Making the Best of the Summer Regardless of Your Employment Situation

This summer, I landed an internship in my major field (communications/journalism) at the newspaper I most wanted to work at. It was a great opportunity, but there was only one problem: I wasn't receiving a paycheck. So I set out to find a summer job.

For five summers prior, I had been doing office work at a local utility company. However, four years of working in credit and collections and one year of boredom from receiving limited work to do made the corporate setting unappealing. Although the money was good, I was ready to break out and do something new. As soon as I came home from school in May, I went to apply for waitressing, hostessing, or other jobs at numerous local restaurants. I also applied at different retail chains. I thought with my work experience and strong personality characteristics I would have no problem landing a job.

Apparently there was something else in store for me. I turned in many applications and even had a few interviews. Unfortunately, even when I felt confident about my chances at a position, no one would hire me. The reason was either that an employer did not want to hire me for summer and breaks or that my skills and knowledge just did not match what they had available.

Initially I was very angry. I guess you can say I felt that I was entitled to have a job. I thought of the jobs my friends had which consist of working in an amusement park gift shop, a waitress at an upscale bar, and a deli clerk making high pay. Every time I thought of my friends' jobs, I would be jealous. I would think of how much money they were making or how much they liked their jobs, even though I didn't know the whole truth about what they dealt with. I could not keep thinking like this though. I had to think of some way to survive.

Now I embark on my first summer of unemployment and it will be three months before a paycheck comes my way again. If you are a high school or college student finding yourself in this situation, here are some of the ways you can get by on limited funds and a lack of productive activity:

If you have a bank account, make sure you are not constantly withdrawing money. It is acceptable to make a withdrawal when you need the money, such as when you go out with your friends or need vacation spending money. However, your parents can always help you out by loaning you money or cashing in savings bond for you.

On that note, try not to go out too much or shop for unnecessary items. That's not saying you can't enjoy yourself or treat yourself at all this summer. If you're not making money, though, eating out and movie theatre tickets will have to be in short supply. Go out occasionally and spend only what you can afford. It is easier to limit yourself than regret spending too much money.

Volunteer. Look into community service projects that you can do in your area. Hospitals, non profit organizations, and churches are always looking for good volunteers. Pick an organization that interests you and talk to someone about offering your talents. They often have many ways potential volunteers can help. Not only will you offer them something, you will meet people that share your interests and abilities.

Don't just sit around. If you sit around on your computer or watch TV all summer, then your break from school will go to waste. Ask your parents what they need help with around the house. You can help in the kitchen, do some laundry, or take care of any pets you may have.

You can also work on achieving goals you have not had time for until now. Some examples include exercising, working on your resume, finishing a book, or learning a new skill. Whatever you do, make sure to stay busy when you are around the house and not going out with your friends or family.

Although having a job can be seen as an ideal way to spend the summer, sometimes for whatever reason, you cannot join the world of work. Even if you've worked before, there are many reasons why you cannot land a job. Instead of dwelling on these reasons and feeling sorry for yourself, use the summer to improve your life, spend time with people you care about most, and you will still make summer one you will never forget.