Summer job for a university student

Question

I'm a university student who's applied for 10 jobs now, by handing in my CV mainly to supermarkets to get a job for the summer.

Not only did I hand in the CV, I even asked to speak to the manager so I could talk to him/her face-to-face, explain to him/her that I am a college student, that I am very keen to work at his/her company, and would even continue working part-time when summer holidays are over. I even wore a shirt and tie just to go and hand in my CV.

All of them, without exception either don't want me or are not recruiting. I haven't got work experience, but have attained first class honours in my first year at college (the highest level), held various leadership roles at college, have an ECDL certificate, and have excelled in sports.

Why can't I get a job for the summer!? What on earth am I doing wrong!?

Answer 1

Mate I've got the same problem. One place I applied to was clearly pretty desperate as they are still advertising for 4 positions a month after I applied (in an electrical goods shop) but clearly nobody wants to hire someone for a couple of months.

Answer 2

try this, i think they HAVE to accept apps from college students, be a letter carrier or a mail sorter in a local post office, not sure, try calling or looking elsewhere online

Answer 3

I had the same problem as you. It has nothing to do with you but everything to due with timing. For some reason jobs do not hire at a certain time. Especially the supermarkets. I remember applying to so many jobs that i must get one. But they all turned me down. A few months later, I reapplied to those same jobs and i was offered at at least 5 jobs. This was around November. I asked them why they did not hire me before or even called me, they said they were not hiring at the time. They only hire at a specific time. Mostly at the time when they really need additional workers.

I think the best time to apply for a job is either early summer before summer vacation or a month before Christmas.

just have patients and I am sure a job will call you.

Also if you get a job in the supermarket just remember that the customers are always wrong. (they just like to think they are always right but in reality they are mostly wrong when it come to grocery shopping)

Answer 4

I worked all but about 2 of my holidays whilst studying, and most of it was in a supermarket. In my experience the reason you'll have trouble at a supermarket is as follows. Alot of people work in a supermarket during say GCSE's and A Levels, then those people come back to uni, but usually have a chat with the supermarket before they leave, and state whether or not they'll come back the following summer. So you'll often find summer jobs are taken up by students who have worked there before uni.

this isn't just supermarkets, but a fair number of places. There's a general rule for applying for jobs (which a very experienced IT contractor told me), 50-10-3-1: You'll apply for around 50 jobs, 10 of them you'll hear from/will read your CV (i.e. get a phone interview), 3 of them you'll get a final interview for, 1 of them you'll get a job for.

The thing with summer work for a student is that it's all about numbers, thing is they're probably not too bothered with qualifications, but more with bodies, in their eyes it doesn't take a degree to be a fill shelves etc, so it's kind of a first come first serve thing. However it's never too late, and once you find somewhere for this year, you're more likely to be able to go back there next year.

You may also be able to get decent work experience out of just summer work, if you work there a few summers in a row, you could get them wantign you to join when you finish uni (which can always help relieve the stress when you finish!)

Answer 5

I had the same problem last year. I think a majority of high-street shops and supermarkets etc want to hire people that they can keep on for a long time - like 16 year olds who have dropped out of school and want to work permanently.

I would recommend getting in touch with your University to see what's going on - there will no doubt be a careers department, and they're there to help you find work!

What would have been good (although it's a bit late now) would have been to apply to a company to do a summer internship. Have a search through for next year though - deadlines are usually january/february, so have a look at all the large companies in whatever sector you'd like to work for and apply - they will no doubt take you on if you're getting such great grades.

Have a look on reed.co.uk in the Temp Zone, see if there's anything that takes your fancy, even though most of it is admin-related. You're not doing anything wrong though, and you should definitely aim higher!

Answer 6

maybe you should try applying at something other than a suppermarket it sounds like you are very smart try a different job  

Answer 7

A lot of supermarkets and chains only accept on-line applications via their websites.

You are also a bit late, yo should have been doing this in May / June.

Don't forget a lot of students will have been working weekends at supermarkets since last September.

try your local job centre for temporary work. Are you bothered what you do? V festival is recruiting at the moment.

I don't think a manager would be too impressed by you asking to see him / her without making an appointment first.

Sorry to sound so negative.

Answer 8

Try Home Depot, they are very supportive of college students and flexible with hours.  I have worked at mine for over a year and have gotten every time off request approved.  

Also check on job hiring sites like monster.com to see which businesses are hiring in your area.  That is how I found out Home depot was hiring and in need of workers at the time.