You might think it’s too late to land a summer job since it’s already April, but don’t abandon hope yet. Determination will be rewarded, trust me. Here are a few tips for finding that last-minute job, but even if you already have a job secured for the summer, these tips can come in handy around the year.
1. Think outside the box
When we think of summer jobs, we usually think of selling ice cream or picking strawberries. While both jobs are nothing to scoff at, especially if you are late in the game, you might want to search from more unexpected places. As the saying goes, leave no stone unturned. There may be jobs in industries that seem to be outside of your expertise. However, they might need help in administrative and back office jobs. Try sending out applications and queries to e.g. hospitals, providers of maintenance and janitorial services, logistics companies, and factories. Even working in a farm could be something you can do if you’re good with animals and don’t mind shoveling manure.
2. Don’t rely on open vacancy adverts
There are plenty of so-called ”hidden” jobs out there that, for better or worse, end up going to people who know the right people. ”But I don’t know anyone,” is a defense I too have cried out when desperate for a job (especially back when I moved from my small hometown to the other side of the country and didn’t have any kind of safety net). However, it’s possibe to find something via a relative or a friend’s friend. Ask your boyfriend’s parents, your cousin, or classmate — or post about it on Facebook. You never know who might need help or know about an open position at their workplace.
3. Employ yourself
This is a tricky one, but some students have accomplished self-employment by picking up berries, mushrooms, and other goodies from the forest and selling them on the market or offering for example tutelage in an art, language or sport they’re adept at. However, this may not always be enough to cover your rent. Another option is to team up with a friend who is also looking for a summer job. Put your creative minds and talents together and see how far it’ll take you!
4. Don’t limit yourself geographically
While moving out of town for the summer after a job is easier said than done, in some cases this may be a viable option. There are volunteer work options in and outside Europe that require a bit of an investment from the volunteer, but necessities such as housing are part of the deal, so you can more easily focus on acquiring work and life experience. Check out organizations such as Earthwatch Institute, Global Volunteers, The European Voluntary Service, Volunteers for Peace, Cultural Homestay International, and IVHQ.
5. Invest into your future
An unpaid internship is a last-ditch effort as it doesn’t really pay your groceries and I wouldn’t generally recommend playing into the hands of potentially exploitative employers, but sometimes, especially in fields with bad employment prospects, accepting an unpaid internship can still provide valuable experience that will help you to stand out in the future. Send out internship queries to potential employers and magically the chances of getting the job rise. In order to do this, however, you would most likely need financial support from your parents or perhaps move back in with them for the summer. However, this can pay off later in your life, so it may be worth the investment.
In the end, it’s best not to lose hope. Failure is certain if one doesn’t even try. Finding work can be very difficult for a student who has little to no work experience, but with a positive attitude and by bravely taking the initiative, something will come up sooner or later. Good luck!