Still looking for summer employment? From the number of students still coming in to the CES office, we’re willing to bet many of you haven’t found something yet. We’re here to give you a little pep talk and offer some suggestions for finding the productive summer activity you’re looking for.

Tell people that you’re looking. Call it grass-roots marketing if you must, but word of mouth is one of the best ways to find the opportunities that never make it onto the internet or into shop windows. You don’t know what kinds of opportunities your friends/families/acquaintances might know about if you don’t put it out there, and they won’t be able to advocate on your behalf if they don’t know you’re looking.

Get creative. What kind of service could you provide to make money for the summer? Do you have a special skill you could market, like photography, or playing an instrument, or having a knack with kids? Take a look at the “Immediate Hire” opportunities in LoggerJobs – you’ll be surprised at the options you might find.

Get off the Internet! There’s a point where internet searching will turn up nothing but dead ends. Are you frustrated with what you’re finding online? Channel your energy into approaching employers directly about their hiring needs – that might mean walking though a local business district or mall and talking to managers in person, or researching local offices and calling. The advantage Puget Sound students have by finishing classes in May is rapidly wearing out as we head into June, so take the proactive approach and start going to the source.

This is not the time to be a shrinking violet. But if you’re willing to jump through some extra hoops and take some risks, we bet you will be flying through a summer job search like this guy:

Mission Impossible Squirrel

© 2010 Career and Employment Services, University of Puget Sound