Student Jobs for Summer: Part-Time & Full-Time Paid Holiday Work

Jun 13, 2010
Asa Ghaffar

Summer Jobs for College Students - sam1028

Looking for holiday work in June, July and August? Here are some great full and part-time student job opportunities for summer to help earn some extra cash.

In the current economy, identifying a suitable way to make some extra cash during the holidays may appear daunting, but this needn't be the case. There are a number of excellent jobs for summer out there as employers love casual workers. There is undoubtedly greater competition for summer holiday jobs so apply as early as possible. Consider self-employment, but be creative, show an entrepreneurial spirit and build something that makes money for the whole time at college.

Self-Employed Summer Jobs for College Students

Gardening business. Busy people don't always have time to care for their own garden. Those who love the outdoors can find summer work mowing lawns, weeding, planting flowers, not to mention trimming trees and bushes. Place a few leaflets through doors, call at local homes and advertise in the paper for work opportunities.
Freelance writer. Use the knowledge gained at university to educate an interested audience. Set up a personal website or write for an established company, such as Suite101, Demand Studios, Bukisa, Examiner or Associated Content. Companies will either offer an up-front payment or pay royalties from advertising revenue. It can take a while to get established, but the extra income continues to come in for many years to come.
Dog walker. Busy lifestyles regularly mean that professional people don't have enough hours in the day to walk their pet as often as they'd like to. A seasonal summer job as a dog walker is a great way to make some extra cash for animal lovers. Once established, dog walkers who take our several pets at the same time can earn up to $100 a day. Others combine dog walking with pet sitting through an agency for a bit of variety.

Full-Time and Part-Time Employed Student Jobs for Summer

Work at a bar or public house.
Fundraiser for a charity.
Call centres and customer service.
Lifeguard at a summer camp.
Gardening.
Courier and parcel delivery.
Kitchen porter.
Waiter or waitress at a restaurant.
Creche assistant.
Cleaning work.
Sports instructor.
Door-to-door sales.
Market research.
Receptionist.
Typing and secretarial work.
Administrative officer.
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL).
Internship abroad.
Club reps.
Work on a cruise ship.

Pay Rates for Summer Holiday Jobs

The rate of pay for student jobs for summer is normally in the $8 to $12 range. The supply relative to the demand for student summer work is the single most important determinant of pay. A disequilibrium between supply and demand has led to earnings moving closer to minimum wage, especially for the more popular positions. Undergraduates who find a summer job in a sales position can earn more money because, no matter how bad a business is doing, they always want to employ people to sell goods and services. With this in mind, they not only offer a basic but a number of valuable sales incentives to sweeten the deal.