Maximizing Summer: A Guide to Work Opportunities for Students
Summer break presents a unique opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience, earn money, and explore potential career paths. Whether you're a high school student just starting to think about your future or a college student looking to supplement your education and gain real-world skills, there are numerous summer work opportunities available. This guide explores a wide array of options, from traditional part-time jobs and internships to remote work and entrepreneurial ventures.
Traditional Summer Jobs
Traditional part-time jobs remain a popular choice for students due to their flexibility and accessibility. These jobs often don't require specific degrees or prior experience, making them ideal for students of all backgrounds.
Retail and Customer Service
Many students find summer employment in retail stores or customer service roles. These jobs provide valuable experience in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Food Service
Restaurants, cafes, and ice cream parlors often hire extra staff during the summer months. Working in the food service industry can teach you about time management, customer interaction, and working under pressure.
Landscaping and Manual Labor
For those who enjoy physical work, landscaping companies and construction sites often hire summer help. These jobs can be physically demanding but offer a good workout and the chance to work outdoors. Summer is also a busy season for moving, so there are plenty of options available. General laborer jobs can help to build character and break a sweat.
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Internships: Gaining Experience in Your Field
Internships offer students the chance to gain experience directly related to their field of study. They provide valuable skills, industry knowledge, and networking opportunities.
Internship Programs
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has numerous commissioned corps, internship, training, and volunteer opportunities for students of all academic disciplines and levels. The Pathways program is made up of three main components: the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program. The Internship Program is for high school and college students in search of an internship or other opportunity to gain work experience while in school. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service.
Finding Internship Opportunities
Your academic advisor can be a valuable resource for finding paid internship opportunities. Many companies are now opting to pay their interns, ensuring compliance with Department of Labor regulations and providing students with financial compensation for their work.
Virtual Internships
In the wake of COVID-19, many traditional internships have transitioned to online formats. While there may be fewer internships available overall, many employers are becoming more comfortable with the virtual work environment and are even expanding hiring.
Remote Work: Flexibility and Convenience
The rise of remote work has opened up new opportunities for students to earn money from the comfort of their own homes. Remote jobs offer flexibility and convenience, making them ideal for students balancing work with their studies and other commitments.
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Freelancing
Freelance work allows students to take on projects based on their skills and interests. Examples of freelance work include data entry, user experience design, and online translation. Your earnings as a freelancer will depend on your experience and availability. The best part is you will be able to set your own schedule and take on as much or as little work as you want. Even better, there aren't geographical restrictions when it comes to online work.
Online Tutoring
College students can be a great resource to younger students, and virtual tutoring can be an opportunity to earn money while gaining valuable experience toward a career in education. Tutoring companies, nonprofit organizations, and local schools all may offer employment opportunities to qualified college students able to instruct a high school student in subjects like math, English and SAT or ACT prep.
Social Media Management
Companies may hire students to run their social media accounts, or students could launch their own accounts. Building a personal brand online takes time and discipline but can be lucrative and lead to new career opportunities down the road.
Support Roles with Delivery Services
Remote internships in software development, marketing, finance and accounting, and quality assurance are all available at Amazon this summer.
Telemedicine Support Work
Doctor offices and medical centers may be seeking remote help to coordinate scheduling and other logistics around virtual visits.
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Virtual Event Planning
College students can get involved in the planning and execution of virtual events from anywhere.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: Be Your Own Boss
For students with an entrepreneurial spirit, summer can be a great time to start their own business. This allows you to control your own time and not having a boss to answer to.
Selling Handmade Crafts
If you have a creative flair, selling handmade crafts can be both fulfilling and profitable. Whether you knit, draw, sew, or create unique jewelry, there’s a market for your talents.
Tutoring
You’ve been through the material, and you understand it. Not every student knows the subject as well as you do, and many could use additional help outside the classroom. Chances are, the knowledge is still fresh in your mind, and you can actually earn some money by passing that knowledge on to people who need it to succeed.
Gig Work
Gig work or side hustles are relative new ways for students to earn money. The ability to work when you want is appealing. Consider driving for Uber, Lyft, or delivering groceries with Shipt or Instacart. Amazon Mechanical Turk offers online part-time jobs like completing surveys or performing short-term tasks. Sites like Craigslist feature a 'Gigs' section where you can find temporary jobs that usually last a day or two. Gig work can often be more lucrative than traditional employment due to the urgent nature of these tasks, with employers willing to pay a premium and offer tips for a job well done.
