More Than Just A Summer Job

Twenty-seven-year-old Victoria Baker always mixes business with pleasure. Her career as a journalist depends on it. Recently, the London, England, resident added another accomplishment to her resume. Upon traveling to Edinburgh with some friends, she went scuba diving in a tank full of sharks. Not a big fan of either, she overcame her fear by clutching her air supply tube tightly.

Perhaps the exhilarating feeling she had was equal to that of her hang gliding experience in Rio de Janeiro. Or, maybe it brought back memories of the summer she spent in the States riding roller-coasters and working as an amusement park employee. The smell of the water probably reminded her of the beaches in Jamaica where she was sent to report her findings at an annual Bob Marley Festival.

Those who admire Baker’s myriad of achievements may want to consider following her educational path. Baker briefly postponed her work toward a college degree to gain real-world experience.

By researching their chosen career field, students may find seasonal jobs, volunteer opportunities and professional internships that help round out their resumes. Simply put, a college education does not always set applicants apart in the competitive job market. It is the activities they pursue outside of their academics that employers notice most often.

Rather than spend another summer babysitting the neighbor kids or bagging groceries at the local supermarket, more students are taking advantage of what the world has to offer them in work experience. Websites like CoolWorks.com and SummerJobs.com help them to do just that. Potential employers post opportunities on websites giving eager job seekers a chance to apply for a position within their company. Depending on their previous experience, students are placed as camp counselors, amusement park employees, ski instructors, cruise ship staff and national park volunteers. A chosen few earn internships with big name companies such as Walt Disney World, Microsoft, Coca Cola and Warner Brothers Entertainment.

The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures by Michael Landes is a valuable resource to would-be job seekers. Not only does the book provide websites for over a hundred work-related opportunities, it also gives advice on how to interview for and land a dream job.

Not every applicant stands out in a crowd so Baker offers this advice to them: “Enthusiasm counts for a lot during interviews and can make you stand above the rest. Make sure you find out about the company first and ask lots of relevant questions. And get a friend you trust to read your resume and application before you send it - typos and grammar mistakes can be so easily avoided, and that really affects your first impression.”

Creating an exceptional resume requires time and creativity. Campus career counselors are available to assist students with any questions they might have throughout the process. Often the first to find out about work opportunities, the trained professionals can match potential employees with jobs in their chosen field of study.

As for Baker, she continues to plan for future job experiences. “My next plan is to go to Argentina in November to spend a month teaching English in Buenos Aires. I’ve never taught before and I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it, and my Spanish is rubbish, but it’s bound to be a great experience,” she said.

SIDE BAR:
A few simple tips provide students with the information that they need to impress employers:

1. When applying for opportunities out of state, provide the company with a reliable contact number. Employers should be able to reach an individual without playing phone tag. If a person owns a cell phone, it should be the first number listed on the application.

2. All phone calls should be returned in a prompt manner. Timing is critical when work opportunities are scarce. If the company is no longer offering a position that interests you, it is better to thank them for their time and fill out an application elsewhere. The more applications you fill out, the more phone calls you will receive.

3. Never show up late for an interview. This courtesy should be extended to phone interviews as well. Time is precious to employers. It is better to be a few minutes early and have to wait than to lose a company’s interest by showing up late.

4. The most important thing to remember when interviewing for a position is to dress the part. Companies are looking for professionals to fill their vacancies. Showing up in cutoffs or sweat pants is not a good idea even if the dress code is lax. A clean, crisp appearance always makes a good impression.

5. Attaching a copy of your resume to an application will increase your chances of being interviewed. Make sure to include all relevant work, educational and community oriented experience along with two or three solid references.