So it's that time of year and you're looking for a summer job. You've exhausted the wallets of your neighbors who can't afford to pay you for one more second of babysitting, grass cutting, snow shoveling or pet watching. It's time to bite the bullet and get a real live, tax-paying, paycheck-cashing kind of job. But what kind of job will turn into something more permanent when the summer is over?
You might be thinking "just summer," but in reality you could probably use the extra cash for gas money, movies, savings, and a whole host of other things during the school year. Rather than looking for just a seasonal job, why not focus on something that could turn into a part-time job?
Here are four foolproof steps to keeping your summer job all year.
Choosing your job wisely
Think about the places you love to go during the summer. Maybe the beach, maybe the pool, or maybe you just love to give your car a good cleaning at the carwash. These places have what the employment industry calls "seasonality," and that's not a good feature to have in a job that you're trying to make permanent. Jobs that you can stay in year-round are the places you like to shop whether it's 80? or 8?, because they need a big staff all year.
Using national chains to your advantage
Employers with a national presence (think large chain restaurants and national retailers) are an excellent place to start. These types of jobs will move with you, and that's precisely what you need. No matter where you go for school or work, chances are you can get a job transfer to a location close to you. Here's a short list of national employers to help you get your wheels turning: Macy's, JC Penney, Pizza Hut, or Avon are all great examples.
Moving up without moving on
Did you know that the CEO of McDonald's started out as a manager in training? Even things that might seem temporary, like jobs at McDonald's or jobs at Wendy's, offer great middle management positions to keep you motivated. Electronics store hhGregg and Qdoba pride themselves on their efforts to promote employees from within. If transfers are not available, your long-term work experience serves as a valuable reference anywhere you might go.
Proving your worth to your boss
Often seasonal hiring is an excellent way to get your foot in the door, so once you do it's important to make the most of it. Employers look to their seasonal employees first when they want to add to their permanent staff. And why wouldn't they? If you do a great job during the summer, you will have proven what a stellar employee you are. Working hard and doing a good job will earn you a valuable tool for your resume: a great employer reference. That means someone who can vouch for your work ethic, which will be important no matter what your aspirations are. College applications and future employers will all be looking for candidates who have a proven track record, so why not get a jump start? So what are you waiting for? Get started with your job search!
About Amy White