Unique and Interesting Opportunities
Beyond the typical summer jobs, there are many unique and interesting opportunities for students who are willing to think outside the box.
CoolWorks: Jobs in Great Places
CoolWorks has been the go-to source for Jobs In Great Places®, offering opportunities that often include room and board, making it easier than ever to trade scrolling for exploring.
Summer Camps
Summer camp season coincides perfectly with the collegiate summer, making you a great candidate to work as a camp counselor.
Caddy
You can still get a great workout and make good money working as a caddy at your local golf course or country club.
Music Lessons
Remember that people will pay good money for music lessons.
Sports Camps
Student-athletes can find work at summer sports camps with ease.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Becoming an English teacher and give into that burning desire to travel abroad - and get paid while doing it! Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) has long been a viable avenue for gap-year adults, college students, and recent grads to travel the world and make money.
Barista
Consider applying for work as a barista.
Kitchen Staff
Full-time or part-time, you can gain some real-world experience working as a member of a kitchen staff.
Gadget Repair
In our digital age, someone somewhere will always need a cracked iPhone screen replaced, a new PCB installed in their smart refrigerator, or help installing a new SIM card.
Childcare Provider
You can work as an au pair during the summer months, which can afford you the opportunity to travel, or find work as a nanny in your hometown.
Lifeguard
Ditch the zinc oxide for full-on SPF coverage, get yourself certified in CPR and first aid, and enjoy your summer break in the sun!
Dog Walker
You’d be a great fit for a job as a professional dog walker. Sign up as a walker or sitter on Rover or Wag!, which can link you with people in your area who need someone to walk or watch their dog.
Studio Assistant
Every music session needs an assistant to help mic drum sets, wrap cables, run to grab coffee for artists and engineers, and generally help clients record in a comfortable environment. And guess what? Photography and video studios need assistants too.
Receptionist
The responsibilities are generally not too grueling (compared to your Dostoevsky research paper from ENG-325), and they generally offer options for part-time and full-time work.
Tour Guide
If you’re spending summer in a tourist destination or historic city, becoming a tour guide combines income with the opportunity to share your knowledge and passion for your location.
Event Staff
Summer is prime time for music festivals, outdoor concerts, farmer’s markets, and community events. These venues need temporary staff for everything from ticket taking and security to merchandise sales and VIP hosting.
Resources for Finding Summer Jobs
CoolWorks
CoolWorks is a great resource for finding seasonal jobs in unique locations.
USAJobs
USAJobs lists current openings with the National Park Service and other federal agencies.
University Career Services
The University of Texas at Austin employs over 10,000 students in a wide variety of student jobs each semester. Workday's Student Jobs Site is the primary platform for all UT Austin Student Employment. 12twenty a student inclusive job board for internships, co-ops, and part-time and full-time jobs, as well as Work-Study-eligible off-campus community service paid positions. The College of Natural Sciences and the Sanger Learning Center are two large employers of undergraduates in academic jobs. The Office of Undergraduate Research also provides valuable resources for students interested in research opportunities, including Eureka, a searchable database.
General Job Boards
Indeed, HomeAdvisor, and Craigslist are good places to look for landscaping and other manual labor jobs.
Gig Work Platforms
Rover and Wag! connect dog walkers with clients in their area. DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Amazon Flex offer opportunities for delivery drivers. Amazon Mechanical Turk offers online part-time jobs like completing surveys or performing short-term tasks.
Important Considerations
Eligibility Requirements
In addition to specific eligibility requirements for student positions, the following requirements apply to all employees of The University of Texas at Austin.
Criminal History Background Check
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin to conduct a criminal background check including sex offender registry check on any applicant, internal or external, who is under final consideration for employment with the University. This applies to all full-time, part-time, regular, temporary or student positions.
Employment Eligibility Verification
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. You will be required to present acceptable, original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work. You must present acceptable, original documents no later than the third work day, or you will not be employed by the University.
E-Verify
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action.
Veteran Employment Preference
The University of Texas at Austin supports veteran employment opportunities.
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