Summer! What images come to mind when you hear the term “summer”? The temperature is rising. A month’s vacation. It was a lot of fun. Binge-watching television shows. Exhilarating, isn’t it? What about getting a job, eh? No?
You may be thinking how tiresome it is for me to advise you to get a job this summer! After all, you are either in school or have just begun college. Besides, who wants to work during the summer when they could spend time with their friends, sleeping, and watching TV? What if I told you that a summer job may be your first step toward a career, as well as the most productive thing you could do this summer?
What exactly is a summer job?
A summer employment is a short-term opportunity that students in their 11th, 12th, or first or second year of college may take advantage of during their summer holidays. This might be a full-time (8-hour-a-day) or part-time work (4 hours a day). These professions are ideal for high school kids or those who have just begun college since they do not need any special technical skills or educational degrees. Working as a customer service associate or cashier at McDonald’s or Pantaloons during your summer vacation, for example, is a summer employment.
If I may be poetic, a summer job is a great chance to come out of your shell, spread your wings, and soar high with confidence!
Summer occupations, although typical in Western nations, have yet to acquire popularity in India. Most parents are concerned about allowing their children to work at such a young age, and adolescents themselves do not believe they are ready for a job at this time. What must be realised here is that summer work not only aids in our overall growth at an early level but also allows us to see the world through a new lens. Furthermore, there is no magic school that teaches us critical professional skills; they can only be learned via real-world experience.
Still, why should I work over the summer? (Abhi khelne koodne ke din hain!)
Yash, on the other hand, will explain why. Yash was an introvert who avoided connecting with outsiders and didn’t trust himself with even the simplest activities. He chose a summer job to finally break free from the cocoon he had formed around himself. After his two-month term at the local store ended, he emerged as Yash 2.0 – a more confident and dependable individual!
Yes, a summer job may provide you with the necessary skills to get that ideal internship/position later in your career. It may also assist you in determining what kind of profession interests you. It also gives you the satisfaction of owning something and producing money from it. Already fantasising about purchasing that long-desired mobile phone with the money you make (raising eyebrows!)?
Aside from financial freedom, a summer job offers several other benefits:
- It fosters work ethics – While a summer job may have little or no similarity to your subject of study, it instils in you the necessary work ethics and discipline. You get a feeling of responsibility and ownership, and you learn the value of hard work and punctuality.
- It broadens your skill set – Imagine you go out of the classroom and into the forbidden forest, only to be met by Aragog, the spider, who is preparing to feed you to its children. Meeting individuals from all walks of life, I’m sure, won’t be too terrible! Not after only a few days of working at a retail business. You improve your communication skills, gain confidence, and learn to be sensitive and kind as you engage with clients, answer their questions, and help them with their purchases.
- It improves your industrial expertise – A summer job teaches you a lot about a certain sector. Working in an organisation allows you to witness how a fast-paced firm runs and learn about the markets it serves firsthand. Working at Marks & Spencer, for example, would educate you about the garment sector. Even the manner in which garments are folded and piled in certain aisles reveals information about different in-store processes and quality-control inspections.
Don’t these summer employment seem like your own Master Yoda, establishing ideals and improving interpersonal skills?
If I have persuaded you to at least consider a summer job, here are several retail areas you may work in.
- Supermarkets and department shops– With positions like as cashier, merchandiser, retail associate, stock clerk, and customer service associate, this industry provides the ideal balance of fun and learning. Imagine waking up your inner Monica and organising the items at a shop, or discovering your inner Rachel by connecting with customers and assisting them in purchasing the outfit that looks best on them.
- Food and beverage – With cafés and restaurants springing up all over the nation, this is the simplest industry to get a summer work in! These establishments provide a range of chances such as customer service, table waiting, account management, and so on. What better way to enjoy your summer than surrounded by the aroma of your favourite Domino’s pizzas or McDonald’s burgers? In addition, Rachel, Penny, and Max did it!
- Upcoming Engineers- Here at Upcoming Engineers we are also providing internships to students studying in any field along with full-time jobs. Of course, the students are provided with a stipend and also certification to upgrade their resume.
You’d be able to achieve something meaningful this summer with this short-term assignment. Furthermore, with the knowledge you gain and the personality you establish at this level, you will have an advantage during placement season and when applying for professional schools such as MBA. Could things possibly be any better?
If you are still looking for more career advice, click here.
