1

Here comes the summer

Thinking of those long lazy days ahead of you free from lectures and deadlines? It’s important to chill out after all your hard work but summer is also the perfect time to earn some cash, get some skills and experience to add to your CV, have some fun along the way and maybe even have an adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. There’s loads you can be doing with your time beyond binge watching those TV series you’ve been meaning to catch up on, here are some ideas.

Summer jobs
It’s best to start looking for jobs early rather than leaving it until exams are over but if that’s what you’ve done then don’t despair, vacancies are still around and they need people like you to fill them! Hopefully you’ve heard of The University of Brighton’s vacancy service, where we list new vacancies daily online, and send email job alerts if you sign up

Hand out CVs in person
Not all companies post their vacancies online, many smaller ones will stick a notice in their window. Wherever you’re spending this summer why not walk around the areas with local businesses in and approach employers in person? My Dad ran his own business and always said how impressed he was by those who turned up in person rather than sending a letter of application by post. Even if he didn’t have anything at the time he would remember them when he did because he’d already met and spoken to them in person.
Top tips:
· Look smart and be clean. You don’t have to wear a shirt and tie if you’re applying to work in pubs and bars but you do need to make a good first impression, a big smile helps.
· Put your CVs in a smart looking document folder and have a basic script prepared.
· Ask to speak to the manager rather than just hand your CV over to anyone working there.
· Be prepared to come back when the manager is going to be around and be prepared to talk about yourself and your CV. You may get interviewed there and then, don’t turn that down unless you have a compelling reason to do so, the job may be gone by the end of the day so seize your chance.
· And remember- don’t panic, this type of interview is far more casual so just be friendly and know your skills inside out, thinking of one or two examples you can talk about.

Recruitment agencies
Many businesses rely on these to fill seasonal vacancies so make sure you sign up with agencies that deal in the type of jobs you have the skills to do.

Festivals
Love music and the arts? Then why not work at a festival. You’ll get to see loads of stuff for free, meet new people, have fun, learn new skills, plus have some more experience to put on your CV. What’s not to like about that? Look on your favourite festival’s website or try Festaff. They’re recruiting right now, so don’t leave it until the last minute or you may miss out.

Volunteer
Don’t discount volunteering if you can’t find paid summer work. To make the most of it choose something you’re really passionate about or think about how it will help with your career goals. Commit to the work by being reliable, you may need to get a reference from them at a later stage so don’t take on more than you can realistically manage. Volunteering really can help you get a job- a previous volunteering role I had swung things in my favour and got me a great paid job. Our vacancy service posts loads of volunteering opportunities, both in the UK and worldwide. Look under work experience as well as volunteering.

If all else fails…
Develop your skills over the summer. Help friends and families with projects, ask around for any jobs they may know of. Think about all the skills involved in helping someone move home or in redecorating. Maybe you look after kids or pets on a regular basis? Does a neighbour need help mowing their lawn or weeding? Be proactive in approaching people and looking out for community events. Think litter picking one Sunday to help clear a community area is a waste of time? For an employer it shows a great attitude plus you get the satisfaction of having worked with a team of people towards a goal that benefits your local community.

If you’ve found University stressful then use the summer to help you develop skills that will help you in the future. We have a range of help here at the University.  Student Minds are a mental health charity specifically for students and public libraries stock books to help you manage your health and wellbeing by using self-help reading , books can be borrowed free of charge and cover many mental health problems, they’re usually located in the health section and can be taken out by anyone with library membership. It’s free to join the library!

Be safe
Don’t meet a potential employer alone in a private place for the first time, if it’s a small company and you are unsure of the set up let someone know where you’re going and what time. If you feel at all uneasy trust your instinct and leave, just say something along the lines of “I’ve just remembered something really important, I’m sorry I have to leave now”, then leave immediately (if it helps imagine you’ve left the frying pan on at home). Careers also have information on scams and fraud so have a read here for more information.

We’re here to help
We’re open all summer so if you’d like any help or advice on careers related issues get in touch. We can check your CVs and cover letters, help with job seeking, and give guidance on where to go next with your career. If you’ve moved away for the summer we can still help by checking CVs by email and we offer telephone appointments with our careers development advisors. Don’t forget all our online resources too.