You’ve applied to multiple internships and work opportunities across the nation, and all you’ve gotten is rejection email after rejection email.
You soon realize that you’ll likely be “stuck at home” during the summer, but you don’t want to do absolutely nothing or browse Netflix all day.
To escape the boredom rut, consider the following tips.
1. Keep seeking positions
Did you know that
Fastweb lets you search for part-time jobs? All you have to do is type in your hometown’s zip code and see what positions are available. Make sure that your LinkedIn page is up-to-date with your most current GPA and work and activity experiences. If possible, get your résumé reviewed by your academic advisor or career services at your university before you head home.
Having a temporary job while you’re at home can be advantageous for multiple reasons. Not only will you be familiar with the area, but you may even have access to a personal vehicle or public transport. The wages you earn can be saved for books that you know you’ll need for the upcoming school year or for the apartment rent on campus. You shouldn’t give up on the job search just because you’re stuck at home.
If you know people in your hometown, you can network with them to see if they know of any openings at local businesses or within family friends’ homes. Some positions won’t be as “flashy” as others, like babysitting children or dog-walking, but remember that these are temporary and can be decent resumé boosters to show that you didn’t sit back during the summer.
2. Volunteer
Whether you’re working for wages or can’t secure a paying job, volunteering is a great option since the community you’re in likely needs support from people like you. Normally these positions can be found within the town’s community center or park district, though sometimes they can be posted in the local newspaper. Visiting the park district and enquiring about positions will likely help you discover positions like coaching, lifeguarding, or touring. Work at the community center may involve managing events for all ages, including set-up, receiving, and take-down.
Some towns also have youth centers that can be more comfortable for you if you’re concerned about having to work with such a large age demographic. Youth centers tend to focus on children in the middle school grades up until high school age, so if you like working with younger people, youth centers may hold the volunteering opportunity you’re looking for.
Volunteering is rewarding for your health too. According to the
Mayo Clinic Health System, volunteering can decrease depression, give a sense of purpose, teach life skills, reduce stress levels, and potentially help you live longer. Even if you don’t see monetary gains, you’ll likely experience these personal benefits that last much longer than funds.
3. Clean Out Your Home Space
It’s impossible to move all of your home bedroom’s belongings into a tiny dorm space, and because you haven’t cleaned out your room in awhile, there’s a fair chance that there are items you no longer fit in or need anymore. Summer is the perfect time for you to organize your space. The best place to start is your closet with its clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.
H&M offers a 15% coupon for every bag of clothes and textiles that you bring in, and that coupon can be used on anything, including clearance-marked items.
Nike has a Reuse-a-Shoe program that transforms any brand of athletic shoes into Nike Grind products.
If you’re a
Designer Show Warehouse VIP member, you can donate new or gently-worn shoes to any of their DSW locations and gain 50 points in your VIP account.
Of course,
Goodwill is always a good option for donating as well, and the receipt you receive after donating can be used to claim a tax deduction.
Being homestuck doesn’t mean that you’re legitimately stuck. If you put in the searching work, you’ll be able to find some way to make your summer meaningful and active. Rejection emails can’t stop you if you
just keep looking.
