10 Tips For Your First Summer Job

As the school year draws to a close for many of us, most of us with younger kids are checking out camps or setting up play dates. My mom friends with older kids, however, are heading into unchartered waters with their high school- and college-aged children who are starting their first summer job or internship.

I was recently speaking with one mom whose daughter is starting her first summer position in retail. The daughter was both excited and nervous, and yet a small part of her was already lamenting the lost freedom of those long, lazy summer days.

I understood that loss, but I was also really happy about the opportunities that now lay in front of her.

And it got me thinking. I held several summer jobs and internships during high school and college, as many of us did. I often felt like a small child looking out into a deep, swirling ocean as I started each new experience. But those experiences became invaluable; I understand that more now than I did then. And so in an effort to capture some of the wisdom collected over the course of those summer internships – wisdom that we can pass on to our own daughters and sons – I’m sharing some things I wish someone had shared with me before I jumped into the deep end:

1. No job is too small. My first summer job was in a coffee shop serving donuts. It was fast-paced, hot, and there were many days I just wanted to sleep in. But I learned how to manage my time, how to interact with customers, run a register, and work as a team during those morning rush hours. There are learning experiences to be found in every type of job; you just have to look for them and embrace the lessons.

2. Be kind to everyone. That includes everyone from the person who empties the garbage pails to the CEO. I witnessed interns saving their kindness and respect only for those people they thought “mattered.” Good leadership skills start with learning how to interact with all levels of employees. And if you want to be respected, you have to learn to respect the humanity of everyone who helps the company run.

3. Don’t underestimate yourself. This may only be your first or second job, but you were hired for a reason, so don’t shy away from a challenging task or project. They know you are an intern; in my experience, the employees are simply grateful for the extra set of hands on deck, and will be patient with you as you learn. If you automatically say you can’t do something, pretty soon the people around you will think you’re incapable of more than you are actually capable of. Believe in yourself. Yes, you will make mistakes. Try anyway. I remember one summer I sent a fax to the wrong company, and a truck shipment got sent to the wrong warehouse. I felt awful, but that one mistake taught me to check and recheck my work, and to pay attention to details. Mistakes simply help you learn – make them as an intern before you are an employee.

4. Make yourself useful. You were hired for a reason; you have a skill set or talent that the company thought was a good fit. But, sometimes, because you are new or not a regular employee, there is a lull in your work. I’ve had several internships where I went to work in the morning not sure what I was going to work on that day. Surfing the internet or taking long summer walks may fill the time, but I quickly realized that was wasting the opportunity to learn something new. After two days of asking for more projects, I finally asked if I could just attend some meetings with the managers to listen and learn. And often times, that led to more meaningful work. Admittedly, it may take an employee longer to show you how to perform a task than to do it themselves; in cases like that, just ask to shadow them. That way, next time, you’ll know what to do.

5. Speak up, ladies. I had one summer job that was in an office setting, where there were multiple interns, both girls and boys. I noticed that the girls were often asked to file paperwork or make copies, while the boys were given more challenging tasks, like editing a document or performing research. After a few days of this, I simply asked to “rotate” these tasks, avoiding a confrontation, but making my point. I hope this sort of behavior no longer exists, but if you find yourself suddenly fetching coffee everyday while your male counterpart is attending brainstorming meetings, speak up. You deserve better.

6. Be positive. Yes, it’s a beautiful summer day and you would rather be at the beach like you used to do before the world of adulthood suddenly crashed your teenage party. But these jobs teach you skills like customer service, professional discourse, and managing money, even if it’s just counting change. So many adults are out of work right now; be grateful you have summer employment, even if it’s low-paying or not paid at all. There is so much to gain from summer employment, and approaching those summer jobs with a grateful heart goes a long way in making the most of the experience.

7. Be professional. This goes for how you dress, how you speak, and especially how you write. I had a manager once tell me to “dress for the job you want not the job you have.” Students’ budgets are limited, but it’s worth investing in a few versatile pieces to get you through the summer without having to wear tank tops and shorts to work. And remember that work emails are not texts or social media posts. Use proper punctuation and grammar. You may not want to work at this company again, but having them as a reference will be invaluable down the line.

8. Keep the personal stuff personal. No one – no one – wants to hear about your weekend drinking jaunts or your irritated bowel syndrome. Don’t talk on your cell phone so loud that you inadvertently share personal details with the entire floor. And watch those social media posts. Most things live forever on the internet. And yes, your coworkers will look.

9. Ask questions. You are new; no one expects you to know where the cafeteria is or how to package goods for a customer. There were many times I didn’t want to ask questions for fear of looking dumb. In reality, wandering the halls or not completing a task because you don’t know where to go or what to do makes you look less than stellar. Be polite, but ask for help or direction. It will save you time, and perhaps your reputation, in the long run.

10. Don’t be afraid to walk away. Internships and summer jobs are great controlled environments that can help you answer the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If you try something – really give it your all – and decide that it’s not the right fit, offer a prayer of thanks that you didn’t spend valuable time and money on college credits toward a career you would hate. I remember that I wanted to go into publishing for most of high school and early in college. My first college summer, I interned at a small magazine publisher. . . and I really disliked it. I tried it again during winter break, and again, I did not feel it was the right fit. I don’t regret those internships for one moment; in their own way, they helped shape my career.

As I look back on the many and varied jobs I experienced over a half-dozen summers, I realize how much I learned that I could never, ever have learned in a classroom.

I do wish I recognized the lessons at the time; hopefully, we can impart some of our collective experience on our own children.

If you have any additional tips you’d like to share, please do so in the comments below. You may help a parent shape their child’s summer employment in a positive, constructive way.

Happy Summer!

* This article originally appeared on The Mommy Vortex.