UPDATE: When I have a few more minutes to post, I will fill you in on how things are going with son's job search.

[abasket]

Best bets for a student who goes to college out of town is a position suited for summer only - you are right, many retail/restaurants don't want to hire just for the summer. So camps, pools, tutoring, ice cream shops, any place with summer programming, YMCA's, zoos - these types of places are best bets.

My S is working an Americorp position this summer - his major is education so it is a good fit - he is getting valuable experience with kids for his resume/future, doing "service" which is a good resume builder, getting a stipend and education $$ award at the end which will help at college and working decent hours - 37.5 hours/week, but all evenings and weekends off. Can't complain! Keep Americorp in mind for next summer people!

[FlMathMom]

DS is a rising college sophomore. Last year his summer job at Kumon fell thru due to lack of students. He decided to tutor kids going to summer school and for math SAT/ACT. He also taught the elderly about computers. Both of these things he did as a volunteer throughout HS. He didn't get rich, but made enough to pay for his summer and freshman year spending money.

This summer, after applying for over 50 engineering internships online, he asked me to tell everyone I knew he was looking for a job. A friend's friend is a big wig in a company so DS's resume at least was read by HR. The company normally only hires rising Juniors and Seniors, but when DS said he would pay for his own housing (job is out of state), they decided to give him a chance. We figured even if he netted zero after housing, transportation, etc., the experience would be worth it. Fortunately we found a reasonably priced place for him to stay so all worked out well.The company is very pleased with his performance and he is learning so much on the job, about a work environment and living on his own. Now when I nag him about the importance of networking (who me???), he finally gets it.

[mathmom]

One should also look for campus possibilities for the summer. My son is working for the Conference Bureau at Tufts which runs lots of special programs in the summer. The job doesn't pay a lot but they give him a dorm room and one meal a day, which is a huge plus.

[Debruns]

That's great mathmom, my daughter's friend got one at BU, same deal it sounds like. She has asthma and not having air conditioning for the summer (he said his dorm is very warm) would be hard, she really gets ill when the air is thick so she didn't apply for summer work on campus at her school. My other daughter found a internship at a NY college with air conditioning so she is happy with that aspect although work isn't what she thought, kind of boring, but she's happy to be earning something and not complaining.

[Miller514]

UPDATE: Son has found part-time employment at a sporting goods store. There were lots and lots of lessons both he and I learned through the job search process. Of course the first one is never give up. This was one of the last jobs (out of over 25) he applied for.

He said he went in the store and browsed while scanning the employees. He chose to approach an older woman and asked if they were hiring. She said yes, to apply on-line. He did that, then went back in the next day with a letter he'd typed that had his resume stapled to it. The same employee was working, so he chatted with her, saying he'd been in the day before, had applied on-line, and asked her to give his letter to the manager. His experience has been that an older person is more reliable and would make sure the manager received the letter.

He got a call several days later, interviewed, took a test, passed with flying colors and was hired. He was getting pretty good with the interviewing because he'd gone thru a number of them.

The manager mentioned that his letter was the reason she called him. I asked him what was in it. He said, "magic". Of course, he's 19 so he's gonna say that.

Actually, in the letter, which he said took 5 minutes to type, he explained who he was, that he was responsible, a team player, a quick learner, a goal-setter, had reliable transportation, ect.

Oh, he also said he could be reached on his phone from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. I thought that was kind of funny. I asked, 'why those times', and he said it just gave the manager a lot of leeway to call him. And, as it turned out, he got a call from her on a Wednesday evening at 8:30 pm! I never woulda guessed they would call that late, so what do I know?

Well, Son's self-esteem raised a bit since he got the job.

Once again, thanks to everyone for the very good, solid advice.