With summer right around the corner, young people across the country are looking for their next part-time job. Finding a summer job is often a formidable challenge, particularly in a growingly competitive field. Our field’s experts with tremendous experience and wisdom have shared their experience, knowledge that will make any candidate rise to the top. These suggestions are primarily aimed at helping with strongest application strategies and interview prep. They empower job seekers with the most critical tools to set them up for success.
Matt Burney, a PDX Career Advisor, agrees that short is best when it comes to the cover letter. He recommends candidates keep it to a single page. He recommends that applicants attempt to make their cover letter addressed to the recruiter by name if they can. This unmistakable personal touch makes a lasting and positive impression. This method is indicative of a growing push in which personalized use is preferred to cookie-cutter submissions.
In his former life as a recruitment consultant Chris Eccles found an amusing parallel between cover letters and exams. Writing on the Marking of Cover Letters, he strongly argues that cover letters have clearly defined marking criteria. We encourage candidates to write clearly and in a way that relates to the average voter. For one thing, he recommends you do everything possible to help them quickly find your most impressive skills and accomplishments. Don’t make readers sift through dense paragraphs of confusing jargon and get to the point.
In interview prep, Burney encourages job seekers to do practice interviews with friends or relatives. Or, he recommends using AI platforms to create possible interview questions. This practice allows candidates to build confidence and develop effective responses. He notes that employers are often flexible regarding previous work experience for younger job seekers, provided they can demonstrate relevant skills and enthusiasm for the role.
Unfortunately, too many candidates believe that a crammed CV is the best way to get their application noticed. Burney wants to reassure 16 to 18 year olds that this is not the case. His advice to applicants is to think about what makes them unique, rather than the need or pressure to write long resumes with many activities.
To help organize their answers in interviews, Chris Eccles suggests the STAR approach—situation, task, action, result. This framework provides candidates with a useful way to organize and communicate their experiences. This way, interviewers can quickly understand their impact and accomplishments.
Here, Lauren Mistry, a fellow career consultant, offers down-to-earth guidance on CV layout. She recommends a font size of 11 or 12 and steering clear of highly-designed PDFs. This quick and straightforward advice is a surefire way to make sure that CVs are structured, clear, polished, and professional.
As deeply as these hurdles affect many young job seekers, some have already found success to serve as the motivation to keep fighting—perseverance. Grace Pickett photo by Christina Lu Grace Pickett, a job seeker pictured above, has been looking for a part-time position for two years with no success but is undeterred. She admits it takes a lot of hard work and tenacity, especially given the hyper-competitive summer job market.
Jane Meynell, owner of Edinburgh’s Olive and Bean café, would not deny any of them an opportunity. We don’t have the same expectation for somebody going into a part-time role. In fact, I like it better when people come in,” she explains, emphasizing her strong preference for in-person applications. It’s a feeling echoed by Edward Frank, the manager of the Brewers Arms public house. He believes in the power of face-to-face interactions over cold online applications.
Sam Westwood, people experience director KFC UK and Ireland, on AI’s ability to dramatically improve CV and cover letter generation. He highlights its new potential to be a useful tool for job seekers. As technology advances, learning to utilize these tools should allow candidates to more effectively communicate their qualifications.
As Eccles explains, the landscape for summer job opportunities is a lot tougher. This move has been starkly contrasted against the backdrop just two decades ago. As more and more applications are submitted online, candidates need to be proactive in making themselves stand out among their fellow candidates. Burney recommends that you always follow up with a courteous, concise email a few days after your interview. This further demonstrates your enthusiasm for the role and highlights your professionalism.
Additionally, Mistry points out that certain academic qualifications, such as GCSEs in maths and English, may not serve as barriers for entry-level roles in retail and hospitality sectors. This creates opportunities for young people of all backgrounds who might not have a traditional degree but have experience in other areas that are equally as relevant.