summer job college essay

How to Write a College Essay about a Summer Job

Writing a college essay about a summer job can be a great opportunity to showcase your skills and experiences to college admissions officers. It allows you to demonstrate your work ethic, responsibility, and dedication while highlighting your unique personality and qualities. Here are some tips to help you write a compelling essay about your summer job:

1. Reflect on your experiences

Reflecting on your experiences is an essential part of writing a college essay about a summer job. It's not enough to simply recount what you did over the summer; you need to think deeply about what you learned from the experience and how it impacted you.

When reflecting on your experiences, consider the following questions:

1. What did you learn?

Think about the skills you developed or the knowledge you gained over the summer. Did you learn anything about yourself or the world around you? How did this experience change you?

2. What challenges did you face?

Reflect on any obstacles or setbacks you encountered during your summer job. How did you overcome them? What did you learn from these experiences?

3. How did you contribute?

Think about the impact you had on your job or the people around you. Did you make any positive changes or help others in some way? How did you feel about your contribution?

4. What did you enjoy most?

Reflect on the parts of your summer job that you enjoyed the most. Why did you enjoy them? What did this tell you about your interests and passions?

By taking the time to reflect on your experiences, you can gain a deeper understanding of what you learned and how it impacted you. This can help you write a more thoughtful and compelling college essay that showcases your skills, interests, and personal growth.

2. Focus on a specific experience

When writing a college essay about a summer job, it's important to focus on a specific experience that impacted you the most. This could be a particular project or task you worked on, a challenging situation you faced, or a significant interaction you had with a coworker or supervisor.

To effectively focus on a specific experience, it's important to provide details and examples that help bring the experience to life for the reader. Use descriptive language to paint a picture of the experience, including what you did, how you did it, and what you learned from it.

Additionally, it's important to connect the experience to your personal growth and development. What skills did you gain or improve upon? How did the experience shape your future goals or aspirations? What lessons did you learn that you can apply to other areas of your life?

Remember that the essay is not just about the job itself, but also about what you learned and how you grew as a result of the experience. By focusing on a specific experience and reflecting on its impact, you can create a compelling and meaningful essay that showcases your personal growth and development.

3. Show, don't tell: 

"Show, don't tell" is a crucial aspect of writing a compelling college essay about a summer job or any personal experience. Instead of merely stating your accomplishments or characteristics, you should try to demonstrate them through your writing.

To achieve this, use specific details and vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the experience. Rather than simply saying that you worked hard at your summer job, show the reader by describing a specific instance where you went above and beyond your duties. Use sensory language to describe what you saw, heard, smelled, and felt during the experience.

For example, instead of saying, "I worked hard at my summer job at the ice cream shop," you could write something like, "The heat was oppressive as I spent hours scooping ice cream for a never-ending line of customers. My arms ached from the constant motion, but I persevered, determined to give each customer a perfect scoop."

By using descriptive language and specific examples, you allow the reader to feel as if they were there with you, experiencing the situation alongside you. This makes your essay more engaging and memorable, and helps the reader gain a deeper understanding of who you are as a person.

4. Highlight your skills: 

When writing about your summer job in a college essay, it's important to highlight the skills you developed during your time there. These skills can demonstrate your personal and professional growth, as well as your potential to contribute to a college community.

First, consider the specific tasks and responsibilities you had at your summer job. Did you develop strong communication skills while interacting with customers or coworkers? Did you become more organized and efficient in managing your workload? Did you learn to think creatively to solve problems or improve processes? Whatever the skills you acquired, make sure to clearly describe them and provide examples of how you applied them.

It's also important to consider how these skills can be relevant to your college experience. For example, if you developed strong leadership skills while working as a shift supervisor at a restaurant, you could highlight how these skills could translate to leadership roles in student organizations or group projects. By connecting your summer job experiences to your future goals and aspirations, you can demonstrate to college admissions officers how you can contribute to their community.

5. Be authentic

When writing a college essay about a summer job, it's important to be authentic and genuine. Avoid trying to sound overly impressive or exaggerating your experiences. Instead, focus on telling the story of your summer job in a way that is truthful and genuine.

One way to be authentic is to write in your own voice. Use language that feels natural to you and avoid trying to sound overly formal or academic. Write the way you speak, and try to convey your personality through your writing.

Another way to be authentic is to share your personal thoughts and feelings about your summer job. Don't be afraid to talk about your successes and failures, your strengths and weaknesses, and your emotions and reactions to different situations. By sharing your true feelings, you can connect with the reader on a deeper level and demonstrate your self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Being authentic also means being honest about your limitations and areas for growth. If you struggled with a particular aspect of your summer job or made mistakes, don't try to hide it or gloss over it. Instead, acknowledge the challenge and discuss how you learned from the experience and improved as a result.

Overall, being authentic is about being true to yourself and your experiences. By doing so, you can create a compelling and honest college essay that showcases your unique perspective and personality.

Writing a college essay about a summer job can be a great way to showcase your skills, experiences, and personal growth. To write an effective essay, it's important to reflect on your experiences, focus on a specific experience, show rather than tell, highlight your skills, and be authentic. By following these tips, you can craft a compelling essay that stands out to admissions officers and showcases your unique qualities and potential. Remember, your summer job experience can provide valuable insight into who you are as a person and how you approach challenges, so don't be afraid to share your story and let your personality shine through.

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Home — Application Essay — Engineering Schools — The Lessons I Learned from Working at a Swimming Pool

The Lessons I Learned from Working at a Swimming Pool

• University: Santa Clara University

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Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 648 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

During the summer of 2007, I worked at a swimming pool, coaching the swim team, giving swim lessons, and lifeguarding. Early on, I realized that this summer job would demand more from me, and in turn give back a lot more, than I had initially expected. By the time summer was over, I had discovered that this experience had had a profound impact upon my life, especially in providing me with confidence and insights into how to better relate to and work with other people.

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During the twenty hours a week I worked as a lifeguard, I learned to be constantly aware of what was going on in and around the pool, to anticipate problems, and, whenever necessary, to be firm and assertive with swimmers of all ages in order to make sure that the pool remained safe. In addition, before anyone arrived at the pool, and after everyone had left, I was responsible for maintaining the equipment, the chemical balance and cleanliness, and the security of the pool.

