Finding the Perfect Job
Once you decide to begin searching for a summer job, you must first determine what type of job is most appealing to you as well as where you are interested in working. This should be based on the time you have to commit to a job. How many hours a week are you willing to work? Will you only be working for the summer?
You must remember that an employer invests a large amount of time and money hiring and training a new employee. Therefore, many are not willing to hire someone who is only going to work for one summer. If you can work during holidays or weekends in addition to summer, employers may be more willing to hire you. If this is the case, applying for a job at a restaurant or any other position in the hospitality industry will likely be the best fit due to the increase in business during the summer and holidays. Many large retailers also hire seasonal workers to accommodate for back to school and other holiday sales that bring increased business. If you are looking to continue working once school starts, you should apply at chain retailers or restaurants that are willing to transfer you to a different location at the end of summer. You may also be able to use some past experience or existing skills you have to find a job just for the summer. Rick Qawami, the General Manager at Agave Downtown stated, "We don't mind hiring someone just for the summer because we only hire servers with experience that need minimal training so having turnover is not a problem for us." Other companies, such as Another Broken Egg, will hire some employees only for summer for positions that require little training, such as a hostess or kitchen staff, according to the regional manager, Bryan Jewell.
Another consideration when searching for positions to apply is the minimum age and other law-based restrictions. For example, to work in an environment where the sale of alcoholic beverages constitutes the main business, such as a bar, the candidate must be at least 18 years old. In addition, where the sale of alcoholic beverages does not constitute the main business, but is for premise consumption, such as a restaurant, the candidate may be under 18 years old as long as his employment does not involve the mixing, dispensing, or serving of alcoholic beverages.
After establishing these basics, you need to decide where to apply. The best starting point is determining where you want to work. Many companies may not necessarily be hiring, but if you go in and speak to a manager he might be interested enough in what you have to offer and hire you regardless. You can also begin by looking for open positions. The best way to do this is to network with family and friends who might know of a company hiring employees at the time. By simply updating your Facebook status, you can instantly inform all your friends of your job search, who can, in turn, provide you with some leads. You can also look through the Internet and newspaper classified ads. The career services department at your school will also have listings of companies who are hiring. If there is a company or a position that you know you want to work for, you can always contact them directly.
The Application Process
Once you have determined where you want to begin applying, you must do some research and organization. You should make a strategic plan that outlines when you are going to fill out applications. It is best to apply when operations are slower. For example, if you are applying at a restaurant, the best time to apply is between 2:00 and 4:00pm. You should also keep a record of where and when you filled out applications so that you can follow up with potential employers.
In addition to applying at the right times, you must also be completely prepared. This includes preparing a professional and well-organized resume and having all the resources and necessary information to fill out an application. It is also crucial that you are dressed appropriately and look professional. Amy Lewis of Shoe La La offers the following advice: "Apply early and wear nice attire even when picking up an application to fill out." Filling out an application is the first impression the company has of you, and you want to make it a positive and lasting one. Being prepared and professional shows employers that you are serious and dedicated to finding a job and will be responsible and reliable if hired. Therefore, you should be prepared to provide all necessary contact information for yourself, references, and past employers.
Interviewing
The interview is next most important part of applying for a job. A successful application may help you get your foot in the door, but from here you have to prove yourself in order to be employed. There are several websites and other resources that list popular interview questions that you can use to prepare and practice for the interview. You can also ask family and friends to do a mock interview with you and give you feedback to assure you have a successful interview. Every employer I talked to expressed the importance of being on time and being dressed appropriately for an interview. Always bring another copy of your resume, a list of references, and a complete schedule of when you will be able to work. Bryan Jewell of Another Broken Egg gave me some insight on the interview process: "An applicant should sell themselves in an interview. Show me why you are a good fit for our company."
After an interview, it is also always appropriate to send a thank you note. In this note, you should thank the interviewer for his time and consideration for the position. This also gives you another opportunity to leave a lasting impression and reminder of why you are an excellent candidate for the position.
What Employers Are Looking For
Amy Lewis at Shoe La La shared what she looks for in a candidate applying for a position at the store: "Positive attitude, reliable, and self assertive personality." Consistently employers shared that good people skills, a welcoming smile, outgoing personality, and clean appearance were the most important traits for a candidate to have. When interviewing for a job, employers look for candidates who are prepared to answer their questions. A manager for a hot, retail chain with a store in the Acadiana Mall explained what she looks for during the interview process. She asks many behavioral-based questions to gain a strong understanding of the candidate's personality and work ethic. For example, she often asks if the candidate thinks there should be diversity in the workplace. The interview might as well be over if the candidate does not know what diversity is.
Many job listings ask for some type of experience, but the majority of employers are flexible on this requirement. Skills and other knowledge are easy to teach, but employees with bad attitudes or with little personality are difficult to train and work with. As Brandon Degeytair, the manager of Daiquiris Supreme stated, "Sometimes it's better to have someone with little experience that we can train to fit the business."
Overall, the key considerations employers look for when hiring a candidate included the following:
-Ability to maintain a job for a long period of time
-Outgoing personality
-Positive attitude
-Common sense
-Ability to multi-task
-Availability
-Transportation to and from work
-Some "deal breakers" many employees shared that led them to pass a candidate included:
-Lack of stability
-Lack of enthusiasm while interviewing
-Leaving a previous job due to issues with management
While all the tips and advice above are useful and important when searching for a summer job, as Charles Goodson at Charley G's shared with us, the most important thing to remember is to "Be yourself, you will find a job that fits you."
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