Decisions on what to do during the summer can be difficult for college students to make. We have money on the mind, but most do not want to work when the weather is beautiful.
Higher education costs money. This should come as no surprise. Unfortunately, paying for that education falls on most students’ shoulders. Deciding whether to accumulate a massive mound of debt or attempting to pay off college now is a decision most students face on a regular basis.
I realize the first thing students want to do after two semesters of classes is probably not an exhausting job search or working away their summer, but I will tell you now, working in the summer is single-handedly the best thing you can do for yourself.
The summer consists of three unoccupied months just ready and waiting for you to fill them with continuous labor. In those three months, life-changing experiences can be made. A resume can be built and money for a car or next fall’s tuition and rent can be made when that money was not otherwise available.
But the most important thing about summer employment is personal relationships that can amount to long-term friendship and references from your employer that you can use for future employment.
A problem many students are facing when they look for employment after college is that they have not tried the job market before they graduated. This mistake can prevent you from landing the dream job of your life. References and a diverse resume will get you into the interview of your dreams.
Finding a job in the summer requires great determination. Luckily, every summer a group of seniors graduate and leave their part-time employment behind.
The most notorious establishments looking for summer hire are restaurants, retail jobs, and customer service jobs. If you’re outdoorsy, then you chose the right state to live in. Michigan features several state parks, recreational areas, and local parks which all need people to help maintain them.
If an employer sees that you are motivated, driven, and confident in earning a position at their place of employment, no matter the experience, you will be a likely candidate for the job. If you are given a chance for an interview, do not leave without asking questions.
Typically getting a head start on the job search is helpful when looking for summer employment. However, fast food chains and stores like Meijer, Walmart, and Tractor Supply are always looking to add employees. Ferris State University is offering a few jobs that can be found on your MyFSU account.
Rite Aid and Walgreens are close enough off-campus jobs that students can walk to work if they are living on campus. Try a local business in downtown Big Rapids where there is a diverse range of employment available suitable for any student. If you are desperate, you could even give the Tabu Lounge in Fantasies Unlimited a shot.
Step in and ask if you can fill out an application. For most entry-level jobs in Big Rapids, that is all they require. If you do not get a call back after an interview, do not focus on that one job. You must always be in motion during your search for employment.
Whatever you do this summer, do not let three months of free time slip through your fingers. You may regret it.n