Okay, so I’m going into my sophomore year at a local state university and since it’s the summer, I’m expected to find a job to help pay for my finances. The problem? I simply cannot find one. I’ve applied to over 15 positions in the past month or so and simply have had not much luck. I’m planning on applying to a few more places, but I don’t know how much luck I’ll have considering it’s late in job-hunting season. And it’s definitely too late to apply for most reputable scholarships. Any advice?
Have you tried applying to temporary help agencies? How about babysitting? Lawn mowing? Dog walking? Sometimes you have to apply to 150, not just 15, in order to get one position.
My kid night stocked at Walmart one summer. Terrible hours, but she made some money.
@kidzncatz Sorry, but I don’t think there is a temp agency in my area. At least not one that I can think of.
The most likely scenario is that I make up for it in the fall with an on-campus job, and I will try to spend as little money as possible over the summer.
Do you follow up on the applications? My daughter applied, and then went back in to ‘make sure’ that her application had her phone number on it. They asked her to start the next day. She had worked at this restaurant in another state so didn’t need much training. She said the manager called several people to start immediately and they couldn’t. She also got her job at the first restaurant by going into the store again(to eat there), the manager remembered her (she’s very outgoing) and hired her.
A neighbor was hired at the grocery store, and that too was a hard job to get. When I asked him why they hired him, he said he went in at least once a week and pestered the manager. They knew he wanted the job.
Be persistent.
Restaurants are the best bet. As mentioned above, go in person!
Did you include cover letters with your applications?
@Madison85 Most of my applications didn’t ask for cover letters, whether it be electronic or a paper copy. I did attach my resume to the few who asked, though.
@twoinanddone On Memorial Day, I did follow up with my nearby Tractor Supply and they said they’d begin reviewing seasonal applications that week. Also, most of my applications asked for a phone number anyway, so that most likely isn’t the problem.
It doesn’t matter if the applications didn’t call for cover letters.
My kids had a minimum wage job in high school. It was a popular place for kids to apply. Dozens of applications per week before summer. Guess who got interviews and job offers. Kids who included cover letters.
ETA: Use a cover letter to explain your sincere interest in the job.
@Madison85 It might just come down to whatever the employer wants in an application. Each place is different. Not trying to cause a conflict or anything like that.
At various times our kids have had luck with the following summer jobs:
Amusement/water parks
Summer camps
Movie theaters
Fast food restaurants
Small lawn care businesses
Car wash businesses
If you have not yet, you could try these.
What we are saying is that each store, restaurant, summer park gets dozens of applications. You need to stand out. My daughter didn’t forget to put her phone number on the application, but that was her excuse to have them pull her application out of the stack, and get them to notice she’d work at this fast food place before. A cover letter is more notice. Going into the store a few times, more notice.
Squeaky wheel. Don’t wait for them to call you.
^^This!
I am trying to help you get your application to stand out but you aren’t catching on to my suggestion.
Don’t just do the minimum to get by.
@ReturningFavor There’s no amusement or water park nearby and I applied to a couple fast food restaurants (McDonald’s and Dunkin) before realizing that it might be a bit too fast-paced for me. I did apply to my local movie theatre last week as well as at a campground in the next town over this past Friday.
No way would I allow my kids to not go back and “nicely” ask to speak to the hiring manager after submitting an online application. Where are your friends working? Ask them to put in a good word for you. What about your parents friends? Have them ask people they know if anyone is hiring. And sorry, but how can McD’s and DD be “too fast paced”? Yes, you will be busy, but it is paid work. I know people who work at DD’s and they say the tips are great. Make up flyers and hand them out to your neighbors, asking for work. I know kids your age don’t tend to use FB a lot, but folks my age who hire do. Ask on FB. My 16yo D will be working almost FT this summer at a bakery for the second year in a row. She got the job by baking up a storm the night before and going from bakery to bakery the next day with her baked goods to give to the managers when she applied. She wanted to stand out and she wanted to work at a bakery. She got two job offers.
I would suggest that you go to a locally owned restaurant…not a chain. Most of the chains have electronic applications. Some of the locally owned ones are…well…locally owned, and you might get to speak to the manager or even the owner there.
Just be open minded about taking ANY job…bus person, dishwasher, anything. Be flexible. Plan to be available for any shifts the can offer you, including weekends and evenings.
@thumper1 Thanks for the suggestion. I might look into that if it’s not too late.
@mamom Most of the people who I might call friends are from college and don’t live in the same area I do. My time in middle school and high school wasn’t favorable for friendships, to say it delicately.