Are you looking for the best student summer jobs? Maybe you want to strike a balance between work and fun during your time off from university? Or maybe you want a head start on your career before finishing your studies and are looking for a more serious commitment? Whatever your situation, EDUopinions can help. This article will cover a wide range of summer opportunities for students so that you can fill your time-off with the perfect meaningful experience.
Which jobs are paid well?
For many students, finding a summer job that pays well is essential. Without the pressures of term-time coursework and readings, the summer is a perfect time to earn some money and save for the upcoming academic year. For instance, tutoring is a great way to earn money and keep your academic edge over the summer. Many families look for university undergraduates to help their children with their A-levels, GSCEs, and IB subjects. Tutoring is a very well paid job, with hourly pay between €15 and €35. Another plus is that hours are usually very flexible, with agencies finding pupils who fit your schedule.
Maybe tutoring is not your top priority, but you are in search of another highly flexible, well-paid position. We at EDUopinions are looking for students to contribute to our network of experts who work to better experiences in higher education. With the benefits of working remotely, you could help EDUopinions collect student reviews and generate blog content for a competitive project-based income.
Another well-paying summer job to consider is nannying. Of course, childcare is not for everyone, but nannying agencies across Europe are always recruiting young people. Depending on the number of children you care for, nannying can pay between €10 and €20 per hour. Naturally, parents will prefer those who have experience in childcare, but some agencies will train new employees in first aid as well as basic childcare and safeguarding, making it both a high-earning job and a great opportunity to gain valuable skills. In the UK, Koru Kids is a great agency to get started with; they offer comprehensive training and expertly match families with nannies based on schedule, location and compatibility. Across Europe, there are many agencies that match nannies and families, and even some like Babylangues, which combine childcare and English-language education.
Which jobs are the most fun?
Summer is also a time for new experiences and some fun after months of academic work, so why not find an opportunity that is paid and enjoyable? If you are a night owl and enjoy working in busy, exciting atmospheres, then working in a bar could be the perfect gig for you. Bars are usually looking to hire for the summer and offer a number of different positions including servers, back-of-house staff, and bartenders. If you have never bartended, you could apply to be a barback and shadow an experienced bartender, learning new skills, and getting paid along the way. But one thing to consider is that bar work can be demanding, so you may not want to continue bartending past the summer if you think it could negatively affect your studies.
For those who seek adventure and enjoy the outdoors, working at a summer camp is another great way to make money and have some fun in the sun. With a wide range of camps across Europe, there is a role suitable for almost everyone. Camp Suisse hires students every summer to hike, rock climb and play sport with children in the Swiss Alps. Of course, traditional summer camps centre around exploring the outdoors, but if hiking and archery are not your forte, there are many other types of summer camps. Teaching English can be a great opportunity to travel, earn some money and gain educational experience, too. Bell Beyond runs English language-learning summer camps across Italy and provides tutors with training beforehand, and LEOlingo has a similar programme in Germany.
How can I use my transferable skills as a student?
Rather than for fun or money, many students search for a summer job in which they can make use of their learned skillset. Of course, every student has different expertise, so it is difficult to name even a few specific roles to look into. That said, there are a few smart ways to get started in your search. First, ask your professors or your department at university if they know of any summer positions available. Many academics conduct research over the summer and need extra help. Others may be writing a paper or book which you could offer to assist with as well. Whatever you study, your own university is one of the best places to look for career-oriented jobs that are rewarding, engaging and helpful in preparing for life after graduation.
If you would rather not work in an academic context during the summer, but still crave an intellectually meaningful commitment, then reaching out to museums, charities or other social organisations could lead to the perfect summer experience. Local projects and non-profit organisations are often in need of extra staff, especially those with useful skills. Try researching any openings online first, but if there is an organisation that catches your eye, reaching out of your own accord can be a powerful way to signal your commitment. In this case, you may be less likely to be paid, but at the same time, you may be able to negotiate the terms of your work to make for the ideal summer experience.
How do I apply for a student summer job?
Applying for jobs in the summer is fairly straightforward but there are some specific considerations you should make to increase the likelihood of being hired. First, due to the large number of students applying for summer work, you should try your hardest to make your application succinctly detailed and easy to read. Doing so will make it easier for hiring managers to understand why they should hire you among dozens or hundreds of potentially similar applicants. Second, take a look at EDUopinions’ advice on how to write your CV. If your university has a careers centre, making an appointment with them can help you tweak your CV for the specific job you are interested in. Also, don’t forget to check out our own flexible student jobs at EDUopinions! Finally, if you are not accepted to your first choice of summer job, do not be discouraged! Applying for work in the summer can be very competitive, but there are thousands of opportunities out there, and it may take more than one or two applications before you find the job for you. Even an unpaid internship can go a long way in bringing you some valuable and rewarding experience. Here’s an article on why you should consider doing unpaid internships. If you’re interested in reading more on the best places in Europe to find a job, you can check out this article.
Recent Posts
If you're thinking of studying a technical subject like engineering at university, it's crucial that you choose a university that has a rigorous ...
Although it's possible to sail through university without giving a thought to what you're going to do afterwards - concentrating only on enjoying ...
Ever thought about studying in Greece? Between the sunny weather, incredible history, and breathtaking coastline, you could also get a top business ...