What was especially rewarding, however, was the additional time I spent six days a week coaching the swim team in competition against other teams, and teaching swim lessons for kids who were five to eleven years of age. As I began my coaching experience, I had all sorts of great quotes in mind from various coaches of the past. Former football coach Eddie Robinson once said, “Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you.” Former Princeton basketball coach Pete Carill said, “The sterner the discipline, the greater the devotion,” and George Hallas, the oldest coach in NFL league history, stated, “What makes a good coach? Complete dedication.”

Taking my inspiration from these greats, I first felt it was important to teach the kids that they were all capable of going beyond the expectations of others in their performances. By the end of the summer, however, I had learned more about the importance of breaking these barriers than anyone else.

One five-year-old boy was the youngest member of the team and small for his age. No one on the team had high expectations for him, including myself. But right from the beginning he proved everyone wrong. Not only did he work hard, but he never complained. He never stopped in the middle of a lap to rest, as did some of the older swimmers, and he always followed instructions immediately on how to better his stroke. As a result, by the end of the season, nobody was surprised when he was awarded “The Most Inspirational Swimmer.”

Another example was seven-year-old boy. At the beginning of the summer he told me that he would not even try swimming backstroke because the stroke was hard and he was not very good at it. However, as his coach, I firmly insisted that he not give up, and after some practice and continued encouragement, not only did he never again complain about swimming backstroke, but he ended up becoming one of the best backstroke swimmers in his age bracket.

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I am certain, however, that by the end of the swimming season, I had learned more than anyone else. I learned how important it is to always be patient, and yet firm in encouraging each team member to always try hard to do their best. I learned that each person is unique in how they learn and in how they are motivated, and that my response to them needs to be tailored accordingly. In turn, the team members learned to trust me as their coach and to grow in their own self-confidence. Although the summer proved to be hard and challenging, I found that I ended up learning a lot about myself--especially by applying to myself the very principles that I was laboring to instill in others.

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4 Ways to Turn Your Summer Internship into an Amazing College Essay

In order to make the most of your internship, it’s important to observe everything going on around you. If you’re like most humans, you won’t remember all of that valuable information unless you make a conscious effort to record it. So, keep a notebook (or notebook app) with you at all times. Just in case you don’t know what to focus on, we put together this guide to show you how to take your notes to the next level.

1. Keep Track of Your Responsibilities

You will likely know the basic expectations for your internship before you even begin, but what you’ll realize when you arrive is that your responsibilities grow and change over time as you become more confident and your superiors come to trust your ability to do good work. So make sure to note how your work changes from week to week (or even day to day) and any new skills you acquire as you go. What can you do during week three of your internship that you couldn’t do during week one? What do you know now? Do you take on any additional special projects or tasks? Tracking your growth over the course of your internship is the perfect first step to formulating a compelling and personal narrative for your college essay.

2. Pay Attention to Professional Conversations

Take note of how professionals who have already established a place for themselves in the workplace act when talking to other professionals. Pay attention to their mannerisms, the language they use, the amount of eye contact they make, and how they address the other person. What interpersonal skills do people in this field seem to cultivate? How do they relate to your own gifts? Will you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone to succeed or are you a perfect fit? Allowing your internship to be a springboard for this kind of self reflection will give you a personal angle for your application essay, not to mention a clearer sense of what you might want to be when you grow up.

3. Write Down (and ask) Questions

As you start to delve into assigned tasks and get into the groove of your internship, you’ll probably have a lot of questions. Write them down. No question is a stupid question! Decide who will best answer your question, then ask it . Once you have the answer, write that down too! Not only will you gain information this way, but you may also form meaningful connections with colleagues who will begin to support and trust you as you gain more competence and comfort with their profession. Keeping track of questions and their answers will also serve as a good record of your learning over the course of your internship.

4. Get Contact Information

You mean to say your coworker is a Brown University Alum and that just so happens to be your top choice school? Get their contact information! Write it down! Ask this person questions about Brown. Write that down too! Even if this person isn’t an alum of your top school, you still can gain valuable insight from anyone in the professional world. You’ll know what kinds of programs can help you on your journey to your ideal career, and also what kinds of people and values those programs cultivate. With all of this personal information in hand, you will be able to tailor any personal statement you want to showcase your most relevant qualities and experiences.

Though it may not seem like the most glamorous summer, having an internship is a privilege and it’s your opportunity to get your feet wet in the sea of professionalism. So, make observations, ask questions, and take notes. Good luck and we really hope you don’t end up being one of those interns that just make coffee!

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How to turn a ho-hum summer job into a killer college essay, resume bullet

Editor's note: This is the first in a series offering expert tips on how teens can use their  summer job experience to craft a winning college application essay or resume bullet point . 

While some students from the Hudson Valley spend their time volunteering for soup kitchens, building housing in Latin America or volunteering at orphanages in impoverished countries, most high school students are serving frozen yogurt, busing tables during a busy lunch hour, lifeguarding and other decidedly unglamorous jobs. 

Well, guess what? Those pricey experiences may be suspect with college admissions officers who are taken a closer look at padded applications by wealthy candidates. 

Colleges are looking for authenticity, something you can earn from an ordinary-but-authentic summer job. How can you turn an ordinary job into an attention grabbing essay? We've lined up experts who share their best advice .

Name:  Ana Esteban, 17, of Milton

Describe your job:  

 At Table Talk Diner in Poughkeepsie, customers are  greeted by a friendly face ready to help out. "I'm a hostess, so I greet people and I sit them down at their tables and help out the servers when needed," said Esteban. 

How did you get it?  

"When I moved here to Milton, I needed a job, and my uncle works here so he talked to the manager to see if he would give me a job and he did," said Esteban. 

Esteban's family moved to the U.S. from a village in Mexico when she was 2 years old. She said she hopes to set an example graduating from college, so her little sister can see her success and follow in the same path.

What surprised you most about the work? 

"The people surprise me most about working here, seeing different kinds of people that are comfortable talking to me and just hearing their stories," said Esteban. "There are a lot of people going through tough times, I feel comfortable talking to them even if I'm a stranger." 

