Whether you spend the summer waitressing, scooping ice cream, interning at a magazine, or working at the local movie theater, your summer job will teach you valuable skills that will come in handy after you head back to campus. The skills you learn can even help you after college graduation.
“Career opportunities almost always come through networking, many from contacts from past summer jobs,” says Jennifer Lee Magas, a clinical associate professor of public relations at Pace University who often gives career advice to students. “Your interaction with colleagues, quality of work, willingness to go above and beyond, and staying in touch are all essential elements to establish quality connections and get the most out of your summer job,” Magas says.
If you do a stellar job, your summer job can set you up for your post-grad gig. “Show your willingness to go above and beyond what’s in the job description for your summer job. Be proactive in asking for more projects and responsibilities. Look for opportunities to assist co-workers and volunteer for assignments that interest you,” Magas says, “Put in that extra effort—you might find that it really makes a difference with your boss.” I spoke to experts to find out the skills you can gain before heading back to campus.
An A+ work ethic:
As Rihanna would say, you’ve got to work, work, work, work, work, work. You never want to be the workplace equivalent of the person on a group project that contributes nothing to the group. Instead, be the dependable one that everyone counts on to make it happen.
“Learning the value of a hard-earned dollar, being on time, being dependable, and knowing others are counting on you to do your part, are skills that employers expect all recent graduates to possess,” says Jessie Lombardo, the director of career development at State University of New York at Geneseo.
A sky-high emotional intelligence:
You could major in psychology and ace every test but still not know how to collaborate with coworkers. It’s not enough to be smart and do a good job — you also have to be someone people want to work with every day. A summer job will give you a headstart on boosting your emotional intelligence.
“The hardest part of any job is learning to navigate people, personalities, and politics,” says Cynthia Howard, founder of the Tampa-based executive coaching firm Ei Leadership, “You will gain experience in dealing with different personalities, handling the conflict that can show up when there are deadlines and pressure and learn more about what might trigger you.”
A chill demeanor:
From fielding angry tweets to times a customer doesn’t realize that the 30-day return policy is a requirement, not a recommendation, you’ll be faced with tricky situations at any job. The key is to keep your cool and figure out a solution. As Taylor Swift would say, “You need to calm down.”
“Speaking to customers, mediating conflicts, and solving problems, oftentimes come down to how to best communicate to diverse groups and generate ideas on how to best achieve a solution that works for everyone and achieve the best result,” says Lombardo.
An ability to juggle:
Don’t worry, we are talking about juggling in the metaphorical sense. But it’s still a learned skill. When you have a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt and assignments from a dozen people, you need to get organized.
”Prioritization helps you identify the most important tasks so you can give those tasks more of your attention, energy, and time. In essence, you have the clarity needed to spend more of your time on the right things,” says Ericka Spradley, founder of the Charlotte-based executive coaching firm Confident Career Woman.
A proven track record:
Being asked to take on increased responsibility at a summer job shows future employers that you’re on the up and up. “Demonstrating future value to employers is one of the most effective ways to get attention on your resume. Being promoted from cashier to shift manager is much more meaningful than the small raise in a paycheck,” says Lombardo, “Even when the summer job is not at all related to a student’s future career, employers see value in leadership potential.”
