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Career Center
McKinney Center
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
(660) 785-4353 
(660) 785-4366 (fax)
Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Friday
careers@truman.edu

Truman State University 
 How to Land a Summer Job

Where do I want to work?

What tools do I need to be prepared?

How can I find the employers who 
offer my preferred job choices?

What are your plans for the summer? To get a fantastic job with an outrageously high salary, terrific potential for experience, and the chance to use the skills you've picked up in your classes here at Truman, right? Well, this is a great goal, but what's the best way to achieve it? The sooner you start to search for that perfect job, the more success you'll have. Here's just a few suggestions to think about before you get started.
 

Where do you want to work?

There's more to think about here than just the type of position and the amount of salary you prefer. What about geographical location? Typically, summer jobs fall into four separate categories:

Jobs such as volunteer positions which offer valuable experience in a specific field, but pay very little.

Jobs which qualify as internships - opportunities for you to acquire or sharpen skills with a compnay or the government. Some of these can be completed for credit hours, too.

Jobs at seasonal businesses like hotels or camps, or temporary jobs at fast-food chains or factories.

Jobs that YOU create by starting your own business.

How do you know which jobs to pursue?

A search lacing direction may lack results, so you need to consider these four suggestions as you begin your search:

Where do your talents lie? Analyze your skills and strengths and decide what it is that you do best. Another substantial point to consider is what you like to do most. A job that fails to provide enjoyment and other important characteristics can quickly turn into a negative experience for everyone involved.

Do you want to find a job that is associated with your major? There are summer jobs which can provide opportunities to work in an area similar to your area of study here at Truman. These can be especially helpful if you are unsure of your declared major (or lack thereof!).

Would you like the chance to spread your wings? Many people view summer employment as a chance to experience another part of the country or world. Some jobs of this nature can help build contacts in other places for future use.

Do you thrive on social interaction? If you enjoy meeting the public on a daily basis, you probably would not function well in a closed environment with limited people interactions.

How can you find the employers who offer your preferred job choices?
  The first (and easiest!) resource you have is available at your fingertips. The University Career Center has an abundance of information waiting for people like you to come in and explore. In fact, there is an entire section of books and directories which list summer employment opportunities. The Career Center hosts two job fairs every year to bring various employers to campus for the purpose of recruiting Truman students and alumni. The second resource is almost as easy: word of mouth! Ask your friends, relatives, and professors about potential job opportunities. Another simple resource can be consulted in the comfort of your own home (or local library) - the newspaper want-ads. If all else fails, don't worry! There are still more ways to hunt for summer employment opportunities. Most towns offer services designed to help you find temporary jobs. Missouri Job Service has an office in the Career Center and can assist you free of charge. Another option is to let your fingers take a walk through the yellow pages of your telephone directory. Call the employers you find who might have a job that interests you. Out of all the jobs that get filled, only about fifteen percent are advertised, and the rest of the jobs are filled by people hopefully inquiring. If self-employment is still your ideal choice, design a public relations campaign to inform the public about the nature of your new business.

What tools do you need to be prepared?

Now that you have a few employers in mind for job hunting, you need to get prepared to present yourself and make the sale. The first step is designing and writing a resume. What's a resume? It's a concise summary of your qualifications for a job. The University Career Center has trainined assistants to review your resume with you, or just get you started.

The next step after the resume is to get ready for the employment interview. Once again, the Career Center has tips for interview etiquette and also offers mock interviews, which are designed to help prepare people for the actual interview. So, stop by the Career Center to sign up for a mock interview, and pick up a brochure of interviewing tips. Remember, no appointment is necessary for most of the services offered by the Career Center.