Do you think this job will help you in the future?

"A career that I’m looking forward to (going into) is becoming a nurse or a doctor, working with different people and helping them," said Esteban. "I think (this job) will help me to understand them better." 

Connecting with people is something Esteban said she enjoys most about working at the diner. 

Going into her senior year at Newburgh Free Academy, Esteban said she hopes to be the first of her family to graduate from college. She said she is looking at nursing programs in nearby colleges to apply for in the fall. 

Tips for writing a college essay

College Counselor:  Gabriel Smiley, director of college counseling at Poughkeepsie Day School. 

Tips for turning a hostess job into a standout essay: 

"This is something I talk about with my students all the time," said Smiley. "There is no one trip or opportunity that will be a golden ticket into a school. You want to show what you value and can bring to the table." 

• Values and characteristics:  Think of what values and characteristics were brought to the table while working, said Smiley. He recommended that Esteban think of what values she's gained while working at the restaurant.  
•   Share interesting work s tories:  Smiley said to think of a specific story that Esteban found interesting, perhaps a rough shift where she met an interesting person that changed her perspective.  
• Describe the scene:   According to Smiley it is important to use the six senses, "don't just tell what happened, but make it into a movie in their eyes," said Smiley. 
• Show the deeper meaning:  Smiley recommends showing why experiences at work are important. He said to for Esteban to be sure to connect the story she shares to her life and share why that moment was important to her. 

Tips for creating a resume 

Resume Expert:  Amanda Augustine, career expert for TopResume. 

Tips for turning a hostess job into an eye-catching resume:  "There are ways to frame your part-time jobs that will make them appear more relevant and impressive to college admissions or prospective employers," said Augustine. "The key is to highlight your transferable skills and to demonstrate that you are a good worker." 

• Key skills:   As a hostess often develops soft skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, and customer service, Augustine said to  place these competencies in a "key skills" section at the top of Esteban's resume. 
• Work Experience: According to Augustine,  this section should be used to "illustrate how (Esteban's) skills were used to keep the restaurant's patrons and waitstaff happy." She recommended Esteban include examples such as how she handled incoming phone calls, worked with disgruntled customers or managed situations with impatient guests, as well as examples that show when she was a model employee. 

Turning a High School Internship Into a College Essay

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If high school seniors haven’t started thinking about their college essays, it’s time.

“The worst thing to do is to put this off. So much of it is about reflecting and experimenting,” says Joie Jager-Hyman, founder of College Prep 360 and author of the new book B+ Grades, A+ College Application . “Look at this as a process. Don’t be too connected to one idea. Write down a couple of things before school starts and be willing to talk with a counselor or friend.”

One of those ideas might be to write about a summer internship or job. But if that’s what they choose, experts encourage students not to make it too generic.

“Essays that focus on a specific aspect of the internship—a memorable moment, a lesson learned, an ethical dilemma—are often more interesting than those that take a wider view,” says Sally Rubenstone, senior advisor for CollegeConfidential.com and co-author of Panicked Parents’ Guide to College Admissions .

Broad narratives about a summer experience tend to sound superficial and cliche, she says. Instead, describe an incident, even something as quirky as a long battle with a copy machine. “It can actually say a lot about how a student perseveres and thinks and may also add that dose of human that most college-admissions officials long to find,” says Rubenstone.

It’s good for students to think about a turning point or specific nugget from the internship experience, says Jager-Hyman. For instance, if a student wants to highlight his or her problem-solving skills, describe a problem encountered on the internship. Then, connect the solution to what’s learned in school and explain a goal realized as a result.

“It could even be a mistake you made. Few take that approach,” says Jager-Hyman, who has worked as a college-admissions officer. “You want to present yourself in a positive light, but it makes you human and shows you being self aware.”

Since the internship will be listed elsewhere on the application, only include it in an essay if you will be adding new information that tells the college something more about you, says Jager-Hyman. If the internship wasn’t a particularly meaningful experience, don’t feel compelled to write about it in an essay, she adds.

And remember, the essay is just a portion of your overall application.

“No one ever got into college with a good essay,” says Jager-Hyman. “It’s not an essay contest.” But it is often read before the transcript, and a good essay might make an admissions officer feel more generous when looking at a few not-so-perfect grades. “Essays definitely help, if you are a qualified student,” but not if you don’t have the grades and test scores needed, she adds.

This month, the new Common Application rolled out offering students different essay prompts (with no “topic of your choice” option) and limiting submissions to 500 words.

Megan Dorsey, a college consultant and founder of College Prep Results in Houston, says some of the new Common App topics, such as describing a challenge or learning experience, could work for students who want to write about a summer internship or job.

After describing the lesson learned on an internship, Dorsey says it’s important for students to then explain the changed perspective and next step taken. She tells student to think about: “What have I done as a result of the experience?”

The essay is a chance for students to tell their individual stories and try to stand out from the rest of the crowd. “An essay gives the student an opportunity to explain something that may not come across in the paperwork the college already has,” says Dorsey. So, if the internship provides a window into something unique, using it as a topic can work. She says not to emphasize the name of the firm, but rather the experience and the hands-on work.

“It’s experience over the name,” she says.

A version of this news article first appeared in the College Bound blog.

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Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Write Your College Essay

Your college essay is an important part of your application. It’s what shows colleges your personality and who you are.

While you may want to relax over the summer before your senior year of high school, it’s also a great time to get started on your college essay . Read on to find out why.

Fewer Distractions

During the summer, you don’t have classes, tests, or homework to deal with. You also have fewer extracurriculars (though you should be doing something meaningful), and no school during the day, unless of course you’re taking college classes.

You might think you don’t have anything to write about in your essays. But now that you have fewer distractions, you can work on developing ideas. Check out What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay? for some ideas to get you started—from asking yourself questions about important issues to using powerful rhetoric to express yourself.

Less Pressure

When fall semester rolls around, you’ll be extremely busy. You’ll need to balance apps, classes, and extracurriculars. (For tips for staying organized—and maintaining your sanity—when senior year starts, check out Eight Tips to Use Your Time Efficiently and Stay Organized in High School .)

