Don’t Freak Out! You Can Still Land a Summer Job in July

It’s not too late to get a summer job. While many employers have already hired seasonal help, new job opportunities pop up year-round, and mid-summer is no exception. The retail and restaurant industries typically experience high employee turnover, and around this time of year they often have to hire replacements for employees who take summer vacations. This means that with enough persistence, there is a good chance that you will find an employer who’s looking for someone just like you. Here’s how to get hired in July:

Turn to your network

You don’t have to be a high-flying socialite or powerful exec to have a valuable social network. When job hunting, ask your family and friends if they know anyone who might be hiring. The best people to ask are those who are already gainfully employed. This can include neighbors, coaches, and even professors. Your favorite high school or college teacher might be happy to go out on a limb to help you succeed! The worst that can happen when asking for a referral or recommendation is a dead end. The best thing that can happen? Well, the sky’s the limit.

Use a variety of search methods

There are lots of job postings online–a great way to kill time while sitting around the pool is to scroll through online postings with your smartphone. If you don’t already have Wirkn, download the app here and you’ll have ready access to jobs in your area.

Walk around looking for ‘Help Wanted’ signs, and if there’s no sign in the window, just go inside and ask if they’re hiring. Sometimes managers are too busy to post the job opening right away, and are grateful when a perfect candidate shows up out of the blue.

You can also follow the social media channels of the businesses you’d like to work for. Often, retailers will look for candidates by posting on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Make sure you check their sites daily, rather than wait for an opportunity to pop up in your feed.

Have an open mind

Your ideal summer job might be a sales position at a super exclusive sneaker store or a hostess at the coolest restaurant in town, but at this stage of the game, it might be helpful to expand your horizons.

Don’t ignore jobs that are outside your field of interests. Sometimes starting at the bottom can help you rise through the ranks more quickly, especially in a mall. At the end of the day, you need a paycheck, and getting paid to serve pretzels is a lot more honorable than sitting around not getting paid at all.
 

Reconsider your schedule

Wouldn’t it be nice to work Monday through Thursday, 10am to 6pm? Chances are, the most desirable schedules are already taken, and employers will be looking to fill spots for Sunday morning or Friday night. Working odd shifts might mean sacrificing a few evenings of hanging with your friends, or lazy afternoons tanning in the park, but the possibilities of referrals and other great opportunities that come from working are often incredibly valuable.

Some of your friends might have already locked down a great summer job, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be left in the dust. There are always possibilities for those willing to do what it takes to get hired: asking around, showing up in person, and scouring social media, job posting sites, and apps. We have faith in your job search because where there’s a will, there’s a way!