For many college students, summer break can be a time to relax or spend time with family. But for many others, it means looking for a job or working. That’s because college is expensive, and it makes sense to look for ways to earn money to cover your tuition and living expenses.
If you don’t have experience, you may wonder what you can do to earn money while in college. Fortunately, there are plenty of summer job opportunities that fit college students without advanced education or experience.
Even better, many of these summer jobs for college students are available near options for student accommodation. Kingston, Ontario has many jobs available that pay good money, for instance. This means spending less time commuting to work and saving more money.
Here are some of the best summer jobs for college students.
1. Dog Walker
There’s nothing more rewarding than walking a dog. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors, get some exercise, and bond with an animal. And the best part: you get to make money while having fun with a furry friend.
All it takes is some experience of handling dogs and the time to walk the animal. Typically, you’ll get paid a fixed amount per walk, depending on the area and the distance walked.
2. Landscaper
Few summer jobs appeal more to college students than landscaping. It’s physically demanding work and an outdoor job, both of which are enjoyable. Plus, a landscaping job is a steady, reliable way to earn money.
You don’t have to have a formal education to get a landscaping job. People hire landscapers for their experience. If you don’t have landscaping experience, you can start as a “labourer” and work your way to doing actual landscaping.
3. Farmhand
Farmhand is not something many people are willing to do because it involves getting your hands dirty. But if you don’t mind that, working as a farmhand is a great way to earn a decent income.
You don’t have to be a farm pro to get hired as a farmhand. Most farms hire people to help with general labour, such as cleaning and maintaining stables, repairing fences, walking cattle, and so forth.
4. Lifeguard
Lifeguarding is a great summer job for college students with swimming experience and CPR training. It usually pays well and involves very little actual work. You can sit on a beach or at a waterpark, wear a swimming suit, and look for swimmers who might need help.
5. Camp Counselor
Many organizations offer summer camps for kids and young adults in areas like sports, music, art, and technology. This is an excellent opportunity for college students, as the organizers need camp counsellors to oversee the campers. You’ll also lead the activities at the camp, have the children participate, and get paid.
6. Paid Intern
Many companies offer paid summer internship programs for college students. These usually involve working for a few weeks during the summer. Internships are great for college students who want to gain experience and earn money.
7. Receptionist
Receptionist jobs are among the best summer jobs for college students because they require little experience, pay well, and can be done part-time.
As a receptionist, you’ll answer phones, file papers, take messages, schedule appointments, and greet guests or customers. This means you’ll also gain admin and customer service experience that can open more employment opportunities for you down the line.
8. Retail Sales Associate
Working at a retail store during the summer can be a great way to earn money and gain customer service and sales experience. In addition, it’s a great way to get your foot in the door. Depending on your performance, the store management may offer you better opportunities and more perks.
