The benefits of seasonal employment: How a summer job can boost your CV

Building transferable skills

Summer jobs, despite their temporary nature, offer opportunities to develop loads of transferable skills.

This means skills which you can apply in many professional settings, automatically making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Some examples of transferable skills you’ll learn from temporary summer jobs include:

• Communication: Interacting with colleagues, customers, or clients will help improve both your verbal and written communication skills.
• Time management: Balancing tasks, meeting deadlines, and prioritising work responsibilities all show you can manage time effectively.
• Problem-solving: Overcoming challenges and being able to think on your feet showcases your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Adaptability: Dealing with changing circumstances and diverse work environments enhances your adaptability and flexibility.
• Teamwork: Collaborating with co-workers fosters teamwork and the ability to work well in a group setting.

Demonstrating your work ethic

Including summer jobs on your CV shows future employers you have a strong work ethic and are proactive in seeking out opportunities to gain experience.

It demonstrates your willingness to work hard, even in temporary positions. Highlighting your commitment, dedication, and reliability during your summer job experiences shows that you are a motivated and responsible individual.

How to showcase summer job experiences on your CV

When showcasing your summer job experiences on your CV, it's important to cover the skills and achievements you learnt from these roles.

Here are some tips for effectively presenting your summer job experiences:

• Job descriptions: Don’t assume someone reading your CV knows what the role entails (especially if you have an unusual job title!) Write a concise and clear description of your summer job, emphasising the responsibilities, tasks, and projects you handled. Focus on what is relevant, and the duties which highlight your transferable skills and work ethic.
• Achievements: Include any notable achievements during your summer employment. Did you receive recognition, exceed targets, or contribute to successful projects? Highlight these accomplishments to showcase your abilities and impact.
• Quantify results: Whenever possible, quantify the results of your work. For example, mention specific sales targets met, number of customers served, or any measurable impact you had while you were working at the business.
• Transferable Skills: Make sure you cover any transferable skills you gained or developed during your summer jobs. Use keywords relevant to the job you're applying for, such as communication, problem-solving, or teamwork.
• Tailor to your CV to the job you’re applying for: Customise your CV for each job application by emphasising experiences and skills which are most relevant to the specific position or industry you are targeting.

Highlighting summer job experiences during interviews

So, the CV has worked its magic and you’ve been asked for an interview. We’ve got some useful tips on how to interview like a pro in this blog post, but when discussing your summer job experiences during interviews, keep these points in mind:

• Storytelling: Share specific examples and stories from your summer jobs to highlight your skills and work ethic. Focus on situations where you faced challenges, overcame obstacles, or demonstrated exceptional performance.
• Impact and results: Emphasise the impact you had on the organisation or the positive results you achieved. Showcase how your work contributed to the success of the team or company.
• Growth and learning: Discuss the lessons you learned, skills you developed, and how your summer job experiences have influenced your personal and professional growth.
• Connect with the role: Draw connections between your summer job experiences and the position you're interviewing for. Highlight how the skills and qualities you developed are relevant to the job and how you can contribute to the organisation.

Finally…

Incorporating summer jobs on your CV will greatly enhance your chances of securing future employment opportunities. Temporary summer jobs offer a platform to develop your transferable skills, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and gain valuable experience.

By effectively showcasing your summer job experiences on your CV and during interviews, you can highlight your abilities, stand out from the competition, and position yourself as a qualified candidate for future roles.

Embrace the opportunities seasonal employment presents and make the most of your summer holiday to boost your CV, advance your career journey and earn some much-needed money.

Remember to tailor your CV and interview responses to each specific job opportunity to maximise their impact.