Summer jobs

Finding a job isn’t on every student’s mind when they plan their summer. You might want to focus on other things during your summer - like volunteering or relaxing. However, there are lots of ways a summer job can boost your educational and professional careers. Here are 6 reasons you should consider getting a summer job.

1.  To try out a career

A summer job is a great way of trying out a potential career path - up to a certain point. We hate to break it to you, but you’re not going to fulfil your dream of flying a commercial aeroplane in a single summer! 

However, by entering the workplace, you may find you enjoy a particular aspect of work which could develop into a career. For example, you could end up wanting to train to become a teacher if you have to train junior staff at a restaurant. You could equally decide not to pursue a career in that field - the most important thing is getting closer and closer to roles that are best suited for you. 

2. To gain some work experience

If you want to pursue certain vocational training like Medicine or Architecture, relevant work experience is essential. If you can find a summer job which is specifically related to your chosen career path, then this will provide you with a better idea of what the role and industry entails. 

Looking for a paid summer job is often slightly trickier than an unpaid work experience placement as you’ll require skills and/or qualifications to perform specific skills, rather than simply shadowing someone. When looking for relevant summer jobs, you’ll need to think more broadly about what jobs might be relevant to your field rather than focusing narrowly on your eventual goal. For example, if you want to be a GP you might be able to work in a care home over the summer - a job which would still be relevant on any Medicine application.

We have a whole host of guides as part of Unifrog’s ‘Get on the ladder’ career series in the Know-how library that could help you figure out what field might interest you. From engineering to TV, radio, and film production, we give you some insight into the kind relevant experience you might want for these roles. 

3. Boost your CV

When you come to apply for more long term placements, you will need to share your previous work experiences and qualifications with your potential employers. Your summer job will make an excellent addition to your CV or resume. It demonstrates you’re eager to put yourself out there and make the most of your time, even during the holidays. Having already entered the workplace, you will be one step ahead of many other applicants your age.

You can check out how to put together your CV or resume using the Unifrog CV builder tool here. 

4. To transition better into the workplace

Workplaces are not the same as education institutions. There are a different set of expectations, and the type of work you do in the workplace will be different to the tasks you are required to do at school. 

Finding a summer job can help you with the transition from school to the workplace. Once you have completed your school experience, chances are you will need to find a full-time job role. Having a summer job can help ensure you are more prepared for this transition, the difference in culture, and the difference in expectations.

5.  To earn a salary

Getting a summer job means you get an opportunity to make some money. Regardless of your financial situation, it’s always a great way to make money for your savings or other goals. For example, you might want to travel, save towards university or college costs, or save towards driving lessons. Getting a summer job will help you make some serious headway towards achieving some of these goals. 

6. Learn new skills

If you are working in a traditional teen position in retail or another service job, you can learn a lot about both leading and following others, being independent, and taking initiative.

No matter how simple your summer job may seem, by learning new skills, surviving a stressful work environment, and learning to deal with coworkers, you will certainly build your confidence. Your summer job could be the first time you forge an identity beyond your home or school; it can massively build your confidence to find you are capable of working independently, away from your peers.