Finding Summer Jobs: Tips for College Students Looking for Summer Employment

School's out, and summer has struck with a full-blown impact. Students are leaving school, packing up their things, and cleaning out dorm rooms to head home or at least to leave campus for a few months before jumping right back in for another year of excitement. So, the major question on the minds of young college students needing money for tuition...how to find a job for those few short months of freedom? You don't really feel like getting up early everyday and living by a set schedule, but college is college right? You'd rather be at the beach with your friends, spending time with family, or practically anything else, but you have to find a job. So, how do you go about it? Even if you're extremely overqualified for the simplest jobs, you've probably discovered by now that you're lacking one serious qualification. You've probably heard this put numerous ways, depending on how many jobs you've applied for so far... "You've got great references, but I really need someone who's still going to be here in the fall," or "I'm sure you could do this job, and I'd love to hire you, but I've already hired on a bunch of new people for the summer." Either way, you're probably having a difficult time finding a steady job unless you have perfect connections and they let you come back over breaks. By the way, if you do have summer employment, this article is not for you, and you might as well stop surfing the net and go to work... For all the rest of you out there who are in need of work and completely out of options, here are a few things to try.

1. Find temp agencies in your area - Manpower, OSI, Trillium, and Kelly Services are just a few of the ones out there. It may sound hard to get into at first, but it really can turn out to be a valid option. Simply go to their local offices, with your driver's license and social security card, and register. They may ask you to take some tests and sign some papers, and after that they will look for jobs for you based on your skills and relevant experience. The positive side of this route is that they will still be there to help you on later breaks. You simply have to call to inform them when you'll be available to work, and they could even have a job lined up for you before you get home on break.

2.Apply at restaurants and retail - It's possible you've already tried this before getting to this article, but just in case you skipped this step. It's pretty common for restaurants and retail stores to have a high turnover in staff. It's also possible that if the business is large enough they would be willing to hire you even if only for a few months. Restaurants and retail locations can be stressful places to work, but they can also provide a stable job to come home to on future breaks. Apply at as many places as possible, even if you don't think you'd really want to work there or have a chance of getting hired. The more applications out there for you, the better. You can't get your name and references out there too much.

3. Apply at fast food establishments - I know it's not the most ideal of working conditions, but if nothing in town pans out you can always apply at the ever-so-popular McDonald's, Arby's, Wendy's,Taco Bell, Burger King, Hardee's, etc. It may not be a job you'd enjoy the rest of your life, but it's still money, and it's somewhat steady work. If you're really desperate, you can apply at fast food, and you're pretty much sure to get something.

4. Search online - If nothing works in person, you can let your fingers do the work. Get online and go to sites such as careerbuilder.com, monster.com, hotjobs.yahoo.com, etc. Register and keep checking back to see if you get any results. Don't give up right away.

5. Find a job through contacts you already have - You would probably be surprised how many people you know that could help you find a job. Just sit down with your parents and start making a list of all the people who have their own businesses or are in a position to hire or put in a good word for you. It's important to learn how to use your networks to get jobs. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. It might only take one try, or it may take 10 attempts. Don't give up, and don't be ashamed to ask for help from your parents. They know people, and they know who probably needs help. They're a resource, so use them!

So, if you've been desperately flipping through the help wanted pages looking for anything, or if you've found yourself staring jealously at the paperboy wondering if he gets paid per paper or by the hour, then perhaps you should try these five steps to find employment. There's always a job out there somewhere. You just have to go find it!