Top Five Ways to Choose a Summer Job

The end of the school year is clearly in sight. For many teachers, that means the end of their primary job and the start of a supplemental one. While seasonal work can be crucial to educators in this economy, deciding on potential jobs can be challenging. Education World offers the following guidelines to help you decide on a summer job that can provide additional income as well as a little fun.

5. Focus on the subject you teach. Take your passion for the subject you teach and the skill you’ve developed teaching it, and apply it to the job market. Tutoring is an obvious route to take, so get creative. If you happen to be a wood shop teacher, perhaps you’d enjoy working in a lumber yard or hardware store. Physical education instructors could look to community centers or local YMCAs, while English teachers may prefer libraries or bookstores. The people who manage these facilities would love to have your expertise on staff, and may jump at the chance to hire you on a temporary basis.

4. Turn a hobby into a job. We all have interests outside of our jobs, but how many of us actually pursue a position in that field? If you are really into gardening, summer is the perfect time to turn to landscaping. Perhaps you have a passion for pottery or sculpture. Ask if the local art-supply or craft store could use some summer help. If you’re a store regular, you probably already know the person who does the hiring. He or she might be able to recommend you.

3. Look at your favorite venues. Where do you spend most of your time during the summer months? Odds are there is some sort of business associated with it or management entity overseeing it, and that means jobs. If you love hanging out at the park, check in at the Parks and Recreation Department. Maybe you spend a ton of time at the mall or in a local coffee shop. Landing a job in one of these places may have the added benefit of an employee discount.

2. Television can inspire. Think about your favorite television shows. If they can provide 30 minutes to an hour of entertainment every week, they certainly could lead to an enjoyable work experience. If you think “Cake Boss” is the best thing on TV, start your job search in local bakeries. If “The Biggest Loser” is more your thing, there’s probably more than one gym near your home that could use your enthusiasm. Even if you only watch the nightly newscast, the local weekly or daily newspaper may have an temp opening for you.

1. Take a giant leap. Summer is meant for fun, so why not take a shot at a job you’d literally dream about having? If you’re a sports fan, bombard your favorite team with emails and phone calls asking about positions they have open. Do you dream about international travel? Dial up the Travel Channel or any number of travel publications and apply for a freelance writing gig. If you’re into politics, call your senator and tell him or her why you’d be a valued member of the staff this summer. It never hurts to try, and you just might get lucky.

Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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