June/July 2008

Bimonthly newsletter of College Assistance Plus

How to Find a Job

Finding a job as a student is a daunting task. You probably don't have work experience, so potential employers may write you off before you even enter the door. But there are some things you can do to give yourself a leg up on the competition. Check out our real-life tips to help you in your summer job search.

Network with adults. Let's be honest: you don't have a lot of experience. Your resume probably won't get you a job. You can fill out applications, but the best way to find a job is to talk to adults who might know of job openings or the right people to talk to. Ask your parents and their friends if they can help you. A personal connection will make or break the job search for you!

Be confident. Employers look for people with good character, but this is hard to show on a resume or application. If you have an interview, tell them that you are going to show up every day and work as hard as you can while you are there. State up front that you value integrity and honesty.

Look good. Don't show up to an interview in jeans, even if the job has a casual dress code. Remember that visible tattoos, piercings, and cigarette smoke can change the way you are perceived, so try to minimize those things before going to an interview. If you are a woman, dress modestly. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it's a good one.

Bring referrals. Many resumes say "References available upon request." Don't follow the crowd; include a list of your references or bring it with you to the interview. If you can, network with CEOs or other business executives so that potential employers see that you have connections who believe you would be a good employee.

Use your experiences. Tell them about something you've failed at and what you learned from it. If you don't have work experience, try to think of an experience from your life that you can share. Relational stories are good, because they show employers that you can work with people. Plan this out ahead of time so you can articulate what you've learned.

Do your homework. Never show up to an interview without visiting the company's website first. You need to have some knowledge of what they do and where you might fit with their mission.

Be who you say you are. You can say all you want in an interview, but your actions will speak louder than your words. Be a person of integrity and give 110% to school and work, and your heart will come across to others. Always do the best you possibly can. If you do get a job, don't spend most of your time texting or chatting with your friends, because your employer will be less likely to recommend you to someone else.

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Check out our blog!

The founder of CAPlus, Paul Celuch, has recently started writing his own blog. He updates at least once a week and discusses topics such as college loans, staggering statistics, how to avoid debt, some of the mistakes parents make, and how to make good choices. Visit his blog at http://forgiveusourstudentdebts.blogspot.com.

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Summer Job Resources

Job Links

SummerJobs.com offers summer jobs and seasonal staff positions with camps, amusement parks, resorts, national parks, hotels, environmental organizations and more.

SnagAJob.com is the nation's largest job site for part-time and full-time hourly jobs. Enter your zip code and find hourly jobs in your area.

CoolWorks.com says they are about finding a seasonal job or career in some of the greatest places on Earth. They list summer jobs in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and other national parks, as well as jobs at camps, ski resorts, ranches, theme parks, tour companies, and more.

StudentJobs.gov is a portal for a range of employment opportunities for students within the federal government, whether in high school, college, or graduate school.

A+ Summer Jobs helps students and recent grads find summer and seasonal employment. They manage approximately 2,000 summer and seasonal employer profiles, from beach resorts to Alaskan fisheries.

Remember that although we are providing these helpful links for you, the BEST way to get a job is to network with parents and friends!

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High school freshmen & sophomores

• Be thinking about colleges that you might want to visit during the summer. If your family takes vacations together, try to squeeze a few college visits into the schedule. Remember, don't visit colleges that you know you can't afford!

Get involved in community service

• Get involved in community service projects during the summer, or try to get a summer job. This can help you get recommendations from adults, and it will give you more life experience that will help with college application essays.

• Continue saving money for college. If the student has a job, keep the money in an account with the parent's name on it to shield it from the federal aid formulas.

• Enjoy the summer, but spend a little time studying for the SATs or ACTs. Studying for as little as an hour a week will keep your brain active so you don't forget everything you learned during the year!

• If you have money in mutual funds, bonds, stocks, and educational IRAs, you should consider talking to a financial planner about moving those assets into accounts that are not exposed to the FAFSA's formula.

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High school juniors

• Don't get too caught up in socialization at the end of this year and neglect your classes. Your junior-year grades show the colleges what kind of work you are capable of, and they are used to determine how much scholarship and grant money you are eligible for. Study for your finals and finish well.

Study hard and finish well

• Plan summer visits to any colleges that you are interested in exploring in more depth. Make informed, educated decisions on which colleges to visit; don't visit schools that you can't afford. Ask your CAPlus representative for a College Visit Guide before you go!

• Refine your lists of potential colleges, and explore their websites. Start comparing schools by the things that are the most important to you.

• The last SAT and ACT exam of the year are coming up. If you plan on re-taking any of these tests next year, make some time during the summer to study. Studying for as little as an hour a week will keep your brain active so you don't forget everything you learned during the year!

• Get involved in community service projects during the summer, or try to get a summer job. This can help you get recommendations from adults, and it will give you more life experience that will help with college application essays.

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High school seniors

• You have probably received your SAR (Student Aid Report) by now if you filed the FAFSA. If you haven't received it, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov or call 1-800-4-FED-AID. This report summarizes your federal aid eligibility, so make sure that the information is correct and verify it online or by sending back the form.

Follow up on your applications

• You should have received financial package letters from the schools that accepted you. Compare the offers to determine which school is giving you the best deal overall. If you need help making a final decision, your CAPlus counselor is always available to give you advice.

• If you don't feel like you're getting good financial packages, consider applying to a few more schools. Many schools have rolling admissions deadlines, so you don't have to decide right away. It's better to come out of college with less debt than to make a decision now just because your friends are.

• Don't make a hasty decision! Consider all of the factors before you make your final choice. We suggest choosing a school that offers several of the majors you are interested in and that will give you a good financial package. Look for offers with fewer loans and more grants/scholarships. Remember that once you have a job, no one remembers where you got your undergraduate degree.

• Check to see if there are any community colleges with summer classes that you are interested in. Getting some basic classes out of the way now can save you money when you begin college.

• If you have made your college choice, congratulations! Don't forget to send in your tuition deposit and return your aid offer so the college knows which aid you would like to accept. Please notify your CAPlus representative so we can update our records.

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College freshmen, sophomores, and juniors

• If you plan to have a summer job, focus on finding one that will enhance your resume. While it's easy to get job as a janitor or construction worker, you should try to find a job to help you in your field of study.

Get a job that enhances your resume

• While you are home for the summer, try to be open about your job search with your parents and their friends. Networking is the BEST way to find your first job, and if you start making connections now, it will be much easier to find a job after you graduate.

• Go over the requirements for graduation and make sure you're on track to graduate next year. If you aren't, look into taking a class or two at a local or community college during the summer.

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College seniors

• Congratulations on the end of your college career! You made it!

LinkedIn.com

• Try to be open about your job search with your parents and their friends. Networking is the BEST way to find your first job, so make as many connections as possible. You may also want to sign up at an online networking site such as LinkedIn.

• If you have a chance, have lunch with someone who works in the field you are interested in. Make a list of questions in advance so you can direct the conversation. Don't just say, "What do you do?" but ask if they like what they are doing, what they don't like about it, what kinds of experiences they have, how they suggest you go about finding a job, what they think would help boost your resume, etc.

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