Friday, July 15, 2011

Make the Most of Your Summer Job

A summer job is a great way to earn money and spend time productively while applying to colleges or looking for a permanent job in your career of interest. Following are some considerations and actions you can take to get the most out of your summer work experience.

Work Experience is Helpful

Most employers view work experience positively—even experience unrelated to the job you might be pursuing. Be sure to leverage your summer work experience and associated accomplishments on college and/or job applications. On a personal level, if you’re diligent, work experience can lead to a strong work ethic and a sense of fiscal responsibility.

Make Contacts and Secure a Reference

No matter what type of job you have, you should always strive to make contacts and build positive working relationships with your manager, co-workers, customers, and even vendors, if appropriate. Remember, any contact has the potential of leading to a future job opportunity. One goal to keep in mind before you leave is to secure a professional reference from your manager or other person(s) of influence at the company.

Go Above and Beyond

Summer jobs are a way to form good work habits and a reputation for going above and beyond what is expected of you. Use this time wisely; for example, volunteer to take on additional tasks, work extra hours, or share ideas to improve a process. This is also an excellent time to build or enhance skills, like teamwork, communication, and customer service.

If you attain a summer job and view it for what it is—a great learning opportunity that enables you to build valuable work experience—you could be well on your way to finding and securing the job of your dreams.

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