Your Guide to Finding a Summer Job or Internship

Your Guide to Finding a Summer Job or Internship

As the semester draws to an end, many students are starting to think about how they will spend their time off during the summer months. Working a job or internship is a great way to earn extra money for next semester and even to kick start your career.

Not sure where to look or worried about how you will land that job or internship? Here are a few tips to get you started:

Prioritize

Before you even begin your search for the perfect summer job or internship, you need to determine your goals. If your priority is to make extra money before school starts up again, you should be looking for a job or paid internship. If your goal is experience-focused, a paid internship or internship would be best for you.

You will also want to prioritize location. Decide whether you want to travel for the summer, move home, or if you’d rather stay in the city and live in the best student housing Ottawa offers, right here at 1Eleven.

Begin the Search

Use the internet to search for jobs or internships that are the right fit for you. Many online job boards will post internships along with their paid jobs, so be sure to search for something that’s related to your preferred career. You can also do a general search in a search engine on the internet for your preferred job/internship.

Create Your Resume

Your resume is what will help prospective employers make their hiring decision. Your resume should list:

  • Contact Information: This includes your name, phone number, address, and email so that hiring managers can reach you if they decide your resume fits the position for which you are applying. You can also note your preferred method of communication so that they can contact you more easily. For example, if you prefer that they call your cell rather than send an email, you can label your phone as the preferred method.
  • Experience: If you have work experience from previous jobs, you will want to list each job and the duties you performed. If you haven’t had a job before, you can list any experience that pertains to the job you’re applying for. This includes community service, any roles you’ve had in your courses (team leader, official and unofficial teaching assistant, etc. ) and even the courses you’ve taken that relate to the job.
  • Education: You don’t have to list all of your education. Employers will want to know whether you have completed high school and how many years you’ve completed of your college or university education.
  • Skills: Listing your skills will also help employers determine if you’re a right fit for the job. List any skills you have that relate to the job or internship you’re applying for and, if you’ve had a job in the past, list the skills you learned from when you worked at that job.

Contact the Employer

Once your resume is completed, you will need to send it to the employer. In most cases, you can find their contact information on their websites and send them an introductory email. Now’s your chance to impress them! This email should include who you are, why you’re emailing them, and why you believe you’re a good fit for an internship/job. You should attach your resume, as well. Don’t forget to always thank them for their time at the end of the email.

Prepare for Interviews and Follow-up

The next step of this process is your interview. Once your interview has been scheduled, it’s important to prepare ahead of time. Make sure your clothes are laid out the night before so that you’re not rushed in the morning. You should also print your resume and bring it with you so that you can go over it with the hiring manager in person.

Prepare answers to certain questions so that you can anticipate your answers when the time comes. Employers will normally ask about experience, so be prepared to describe your experience and why you believe it makes you a good fit for the job. You should also prepare questions for the employers about the job. If you’ve applied for an internship, it’s important to make sure you will receive course-credit for your work there.

Follow-up

Always follow up after an interview. When you return home, send the person who interviewed you a quick thank you email and let them know that they can contact you if they have any other questions. This demonstrates professionalism and shows you’re serious about obtaining the position.

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