This spring semester is flying by and before we know it, it’ll be summer. Of course summer is a great time to vacation and relax, but why not build your resume too? There are so many different ways to make money and gain experience in your field. Here are a few steps to make the search a lot easier:
1. Start the search as soon as possible.
It’ll be a lot easier to snatch up the perfect summer job or internship if you start the search early. If possible, start looking as early as April; this is when most companies will be on the lookout for new talent. If you’re looking for something like a retail job, visit the stores with resume in hand — one of them will be looking for help! This will allow you to read up on each company you want to work at or intern for before your interviews. The more you know about a company, the more they’ll be interested in you!
2. Tweak your resume.
We all should have a resume by now, and if not, it’s a great time to start one. The campus career center is a fantastic place to start; an adviser can help you reorganize your resume so that it’s perfect for the positions you are looking into. Not every resume will be the same. Depending on the position, the resume should highlight the tasks that you’ve accomplished relevant to the job or internship title. Make sure everything is presented in a straightforward and professional way, but also allow your passions to shine through.
3. Write a cover letter.
A cover letter isn’t the easiest thing to write, but it allows for a possible employer to see who you are before they meet you. Stay away from cliches and generic statements and show your personality. This will allow the reader to see how you will fit into the company. Keep it short and to the point — you don’t want to give them an autobiography, they just want a taste of who you are and what you will bring to the company.
4. Network.
Who you know matters when you’re looking for jobs, so talk to everyone you know, and let them know that you’re on the hunt for the perfect summer job! Talk to upperclassmen in your major about internships or jobs that they had in the past. They may be able to put a good word in for you when you decide to apply or even get you an interview. Advisers and professors are also good people to talk to because they can point you in the right direction of the jobs and internships that’ll work best for you and your interests.
5. Surf the internet.
The internet is a great place to look for summer jobs and internships. Craigslist is a great place to look for employment, but be careful of scams and or strange-sounding posts. There’s always something new and exciting posted daily. If you’re looking for fashion internships or editorial internships, try Ed2010. All the other ones can be found here: Internships!
6. Don’t give up.
The search may be long and difficult, but it’ll be all worth it once you find the internship or job you need to make your resume pop for future careers.