Summer Jobs

[xiphias]

The time has come where most students (including me) are looking for jobs over the summer (unfortunatly I was a bit slow off the mark this year...). Anyway - what can I do to make myself stand out from the rest of the students and err, cheap foreign labour and get myself in with a good job? Mostly we're just offered manual labour, but I'd like to do something more technical, but not quite sure how to sell myself into it!

Now I'm planning to do the rounds of agencies, but is there anywhere else I can look for jobs? I'm intrigued as to how some people manage to get jobs delivering cars, as I never see them advertised! There's also a nice presitge car showroom down the road from me, is it too cheeky just to go in and ask them if they have anything going for the summer? I dislike being a sheep and doing the normal methods, I'm willing to try something different and more interesting! (As I'm sure those of run your own businesses are.)

[Bodo]

When I was looking for a summer job the last time, I've searched on the net for a large company near me and for a technical contact. I've called them on the phone, said that I want to work for ten weeks, and what my qualifications are. They were interested and we discussed details on the phone, and I got sent a contract five days later. They paid good money for qualified work (for student jobs), and after the ten weeks, they've asked me if I wanted to work once per week during the semester and again the next summer for serious money.

I've worked there for three years during my studies and had no problems getting into another job that was closer to my studies. Best thing for the CV too since the company is renowned for their work in that particular field.

When you're looking for a job, keep in mind that nobody knows you, your qualification and that you want to work. Contact people from departments where you would see yourself directly (best not bother with HR) and be frank, courteous and serious.

[xiphias]

I like this idea of contacting companies directly, normally I would only consider doing that for a full time job. Having been round the agencies this afternoon, only two were of any help. The others just seem to fob you off unless they can employ you for a minimum wage! Not impressed. Obviously, it would seem they have no idea what I'm capable of, just classifying me as someone who just does manual labour, as if I do history of art or something How do I persuade them to employ me over anyone else? Pressurise them or just emphasise over and over again my skills?

Secondly, whilst trying to get in contact with my previous agency, I discovered they've closed down. Apparantly when they did so, they also destroyed all records they had. This is going to make it very difficult for me to get a reference...

[littlegreenfairy]

All I keep getting is *naaaaaaaaaaaaa no work ere* but noone realises that I'm not a nancy art student aged 17, but 21 (well in a couple of days) an engineer and also trained in audio typing/PAing and have a good grasp of book keeping.

If there are any people in South Yorkshire who could utilise my skills (I also enjoy envelope stuffing and stamp sticking and make a nice cup of tea) then please take pity on me and let me work for you!

[Bodo]

In my example, I applied for a job with my Pro/Engineer CAD user skills, which I thought to be good. The market was short of (and still is, as I learn from the press) qualified engineers (the uni type) these days in Germany. I applied at the design (styling-) department, and the secretary directed me to the CAD-CAM engineering department, who called me back for the job.

I then learned on the job that I knew nothing about Pro/E and the application of design and development strategies!! I now know what I don't know.

Pick one of your better skills from which you think it is asked for in the industry. Use it as a starting line for your telephone application. When there's no work for that particular skill, tell them what you study and that you want to do qualified work in that field! The point is that you make clear what skill you have or have theoretically, and that you are serious about doing qualified work. Don't be negative or low-key on the phone! They know that students will probaly not do their work better than they do. You probably won't get £20 per hour, but then you learn a lot more than your fellow students who work in the pub at night.

[Xaero]

The truth is more employers still like experience, although you are qualified and capable, you still won't know 'their' way of doing things, which can take a few weeks to get used to, so they won't get much out of you unless you can convince them otherwise.

Its the age old problem of getting a job while qualified everyone wants experience that you can't get unless you have a job, nightmare!

[audicab]

Each year we get a few emails from people looking to work over the summer, we don't take on temporary staff but if we did none of these would get a look in. They often have spelling mistakes in them, don't say why they want to work here, give no information on the individual and look like they have been written by a 5 year old.

In my opinion if you do want to contact companies for work, find the right contact, usually from a call to the receptionist, draft a good email that explains why you want to work there provide your CV and follow it up with a call to ask for work and to answer any questions.

It takes a lot longer this way but you have a much better chance of working for a company you want to in an industry you want to.

Good luck.