Why Can't I Find a Summer Job?

By Sylvia Harvey

Columbia Daily SpectatorSecuring a summer job is not as easy as it used to be. With the complications of resumes, cover letters, networking, online job services, and interview etiquette, the hunt for meaningful summer employment has become increasingly tedious and time-consuming. Additionally, the combination of a slowly-recovering economy and a still-unstable job market forces students to compete for a limited number of jobs. While some students are lucky enough to have secured positions through networking, others look to on-campus resources for help.

Columbia's Center for Career Education advises students seeking summer internships to begin the search early. The CCE sponsors the Campus Recruiting Program, which is constructed to help students connect with employers and realize the range of possibilities.

For those students who have yet to begin the search for a summer job, their chances of attaining their first choice are slim. Recruiting for summer employment begins as early as December and is extremely competitive. In this world of early-decision employment, punctuality and persistence are rewarded as much as qualifications.

Zendai Ave, GS '04 says he has not started looking for a summer internship and knows it may be too late. However, he said he has "high hopes" about the possibility of snagging a last-minute job. Ave, who will graduate this year, is searching for not only a summer job but also a permanent position.

Ave described the job market as "frightening." "Thinking about graduating and facing the job market is a burden," he said. He is looking to utilize an internship as a transition from his current field of culinary arts to the film industry. Nonetheless, Ave said he plans to maintain a positive attitude and remain enthusiastic. No matter how bad the market, he said there are still jobs available--you just have to look.

But in the search, you have a guide. The Center for Career Education encourages students to utilize its resources, such as mock interviews and advice on perfecting resumes, attending job fairs, networking with alumni, looking at job postings, and attending conferences.

While preparation is essential to getting your foot in the door, experience has become a common prerequisite for employees. A typical Ivy League student with a high GPA is not enough--even some of academia's best and brightest are still out of summer jobs. In evaluating potential employees, businesses look for transferable skills from previous work experience or prior internships as much as good grades.

According to Laura Hoffman, director of CCE, "employers still have the ability to be very selective in their hiring process" even in an improving job market. Hoffman said employers are focusing increasingly on their own internship programs as a source of full-time hires. That way, both employer and employee feel less at risk because of previous experience.

Frederick Hawkins, GS '04 and a philosophy major, also emphasized the importance of having previous experience that will set oneself apart from the competition. With the job market as competitive as it is, "you must prove to be an asset to the company," he said. Hawkins said it is important to have diverse extracurricular activities, on-campus involvement, and an outgoing personality.

As for this summer, Hawkins is taking advantage of Columbia's Summer Ecosystems Experiences for Undergraduates program in Brazil. He called himself "unique" and said he has the experience and personality to prove it.

According to Hoffman, the past year as seen a "substantial improvement" in the job market. The amount of on-campus recruiting has increased, as has the number of students evaluating multiple offers for full-time positions. Another positive indicator is the large numbers of students coming to the center for advice on balancing second-round interviews with first-round interviews.

Jason Frazer, CC '05, started his search early and secured his internship via MonsterTRAK, an online employment service. Frazer said he will be working as a full-year academic intern for Altria, Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris International. His advice to students seeking their dream internship is to be open to other opportunities outside of their intended career field. Positions that do not necessarily seem beneficial in the short term can prove highly advantageous in the long run as it makes you a more diverse candidate, he said. Most importantly, he said, the key is "network, network, network!" By staying in touch with people, "job offers will come to you before you even think about applying for summer internships."

While recruiting may be increasing in some fields, others are still adjusting from the poor job market. Hoffman said financial services and consulting have rebounded fully, while advertising, marketing, and high tech companies have made smaller improvements. However, healthcare, government, and education all have seen a consistent rise in recruiting efforts, according to Hoffman. Some of the new employers recruiting this semester include Grey Direct, Wells Fargo, and Ford Motor Company.

Students who still have no summer plans should start their search the moment they finish reading this article. Even late in the game, an ethic of persistence, positivity, and not panicking gives any potential employee an edge over the ubiquitous and equally qualified competition.