How To Make The Most Of a Jobless Summer

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This summer, more and more teens and young adults are spending their time looking for great summer jobs, but not getting them.  It's no secret that it's been a tough job market for the past few years and it is hurting entry level workers the most. Without a job, these young people are spending more time with their friends and doing things that are fun but free. Hanging at the beach, going to the mall and skateboarding are just a few of the fun things that summer has to offer. Still, they worry that their summer of fun and no job will end up doing more harm to their resume.



It doesn't have to be that way. If you can't find a job, why not have some fun, but do some things that will improve your future job search while you're at it. Here are 3 great ideas for making the most of a jobless summer:

 

  • Volunteer - I know, I know. I say this all the time, but that's because it's true. Volunteering is great and it's an important thing to do this summer. Find a cause and give them your time and talents. A future employer will probably not question why you didn't have a job over the summer, but they certainly want to know why you don't have any volunteer experience during that time. Volunteering shows that you enjoy working and making a difference.
  • Start a project - If you can't find a job to keep you busy, come up with a great project. This is the perfect time to set yourself up as an expert in your field. You can start a website, a blog or take a crazy risk like the woman in Julie and Julia. If you've never seen that movie, it's about a woman who works at a temp job and wants to do something exciting. She had always loved Julia Child, so she decided to spend a year cooking every recipe in her cookbook and blogging about it. It was an interesting project and it clearly demonstrated her creativity, dedication and confidence. Think about your industry, what you love about it and come up with a project. You'll never know where it will lead.
  • Start your own business - Whether you want to babysit, walk dogs, tutor or offer computer programming services, starting a small business can be a challenge and a whole lot of fun. There are just so many ways that you can make some extra money, I can't even begin to list them all. Let your creativity be your guide and get started doing something that you love. Even if the business isn't something you want to continue for a long period of time, future employers will be impressed by how hard you worked to get your business off the ground.

Do you have any other suggestions for making the most of the summer? Please share your thoughts in the comments.



 

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