By Carol Christen

The sound you don't hear:  If this newsletter had audio capacity, you might hear a soft banging.  That would be the sound of my head hitting the desk after reading the results of one university's survey of what students did during Spring Break.  A majority, 63%, went home and relaxed.  "Spent time lining up a summer job or internship" wasn't even a category.

While I am not surprised, I am concerned.  As the economy heads into the worst job market since WWII, college students will be competing against experienced adults for event part time, seasonal work.  And, this summer, there are even fewer seasonal jobs.  Employers who usually hire summer staff report that they have just half as many job openings as last summer.

If you would like a summer job or internship, all is not lost.  But, don't wait until the term ends to start your search.  Don't even think about making the Spring Break mistake when you get back home.  Relax later.  Job hunt now.  Even though school is almost out, below are tips to get an effective summer job search under way right now.

All you need is 20 minutes a day:  Please don't say you don't have time to start your job search now, the end of the term is so stressful, etc.  To get hired for a job or internship this summer, you will need to be tenacious, persistent and do hours of research to find and increase your options.  Whether you have graduated and are looking for a full time job or need summer employment, the more time you spend on your job search, the more you increase your chances of success.  If you are looking for full time, rather than just summer employment, adapt the list of suggestions to your needs.

Yours is the multi-tasking generation.  If you are still in school, in just twenty minutes, Sunday through Friday, you can accomplish a great deal.  (If you are out of school, you should be spending a minimum of 4 hours a day doing the activities below.)  Each item on the list below can be completed, or nearly so, in 20 minutes.  Set your timer and go...

1. References - Contact possible personal and work references.  Ask permission to use their name.  Make sure you have current contact information, job titles and correct name and spelling.  Ask if they remember you and can give you a positive reference.   If you have a copy of an earlier reference letter from them, ask if they would like to see it to refresh their memory of you.
   

2. Create a professional web presence -
1. Do a search of your name.  Find out what recruiters or human resource personnel will find if they do the same.  If for any reason you can't delete embarrassing pictures from your MySpace or Facebook site, shut them down,
2. LinkedIn is the premier professional networking site.  Use this link to create a LinkedIn profile - Info for Grads.
   
3. Begin making a list of everyone you know.  Make sure you have a current email, phone number or mailing address (the latter two for those who don't have email).  Spend some time each day getting in touch with the people on your list, tell them what you are looking for in terms of work, Give them a short list of your best skills and what you know how to do ("Anything" is not a job title!).  Ask for their help.

3. Get clarity.  What are you looking for?  It's nearly impossible to find something if you don't know what that something is,  To help you get that clarity, answer the following questions:
1. Do you want to go home or stay around campus this summer?
2. Will you be taking interim or summer session classes?
3. Can you work set hours every week, or do you need a job that is flexible?  Do you need time to attend a class, volunteer, perform an internship or carry out other academic or personal obligations?
4. How far can you afford to travel for a job?  How much time do you have for commuting?  How will you commute?
5. Do you want a job you can continue part-time during the school year?
6. Are there summer jobs or internships available in your career field? Professors, advisors, others with your major, alumni from your department and your college career center can help you find answers to this question.
7. Which is more important:  how much you earn or how much you can learn in new skills to help you advance in your hoped-for career?  No doubt, you'd like both, but knowing which is more important will help you make choices.

4. Do you want to do work you've done before?  If so, contact former bosses and coworkers. If they aren't hiring, ask them for names of other businesses or business contacts that might be. 

5. Send out a request through LinkedIn or other social networking site. Tell people what you are looking for.  List a few of your best skills and fields of knowledge.  Ask for help finding opportunities.  Respond to every single response you get, even if you aren't interested.  Blowing people off is a sure way to get blown off in the future.  If someone gives you the name of someone to contact, they are risking their reputation with that person.  Follow-up with every name you are given.  You just never know when an opportunity will appear!

6. Get more information.  Do an internet search using a phrase such as, "summer job search."  Find out what other experts recommend as best practices.  There are a few dozen sites that offer job hunting advice for recent college grads.

7. Brainstorm with others.  Relying on your own mind and experience is very limiting.  Get together two to six people you feel are creative.  Try to include at least one person with lots of work experienced.  Make a list of your best skills with people, information (this includes numbers and ideas) or things.  This kind of brainstorming can be done for one person in about 20 minutes.
   

8. If you don't know your best skills, please see pages 11 to 20 in What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens.  If you don't have a copy, the book is available at many online stores. Writing and factoring the skills in one Skill Story will take 20 minutes, Yes, doing the stories to fill in the skill keys will take longer than that.  But, you'll get a payoff in knowing what you do best and being able to give examples of your skills in interviews.

     If coming up with a list of stories seems daunting, consider completing a scrap-booking exercise before writing your Skill Stories. 

Check out The Brag Book at Robin Roman Wright's web site.

9. Learn more effective job search techniques.  If you do all of the above and spend a month working four days a week, four to six hours a day on your job search and you haven't gotten a job offer or been called back for a second interview, you need to learn more effective self-marketing or job search techniques. 
1. Check out what your college has to offer.  Your school's Career Center is likely to be a good resource, even at a distance.
2. Find out what classes and other help for job hunters is offered at your nearest One Stop
3. Spend time at your local bookstore looking at popular job search books.
4. Check out websites. 
   

Our vote for one of the best is that of Marty Nemko. Dr. Nemko writes the Career Blog for US News and is one of the most creative job search strategists on the planet.  Read the articles on his site Click here for Dr. Nemko's site..  You'll improve your job hunt skills and feel like you've got a personal coach at your fingertips.

5. You will also find effective job search techniques detailed in Chapters 8 and 9 of What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens. In these two short chapters you'll learn what you need to do if you want your job search to turn out well and not take forever.

10.  Identify up to four different kinds of jobs you can do.  Otherwise in this economy, your job search will last longer and be harder.  These jobs can be in a cluster in the same field or different jobs in different fields.

For help figuring out what these jobs might be, request the free exercise Creating Job Options, by Carol Christen (email Carol Christen).  You'll get much better ideas if you do this as a group brainstorming activity.  Involve a couple friends, your parents or other adults you trust.  Positive creative people give the best suggestions!

If you don't find a summer job or if your search for full time work yields nothing after four to six weeks of intensive searching - find a volunteer position or consider taking a class or two that will increase your employability.

Good luck and whether you experience triumph or tragedy with your job search, we'd love to hear form you!