It is currently February, and many students are looking for summer jobs and as well many employers are already interviewing and filling their summer student positions. It is not too late but earlier is always better when looking for summer workers or a job for the summertime.
Often overlooked and underappreciated, students represent a great opportunity for virtually every kind of organization. For students: Summer jobs are a way to earn extra money, save for school, gain valuable experience, and begin to establish their reputations. For organizations: hiring students can bring fresh energy and ideas, motivated and useful temporary help, and it is a great way to help your organization and your community.
Make no mistake, there is a steep learning curve for both students and employers. Some students and some employers will not be a good fit; however, with patience and preparation, the rewards can be tremendous.
For students: Apply early (December to March) for summer jobs and don’t wait for opportunities to be posted. Talk to teachers, professors, friends, and family, and ask about opportunities. For university students, looking for a summer job after Christmas is not too early.
The best time is to ask the organization you worked with the previous summer if you could come back in the spring, before returning to school in the fall. High School students do the same thing. For students that have completed a co-op work term, consider asking that employer if you could come back the next summer or as a student worker. Inquire and apply as soon as you can; many students wait until they have finished their semester to look for work and then find the competition is much greater.
For employers: University students and high school students can be highly motivated, very reliable, and extremely dependable and can make great contributions to your organization. To be successful, focus on your onboarding and orientation preparations as students may lack “base knowledge” that many employers take for granted.
For students: Focus on providing value every shift by remembering to be motivated, reliable, and dependable. Putting aside generational comments, your attitude towards the work an employer gives you is very important. You have to prove yourself and even if you feel the work provided may be beneath your skill set do it to the best of your ability. Everyone has to prove themselves before they receive more responsibility. Treat each assignment as a test and provide your best efforts to earn trust and more responsibilities.
For employers: Try to give students full-time hours during the summer. If you have students employed during the school year, balance the needs of your organization with their need to do well at school, your awareness will pay dividends for both you and the student. Senior-level high school students and University students are working usually to save for school. They will give you better results if they do not have to juggle multiple part-time jobs to save for their education.
For students: Be prepared for employers and their regular workers to have negative attitudes about personal cell phone use. Appreciate this, listen to them, follow their policies, and keep your phone off when working.
For employers: Be prepared to compromise on cell phones. Some employers are very draconian about allowing cell phones and it is understandable if heavy equipment or safety is an issue; for other roles, appreciate just how linked students are to their phones.
For students: Come prepared to work; this might seem obvious, however, many students aren’t used to working full 8-hour shifts at a time. Prepare the night before, eat breakfast, pack a lunch, arrive 10-15 before your shift begins, take breaks when you are supposed to, and avoid gossip and organizational drama.
For employers: Pay your students the same wage you would anyone else doing the same job. Student minimum wage in Ontario is less than the basic minimum wage; neither is enough in my opinion. Try to pay more, even 10-15% more will result in more of a feeling of connection and loyalty to you and your organization.
For students: While a summer job is not likely going to be your career, make sure you treat it as if it was. For your coworkers and your employer, the organization is important to them and their livelihoods.
For employers: Take the time to develop and teach your students good work habits, give them responsibility, and make them part of your organization’s culture. Recognize and appreciate the skills they bring and the skills you can help them to develop.
For Students: Learn and watch how different elements of your organization work and don’t work together. All organizations have strengths and weaknesses, learn from the good examples and learn how to avoid copying the bad examples.
For employers: Be very conscious of how students interact with your team, especially during the first few days. Watch for nervousness and for anyone who seems quiet and withdrawn as they may be struggling to adjust. How you “on-board” students and other new people can have long-lasting effects on their success or failure, regardless of age and ability. In the beginning, give students basic entry-level jobs to do and then introduce variety to challenge them and keep them interested in their work. They are students, yes, but if they are engaged and appreciated they may surprise everyone about what and how they can contribute.
For Students: What and learn about your organization’s “hidden rules.” Hidden rules are things that most people have learned but seldom think about or mention to new associates. These “rules” can range from what is appropriate to wear to work, to when and how breaks are taken, and include things as simple as where to park their vehicles.
For employers: Remember students are less experienced. They might have limited working knowledge; however, usually, they will not know the things that older associates know. Be prepared for them to ask many questions, or to be thinking about but uncomfortable about asking many questions. Be patient and if they don’t ask questions, encourage them to do so. This extra effort by your organization may be the most important part of the process and lay the groundwork for ensuring this experience is successful for everyone.
For students: Always do each job you are given to the very best of your ability, regardless of how basic the job you have been assigned. When you are finished with a job, ask for more. Building your reputation as someone “who gets things done” will earn trust quickly, lead to more job satisfaction, and eventually count towards getting a great reference in the future.
For employers: The skill level of students can vary greatly from those experiencing their first jobs to university students in their twenties with greater skill sets. Your appreciation of this fact is vital as is the acceptance of students by your regular people. Properly trained and appreciated, students can assume much heavier and more important roles than what many people will give them credit for.
For students: Eat breakfast and lunch. Many students skip breakfast and/or lunch and it can make it difficult to focus for the entire workday and it can affect your performance.
For employers: If you bring a student back in subsequent summers, ensure you provide a salary increase. Many students will not feel comfortable asking for an increase because they may just be grateful for a job; however, they will work even harder for you if you recognize that they are not starting from zero in their second or third year. Appreciate and reward they have more experience and skills to offer than a brand-new student might.
I am an ardent supporter of hiring and giving students an opportunity to engage in cooperative education programs. The responsibility and time commitment for training and finding meaningful work for students can seem to be a barrier; however, my experience with students has always been extremely positive for both my students and the organizations I have supervised.
Good luck. Hiring students is good for your student(s), your organization, your community, and for you as a leader, supervisor, or owner. It helps with everyone’s future.
Paul