I know it may be hard to believe that your summer job working at the local pool as a lifeguard or picking up part-time hours at the downtown ice cream parlor could have had a lasting impact on your your overall wellness and professional success. But in fact, that may be just the case. Here are a few benefits summer or part-time work can have as you start your career path.

1. Increased confidence and independence: Having the ability to earn your own money, no matter how much or how little can have a huge impact on a person’s confidence. It is during these first part-time or short term positions that we learn to trust our own abilities and grow confident in our still developing skill set. Customer service, patience and even interpersonal skills are all concepts that you may grow more confident in after your first opportunity for employment.
2. Time management: While balancing going to school and participating in extra-curricular activities during the school year can certainly help you to develop time management, these skills can lose their potency if you find yourself sitting around the house all summer. The best way to get prepared for college and adult life in general is to continue to practice prioritizing your days. The older we get, the more full our schedules seem to be. With that in mind, the time management skills we learn early on can help us be better prepared to juggle work, home life and even hobbies.
3. Stand out among your peers: After high school and even college, it is important that you have already started growing your work experience. While a summer gig at a fast food restaurant or mowing lawns may not necessarily prepare you for a future career in an office setting, you don’t want to walk in to any interview with a blank resume. Being fresh out of school and having work history already under your belt will set you apart from your peers as future employers will see this as a sign of your willingness to work and dedication.
4. Learn more about yourself: While many of us may think we know what we want to do for a career going into a summer job (means to an end), those experiences may actually help you get to know what you like and dislike regarding work related activities. For instance, working at that local ice cream parlor may make you realize that you truly enjoy working face to face with the public but it also may make you realize that the food industry isn’t for you. Anything you can gain from previous employment to help you make a better career choice down the road, can be more than beneficial.
5. Broaden your social and professional circle: It’s all about networking, networking, networking! Throughout high school and even college, you will consistently hear your peers and colleagues discuss the importance of networking. Networking allows you to meet new people that you may not have had interactions with previously which can open up the door for new opportunities for growth professionally and personally. You never know, you may meet a good friend or potential future employer while working that summer position.

The bottom line here is that although that summer gig is great to bring in some extra cash, it can also help to prepare you for college, future employment and simply growing as an adult. Keep in mind that just because these jobs are not the most glamorous or may not pay higher than minimum wage, it is the important skills that we learn in these positions that can help us on our way to the career we want and are striving for.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

The employment outlook has definitely improved over the last several years. Here are some of the highlights for this season’s job seekers:

• More than half of employers plan to complete their summer hiring in the months of May and June.

• One of the biggest areas of improvement over the past two years is pay rates. About 66% of employers plan to pay their summer hires at least $10/hr.

• Almost half of employers in leisure and hospitality will be adding to their staff this summer.

• Manufacturing and IT industries still hold strong as second highest areas for projected staff growth.

Due to fluctuation in business schedules and projections, many employers will partner with staffing agencies or recruiting firms to help them locate their talent this summer. With in-demand positions including IT, clerical, engineering, and customer support staff this summer’s hiring demands are a little less traditional than past years. If you are considering a new position this summer, now is the time to apply! With most employers looking to add staff in the months of May and June, recruiting efforts are already in full swing. In order to best increase your chances of landing a position during this hiring surge, employ a variety of methods to get your name in front of hiring managers. For more information on how to land a job, visit the job seekers section of our blog.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.