Summer is here! Many college students and young adults studying at university are on their way home for the summer. A tradition at this time of the year is summer jobs. It’s a great way to earn some extra money to socialise with friends, help fund your studies and save for the future. So, if you’re back home and want to use your free time productively, here’s some tips to help you make a few pennies this summer.
Summer jobs for students and young adults
A study from June 2023 found that there’s been a 10% increase in the number of students in paid employment over the last year, from 45% to 55%, reaching record levels. The reality is that students, and their families, are struggling financially due to the cost of living crisis. So, the traditional summer job has become even more important for the younger generation than ever. But what sort of jobs are out there for the summer?
- Temporary fixed contracts. During the busy summer months, many companies will open temporary summer contracts to cover their particularly busy periods of the year. For example, within airports, catering companies, bars, restaurants and shopping centres. These jobs are usually a short-term contract, from June to September, and also offer you the perks of holiday pay, sick pay and discounts.
- Babysitting, pet sitting and house sitting. Parents working full-time or nights out and families going on holiday often need someone responsible to babysit their kids, or look after their pets when they’re away. There are even opportunities to house sit or go into the house on a regular basis to pick up post, water plants, and switch lights on and off for security reasons. This type of work is ideal casual work during the summer holidays, get in touch with your local community and tell them what you can offer.
- A summer internship. Although summer is a time to earn money, it’s also a golden opportunity to gain invaluable experience. One way to do this is through an internship with a company where you can gain hands-on experience. This can help you build valuable skills, make useful connections, learn more about an industry you’re interested in, give you an insight into your chosen career and look great on your CV!
Tips to getting a summer job
Sourcing and applying for a summer job can be daunting and sometimes you don’t know where to start. Here are our tips to help you.
- Update your CV. Keep your CV up-to-date with your skills, education and experience, such as previous summer holiday jobs, weekend jobs or any other work you’ve done, paid or otherwise.
- Start your job search as early as you can. Get a head start on others and get searching before the holiday. Generally, most companies will start hiring from June for summer temporary roles so, the quicker you start your search, the quicker you’ll get a job.
- Cover letters. When applying for a job, include a cover letter. Explain why you believe you are the right person for the role.
- Search locally for jobs. Once you’ve updated your CV and found some suitable roles, apply straight away. Summer temporary roles are often snapped up quickly and there is a huge demand. So, don’t wait around.
- Be proactive. If there’s a company you particularly want to work for, don’t wait for them to post a job. Be proactive and approach them directly. Get in touch with their HR department, send in your CV and cover letter, and keep in contact with them.
- Talk to family and friends. Talk to the people you know, or your parents/friends know, as you may often pick up casual work, like looking after pets, gardening or mowing lawns, washing cars or pressure washing driveways. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the money from these jobs builds up!
The ‘bank of mum and dad’ is not as readily available these days as it was in the past so, for many students, earning money during the holiday periods has become even more important. But there are other benefits to a summer job:
- Allows you to ‘test’ different industries and types of job to determine your future career.
- Boosts your CV and shows future employers your resourcefulness, work ethic and experience.
- Meet new people and make useful connections. Many students find that the connections they make during summer holidays lead to full time jobs when they leave college or university.
- Develops your key skills, including relationship building, communication, time management and adaptability. It also helps to boost your confidence and self-belief.
At Really Helpful Club, we are here to help you build your skills ready for the workplace.. Whether you need advice on how to apply for a job, need help in getting your CV up-to-date or just seeking valuable advice, our online community Really Helpful Club’s Directory members are on hand to guide you.
