Success The Turning Point

Author(s): Rajendra Rakhecha
Publisher: Rajendra Rakhecha

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Students are now talking about summer jobs. There's a lot of anxiety about their availability. Most students want and need a summer job as a way to finance their education. But finding a job isn't as easy as just wanting one. Here are some suggestions of places to start: 1. Contact past employers: Assuming the student has been a good worker in the past, it makes sense to get in touch with those who know this. Even if the job held prior isn't available, some employers will find a position for the right worker. 2. Check university job boards: We've blogged before about how a part-time job at school has some great advantages for students, and there may be summer positions available if the student is free to stay after the semester wraps up. 3. Create a job: I've known several students who have run lucrative summer lawn care businesses. I've known others who have organized informal summer camps for kids. An enterprising student may have better results creating a job than finding one, and the experience can be valuable as well. Right about this time of year, this question begins to circulate among my friends: "What are you doing this summer?" Answers include studying abroad, vacations, and summer classes, but most of my friends will be working full- or part-time jobs. The lucky ones are returning to a job from last summer, but the rest are left to spend the next several months on the job hunt. Here are some additional strategies to make that search a little easier: 1. Consider a new market: If you're someone who normally goes home for the summer vacation, consider looking for jobs in your college town, which may be relatively deserted over the summer. Conversely, don't rule out potential jobs in your hometown, even if you're used to staying at school for the summer. 2. Use family and friends: Working for a relative or family friend may not be your ideal summer job. If you're struggling to find a job, however, those connections can be a fairly secure option in case something else doesn't come along. 3. Combine multiple positions: If you can't find that one full-time position, try taking more than one part-time job to meet your financial needs. This is especially helpful if your employer ends up needing you for fewer hours than you expected. By taking on an extra job, you can maximize your time over the summer to still make the amount of money you want. An International Student's Guide to U.S. Scholarships http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2012/03/22/an-internationalstudents-guide-to-us-scholarships 10 Colleges That Give the Most International Student Financial Aid These elite institutions may help admitted students from abroad with funding. The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College and The Short List: Grad School to find data that matters to you in your college or grad school search. Good news for international students interested in top-ranked U.S. colleges: There may be financial aid for you. Studying in the United States can be quite expensive for international students, who aren't eligible for federal financial aid programs and who may be charged additional fees for special services and
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