Summer Jobs:
Helping You Find the Perfect Job
By Kate, age 16, New Hampshire
School is out and summer's in! Your goal this summer? Maybe it's to buy that car you had your eye on and cruise around with your friends. Or maybe you plan on hooking some hotties! Or maybe you're ready for that road trip with your friends! Whatever your plans are over the summer, there's one thing you should keep in mind - a job. Let's face the facts - everyone wants money. Without money, you can't get that car you want or go on that road trip with your friends. Even if you plan on staying home most of your summer you'll want something to keep you busy ... and something to give you a little extra cash too! So if you don't have a job already, now is the time to start looking!
Finding a job isn't easy, so hopefully I can help with your search. Currently I work at Canobie Lake Park! (woot!) For those unfamiliar, it's your typical amusement park. This was and is my first job. It's a great job because it is open all summer. The only downfall is it's seasonal (remember, this is New Hampshire), so I have to find another job if I continue to plan on working.
For a summer job I highly recommend something like Canobie. No one wants to be cooped up inside all summer. Working at a place like Canobie gives me an opportunity to get outside and get my tan on - even if it's just my arms! What's more, a popular place like this will definitely boost my people skills. It looks good on other applications too! And, of course, I get to work with and chat with some hotties. What could be better?
Sure, working isn't all fun and games. Sometimes it isn't fun at all. I'll be honest, I've had my dull days when I just wanted to break free. But it's more money in my pocket. In the end, I'm glad for each day I get out of the house, away from the family, and making money.
Enough about the work. Now I'll tell you what you need to know. The first thing about applying for a job, whether it's over the summer or during school, is to apply anywhere and everywhere. If you're like me, you do not want to work at your average grocery store with half the people in your school! Everyone works there! I applied to Market Basket and Shaw's, mostly as a back up in case I couldn't grab a job anywhere else. But don't expect stores like these to hire you right away. You're lucky if they do at all. Like I said, everyone works there, and most likely they won't have the need to hire anyone else. If you do manage a job like this, good for you. It wouldn't be my top job, but when all else fails, what choice do you have? You'll see the same faces you saw all during school, but a job's a job!
As I said before, I definitely recommend applying at an amusement park of some kind. At Canobie last year I applied in early June, but wasn't hired until August. I later found out it was because a lot of college kids quit early to get ready for college and such, so there was a need for more employees. Though it took all summer for them to finally hire me, I was guaranteed a job the following season. That was reassuring! And a few of my friends worked there as well, but not the whole school. I knew it would be a fun job.
Other jobs you might be interested in include lifeguarding or teaching swim lessons to younger kids. These require more skill and possibly a lot of training, but hey, it gets you outside doing something you like to do, meeting people, and making money!
There is a wide variety of jobs out there, so the thing to do is to get out there and apply! Apply to places you enjoy (work should be fun!) or places where you have friends and family working so they can put in a good word for you.
A mistake I made was putting in an application and not doing anything about it. My mom always told me I should call in and "check up" on my application. It shows that you are interested in the job, and if you get a chance to talk to the manager, they might put you ahead of everyone else.
So, after lots of searching and applying, you get a call from one of the places where you applied. Now what? Well, they will probably ask you to come in for an interview. This is your first impression - make it count! No one will want a dirty employee who shows up late for an interview. That doesn't sound promising. So make sure it counts!
The day of the interview you'll want to wear something nice. No jeans, nothing with holes, no t-shirts, and no dirty sneakers. This is what I wore to my interview at Canobie:
Do
Look niceBe polite
Be on time
Show an interest in the job you applied for
Know the purpose of the company
Be friendly
Remove inappropriate piercings and hide tattoos
Be prepared. Think of questions they might ask, like, "Why do you want the job?"
Imagine the interview in your mind.
Don't:
Chew gumCurse
Wear jeans
Wear t-shirts
Wear anything dirty or with holes
Leave your phone on
Listen to an iPod, MP3, etc.
Text, etc. Just keep it off or on silent.
Think of it this way: What would you look for in an employee? Use common sense, show that you have respect for yourself and the company, and give them every reason to hire you. Usually, if they ask for an interview, it means they have an interest in you. Show them they picked the right person, and you will almost be guaranteed the job.
I hope this has given you a better idea of what to expect on your job hunt. Once you are hired for a job, the worst is over. Remember to show up on time every day and make an effort in what you do. Don't feel like you have to cancel important dates because of your job. They will give you days off and holidays, and at some jobs you can swap days off with other employees. You're not the only person working there, but you are a part of one big team.
