Summer Job Interview Tips for Students

BY JANE HURST

Whether you are in high school or college, you are going to have the next couple of months off and nothing to do. Instead of sitting around soaking up the sun all summer long (which sounds awesome but isn’t overly productive), you might want to consider taking on a summer job. This can help you gain valuable job experience, and give you extra cash for spending or saving for college.

 

It may be that you have had a part-time job but lost it, and you still want to work for the summer. You can get involved with a company that offers outplacement services. Basically, this is a service that is hired by companies who lay off employees, in order to help those employees transition into new career opportunities and finding new jobs.

 

Whether you are looking for your first job, or you have been laid off and are looking for new options, here are some awesome summer job interview tips that could help you land that job.

• Dress for Success – It is always a good idea to dress for the job you are applying for. Of course, if you are applying for a manual labor position, don’t show up wearing ripped jeans and a tee-shirt. Dress nicely for your interview, without being too casual or too over-dressed. Ladies should avoid wearing too much make-up and jewelry, piercings, crazy hair styles, etc. If you don’t know how to dress, call the human resources department to find out their expectations.
• Be Prepared – Be ready for the job interview. One great way to be ready is to practice. There are all kinds of websites that offer interview tips and common job interview questions. Knowing what employers are going to ask is half the battle, and having the answers they want ready when they ask shows that you are prepared and that you really want the job.
• Study Your Resume – Many employers will want to talk to you without a resume in their hands, or in yours. Study your skills, and be prepared to discuss anything that the potential employer asks about, including your skills, experience, education, etc. These are things on your resume, but they want to see how you handle answering their questions.
• Show Your Eagerness – If you want a job, you need to show the potential employer just how eager you are to work for them. Be pleasant and smile often. Use upbeat vocal tones, and stay positive throughout the entire interview. Tell them how badly you want the job, and how hard you are willing to work to prove it.
• Show a Willingness to Learn – Often, a lack of experience doesn’t necessarily mean that you aren’t going to get the job. Your enthusiasm, and willingness to learn, may be just what an employer is looking for. Many employers actually prefer someone with little to no experience, because they can train them their way.
• Show that You are Flexible – Most summer jobs are part-time, or they involve working various shifts. You need to show that you can be flexible with your hours. If you aren’t available for a certain shift, remember, someone else is. Also, employers love it if you are able to continue working once you go back to school in the fall, so if you can be flexible here as well, it could get you that job.
• Follow Up – After the interview, follow up with a thank-you note. This shows that you appreciate the time the interviewer took to speak with you, and that you truly are interested in working for that company. After the thank-you note, contact the employer periodically to let them know that you are still interested.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.