1. Think about your availability:
What kind of job do you want to have: full-time, part-time or casual such working at a fair or festivals? Keep in mind that part-time and casual may be easier to find than a full-time job.
When do you want to work: daytime, evenings, weekends?
Be realistic about your availability; think about sports or school obligations as well as family vacation plans. Keep in mind the more flexible you are, the more appealing you’ll be to an employer.
Be honest with potential employers about your availability and be realistic about your time off. Many places such as restaurants can’t give you long weekends off, as that’s their busiest time.
2. What kind of job are you looking for?
Think about your skills and experience so you can target the jobs you’re qualified for.
The kind of job you’re looking for also impacts your job search success. Restaurant jobs tend to be more available whereas counselors/recreation positions at summer camps or in city programs are usually hired earlier in the spring.
For some jobs, such as landscaping or golf courses be aware you may need special qualifications to operate machinery.
Do you prefer to work inside or outside? An outside job can be amazing when the weather is great but if it’s rainy, your shifts may be cancelled (ex. lifeguard, waitress on a patio) which can result in lost wages.
3. Where do you want to work?
Most students want to stay and work at home but if your family has a cabin in a resort area, you may be able to find a job there.
If you like to travel and enjoy being on your own, lots of resorts looking for summer staff provide accommodation as an incentive (ex. hotels or camps in national parks, busy cafes at popular lakes, RV camps in great destinations). Make sure you discuss these with your parents before applying.
High school students often think there won’t be any great jobs left when school’s out but lots of places need staff on an on-going basis during the busy summer season.
4. Start Applying
Once you’ve got an idea of where you’d like to work & what qualities and experience you have, make sure your resume is up to date and presents you in the best way possible. For some practical pointers on check out the job tool section of teenwork.ca.
Remember to tailor your cover letter and resume for each place you’re applying, as requirements for each job will be different. It does take more work but employers will definitely notice that you’ve written an individual cover letter for their positions and this will set you apart from other applicants.
Stay positive, and don’t be discouraged! If you really want to work at a place but they’re not hiring, let them know that you’d be interested when they are hiring. This is helpful for employers because when they need staff, they’ll already have you as a great potential employee in mind.
For best results, drop in at a non-busy time, as employers will have more time to talk with you. Be sure to be nicely dressed and be prepared as they may even give you a mini-interview on the spot! Make sure to go on your own! The last thing an employer wants to see is someone applying for a job with a large group of friends with them.
Be persistent and follow up with employers. Ask if you can check back in a week or so. Things can change very quickly in work environments. Staff sometimes quit, get sick, have to go to summer school, or their availability changes.
If you keep in touch with the hiring manager, and they need to hire quickly, you just might be at the top of their list!
5. Final Thoughts
Don’t be discouraged. Keep a positive attitude, as this is one of the most important things employers look for.
Network! Let friends, family, neighbours, and even teachers know that you’re looking. You never know where a job may come from. Don’t stop applying until you have the job!
There may be lots of reasons why you aren’t getting hired. Lots of places that hire summer students give "first priority" to the students they hired last year.
Keep in mind the top five traits employers are looking for: great attitude, flexibility, reliability, hardworking, fast learner.
If you’re having trouble finding a great summer job, think about volunteering. Lots of summer camps or programs may be looking for volunteers in the summer. You could gain valuable experience; get some great references and you may even satisfy some of your high school requirements for volunteer hours.
Try volunteering at festivals or special events. Many churches, universities or community colleges hold summer camps where you could offer to help out.
Help out with charities. With many people on holiday, charities often get forgotten about. You could hold a food drive for the food bank, gather a group of people to donate blood, visit the local SPCA; organize a city park clean up…all of these look terrific on a resume and show employers that you can problem solve and get things done!
Use your time off wisely: take an online course like young worker readiness or a course from Waves University, which prepares you for the reality of working & will help you become a more valued employee.
Think about upgrading your skills-take first aid or CPR courses; upgrade your computer skills-practice PowerPoint, excel, typing, or take an online computer course; get a head start on reading for your courses or your university applications.
Start your own little business: offer to take care of neighbour’s lawn, gardens, or house if they go out of town; cut grass, dog walk, or babysit.
Good luck from teenwork.ca, Canada’s #1 job site for teens & students!
Teenwork was founded by a teen Evelyn Morett when she was having trouble finding a part-time job while in high school. She teamed up with her mom, Louise to help her launch the site and teenwork.ca was created. We believe that finding work, shouldn't be work! We want to make it as easy as possible for young people to find great jobs and get the information about working that they need.
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