But now, you’re not nearly as stressed. “Not stressed” is an ideal condition under which to be writing your essay. You can take your time to thoroughly develop your topic, starting with a brainstorming session to generate ideas, narrowing down your list, and thinking over ways to express your idea thoughtfully. Remember: How you say it is even more important than what you say, so spend some time working on your rhetoric to best convey your experience.

Take the time to work on your college essay while you don’t have these other commitments. You also won’t have to feel rushed.

More Opportunities

Use the summer to go on college tours and narrow down your list—then you’ll know which essays you have to write. You’ll also have time to take notes after your visits and can incorporate them into “why us” essays.

Summer activities can also make great college essay topics. Whether you’re working at a job, volunteering at a tutoring center, interning at a local newspaper, or taking college classes, your summer activities likely taught you something about yourself and gave you a new perspective. Take the time to reflect on your experiences and think about what you might write about.

More Comfortable Environment

When you’re in school, you’re more or less stuck in one place. But during the summer, you can go wherever you want to work on your college essay—the library, your backyard, a park bench, or wherever you feel most comfortable. Use the environment to brainstorm and start crafting the essay itself.

Earlier, we said you’ll be busy when the school year arrives. To reiterate, you’re going to be very busy. You may feel like you don’t have time for everything on your plate.

Now, however, you have all the time in the world. Use it to come up with ideas , develop them, and bounce them off friends and family. Create at least one full draft of your essay, so you can show it to other people and get feedback. If you work on it now, you’ll have time to rework it later.

Get Writing!

Summer is the ideal time to work on your college essay. Even if you don’t finish it, you’ll make major headway and free up time for working on other parts of your applications and school work. Now that you have time and less pressure, you’ll be able to get more done. So get to it!

For more ideas about use your summer wisely and crafting the perfect college essay, check out:

The Ultimate Summer Checklist for High School Students

5 Ways to Tell If You Have a Good Personal Statement Topic

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Jessica Sager

Updated Apr 11, 2018

Summer Jobs That Pay Well and Look Good On College Applications

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You’re looking for the perfect summer job in high school—something that’s fun, earns you extra cash, and makes your college application stand out.

It’s a challenge but not impossible, especially if you’re creative and know where to look. And, you don’t need to sacrifice your summer to make the most of a summer job in high school. Part-time summer jobs offer the same learning opportunities, and some may even have tuition benefits for college. Here are some insights from experts on summer jobs that will help you save for college—and could even help you get in.

Match Your Skills with Freelance Opportunities

The things that come naturally to you may be skills that are in high demand. This includes creating social media videos, taking care of younger siblings, or coaching. These can help translate into freelance jobs. You might be surprised at how you can market your skills, both for intended employers and for college résumés. Are you involved in your high school theater? Offer acting lessons for younger kids. Have a creative social media account? Consider parlaying those skills into content creation or graphic design.

Consider what you like and what your skills are and you will be able to find work tailored to your lifestyle. Plus, freelance and one-off gigs can give you flexibility. “Freelancing can also offer the advantage of allowing the student flexibility to make their own schedule, so a student might take on some freelance work in their off-hours as a résumé-builder while still maintaining a more traditional summer job,” notes Michelle McAnaney, founder of the admissions advice site The College Spy .

Look for Work Related to Your Intended Major

“I value anything that provides exposure to a potential career path, so students have a purpose for studying their field and are motivated to tie their education to their future plans,” says Greg Kaplan, college counselor and author of Earning Admission: Real Strategies for Getting Into Highly Selective Colleges . These jobs may require some legwork to find, and it might be helpful to speak with your guidance counselor to see if they know of any specialized programs or internships. It also might be helpful to tap into your extended network, too. For example, if you’re interested in law and your friend’s aunt is a lawyer, ask if they ever hire high school students to do light filing or administrative work in their firm. Your network may also be able to point you toward adjacent experiences, such as work with a local nonprofit.

Check Out Companies With Scholarship Programs

Fast food and retail stores also offer competitive employment options with additional perks for high school and college students. For example, Starbucks offers scholarships to their student workers. The company will pay all tuition costs for employees who want to earn a four-year online bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. Students become eligible for tuition assistance after they have worked 240 hours at a qualified Starbucks location over the course of three, consecutive months, says Lindsay Gueren, counselor at Woodstock High School.

Gueren notes that there are other corporate programs to look into, including Earn and Learn from UPS, which will help with your college expenses, a bonus of up to $25,000 for part-time employees (up to $5,250 in assistance per calendar year). Publix grocery stores also offer tuition reimbursement programs for any associate with six months of continuous service who works an average of 10 hours a week. Program eligibility may change; check the company website and ask your manager or HR department for any clarification.

Finding a gig that offers tuition reimbursement can help save you money in the long term as well. Earning credits from an online school in high school can help you complete required courses prior to college, which could help you get your degree faster and help you save you money.

Get Into Research

Professors not only teach, they also conduct research, and they often rely on students to assist them. While these students are likely college students, that’s not always the case. “If you can find a job in a research lab, like assisting, data entry or lab maintenance, you’ll be helping out a professor in an important way,” notes Nicole Porter, project director at Center for Community Research and former teaching fellow at DePaul University. Hopefully you’ll develop a relationship with the professor and they’ll pay it forward when it’s time for college applications. A recommendation letter or a good word at their university would add a lot of value to your application.” To find openings, consider reaching out directly to a few professors at a nearby college who specialize in the field you’re interested in. You may need to spend some time on their faculty page to get to know more about them. Even if they don’t have openings, they may be able to refer you to a colleague who does.

Don’t Shy Away From Retail or Restaurants

“Retail and service-related positions are typically fast-paced and require multitasking,” notes Lacy Nettleton, assistant director of admissions at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. “A social and positive attitude as the face of a restaurant or retail store speaks volumes about a student’s personality and commitment to customer service. In both retail and serving, beyond customer service, employees also often are in charge of inventory and merchandise and/or the cash register. These are big and important responsibilities that show a student is ready to take on the demands of college life.”  Need some inspiration? Read how a routine summer working at the mall can become rich material for a college application essay .

