<p>For the upcoming summer I have recently sent a number of applications to work in department stores, mall, coffee shops etc. To get these jobs one usually applies online or gets an app while in the store. However, I sometimes hear and know of one or two students that work in other types of environments such as business offices filing stuff and other miscelanous things. These jobs are usually not advertised online “Hiring student for help with scut work” and therefore, are more difficult to find out about. Since some of you probably work in offices and other types of environments I was wondering how we as students can leanr about the lower inexperienced positions you guys give away to HS or undergrad students.</p>
<p>I’ve had a lot of jobs, and none of them have been in the mall or stores. Some of the time all you have to do is keep your eyes open for opportunities and then jump on the ball when you see something good. Othertimes you need to put in more effort and be proactive in finding something you want to do. There’s nothing wrong with sending a resume to a place that hasn’t specifically said they want help. Ask your parents or other adults you know for suggestions. There are tons of opportunities out there, some that you have to find and some that you have to create.</p>
<p>A lot of those jobs happen by word-of-mouth. So talking to adults you know, parents of friends… Let them know you are looking for a summer job and wonder if they could tell you who in their company would be the right person to contact. Have your resume ready, in case one of these folks is in a position to hire, or offers to take your resume to a colleague.</p>
<p>Alternatively, call companies in your area and ask to speak to the Director of Human Resources. Ask if they have summer openings for hs/college students.</p>
<p>Try talking to students a year or two older than you who live in your area. Sometimes kids who have “outgrown” a job can tell you it will be available and may be able to recommend you. Even kids your own age may become aware of another vacancy in the office. Employers who have had a good experience with a particular kid are often happy to get referrals from that kid.</p>
<p>Both of my S’s work at a grocery store. They were both kind of given the brush off when they first applied. The key to getting the job was being persistant in checking back with the store to see if their app. had been reviewed, etc. If you show a lot of interest, you’re more likely to get hired. Just turning in an app, might not get it. Good luck on your search.</p>
<p>My daughter was very lucky or unlucky with her summer job last year, depending on your point of view. She did not have a summer job when she returned home from her freshman year of college. She opened the classifieds in our local paper and saw an ad for a telemarketer (selling ads to businesses, not calling personal residences) at $10/hour (before commission). She called and got the job within a day. It was very good money for a student and her co-workers and boss were pleasant, but now she knows one job she definitely does not want to do again.</p>
<p>Don’t write off retail as mindless work any monkey can do.</p>
<p>I do hire kids to work in my retail pet store. We have a team atmosphere so that capable people are doing more than ringing the register or cleaning the cages. One year I hired an awesome college kid to work on instituting a POS system – computerized inventory control system and cash register all in one. I’ve also hired kids to create care sheet copy, work out a merchandising scheme, and some of them are my best sales people.</p>
<p>When you come in to apply, please dress the way you think an employee at that business would dress. (Please no beach attire, lounge attire, or cleaning the basement attire!) A resume is extra points. Knowing your way around the store is good – and helping a customer find something, or chatting with a customer while you are waiting for an interview is big points. As the boss I am sometimes overwhelmed with deliveries, phone calls, customers etc even when an interviewee has an appointment as the others can be priority and they don’t make appointments.</p>
<p>I’ve suggested to my son to start checking our local colleges for summer help ads. He goes to college out of state but I know many of our local colleges use the area people for summer jobs. Since he works at his own college, he might be able to do something similar around here.</p>
<p>Lifeguarding! (It’s our “family business”). It does require an ability to swim and an investment up front to get certified, but you can’t beat sitting out in the sun all day!</p>
I spent my childhood in the sun and now sport a huge scar from where a melanoma was removed. I consider the sun one of the huge disadvantages of lifeguarding. It does pay well though.</p>
<p>I also have a small scar on my face; luckily mine was only a basal cell. Now my D wears a #50 sunscreen and sits under and umbrella or a roof just about the whole day. Still, lifeguarding is great for someone who prefers being outside!</p>
<p>Movie theaters are always looking for summer help. And usually you get to go to movies for free in your off-time. Plus you’ll see all your friends.</p>
<p>The pack and copy place near us was looking for summer help last year. They said they’d provide training for the copiers. I think it would be a good skill to have- being able to “fix” the copier when it gets jammed, runs out of toner, etc. (Hate those d*** things!)</p>
<p>My son stocked in a grocery store one summer. He really liked it! Knows every product available to mankind. Gave me tip-offs when the good sales were on. (He could compete on Wheel of Fortune.)</p>
<p>Go to your nearest private golf course and sign up to caddy. Decent money and you are outside all day. You don’t even need to know anything about golf, although it certainly helps. If you live in the Midwest, you even have a chance at an Evans Scholars Scholarship.</p>
<p>Most people that walk now use “carry bags” and they aren’t very heavy. Very few “Al Cervik” bags these days.</p>
<p>Restaurants are constantly hiring around us. Waiting tables, busing tables, etc. They are constantly hiring 'cause in a way it’s crummy work so people are always quitting, but you can pick up a summer job at the last minute easy.</p>
<p>Movie theaters are also good and this summer might be a good one to do that if you’re a Harry Potter fan, 'cause last time a movie came out our neighborhood theater had a special after hours showing for the staff the day before it opened for the public (ie, the day before the public midnight showing). We found out that from the ticket sales girl while buying our midnight tickets the next night. (lots of the kids by us go in costume to the midnight opening; reminds me of Rocky Horror midnights for a different generation).</p>
<p>If you live in a town with a temp agency,sign up there.They place you in all different kinds of jobs and very well might place you in an office situation.
I have a close friend who is a retail store manager who hires lots of students. She always says,as someone noted before, that she calls in for interviews the kids who not only file an application but call her to follow up on it.Good advice to follow.</p>
<p>I second the golf course/country club for jobs.
Friend’s son worked in a grocery store. They awarded him a nice award for attending college (who knew?)
Another friend got hired by a peer’s parents who are lawyers. He did scut work but also accompanied them to depositions, court, etc. It gave him a feel for being a lawyer. He is now a music major.</p>
<p>Not just camp counselor - you could apply at one of the talent searches (CTY, TIP) they need both TAs and RAs. They are usually college students.</p>