Summer is a great time to learn about fields you might be interested in, to get experience before you graduate, for traveling to new places, and to meet new people. You can not only earn money for college expenses during the summer, you can also get work experience through a job, internship, or co-op – keeping in mind internships are not always paid. The opportunities may vary by how long they last, their relationship to your interests or field of study, requirements for class level or experience, salary, and location.

Start your summer job or internship search by asking yourself questions such as:

• What are my personal and career interests?
• What do I want to learn more about?
• What skills do I want to develop as a result of a summer job or internship?
• What type of experience do I want?
• Where do I want to live or travel to?
• How much money do I need? Can I volunteer?
• What are my career goals, long and short term?

Allow yourself sufficient time to complete all the research and paperwork associated with your search. Large organizations with structured programs tend to have early deadlines, some as early as December. Smaller employers may not know their hiring needs until the spring.

Check out these four ways Career Services can help you look for jobs and research employers:

1. Use our website to look at listings and interviews for summer jobs and co-ops on Mustang Jobs , and for links to job and internship sites.
2. Attend the Fall, Winter, and Spring Job Fairs.
3. Make an appointment with a Career Counselor to set your goals and prepare your resume.
4. Visit the Career Resource Center, room 117, to find internship directories, employer directories – California & National - employer contacts, and the Alumni Network. Recent graduates participating in the Alumni Network provide their name and contact information for you to find out about what they do and where they work. They might also know if summer jobs are available with their employers.

Volunteering, shadowing, or participating in a mentoring program are other ways to learn about careers and to build networks. Time commitments vary from one day to several months, and could lead to connections for future employment.