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Dear Readers,
It may be September, but summer is still on our minds. You can probably call up the most memorable moments fairly easily, whether wonderful or traumatic.
For young people who were unemployed, the memory of an empty wallet can still sting. During the fall, students may continue to suffer from a lack of funds. The latest available figures indicated that more than a third of teenagers ages 16-19 went without jobs in the summer of 2008. The Center for Labor Market Studies based at Northeastern University in Boston said hiring prospects for teens during the summer of ’08 may have been the worst in a half century.
Given that next summer’s job market may be just as cool, now is the time for students who need work next summer to start thinking ahead. If you have a demanding course load, it can be difficult to focus on what’s next, especially if you will face a grueling round of finals before the school year ends. But leaping ahead in your mind is exactly what’s required to increase your chances of employment.
Early in the spring semester, or even the first of the year, is the time to begin the hunt. One student I know called a summer day camp each June for two years running. She never got a call back and couldn’t understand why. Finally she reached the director, who said, “I need to hear from you in January.”
Here’s what you can do now:
• Make a list of the places you would most like to work.
• Add the contact names and phone numbers to save you time later on.
• Make another list of all the people you know who might have leads on summer jobs; gather their phone numbers.
• Draw up a calendar for the spring semester and write in deadlines for contacting your network of people, the places you would like to work and the employers you expect to hire summer help.
• Review and update your résumé.
• Create a list of references you can hand out or refer to when employers ask for them.
• Ask your parents to spread the word among their own contacts. Once you start contacting prospective employers, be upbeat and ready to list your assets.
Key are “a positive attitude and track record of accomplishments,” says Craig Whiting, executive director and owner of Emagination Computer Camps, a collection of summer camps that combine computer classes with recreational activities, based in Woburn, Mass. His requirements echo those of most employers in just about any field.
Each company also has its individual requirements and you should be prepared to explain how you meet its needs. Whiting, for example, looks for college students who are studying computer science and digital arts and who love working with kids. He hires roughly 80 counselors a summer to staff camps in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Boston. Because the work also requires expertise in child development, teaching methods and safety, his staff has a rigorous training period. Those who don’t exhibit an affinity for teamwork or otherwise measure up are let go.
That’s another thing to keep in mind: after you land a job, you still will be evaluated. It’s important to set high standards for yourself, even during the lazy days of summer.
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