Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

Summer: it makes people excited for festivals, activities and sunshine. In an ideal world, we would get to enjoy all of these things free from other worries. Unfortunately, the little matter of money often gets in the way, and many students will be hunting for an income to fund such activities. While the task of finding one can be daunting, there are a few steps to make the process easier.

First, consider how long you’ll need your summer job. If it’s just needed for the summer because you have one to go back to in the fall, there will likely be more jobs because seasonal or temp jobs are an option. If not, consider looking for one with flexible hours. That way, if you want to work some extra hours during the summer and back when school starts, you can still make some extra cash as well as pay all the bills.

Next, use all available online resources such as Indeed, LinkedIn and Handshake on Portal so that there’s multiple options to choose from. Also, be sure to check the posting dates as well as the start dates, instead of filling out a dozen applications when some might not even be available.

Putting together an availability list and preferred hours will also help speed up the process, as it will come up in some applications or interviews. It will also make you consider what kind of schedule you want after considering all factors. If you’re unsure of these and you tell the manager this, you might end up working much less or more than you would like.

If you decide to go the old school route and check in in person with places that might be hiring, have resumes ready to go and turn in. Some places will just take a resume and not require an application, and getting as many resumes out there will increase the chance of a call back.

Additionally, Western has its own resources for job hunting, the main one being the Service Learning and Career Development Center. Heather Duncan of the SLCD gave some advice on students on a job hunt.

“Definitely make a Handshake account, as that’s our main platform for listing jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities,” Duncan said. “It’s the most convenient place to find something.” Duncan also advised that “It’s always best to ask if you’re having trouble finding something that interests you.”

The SLCD will be open and offering services such as resume reviews up until the end of Spring Term. They are located in room 119 in the Werner University Center.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy