We know that you're focused on midterms, but if you take some time now to apply for summer jobs, you'll have the advantage of being ahead of the pack! Summer will be here before you know it - a great chance to make some money, meet some new people, and even build up your résumé.
Summer camps, retail, and restaurant work are always available to college students who are presumed to have more energy than experience. But don't be afraid to look for other options: on-campus work, an office job, even something arts-related!
HEAD Lines
MAKE TIME TO:
• Visit your college's Career Center to meet with a counselor and browse listings.
• Spruce up your résumé and get it reviewed by an expert.
• Prepare a reference page with at least three faculty, college staff, or professional references - and make sure to check in with them before giving that reference page to any potential employers!
• As the old folks say, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to at least five summer jobs.
From Other HEADS
MY SOPHOMORE YEAR I WORKED for the Rutgers Alumni Association. I was in charge of PR and archival projects. I helped plan Reunion Weekend. This was in my major field. I had to schedule it around classes. It's on my résumé: I think employers look for that. I also learned something I couldn't have learned in class. I got hands-on experience.
-- ELIZABETH ALARIO
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
TAKE AS LITTLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE as possible; debts stink. Work hard and try to pay as much up front as you can. I worked in the summers and at night leading up to college, and that helped pay bills during my first year of school.
-- MICHAEL ALBERT PAOLI
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Web Resources
You don't have to be a freshman at UC Berkeley to use their awesome résumé-writing guide: career.berkeley.edu/Tools/ResumeJIG.stm
Monster.com can help you prepare for interviews:
career-advice.monster.com/interview-tips/home.aspx
HoH Tips
• You never know when a potential employer will call you for an interview. Hey, they could be so blown away by your résumé that they call you the next day! You've got to dress to impress - so keep an interview outfit hanging in your closet, clean and pressed and ready to go.
• Fear the template! When you're putting together your résumé, don't use the résumé template of your word processing program. Employers like to see a nice, fresh design when they look at an application. Just don't go overboard with embellishments, or you'll seem juvenile and like you're compensating for actual work experience with fancy fonts and flourishes.