There are a wide range of summer jobs you can leverage to boost your college application. The key to making a summer job into a position that enhances your résumé is to absorb as much experience as possible. And even if it’s not the perfect fit, chances are, you’ll learn something—and make money at the same time, too.

Applying to college? We can help.

Related articles, 4 steps to secure your summer internship, what to do the summer before senior year, 5 questions to ask when making your college list, is your digital imprint helping or hurting your college applications.

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How to turn a summer construction job into a killer college essay, resume bullet

Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles offering expert tips on how teens can craft their summer job experience into a valuable resource for a winning college application essay or a resume bullet point to land a full-time job.  

ROCKLAND — The summer may be a time to relax, but for students preparing for college or those looking to enter the job force, it means getting experience for their resumes.

While some students from the Hudson Valley spend their summers studying microbial cultures in Costa Rica, learning Italian on the coast of Positano or rebuilding homes in countries devastated by natural disasters, many teens scan groceries, fold heaps of clothes at retail stores, mow lawns, work as camp counselors, bus tables at restaurants and other more accessible jobs. But, guess what? Colleges and job recruiters want your reality.

Whether you're working at your family business or other local companies, recruiters care about skills you learned and experience you acquired, not that you could afford a pricey summer excursion in foreign countries. So how can you turn your conventional-but-real summer job into an attention-grabbing essay or line on a resume? We’ve lined up some help from the experts, who will counsel students each week.

Name:  Anthony Sacheli, 17, Clarkstown South

Describe your job: I make gates from scratch (at Yaboo Fence in West Nyack)... and we have to custom fabricate everything.

How did you get it?  I was painting at first and I really had to earn my welding spot. I really had to work my butt off. I just came here, I applied, they needed guys. So I started painting for a while and then I was like "can I weld, can I weld, can I weld?" On my lunch breaks, I would steal the welder and get some practice in and then I bought my own welder and got a lot of practice from that. I wasn't too bad. Our supervisor saw that I was pretty good so then he started putting me to work. From there on I just went up.

What surprised you most about the work?  Mainly how focused you really have to be. Things can come out square or they can be a quarter-inch wrong. Everything, all those little stuff you have to be really focused on.

Do you think this job will help you in the future?  One-hundred percent! It taught me good work ethic. I know I got to be up at 5:30 a.m., I got to get my hours in. The experience I am getting here, all the learning I am getting from welding. I have more hood time than I could imagine. I weld all day. I love it honestly.

Tips for writing a college essay

College Counselor: Christine Chu, a former assistant director of admissions at Yale University and current college counselor with the education consulting company IvyWise

Tips for turning a construction job into a standout essay:

For construction, there's a number of things students expand upon in their essays, like technical knowledge, specialty knowledge, interpersonal skills, physicality aspects and relationships.

"The college essay is a personal statement," she said. "The best way to usually go about that is how they think, what they learned, how they've grown and what matters to them."

If you want to show your leadership or creative or compassionate qualities, Chu advises using a situation that occurred on the job as the narrative base to emblem the qualities.

Although she usually gives students a questionnaire to figure out what essay prompt works best, some of the more popular essay prompts are:

• What is something that you could lose hours doing?
• Background prompts: Describing their talent or interests
• Describe a failure or setback and how you reacted and overcame it
• What's a time you've been challenged on an idea?
• What's a problem you solved?

Tips for creating a resume 

Resume Expert: Amanda Augustine, career expert for TopResume with 15 years' experience.

Tips for turning a construction job into an eye-catching resume:  "Construction work is hard," said Augustine, who is a certified professional career expert and resume writer with TopResume.com. "You have to have stamina, especially if it's a summer job. Nine out of 10 times, you are working in the heat. It's not for the faint of heart. Just the fact that you are doing this work and made it through the entire summer, it shows that you are not afraid to work hard whether it's at a construction site or in an office setting."

Here are some of Augustine's picks of skills to bullet on a resume:

• Accuracy: Having a very careful attention to detail, a high level of accuracy and quality in projects.
• Math skills: Accurately measured and created for a project using the required specifications.
• Project management skills: Worked with a team-building knowledge around mechanical engineering, how to use certain tools and how to follow directions.
• Dedication: Two-time returning construction worker at a company.

Depending on the career field or job you want, Augustine also recommended highlighting physical attributes like hand-eye-coordination and prosperity.

Construction falls under what Augustine says is a "do-er" job or a task-oriented service. However, she says that people should strive for an achiever resume or one that highlights accomplishments, which may not always be obvious when doing "do-er" jobs.

"Every do-er job still needs a resume that positions them as an achiever," she said, as a way to show potential employers and recruits that the work you did was valuable and that you were good at what you did.

Here are Augustine's questions she said students should ask themselves to extract their achievements and show that they were trusted:

• What types of roles were you assigned?
• Who are you helping or working under?
• Were you given greater responsibility because you proved you could handle what they were initially giving you?

"Anything where you can show there was a lot of trust in the work you did or proven yourself that is also something worth touting on your resume," said Augustine.

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Summer Job for College Students: Overview of Full Guide

Summer is a great time for college students to earn extra cash and gain valuable work experience. Whether you want to save up for next semester's tuition or just want to gain some new skills, exploring various ideas for summer jobs and finding the right one can be a challenge. That's why we've put together this ultimate guide on how to find a summer job in college to help you decide on one that suits you the best!

Best Summer Jobs for College Students: 5 Considerations

Amidst the abundance of opportunities, determining how to find a summer job as a college student can be challenging. To help you navigate this process, here are five essential factors to consider when searching for the best summer job that suits you:

• Compensation

According to our essay service experts, earning potential is one of the most significant aspects to consider when looking for the best summer job for college students. This involves considering factors such as the pay rate, potential bonuses, and additional perks or benefits offered. While the federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 per hour, it's essential to note that some states have implemented higher minimum wages. For instance, California has a minimum wage of $13 per hour. Keep in mind that your earning potential can vary significantly based on the type of job you pursue and the location in which you work.

When determining how to find a summer job as a teenager, it's important to assess the level of commitment the job demands. Determine if it fits well with your availability and whether you can commit to working either full-time or part-time. Since you may not be able to continue with the same job once the semester starts, prioritize seasonal work options that cater to students like you. Seek out positions specifically tailored for the summer months, as they are more suitable than roles requiring long-term commitments. By doing so, you can find a job that accommodates your academic schedule and provides the flexibility you require.

