With the school year coming to an end, many students will have more free time on their hands. It is also a great time to get a job to earn some cash, especially the seniors going off to college.  The Echo presents some helpful tips to increase your chances of landing a job for the summer. Good luck.

1. Don’t be picky– A job is a job, regardless of what you have to do. The odds of landing an amazing job are low if you haven’t gotten your diploma. You are getting paid for what you are doing, so there is not any shame if you’re cleaning restrooms or flipping patties. Plus it is only a temporary job; you aren’t going to be doing that for the rest of your life unless you want to. Apply anywhere you can. Be open to any job position available.
2. Be as available as possible– When filling out a job application it will ask you for your availability. If you are doing nothing for the summer besides sleeping, then you should be available for just about any shift. If there is nothing holding you back from waking up at seven in the morning, then let an employer know that.  The more availability you have the more likely you will be hired.
3. Fill out the application with what the employer wants to see– An employer doesn’t want to see an application filled with obstacles that will have to overcome in order to hire the person. He wants to see someone ready for some work.  Don’t put that you desire a $12 hourly wage, because the employer will likely think you are crazy. Just write down minimum wage. Put that you are ready to work as soon as possible. Put that you can work overtime, weekends and even holidays. The odds of an employer looking back at the application after you are hired are small. If you say you can’t work Sundays, he’ll still probably have you work Sundays. He’s not going to go out of his way to satisfy you. He already gave you a job.
4. Be professional in an interview– The employer will most likely ask you why you want the job, and what is common in an application isn’t in a face-to-face interview. If you put “In order to enhance my money counting ability and gather knowledge and skills from the job,” on your application, it is not the reason you want a job; you want it so you can stop being broke all the time. Just smile to an employer and say you are ready to start being more financially independent and think you will be great for the job. Don’t tell them you have child support to pay and angry parents calling you a bum. Dress professional, but don’t overdo it and definitely don’t under do it. If the employer has a positive attitude and is kind, smiles, and shares laughs with you, then act the same way in return. If he is there straight to get business done, then only occupy yourself with getting it done.