Early Bird Gets the Worm--and the Best Summer Job

Hordes of young folks will set out looking for summer work when school lets out in June, but the best jobs will already be gone--to people who lined them up early.

Those who haven’t landed a summer job should at least be making plans by now, listing possible sources of work and looking into them.

Experts at the U.S. Labor Department suggest starting by asking teachers or counselors for ideas about possible jobs.

And consider your talents and hobbies, such as auto mechanics or woodworking, when deciding which jobs to go after.

State employment service offices also can offer suggestions about employers who need workers and some may even have a special program for summer workers.

Other places to check for possible leads include newspapers, friends and relatives, neighborhood businesses, bulletin boards, factory and store windows, camps, resorts, playgrounds, amusement parks, plant nurseries, farms, ice cream companies and soft-drink bottlers.

Many firms will accept applications quite early, and then it helps to keep checking back with the firms, Labor officials suggest.

A major part of landing almost any job will be the job interview. This is a critical event and making a good impression is essential.

Be Prepared

To begin with, the Labor Department says, find out something about the company where you will be doing the interview. Ask the personnel or business office for printed material or talk to people who work there.

Knowing more about the company can help you decide what to say about yourself.

Take along your work record and references to the interview.

Dress conservatively for the interview; do not wear fad or flamboyant clothing.

Generally, clothes that fit the type of work would be suitable, perhaps a suit and tie for men, or at least neat and clean trousers and shirt.

For women, a dress is usually appropriate, while low-cut necklines, excessively frilly blouses and dangling jewelry may be distracting.

Grooming experts at the Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Assn. stress the importance of both men’s and women’s appearance presenting an image of competence and professionalism.

Be prompt for the interview, and come alone. Do not bring a friend along for support, the Labor Department job experts say.

Answer the questions honestly and briefly. Don’t talk about your personal life unless specifically asked. Tell what your qualifications are--without exaggerating--and tell why the company should hire you.

Think about the questions that may be asked.

Sometimes the interviewer will ask something general such as “Tell me about yourself” or “What can I do for you?”

When answering, narrow the discussion to the job and what you can do to help the company. Bring up the most useful items in your background, but try not to ramble.

Generally the interviewer doesn’t want to hear about lifetime plans or general goals, such as “I’d like to utilize my education” or “I like to work with people.”

Such statements are naive and don’t sell you as a candidate, the Labor Department says. Be more specific with the answer, such as stressing an interest in the company’s specific business.

If asked about past jobs, don’t say negative things about former employers. Most interviewers will identify with the other company, and any disparaging remarks may be interpreted as indicating uncooperativeness on your part.

Finally, if the first interview doesn’t lead to a job, don’t be discouraged. Few people get the first job they apply for. Think over each interview, consider what might have gone well and what went wrong, and then try again.