Take into account the length of the job and how it aligns with your summer schedule. Evaluate whether the job's timeframe harmonizes with your other commitments and plans during the summer. While earning money is important during this time, it's also valuable to spend quality time with friends and family. Ideally, summer job ideas for college students should offer flexibility, allowing you to maintain a personal life and enjoy free time. Finding a balance between work and personal life is key to ensuring an enjoyable summer experience.

To find the best summer job for you, it's important to assess your current skills and knowledge and seek job opportunities that match your expertise. Alternatively, consider positions that provide chances for skill development and practical experience in your desired field. Remember that a summer job offers more than just financial benefits; it also allows you to gain invaluable work experience.

If you're pursuing a future career in a competitive field, this experience, along with establishing a professional network, can significantly enhance your prospects of securing a job after graduation. And if you ever need to present your working experience for a summer job resume, simply ask us - ' write my paper .'

It is essential to conduct research on the reputation of potential employers or organizations that offer summer jobs. Look for feedback or reviews from previous employees to assess the work environment, company culture, and overall satisfaction. A prestigious internship or office job can be highly advantageous for those planning to attend graduate school or aiming to work for well-known companies. Such experiences can greatly enhance your resume and expedite your career goals. Once you have determined your job objectives, you can begin searching for the ideal position. Meanwhile, below, you'll find a list of the best advice for finding summer jobs.

Tips on How to Find a Summer Job as a College Student

While finding a summer job for college students may seem overwhelming, it doesn't have to be. By investing some effort and strategic planning, you can discover a job that offers both financial rewards and valuable experience. Here are some extra tips to assist you in your job search:

1. Utilize Social Media - Social media can be a powerful tool when it comes to exploring summer job ideas for college students. Many local companies post job openings on their social media pages, so be sure to follow the companies you're interested in working for. Additionally, LinkedIn can be a great resource for finding job postings and networking with professionals in your field.

2. Attend Job Fairs - Many colleges and universities host job fairs throughout the year, including during the summer months. Attending these events can be a great way to meet potential employers and learn about job openings. Be sure to bring copies of your resume and dress professionally.

3. Consider Internships - While internships may not always pay as well as traditional summer jobs, they can provide valuable experience and networking opportunities. Look for internships in your field of study or in areas that interest you. Your college's career center may have information on available internships.

4. Volunteer - Volunteering can be a great way to gain experience and make connections in your field. Look for volunteer opportunities with organizations that align with your interests and career goals. Not only will you be helping others, but you'll also be building your resume.

5. Consider Freelancing - If you have a particular skill or talent, consider freelancing during the summer months. Freelancing can include anything from college essay writing and graphic design to web development and social media management. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr can help you find freelance work.

More Summer Job Ideas for College Students

If you're still unsure of what type of job you want for the summer, here are six ideas to consider:

• Summer camp counselor - As a summer camps counselor, you will be responsible for supervising and engaging with campers, organizing activities, and ensuring their safety and well-being. This summer camp job offers opportunities for leadership, teamwork, and working with children.
• Pool lifeguard - As a pool lifeguard, your main duty is to ensure the safety of swimmers by monitoring the pool area, responding to emergencies, and enforcing rules. This role requires strong swimming skills, CPR certification, and attentiveness.
• Landscaper - Being a great summer job for teens, working as a landscaper involves tasks such as mowing lawns, planting flowers, trimming hedges, and maintaining outdoor spaces. This job provides an opportunity to work outdoors, develop gardening skills, and contribute to the beautification of various properties.

You might also need to present your previous working experience to your summer job employers, so a complete guide on how to list education on resume might come in handy.

Summer Dreams Start Here! 

Get your tailored summer resume today and make a splash!

Top 4 Popular Part-time Jobs for College Students

When wondering how to find a summer job for a highschool student, consider looking for some part-time jobs. During summer break, such jobs are a favored choice among college or high school students since they entail working for 20 to 35 hours per week. While the pay for these jobs is often around or slightly above the minimum wage, they provide valuable work experience and the chance to earn income. Here is a short list of part-time summer job options from our ' buy an essay ' service experts:

• Ice cream shop employee - As an ice cream shop employee, you will assist customers, take orders, scoop ice cream, operate the cash register, and maintain a clean and welcoming environment. This is the summer job 14 year olds can also get, allowing them to work in a fun and fast-paced setting, interacting with customers, and gaining customer service experience.
• Sales Assistant -You'll learn how to communicate effectively with customers and how to close a sale. Plus, if you're interested in a career in sales, this job could be a great way to get your foot in the door.
• Tutor - As a tutor, you'll have the opportunity to work one-on-one with students, helping them to improve their grades and gain confidence in their abilities. You'll also develop your own teaching skills and learn how to explain complex concepts in simple terms.
• Restaurant Server - Although this role is physically demanding, you'll learn how to multitask, communicate effectively with customers and coworkers, and manage your time efficiently. Plus, if you're interested in a permanent position in the hospitality industry, this job could be a great way to gain experience and make connections.

Most Popular Online Jobs for College Students

With the growing prevalence of online work, remote positions have become increasingly popular. Employers now frequently offer part-time and full-time online jobs to college students, making it convenient for those taking online summer courses. Here is a brief list of ways you can choose the best online job for college students from:

• Proofreader : Review and edit written content for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation to ensure accuracy and clarity.
• Translator : Convert written or spoken content from one language to another accurately and effectively.
• Freelance writer : Create written content for clients on a freelance basis, covering a wide range of topics and industries.
• Virtual assistant : Assist clients remotely with administrative tasks, scheduling, email management, and other organizational duties.

Ideal Application Time for Summer Jobs for College Students

The ideal time to apply for summer jobs varies depending on the industry and job type. Some summer job internships for college students, such as camp counselor positions, start recruiting as early as January. Other jobs, such as retail or food service, may not start hiring until closer to the summer months.

By starting early, you can explore a wider range of summer job ideas, increase your chances of securing a position, and have ample time for interviews and potential negotiations.

