2018’s Best Places for Summer Jobs

What tips do you have for a young person searching for a summer job / internship?

Utilize all the resources available to you, if you are in college use your career center, talk to professors, network with friends and family and alumni of your university. Utilize LinkedIn to find alumni from your institution who are working at some of the companies you are interested in. Reach out to them and get valuable information and or possibly a referral.

What types of summer jobs / internships will best equip young people with the skills and experience they need to secure a full-time career after graduation

Any job that will give them industry specific skills that would be required for employment even if it's a different industry. It could be something specific like data analytics, or social media marketing, but even more importantly summer internships or jobs can give young people the soft skills that employers seek and would rather not teach such as: problem solving skills, resiliency, creativity, an understanding of how businesses work, customer service, teamwork, conflict resolution and ethics. Every experience gives you an example to provide to future employers as evidence that you possess those skills.

What are the most common mistakes young people make when taking a summer job/internship?

Unrealistic expectations, often they are not willing to start at the bottom. They may exhibit a lack of professionalism such as not being on time, not dressing appropriate for the work place or paying more attention to their phone than to customers. Employers need to anticipate this and be willing to teach young people the appropriate behavior. It's never easy addressing issues that seem so personal but young people often need to be coached.

What tips do you have for a young person searching for a summer job / internship?

Start Early to distinguish yourself as a competitive applicant

• According to research published in the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) Journal, recent studies have shown students who graduate having completed at least one internship are more likely to secure full-time employment upon graduation, in comparison to students who have not done an internship (Callanan & Benzing, 2004; D'Abate, 2010; Gault, Redington & Schlager, 2000; Knouse, Tanner, & Harris, 1999; Knouse & Fontenot, 2008).
• Many entry level full-time positions require that applicants already have 1-2 years of relevant experience in their field. Rather than beginning the search for internships during senior year, students who start exploring these opportunities during their first two years of college will have more time to try different experiences within their desired field, develop their professional network and build a competitive resume.

Use internships as a career exploration tool

• The beauty of summer internships and jobs are that they are short-term commitments, giving students the opportunity to "test drive" a career.
• This experience will provide students with a real-life glimpse into a career and serve as an indicator on whether or not it's the right fit.
• The NACE Journal also reports that 81% of graduates stated that internships helped them shift their career directions, thus changing their academic experience with selecting a major and classes. The experience of doing an internship has a direct tie to re-focus and maximize classroom learning.

What types of summer jobs / internships will best equip young people with the skills and experience they need to secure a full-time career after graduation?

Opportunities that provide hands-on learning

• To quote Albert Einstein, "The only source of knowledge is experience." The best way for our students to understand the outside world is to experience it firsthand. This is one of the main reasons internships are a vital part of a student's collegiate journey and such an influential force to help them reach their career goals.
• At Nova Southeastern University (NSU), we have created an Experiential Education & Learning program that allows our undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning in the classroom and through academic and co-curricular internships. Not only will our students graduate with a robust resume but also with the world-ready skills they need to be successful.
• According to author Jeffrey J. Selingo (There Is Life After College), employers are looking for graduates who have "acquired this set of overlapping skills: curiosity, creativity, grit, digital awareness, contextual thinking, and humility." This means students should use their internships or summer jobs to help develop their soft skills while also expanding their knowledge in their area of interest.

What are the most common mistakes young people make when applying/taking a summer job/internship?

Not leveraging your network

• Word of mouth can be one of the most effective ways to find an internship, however networking takes time and strategy. As students are applying for summer internships and jobs, it can be easy to get into a routine of finding and applying for positions online with low success rate. Taking steps to build your professional network will assist all students regardless of career industry.
• Develop relationships with your faculty and university's Career Development office. Have a presence on LinkedIn to maintain professional connections and seek to connect with your institution's alumni network.
• Once you have established a network, stay in contact with them, especially from past internships and professionals in your field of interest. You never know when an internship or professional network could help you land your next opportunity.

The search for a summer internship should NOT begin in May

• The end of a school year should not signify the beginning of your search for a summer position. Preparation for a summer job or internship should begin months ahead of time. Many students should begin planning and applying in the Fall semester depending on the applications, especially for leading finance internships. Industries have varying hiring cycles, so it will be important to know your field and utilize available resources to put yourself in the best position to secure a valuable summer experience.

In evaluating the best cities for summer jobs, what are the top five indicators?

• Industries Available - It's important that students select cities that are strong hubs for their careers of choice.
• Cost of Living - Some cities are known for their high cost of living which makes it an important factor that needs to be taken into account.
• Transportation - Ease of transportation can have a significant impact on a student's experience in a new city.
• Feasibility of long term commitment - Many summer internships turn into permanent opportunities after graduation. Students should keep this is mind when selecting a city.
• Local Culture - Choosing a city with a vibrant culture gives students an opportunity to grow not only professionally, but personally as well.

What tips do you have for a young person searching for a summer job / internship?

Start looking in January but think about it all year long! Generally speaking, "networking" has a bad name for many extroverts and is overall distasteful for introverts - especially when you're early on in your career and are plagued by the mantra of "I'm not ready; I don't know anything; I have nothing to offer". Networking doesn't have to be a burden - think of networking as connecting with other people. When you see a job listing that would be great for a friend, pass on their name. When you go to a professional event, make yourself up some business cards to hand out to folks with similar interests - and follow-up. Talk to the people in your field about your interest in summer work, ask if they mind you contacting them in January to see if anything opens up. Internships also don't have to mean 'demeaning, demoralizing labor'. Follow your passion, respect your need to earn a wage, and find something that fits. Check with your favorite professor for ideas, call an organization that you care about to see if they have a summer position. Be academically and professionally fearless.

