How to Find Your First Summer Job: Tips and Tricks For Those Who Waited Till the Last Minute

For many high school, college, and university students, the term is almost over and the summer vacation is getting closer by the minute. While some people continue with school over the summer months, many students use this time to earn some money for the coming school year. However, for many summer jobs, you have to start your job search before the season begins, often as far back as January or February. If you’ve waited till the last minute but still want to get a great summer job that helps you earn the kind of money you’re looking for, we’ve got excellent tips and tricks for you in this article.



Figure out what you want to do

You may be feeling stressed about your job search since it’s already June, but don’t worry. There is still time for you to find a great summer job. While you may be tempted to start applying anywhere and everywhere right away, that’s not the best strategy. Of course, time is of the essence, but you have to know how to use it effectively. Before you begin sending out any job applications, first take a few minutes to outline your goals.

Determine what kind of job you want to do in the summer, how many hours you want to work in a week, and what geographical area you want to work in. You should also consider whether you want to continue with the job after the summer into the fall and winter months. It’s also a good idea to have a goal for how much you want to be able to earn within the summer. Knowing the answers to these questions in advance will help you look for jobs that will get you closer to your goals.

Contact an employment agency

An employment agency is a service which comes at no cost to the candidate. They help people looking for jobs to find employment by connecting them with companies who are looking for employees. At Noble Human Resources, for example, we work with companies in the manufacturing, factory, and warehouse space find reliable and hardworking employees. When you use an employment agency to find a job, you can essentially apply to multiple companies all in one go. This saves you a lot of time and effort – especially if you’ve waited till the last minute to find your summer job.

Keep in mind that employment agencies also offer candidates other benefits such as providing safety training. Some will also provide you with transportation or English language classes, in addition to interview training. They are a great stepping stone for students who are looking for work but don’t quite know where to start.

Have your resume ready to go

Whether you have employment experience or are looking for your first job, you will need to have a simple resume ready to send to employers. Your resume should include your contact information, important skills, previous employment or volunteer experience, and your relevant education. Keep in mind that if you don’t have any employment or voluntary experience to add, it’s not a problem. Just include your skills and education.

Be sure to relate the skills in your resume to the skills the job you’re applying for requires. For example, if you’re applying for a summer job in a factory, then list the skills you have that are required for factory work, such as hand-eye coordination, physical fitness, and strong focus and coordination. This tactic will help potential employers see you as a possible candidate for employment.

Practice your interviewing skills

Not all summer jobs will require a formal interview, especially if you go through an employment agency. However, you will typically be required to have a short meeting at the very least, to discuss your goals for employment as well as your resume. The interview process can seem quite daunting, especially if you’ve never gone through it before. Remember that while the stakes are high, employers are not looking to make you stumble in your answers. They are just trying to learn more about your personality and experience to determine whether you would be a good fit at the organization.

Practice your interview skills with a trusted friend or family member by answering common interview questions, such as “Why do you want to work here?” and “Tell us about your strengths and weaknesses.” This practice round will help you figure out your responses and will also boost your confidence, so you’re ready for the real thing.

Gather your references

Whether you’re applying directly to employers or going through an employment agency, in almost every case you will need to provide references before you are officially offered a job. Typically, most people want to check between two and five references. If you have prior work or volunteer experience, it’s a good idea to approach people who managed you there and see if they can be your reference.

If you don’t have any work or volunteer experience, opt for personal references instead. These can include teachers, coaches, mentors, and even some family members. However, because you require references for a professional reason, it’s best to have professional references over personal ones as they offer an account of how you perform in the workplace. Have your references’ names, contact information, and roles ready on a printed piece of paper so you can provide them to the employer or agency at your interview. This saves everybody time and helps the employer make their hiring decision faster.

Ready to land your first summer job? Contact Noble

It may be last minute, but it’s definitely not too late to find your first summer job. Be sure to get in touch with us today by filling out the Job Seeker Form online, which will only take you a few minutes. You can even attach your resume to the form. Once we get it back, we’ll be in touch about connecting you with employers. You can also check out our job board and apply for positions directly online in just a few clicks. There is plenty of time to find a summer job – you just have to know where to look!