Summer jobs
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese - you haven’t left it too late to find a great job
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ough luck kid, life has not showered you with rich parents, a trust fund, not even a cheeky little scratch card win . . . so you are going to have to get a summer job just like the rest of us. With a bit of luck you will find something that will give you experience in your chosen field and a good hourly rate. Don’t worry that you missed the boat and should have started looking as early as February; yes many businesses do plan that early for summer staff. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Think about it: many people who landed those jobs back in February will have changed their minds, had a better offer; or turned up for a couple of shifts couldn’t hack it and vanished. Your arrival on the scene, offering your services and available to start work now will be the answer to the prayers of some hard-pressed, rota-juggling soul who is working double-shifts themselves to keep the place open. Facebook is a good source for jobs like this. Getting in with a big name is a good idea; many supermarkets and retail chains will do their utmost to keep you, one trained, and offer work near your uni or book you back in for shifts when home for summer. Glasgow will be awash with students looking for work so give yourself an edge. If you are going to work in catering then put yourself through The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
14 | Clyde Life – June/July 2019
elementary food hygiene certificate, acquire barista skills, or silver service. And remember that all work is experience - of life, working with, for, and dealing with people and with experience comes knowledge, even if just means knowing you never want to clean out an industrial meat extruder ever again (trust me on that). Sell yourself! Get your CV up and running; the internet is full of advice. Have two, one which emphasises your course and academic life for jobs and internships in your chosen field and another, more general, for other work. Keep them on your phone ready to send. Including a headshot photo is good; employers get inundated and you want them to remember you but if handing out printed CVs around the neighbourhood or sending an email blitz just give age, and postcode, saying full details provided at interview; always consider personal and identity security. Fun Just remember to have some, ok? Take your responsibilities seriously but enjoy yourself and if you don’t then find something else and leave. Earmark some money each week as ‘throwing money’ be it one shift, or perhaps your tips, and is going to be spent frivolously. @clydelifemag