What types of summer jobs / internships will best equip young people with the skills and experience they need to secure a full-time career after graduation?

Here are the skills you need in any job after graduation: willingness to learn, ability to work your way up, learning how to organize your life and time, the ability to write a business letter and a thank you letter, learn to ask for help and practice listening (take notes!), and motivation to get to a reasonable and reachable goal. The likelihood you'll make $75,000 with a BA is the dream; the reality is a few friends will reach that goal but most everyone else is struggling with varying levels of support from their jobs, family, friends, and community. Again, like a broken vintage record, it's important to make human connections. I also recommend having someone help you with your resume, match that information to your free LinkedIn profile, print your business cards, and get moving.

What are the most common mistakes young people make when taking a summer job/internship?

• Mistake 1: Doing nothing...
• In your first couple years of college - you just got to make it work. You can find a paying gig for minimum wage - and find a way to connect it to your professional dream. But don't assume that you can't connect money and passion even if you're not in the field of your dreams. Do you like marketing? Do it in exchange for a great letter of recommendation at the coffee shop where you sling espresso. Do you care about social justice? Volunteer 5-hours a week at the Food Bank and do it for a great letter of recommendation on your LinkedIn page. Money is tight, people want help, and someone who can donate their time in exchange for a service, like a letter of recommendation or their wiliness to answer reference check calls is worth the wait for your junior and senior years when the jobs get better. These folks will remember you and can help you connect with new people.
• Mistake 2: Doing it all...
• You have to earn money to live. Working full time during the summer is a truth for most students - I certainly worked two jobs every summer and tried to be active as an intern. I burned all my candles, at all ends, all summer long. You know what I got out of that? Exhaustion. Work out your budget and be financially responsible first. Financial insecurity is terrifying and paying for gas without checking your bank account is a gift. I got that gift at 35 because I didn't realize the importance of financial wellbeing. Pick wellness first, then pick how you are going to integrate your passion.
• Mistake 3: Ignoring informational interviews
• You're a student! What a great reason to interview people in the fields you're interested in pursuing. You know how Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and a gaggle of other social networks are filled with people talking about themselves? People like to share. People want to make connections. People hope to feel valued. Think about the questions you really want answered - not the stuff you can research like salaries for the job or reviews about the company. Ask good questions like "what did you do in college that prepared you for this career?". Now, be reasonable in your expectations - Elon Musk isn't going to take your call but I guarantee many people will make the time if you 1. Ask them professionally (email or call and be prepared to have their admin be the person that you speak with). 2. Email your questions to them a week in advance. People appreciate it. 3. Connect with them in the way they prefer...you may not like talking on the phone but this is about you getting information from someone who has already "made it." You're not there yet. But you're going to be a professional and you're going to need to pay it forward. Remember that, if nothing else.
• Mistake 4: Not believing in the power of failure
• Fail at something spectacular, figure out your coping mechanisms, find healthy coping mechanisms, survive that failure, and try again.

How can local authorities encourage companies to provide summer jobs/internships for young people? Should government subsidize the cost of summer employment for young people?

It's in the company's best interest. Period. They have a chance to tap a rising star in the field - get them in on the ground floor - give students a good experience and the company will earn loyalty, social capital, and more high quality students. I've had almost 100 interns since 2010 and I've had four duds. I didn't keep them, I didn't offer them letters of recommendation, I didn't take their endorsements for new interns, and I saved myself a world of trouble.

• With that said, I started off in my first year with four interns that were sensational workers. They gave me their time and I gave them a good experience. I wasn't easy on them, I made them work for my recommendations, but they brought in their friends, and they brought in their friends. Pretty soon I had a rolling tide of amazing students that I could train up for a year and then offer opportunities with other employers, other units, and other non-profits. And the students never did me wrong - because they enjoyed working hard and being recognized for that work.
• Internships are work for both the student and the supervisor - but it's the most rewarding work I've ever done. And, just to give my horn a little toot, 100% of my interns graduated with a 4-year degree (even the duds) and 100% of them either found a decently paying job or got into the graduate/specialized program of their choice. And you know what? Their good experience with me means that if I had the money to hire them for a job in their field - to come work with me on a project - they'd do it.

As far as government subsidies for training up their workforce? Do we really need to further incentivize business development in an era of deregulation? Are employers so removed from their experience as a college student that we have to pay them to be good corporate citizens? If internships are beta tests or pilots for future workers, then isn't that an inexpensive component of professional development in the same way that we cultivate fundraising donors or corporate partners? Overall, that debate is for folks above my paygrade. I know my limits...because I've failed before; now I know when and how to test those limits.

In evaluating the best cities for summer jobs, what are the top five indicators?

• Do you know people in that city?
• Can you afford the cost of living?
• Can the job and the folks who work there introduce you to people that could help you professionally in the future?
• With a little personal growth, can you do the job well?

Finally, research. Research the job, find folks that were interns at the company, research the salaries, research the career trajectory in the industry, and figure out if you want to put in the time and put in the quality work.