However, don't be discouraged if you don't find a job right away. Keep applying and networking, and you'll find the perfect summer job in no time. And if you are considering taking online classes during your summer break, you can explore e learning pros and cons to gain more insights about incorporating online courses into your summer plans.

Embarking on a summer job as a college student holds the potential for transformation, growth, and incredible opportunities. Equipped with summer job ideas, the tools, and insights from our ultimate guide, you can now embark on your search with confidence. Seize the summer ahead and discover a job that not only covers your college expenses but also propels you toward a successful future.

Beyond the financial benefits and work experience, a summer job can also be a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and forge lasting friendships. Consider teaming up with a classmate from college for a summer job – it's a great way to turn a colleague into a lifelong friend. And for more insights on cultivating friendships in an academic setting, don't miss our guide on how to make friends in college .

The possibilities are boundless, so embrace this exciting journey and make the most of your summer job hire experience!

Empower Your Ideas, Ignite Your Grades! 

Unleash our expert college essay writers to craft a masterpiece for you!

Here are answers to common questions about summer jobs for college students. With these valuable insights, you will gain clarity and make informed decisions for your summer employment.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, summer program essay examples.

I'm applying for a summer program and need to write an essay. Are there any good sample essays available for inspiration? I'd appreciate any to help me get started!

While I can't provide specific sample essays, I can give you some general tips and guidance on how to approach your summer program essay. Your essay should focus on demonstrating your passion, motivation, and fit for the program. Here are some steps to help you get started:

1. Research the program: Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the summer program to which you are applying. Make note of specific details, such as the program's goals, core values, and unique features. By understanding what the program offers and values, you can tailor your essay to show that you have a genuine interest and are the right fit.

2. Reflect on your experiences: Consider the experiences, accomplishments, and interests that make you a strong candidate for the summer program. Think about how those experiences align with the program's aims. Be prepared to provide concrete examples of your achievements, whether it's serving in a leadership role, volunteering, or participating in relevant extracurricular activities.

3. Tell your story: Write a compelling narrative that showcases who you are and what you bring to the table. Focus on one or two anecdotes that best illustrate your passion and motivation for attending the program. Remember to be authentic and sincere in your storytelling, so that the program committee can better understand your values and personality.

4. Make connections: Highlight the connections between the program and your interests or career goals. Explain how the program will benefit you in terms of personal growth, academic advancement, or future career opportunities. By showcasing the symbiotic relationship, you demonstrate that you're not just looking for any summer opportunity, but specifically the one offered by this program.

5. Edit and proofread: After writing your essay, carefully review and revise it. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Make sure your essay is well-organized and flows smoothly. You may want to ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Remember, your essay should be focused, engaging, and tailored to the specific summer program for which you're applying. By researching the program, reflecting on your experiences, telling your story, making connections, and carefully editing your essay, you'll be well on your way to crafting a strong and competitive application.

Finally, consider checking out this blog post from CollegeVine, which is focused on college essays, but may still have some useful tips for you - your essay will just be focused on a particular program instead of a particular school: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-why-us-college-essay/. Good luck with your summer program application!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Courses from June 22, 2024 — August 18, 2024

The final application deadline is May 15 at 9 p.m. PDT. Apply now to spend your summer at Stanford.

College Essay Bootcamp

Get a strong start on your college application with this series of sessions on the common app and supplemental essays. You’ll learn what makes a stellar essay and how to incorporate key traits that will capture an admissions committee’s attention and heart. Includes two 4.5-hour in-person sessions; two first-come, first-serve, remote sessions (Zoom calls) for individualized feedback; as well as independent writing time.

The College Essay Bootcamp focuses on the common app and supplemental essays, and not on admission to Stanford. Stanford does not have a preference for students who attend Stanford-specific summer programs and this opportunity is intended to provide general guidance around the college application process.

About College Essay Bootcamp

In-person session day 1 finding your voice and telling your story: common app main essay.

The main essay is one of the most important components of the college application. A stellar essay will help a student standout from amongst a pool of competitive applicants. Writing an outstanding essay, however, can be a daunting task. In this seminar, students will learn the answer to questions such as, what are colleges looking for? What do I write about? How creative should I be? 

In-Person Session Day 2 Making Every Word Count: Supplemental Essays & Activity List

In addition to the main essay, many colleges require their own school-specific prompts, also known as supplemental essays. Covering popular prompts including the “Why Us?” question and the elaboration of an extracurricular or job-related experience, this seminar will teach students how to best approach various supplemental essays and further illuminate who they are as a person and how they can contribute to a specific college.

The activity list section of the college application provides an applicant the opportunity to describe their passions, skills, and talents. In this portion of the seminar, students will learn strategies to best highlight their accomplishments and activities. Additionally, students will be equipped with the tools to create a strong resume. Although not required by every school, a good resume can aid students with teacher recommendations, college interviews, scholarship applications, and future job or internship opportunities.

It was really enjoyable and extremely helpful overall especially as someone who is applying to colleges the coming school year and is behind on essays!

How to Participate

Register for college essay bootcamp.

Registration for College Essay Bootcamp is open to confirmed students on a first-come, first-served basis.

On May 16, the first registered students (up to our capacity) will be invited to confirm their spot by paying the non-refundable $725 fee.

• Register now

About the Facilitator

Founded in 2007, Ivy Global is renowned in the educational services industry for its quality test prep materials and consulting expertise. Ivy Global has helped thousands of students achieve their educational goals and gain admission to top colleges and universities.

Grant Hansen graduated with a B.A. in Performance Theatre and Comprehensive Communications before moving to Beijing, China where he spent years working with students to develop their public speaking ability, coach them on writing and performance, and equip them for studies in the United States and Canada. He served as Foreign Teacher Liaison for two years at the number one high school in Beijing, Ren Da Fu Zhong, before spending a year at Renmin University designing courses in Advanced Public Speaking and Play Production. He engages with students so they can discover their unique stories and helps them communicate that story to others. 

Time Commitment

In addition to the two afternoon in-person sessions, students will need to spend at least a few hours on their own in order to maximize the personalized attention they’ll receive in the two remote sessions.

