How To Get a Summer Job

Having an up-to-date CV will help you find a summer job a lot easier. Keep it to one or two pages to engage the employer and look up some template ideas! When making your CV remember to:

• Use your most recent employment information,
• Use font size 11-12 for bodies of text, and 14-16 for headings,
• Include your contact information so employers can get back to you,
• Write about your education,
• Include any personal skills (e.g. languages spoken, IT proficiency, typing speed, driving license),
• Include a small personal statement about yourself, you can tailor this to the job you’re applying for

Covering letters can be important as they show the employer that you’re actually interested in applying for the job, rather than just applying for everything you see. If there’s a job you really want, take the time to write a covering letter that explains to the employer what you can bring to the role, and how your skills relate to it. When writing a covering letter, try and include the following:

• An Introduction including information about yourself, and thanking the employer for taking the time to consider your CV,
• Relate your previous work experience, qualifications, and skills to the role. Tell the employer exactly how you’re the right person to hire,
• When signing off, try and end it along the lines of “I look forward to hearing from you soon”, as it shows the employer you’re expecting to hear back.

Finding jobs can be difficult at the best of times, but it is especially difficult at the moment. Don’t let this put you off though! There are plenty of ways to find a job to keep you going over the summer, here are some of the best ways:

• Use indeed to find vacancies in your area,
• Check the websites of your local supermarkets for any vacancies they might have,
• If you live near any corner shops, ask them if they have any openings over the summer and give them a copy of your CV,
• The job you do doesn’t have to relate to your degree, so look for anything you feel capable of

If you have a disability, it can be difficult to find jobs that can accommodate, and it can feel daunting applying for jobs in the first place. Here are some tips to find disability friendly jobs:

• Supermarkets like Tesco and the Co-op have disability schemes where you’re guaranteed an interview if you have a disability. This can be very helpful if you don’t have much work experience so that your CV doesn’t get rejected immediately. Many disabled people struggle with having a continuous work history, making an interview important so that you can show them your capabilities.
• If your disability is physical, consider office-based jobs that won’t require much physical activity.
• You know your capabilities better than anyone else, so remember that you don’t have to declare your disability.