Summer’s knocking on the door, and you still don’t have a job for the next three months? Don’t panic: there’s still plenty you can do to get one!
DO browse different sites for open jobs. Don’t forget to check the RekryForum that is kept up by career services. There are still numerous summer jobs and internships out there just waiting for you to apply, especially small companies that may have just started recruiting for summer. There are also many job opportunities that may continue as part-time jobs after summer. If you already know you won’t be drowning under your course load next fall, it might be a good idea to look for these jobs, too.
DO remember that not all available positions are openly advertised. According to the campus career services, two thirds of all vacancies are nowadays hidden. Show initiative by contacting interesting companies and offering your skills. Start by calling them and asking for possible vacancies, and then send your resume afterward if they have anything interesting to offer. You can also go and visit them (this is a good move with stores, for example) and ask if you can leave your resume with the manager in case they have something opening up. Take a few minutes beforehand to study the website of the employer to find out about their products and services. Be ready to present yourself clearly and to answer questions about your experience and interest in them.
DON’T look down on any job opportunity. Sometimes it may be difficult to grab a job in your field, especially when you’re looking for short-term vacancies. However, jobs from completely different fields might teach you more than you ever thought. Think, for example, telemarketing, face-to-face campaigning, child minding or selling strawberries. None of these might be your dream job, but they will teach you important skills, such as presentation, marketing, problem solving, creativity, taking responsibility, flexibility, customer service and communication skills, all of which will be beneficial when applying for the next job. Any job will look better on your resume than no job at all — employers appreciate it when they see you are active and already have some skills.
DON’T hide, but make use of social media. Create a LinkedIn profile and follow interesting employers and people in your field on Twitter. Ask your Facebook friends if they know of any open vacancies.
DO put some effort into writing a clear resume and a good cover letter for different vacancies. Some companies get thousands of applications, and if yours looks like you have sent the same application to numerous companies, it is unlikely that they will spend much time with it. Show them your motivation and that you are enthusiastic about this job.
DON’T underestimate yourself. If the employer states that the applicant is expected to have five certain skills and you only have four, you can still apply for the job. You might not know everything, but show the employer that you are willing to learn and that you have something else to offer — true motivation and maybe even some skills that aren’t in the job listing but would still be of use.
DO show the employer your interest in the job by calling them a few days after you have submitted your application. You are looking to get an appointment, and the employer is less likely to forget your application if you make personal contact with them. If you are lucky, by the end of the telephone call, you will have booked yourself an interview.
DO make your homework before an interview. Find out everything you can about the position and check whether the company has a dress code. If it does, dress accordingly. Always dress as though you already work for them. Be ready to not only answer but also ask questions about the job or the company. This will show that you are interested. Be prepared to give reasons why you would be the best person for the job. “Why should we hire you?” is a frequently asked interview question, and you should be ready to answer it confidently. Don’t lie about your skills or be arrogant, but don’t be too modest, either. This is your time to show them what you’ve got.
DO remember that you can also contribute to your studies, even during summer. There are usually some summer exam options, and the Open University has plenty of courses to choose from. You can find yourself a new minor and complete all of its basic or intermediate studies during the summer. At best, deciding to spend one summer studying may help you to graduate six months earlier than you originally planned. And don’t forget that if you get at least five study points per month, you are also eligible to receive study grants and student loans for the summer months.
For this article, Her Campus interviewed Heidi V. Hiltunen from Career Services.