5 Ways to Find a Summer Job in a Tough Economy

For the first time in months it looks like unemployment rates are going down but does that help the average college or high school student who is going to want a summertime job? Many reports say the dip in unemployment numbers just shows how some people have given up looking for any form of employment.

So if even experienced members of the workforce are having a hard time finding jobs, how are inexperienced young people going to join the ranks of working men and women this summer? We are in a terrible recession after all, aren't we? Of course that's true but that doesn't mean there hasn't been a bad job market in the United States before 2011. You just have to get creative and work a little harder to find summer employment.

Roadblocks for summer workers will be the ex-fully employed individuals who will now be fighting with them for concession stand jobs at local Theme Parks. Entry level summer jobs are usually the easy to find, low paying and require minimal experience. It's just too bad that there are too many people who ARE experienced who will take any job.

Of course there are sometimes wonderful exceptions but most people's first jobs are menial and occasionally semi-degrading. Take for example, my summer job selling "pork chops on a stick" at the local County Fair which was every negative summer job experience rolled into one little package. I barely got paid, it taught me nothing that I could use later in life and it, in fact, caused me to give up pork products all together. But then that's always the risk of working in the food service industry.

So here are five ways you can get creative with your summer job hunt.

Ask Your Parents, Relatives and Friends for Referrals

Never underestimate your social network as a resource for finding a summer job-there's even a word used to describe it when family members hire other family members and it is nepotism. There's a picture of Tori Spelling right next to it in the dictionary. Beware, however, as my pork chop on a stick job was given to me by a friend of my parents. That's nepotism gone wrong.

Be Prepared to Work for Free

Especially if you are looking to gain valuable experience in the field you would like to someday find a career, be prepared to go without a paycheck. In the workforce there is something called paying your dues and honestly good experience pays dividends in your life for years to come.

Create Your Very Own Summer Job on Your Own

If no one will hire you, invent your own job by starting a business! You could set up a dog sitting service, detail cars or start writing articles for the internet at a place like AssociatedContent.com. I have done all three and with a little work they can all be very lucrative.

Apply Now!

Why wait until the end of May to start applying for summer jobs? Companies accept applicants for summer positions months in advance. So don't be left with nothing to do but sit at home and watch TV re-runs of "Oprah" and "Dr. Phil" all summer.

Never Wait for a Company to Post an Ad or Sign Saying "We're Hiring"

Every summer job I had my entire life (barring the "pork chop on a stick" fiasco) were not as a result of me responding to an ad in the paper. I would write a list of places I wanted to work and I would just walk in and ask to fill out an application. You would be surprised how many places are hiring but don't advertise it.

Source: Forbes.com