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By Bob Roth, The "College & Career Success" Coach

Most college students seek employment opportunities during the summer.  They
do this for two primary reasons:

        - To earn money for college
        - To gain experience in their field of study

Because college is extremely expensive, finding work during the summer is a
priority for students today.  If the student attends a community college, the
money earned from summer employment may represent a significant portion of
their tuition and books.  The expense of attending a four year college, either
public and private, can be much higher, so summer earnings may only cover a small
portion of the total cost.  However, paying as much as possible "as you go"
is always preferable to coming out of college with a larger debt than
necessary.

Other students are more interested in gaining experience in their chosen
field of work.  They initially limit their summer job search to employers that
meet their requirements.  If they are successful, their summer job will give them
some real world work experience that is directly related to the work they
will seek after graduation.  In that case, success on the job may lead to full
time work in their field after graduation, often with the same employer.

However, students should have four goals for their summer job:

        1.  Learn something new
        2.  Grow by accepting responsibility
        3.  Contribute to the goals of the organization
        4.  Build relationships with the people at work

Learn Something - Students should view their summer job as an opportunity to
learn something new.  The job may provide the opportunity to operate computers
and equipment, write, speak, negotiate, sell, purchase, supervise, work with
job-related technology and meet the needs and expectations of a supervisor. 
They will learn about life skills such as deadlines, quality, money, people,
problem-solving and goals.

Accept Responsibility - If a student is willing to accept responsibility and
show their supervisor that they are reliable, they become more valuable to
that organization.  When people know that they can count on an employee to get
something done, meet the deadline or prevent a problem, that employee gains
respect from others, builds trust and adds value. 

Contribute - The best employees have a clear understanding of organizational
goals and do their best to see that those goals are met or exceeded.  They
actively look for ways to make something better, are willing to help other
employees, contribute ideas, exhibit creativity in problem-solving situations and
work hard to improve productivity, quality and customer service. 

Build Relationships - Building good relationships with the people who work
within the company should be a goal of every employee.   Summer employees who
can be trusted, do a good job, help other employees, are good listeners and take
the time to get to know needs and wants of other people are laying the
groundwork for building solid relationships.  People who like and trust one another
are more likely to work well as a team and find enjoyment in their work.  They
may someday help you find a job or serve as a reference.

Summer employment should be viewed not only as a job where students can earn
some money for college, it is also important to understand that summer jobs
give students the opportunity to gain the experiences that can impress future
employers and graduate schools.  Achieve the four goals and you will open up
future employment opportunities.

For more information visit my web site:  www.The4Realities.com
Bob Roth is the author of The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College