Student Jobs and Beyond

Student jobs are fine while you're in school, but eventually, you will leave college. It is the next great adventure of your life – becoming a full-fledged adult. College resources can help you get ready for a career of your choosing.

Summer Jobs/ Summer Programs

Most college students work during the summer months to help pay for college the following year or even just books. Books can cost a small fortune depending on your major. Ask your current employer if they will have a student job available for you during the summer months. Most will hold one for their good college workers. With jobs at a premium, using this approach gives you some income you can count on.

An advantage is cost savings. Some students stay in their college town for the summer but that brings up the subject of housing. If you are spending extra on housing, you aren’t netting very much money. When you go home, at least you will be living rent-free so you can save your dough.

Summer programs are another way to get paid over the hiatus from school. Many of these programs are geared towards your major and can net some valuable connections later. They usually pay you a tidy sum that can cover housing costs and still leave you with money in the bank.

Choosing a Career

You may remain undeclared during your freshman first semester. Some people know already what they want to major in, and that is why they chose the school they are attending. But if you are undecided, your advisor can suggest different career paths based on your course choices.

Knowing what you ultimately want to do can help with choosing opportunities that can land you that dream job. Who says that you have to wait until after college to prepare for your career? Summer internships, programs and jobs in your chosen field give you two things: practical experience and a chance to see if that career fits who you want to be.

Resumes

Many college programs require volunteer hours and internships. Internships are unpaid, but they offer valuable experience that looks good on a resume. When an employer is trying to decide between someone who has a stellar academic record and someone who has good grades but also practical on-the-job training, the latter will usually have the advantage.

An ideal resume is restricted to one page. This forces you to write concise sentences using action words and the facts. Depending on the position being applied for, only include relevant student job experience and educational experience pertinent to that job.

Interviewing

Many quake in their boots when confronted with an interviewer. They are people too, but it is also their job to choose the best candidate for the job. On-campus job resource centers can help prep you with possible questions that interviewers might ask. You can practice your answers beforehand so you are comfortable during the actual interview.

But, only part of the interview is what you say. They will also scrutinize your appearance. Even if your job involves you wearing jeans on a construction site, don’t dress like that during the interview. Come in a smart-looking suit in a power color (dark blue, black). You should also shave, have neat hair, and clean up for your interviews.

College is one step but an important one on the road to the rest of your life. Here, you will learn what career fits your personality, how to network within your chosen career and also how to prepare accordingly to put your best foot forward.

Have A Question or Tip to Share About This Topic?

See what other visitors are talking about and join in! Do you have a great tip to share about this? Share it! You can also ask questions here about this topic and other guests will give you their feedback.

[ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional)[ ? ]

 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

(first or full name)

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

  •  submission guidelines.


(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Resume Writing Not rated yet
When you are creating your resume you want to make it the most powerful statement that you can about yourself. You want your resume to highlight your strong …

Click here to write your own.




Back to Homepage from Student Jobs

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.