Finding a Job for College Students

As college tuition costs rise, more students need to find ways to supplement their scholarships or student loans. Summer is the perfect time to work part-time and earn some extra money to put into that education account.

There are many job opportunities for college students. Summer is a great time to work a seasonal job.

Theme Parks

There are theme parks scattered all across the U.S. Chances are, you live within driving distance of one of them. If you have ever visited one of these parks, you realize how many people are employed there, and most of them are students. Just some of the possible positions would be in the areas of: cashier, cleaning crew, performer, product stocker, ride operator, transportation, and vendor. Use the Internet to find information on how to apply for a job at a specific theme park. Fill out the application in the spring and get a jump on the last-minute job seekers out there.

Landscaping

Every major city has plant nurseries and landscaping centers. More help is needed in the summer months for sales and lawn and garden maintenance. Check your local phone directory for lawn care services or plant nurseries in your area, and ask about potential summer employment. For the entrepreneurial type, there is money to be made by having your own mowing business. Find some friends who can pool their resources (equipment and/or money). Decide how many days a week your crew will be available. Print and distribute fliers with your contact information. Find places that will let you post these such as grocery stores, laundromats, or business bulletin boards. Many towns have small but widely distributed papers that offer free or inexpensive classified ads. Get the word out several months before summer so you can start booking appointments. Then, when summer arrives, you can work on your tan while putting money in your pocket!

Snow Cone Stand

This is great business with a low start-up cost. Find a location close to a baseball park or shopping mall, obtain a portable building and paint it as brightly as you dare to catch attention. In those hot summer months, you will definitely have lines forming at your place of business. For families with several children headed to college, this is a great investment that can be used to help pay rising tuition costs. An added benefit: self-ownership-you don't have to spend time looking for a job every summer.

The key to finding a seasonal summer job is to start early. Begin filling out applications and interviewing in early spring. Then a couple of weeks before summer break, make phone calls or visits to see what specific jobs are available.