8 Best Summer Jobs for Students
The days are getting longer, and those warm hazy evenings are just around the corner. We’re all waiting to blast “What Time Is It” from High School Musical, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Every student needs some spending money for the school year. Even in the movie, they all had to get a summer job.
Summer break is fast approaching, and although it may sound appealing to lay on the beach all day, there are more productive ways to spend it. With little time to spare during the school year, sometimes side jobs aren’t an option. That’s where summer jobs come in.
Summer jobs are a great way to use the extra time during your break. You can earn extra money, gain valuable experience for your resume, and still have time to soak up the sun. Plus, you can get jobs that relate to your career goals.
We’ve outlined how to get a job that aligns with your career goals and our top eight jobs for college students.
How to Find a Summer Job to Excel Your Career
There are a few things to consider when looking for a summer job. You want to focus on entry-level roles and still gain relevant experience. Think about how much you need to earn or want to work for. If your goal is to make as much as possible before the school year, or to prioritize taking time to relax, that will impact your job search.
Start by thinking about what you want to do after graduation to narrow your search. For example, if you’re going to school for carpentry, a General Labourer at a construction site is a great place to start. You can meet industry contacts, get industry-specific experience and get a head start when it comes to finding those grad jobs!
What to do after college isn’t clear to everyone. So, you can also think of your degree and what might relate to it. For example, if you’re getting a Bachelor of Business Admin, you could try an office job to gain corporate experience.
Finally, think about transferrable skills. Many organizations look for service or fast-food experience for entry-level jobs. That’s because these jobs usually teach communication, problem-solving, and time management.
Top Eight Summer Jobs for Students
Construction General Labourer
Wage: $18-25
Starting on a construction site as a General Labourer is a great, quick way to earn hands-on experience. Your tasks may include loading and unloading materials, removing rubble, and assisting teammates. Every day looks different, and you may be pouring concrete one day and framing the next. You’ll learn skills in various areas of construction to help you after graduation.
Landscaper
Wage: $18-22
Landscaping is a great way to learn construction-adjacent experience. On top of general maintenance of yards, you’ll be responsible for building hardscapes. It’s a nice, entry-level job that allows you to be outside all day!
House Cleaner
Wage: $18-24
A house cleaning job is great for anyone looking for a flexible schedule. Cleaning responsibilities include wiping surfaces, cleaning floors, and tidying. Generally, you can go from house to house quickly, leaving the rest of your day for summer fun.
Retail Sales Associate
Wage: $16-18 + commission
A Sales Associate role teaches customer service and conflict resolution. Retail sales are usually entry-level positions, and you can get your foot in the door if your career goal is sales or customer service. You’ll interact with customers and help them with their purchases. Plus, you can sometimes earn commissions for extra money.
Accounting Assistant
Wage: $22-26
If you’re an accounting student, an Accounting Assistant job is great for gaining experience. As long as you’re in an accounting program, many firms will help (potential) future CPAs get experience. You’ll assist with daily functions including: payroll; accounts payable and accounts receivable; costing; and reporting, exposing you to many areas in accounting.
Administrative Assistant
Wage: $20-25
Entry-level Administrative Assistant jobs are great for gaining office experience. You’ll support managers and employees with daily office needs, such as distributing information, phone calls, and emails. You can make key contacts in corporate environments and gain valuable experience after graduation.
Front Desk Receptionist (Hotels)
Wage: $17-21
Many hotels are hiring in the summer, and a front desk receptionist is a fantastic way to get administrative adjacent experience. Many of the skills are transferrable to corporate careers. As the first point of contact, you learn customer service while checking in guests, directing them, and other tasks to manage the front desk.
Server/Bartender
Wage: $15-16 + tips
As mentioned before, many organizations look for service experience, especially in entry-level jobs. These jobs can teach you to stay calm, be organized, and resolve conflicts under high-stress situations. In most Server and Bartender jobs, you can make tips to earn extra cash.
The good news? AmbiMi can help you find any of these jobs!