Stanford Summer Session provides high-achieving and ambitious students a transformative educational experience at a world-class university. By combining challenging academics with a rich array of extra-curricular programming, Stanford Summer Session successfully shares the University’s culture of innovation, academic excellence, and global responsibility.

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‘It Feels Like I Am Screaming Into the Void With Each Application’

By Peter Coy

Opinion Writer

When I asked new college graduates last month to tell me about their job searches, I got back a ton of heartache. Unanswered applications. Lowered expectations. For some, a sense that college was a waste of time and money.

John York wrote that he was about to earn a master’s degree in mathematics from New York University. “I have submitted close to 400 applications. I have heard back from less than 40, all rejections,” he wrote. “I essentially cannot get any job, because there are no entry-level positions anywhere at all.” He has a patent, he passed the first-level exam for Chartered Financial Analysts and he’s getting his Series 3 license, another financial credential. Nevertheless, he wrote, “It is just so silent, it feels like I am screaming into the void with each application I am filling out.”

Mauricio Naranjo, who is seeking work as a graphic designer, wrote, “Over the past year, I have submitted more than 400 applications and consistently receive a response that appears to be A.I.-generated, stating that unfortunately, they have moved forward with another candidate who better fits their expectations. This is the exact phrasing every time. Very few respond, as most do not reply at all.”

“Exhausting. Utterly demoralizing,” wrote Beth Donnelly, who is graduating this month with a major in linguistics and minors in German and teaching English as a second language. “I’ve been searching since early August for full-time, part-time or internship positions after I graduate. I’ve started putting my ‘desired salary’ at $35,000 in hope that just one person will think, ‘Oh, I won’t have to pay this person a large wage, so they get a leg up in the hiring process.’”

I got some positive responses, too. Lucinda Warnke, who landed a job in journalism as a general assignment reporter, wrote: “I am optimistic and excited! I feel confident in my career trajectory and my ability to build a stable, satisfying career. The job I got out of school comes with a livable wage and benefits, so I can build savings in the event that I am laid off or have some other financially demanding emergency. I feel like I made a good investment in my education because I went to a school that was affordable and studied subjects that balanced my interests with my professional needs.”

A majority of responses were grim, though. That’s not too surprising, given that half of college graduates are underemployed a year after graduation, meaning that they are working in jobs that don’t require the degrees they earned, as I wrote in my April 29 newsletter.

There’s clearly something wrong when young graduates can’t find jobs at the same time that employers complain of not being able to find qualified workers. As of March, there were still fewer unemployed people than job openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April the unemployment rate remained below average at 3.9 percent.

The responses I got aren’t a representative sample of all college graduates. It’s possible that unhappy people were more likely to write in. (I had to leave out some of the angriest and most dejected people because they didn’t want their names to appear.) Separately, my informal impression is that the people who wrote — happy or sad — were more likely to have attended a highly ranked school and to have graduated without student loans than the general student population.

Many students wrote that the jobs they were seeking or secured didn’t draw on what they learned in the classroom. “I will be using the skills I picked up in my data science minor, but nothing from my major (international relations),” Rain Orsi, a 2024 graduate, wrote. “A lot of the educational stuff could’ve been condensed to a 20-page PDF and I probably would be at the same knowledge level,” another student wrote. Jackeline Arcara wrote that if she had it to do over again, “I wouldn’t go to a four-year, fancy-pants school. I would take classes at a local college part-time and see where that takes me.”

Some students said that classroom learning was only part of what made college worthwhile to them. “College gives you four years to grow up — I have the maturity now to handle a full-time job. Before college, not so much,” wrote Caroline Lidz, who got a job in public relations after graduating in December with a degree in media studies and communications and a minor in art history.

Several said internships matter, a lot. “I wish I interned for a company outside of the school instead of being a research/lab assistant,” wrote Roger Vitek, who is graduating in June with a degree in product design and is still job hunting.

Economists have found that what you study in college is at least as important as where you study. As I wrote in my April 29 piece, there’s relatively strong demand for computer science, engineering, mathematics and math-intensive business fields such as finance and accounting.

But as I found out from the people who wrote in, that’s not always the case. Robert Vermeulen, a computer science major, wrote, “Out of the ~155 applications I haven’t had a reference on, I have gotten zero interviews.” Morgan Steckler wrote that he is looking for a software engineering or I.T. administration role paying at least $70,000 a year, but has had no luck so far. He said he’s thinking of bartending while continuing to send out applications. On the positive side, there are people like Warnke, who got a job as a reporter — not exactly a fast-growing profession.

As I read students’ responses, I had to remind myself that this is actually a relatively good year for finding a job. To a lot of members of the class of ’24, it doesn’t feel that way. Julia Brukx, who is graduating with a degree in history and art history, wrote, “I think I hit a new low just this morning when asked to write a cover letter for a retail position.”

Donnelly, the woman who described her job search as demoralizing, wrote: “I was told that if I was involved, active, kind, ready to learn, driven and intelligent, I would end up with a job out of college. This is evidently not true, and few older people seem to understand this.” She added, “I don’t have a backup plan besides working in the service industry.”

Elsewhere: Caps, Not Bans, for Short-Term Rentals

New York City’s Local Law 18, which was passed with the support of the hotel industry, tightens the rules on renting out rooms for less than 30 days. Supporters say renting rooms to tourists raises rents for New Yorkers. But an article published in Harvard Business Review by three scholars — one of whom used to work for Airbnb — calculates that Airbnb caused only about 1 percent of the aggregate increase in rents over the past decade or so. Hosts, guests and the businesses that serve them benefit. To keep certain neighborhoods from being overwhelmed by tourists, the authors recommend caps on how many nights per year a place may be rented out.

Quote of the Day

“The hedonistic conception of man is that of a lightning calculator of pleasures and pains who oscillates like a homogeneous globule of desire of happiness under the impulse of stimuli that shift him about the area, but leave him intact. He has neither antecedent nor consequent.”

— Thorstein Veblen, “Why Is Economics Not an Evolutionary Science?” (1898)

Peter Coy is a writer for the Opinion section of The Times, covering economics and business. Email him at [email protected] . @ petercoy

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