Summer jobs for college students - from sweating in the sun to sweating in a tie

By Kirstie Runion, Bluffton University Icon Intern
From sweating in the sun to sweating in a tie during a business meeting, college students find themselves with whatever summer jobs they can get. In this economy, they have never been harder to find.

This summer I will be starting my new job, an internship with F&W Media in Cincinnati. I have worked at a restaurant for six years so this will be a change of pace. My advice to anyone looking for a summer job is to give it all you have-it's only for a couple months!

Three students on Bluffton University's campus informed me on what they would be doing in the summer and gave advice on how to get and keep the summer jobs that are available.

Starting with the youngest, freshman Kylee Burkholder from Archbold, got lucky this summer. For the first time, she is doing office work for a factory her father manages. She has a major is Communications with public relations concentration so she feels that the new job will help her with organization and people skills.

She will work 40 hours a week, which was more than her previous job at a pizza place. She's not scared about her new job and is excited to begin. She gives advice to other students looking.

"Apply to a lot of jobs if you want to get a summer job, even jobs that you wouldn't expect to help you out that much. You would be surprised how different experiences can help you out in the future. When I had my pizza job, it helped me with my people skills and it taught me how to read a map."

Also working 40 hours a week will be sophomore Josh Fisher. He is indecisive on whether to work on campus again or at home but is thankful he has two open jobs rather than none.

At home in Rockford he has a job with a moving company. Or, he can come back with the summer cleaning crew on campus where he enjoyed his summer last year, especially watching his friend fall down a flight of stairs with a big bucket of water.

"Make sure you enjoy whatever job you do get," Fisher said.
Junior Alicia Amis is starting fresh like me with an internship in Columbus.

She will be working for the Columbus Comets, a professional women's football team, which will help her in her Sports Management and Business Administration majors.

"Keep your focus broad so you can have all the options that are out there," Amis said.

Bluffton University seniors are looking for permanent jobs to jumpstart their life in the real world. For those of us stuck looking for hard to come by summer jobs, hopefully these ideas and advice will help.