Studying all year, going from the university to the library and from the library to the university so that when summer arrives, all that remains is to enjoy. A summer with friends, terraces, parties and many trips, the dream of any university student. There is only one but: money. There are students who decide to work in parallel to their studies during the school year, but of course it is more complicated and requires organization. Another option is “summer jobs”: take advantage of the vacation months to earn extra money.
Before looking for any job, it is very important to have all your documents prepared so that once you find a good proposal, the hiring process is as fast as possible.
What does a company need to hire you?
- Social Security number. If you do not have it, you can request it at this link, both online and in person by making an appointment.
- Updated Curriculum Vitae. Pay attention that all the data correspond to the current date such as age, year of study.
- Bank account number.
- Recent photos. Some public-facing jobs are likely to ask you for photos to get an idea of ​​who you are, so two photos: one full-length and one full-face is always helpful.
Once you have everything ready you can start your search. There are countless websites where you can find these offers. You should also know what mini-jobs are and how they work, which are closely related to summer jobs.
What jobs can you do in summer?
The job offer in summer skyrockets: there are festivals, camps, shops, swimming pools, bars, restaurants… that are looking for people with a temporary contract, perfect for a university student. We tell you about the experience of two students who spend the summer working as a lifeguard and camp monitor.
Lifeguard is one of the most rewarding summer jobs if you like the water and the sun. Alvaro, a 3rd year Computer Engineering student at the Autonomous University of Madrid, takes advantage of the summer to work as a lifeguard. “ To begin with, I took the lifeguard course that cost me 200$. I took advantage of Holy Week and did an intensive 10 hours a day for 8 days”. This course is divided into two parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part consists of two multiple choice exams of 40 questions each and the practical part of an endurance test and several combined tests. Once the lifeguard certificate is obtained, the most complicated part is touched: finding a job.
Alvaro admits that it was easy to find a job in a swimming pool through a contact “I started working in July 8 hours a day for 5 dollars/hour, but it is a job that I like and it allows me to earn an income for my expenses”. Finally, every two years it is necessary to take the Recycling Course to verify that you are still fit for work, the price is usually 50 dollars, as it cost Alvaro.
Many students choose to look for work abroad as it is a way to achieve two goals: travel and earn money. The most recurring jobs are usually monitor or au pair. The requirements to work both in Europe and abroad are to be of legal age and not be over 30 years old, so most au pairs are students. In general, families want their children to learn a new language and through an agency they look for students so that, in addition to taking care of their children, they can teach them another language. be an au pair It will not only allow you to earn money but also to get to know other cultures. You can learn more about this profession in agencies such as AuPairWorld or IAPA.
A Business Administration and Management student at the Autonomous University has found a job as a monitor in the United Kingdom for this summer. “Since I was a little girl I have gone to camps in the UK with an agency called EF, I have always wanted to work with them, but I did not know how to get it but I found an ad on Instagram for EF Summer Jobs and I registered. I am going to work as Activity Leader, my role is to make sure that the children are well and their activities go as planned”.
It was that easy for Maria Victoria, although she admits that the selection process was slow and, of course, everything was in English. To make sure that her level was correct, she first had to send an official certificate confirming her level of English, and secondly, do an interview via Skype.
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