How to Evaluate & Pick the Perfect Summer Job

Picking your summer job is no easy task. There are so many jobs for you to choose from that it can be overwhelming. You have lots of decisions that you have to make before you can choose the job that’s best for you. The key to the whole thing is to take your time, do your research, and make the choices that are best for you. Remember summer jobs are all about having a good time. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.

The first thing you need to do is think about the type of summer job you want. Do you want to travel to Alaska for a fishing guide job or stay close to home and do landscaping? Do you want to make big pay checks or is it all about the experience? Do you want to get “real world” training or live the vacation for a few months? These are all important aspects of summer jobs that you need to consider.


Once you’ve figured out the jobs that will suit you best, try to sift through them, until you only have jobs left that you’ll love. Try to get the endless list down to about five jobs that will have you smiling all summer long.

After you’ve sorted through the summer job market and have a few ideas of what jobs you’d like to do, it’s time to really get down to the nitty-gritty because every job has its pros and cons. Look at each job under a microscope.

Think about what you’ll be doing every day, how much money you’re going to make, where you’re going to be living, what the living conditions are like, do they offer benefits, will I be hired, will this job help my resume, and any other criteria that may be important to you.

You’ll want to pick a job that with more pros than cons – you’ll be much happier that way.

Let’s look at an example…Let’s say you want to be an adventure trip leader. If you’re qualified the jobs are not too hard to land.

You could get to travel around the world doing super cool activities like rafting, diving, surfing, backpacking, or sailing. You’ll meet other cool co-trip leaders and have a solid experience. You’ll get to work with kids, which is always an adventure and is respected on future resumes. You’ll get a decent paycheck and have few expenses…but you won’t be by the Internet very often so your Facebook page might get neglected and you may have to deal with some awkward teenage moments…

Consider the alternative, you could be in a cubicle or cleaning up port-a-potties.

It’s always better to look at the bright side of life, but realize that every job has its pros and its cons. You’ll have to pick what matters to you the most and weigh that against the things that are deal breakers. It may take a little Internet research and some soul searching, but you’ll find a job that fits your needs. It may be working in the Bahamas as a dive instructor or teaching wind surfing in Oregon – whatever it is that floats your boat remember that even though your summer job is ideal, it may not be absolutely, totally perfect. That’s why it’s called a job.

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