Question:

I couldn't find a summer job in my field and had to take a boring job because I need the money. I'm worried it's going to look awful on my résumé. How can I make the most of it so my summer isn't wasted?

Answer:

While it is good news that you were at least able to find something that will help pay the bills, it sounds like you are worried that now you'll be saddled with a summer job that will not add any interest or value to your résumé.

Thinking ahead to how this job will look on your résumé may be causing you some worry now, but it could prove to be just the thing to motivate you to try on some strategies for making lemonade out of your summer job lemon.

If the job you are in is the best you can find, here are some things you can still try in order to make your time there more worthwhile.

Take on more responsibility

When you start your job, it may not be very exciting or offer a lot in terms of skill-building. But after you have proven that you can do your job competently, there may be opportunities for you to influence what else you get a chance to do.

Are there ways in which you could take on more responsibility? Might you speak with your supervisor about how you could contribute more? For example, could you help train new or more junior staff? Could you become accountable for any extra processes, perhaps related to record keeping, money or other responsibilities?

Sometimes just saying, "I would love to make a greater contribution here, is there anything else I could take on?" will allow your supervisor to find more tasks for you. Once your supervisor has seen that you can handle your job, he or she might be open to (and grateful for) you taking on added responsibility.

Suggest improvements

In almost every workplace there are things that can be done better. Have you noticed something that you think you can improve? If you have ideas, think about how to present them in a way that is not critical, but helpful, so  your employer can see that you are not complaining but are interested in making a meaningful contribution.

If you are able to make improvements, this will provide great material for your résumé, as future employers will be impressed to see that, even in a routine job, you were able to make informed suggestions that helped the organization improve.

Propose new projects

If you find you can get your job duties done with time to spare, what about proposing a new project for you to take on?  If there are specific skills you would like to develop, skills that will be of value in your chosen field, is there a way you could propose a project that will allow you to use them?

I once supervised a student who worked in a receptionist role. She wanted to get into communications and proposed to me that she take on some writing projects. She had already proven that she could get her core reception responsibilities done with time to spare, so I was happy to say yes. She did a great job of the extra projects and included them on her future résumés.

Even with a not-so-stellar sounding job, there are ways to get more out of the experience, both for making your summer more stimulating, and for adding more value to your future résumés.

Best wishes as you work to make the most of your summer job.

Getting a job offer - especially your first job offer - is pretty exciting. However, just because you applied for and received the job, doesn't mean it's right for you.

It's important to consider the entire package, including the pay, benefits, perks, company culture, hours and travel distance. Reflect on every aspect of the job to ensure you and the organization you will be working for are both happy.

It is appropriate to ask for a few days to come to a decision on the offer.

How much should you get paid?

Tara Orchard, co-ordinator for career consulting at Wilfrid Laurier University, recommends conducting research on the appropriate salary range for the position, the organization (taking into account factors such as size and industry), the location, the current market and your own level of skills and experience.

Check out SalaryExpert or Glassdoor.com (USD) for going salary rates in different occupations. The Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) also released a report on salary rates this year, which is accessible through your school's career centre.

Ask yourself: Is the salary the employer offered what you expected? Can you support yourself on this salary? Is this salary what you think you're worth?

Even if the compensation is what you expected, consider entering salary negotiations with your prospective employer. Candidates who negotiate often end up with higher salaries or better perks than those who don't.

However, according to Orchard, students and recent grads should be able to demonstrate "that their skills or experience background or some bonus skills justify more than the offered rate or the going rate."

Benefits and perks

Benefits and perks can bring a lot to your compensation package. Look into the details surrounding health and life insurance, vacation, sick pay, and other benefits such as product discounts, flex time and tuition reimbursement.

Orchard says, "Looking beyond the salary is important. Paying attention to the location, the work environment and other opportunities will be important in making a good decision."

Company culture

Company culture has a larger impact on your job than you might think. If the work culture does not mesh well with you, you will probably not enjoy work, not matter what your title is or how much you're paid.

If you visited the office at least once, try to remember what the environment and people were like. Ask yourself: How old are the other employees? What is the dress code like? Do managers encourage socializing and team camaraderie, or are employees expected to work independently?

Working hours, the commute and travel

A long commute to and from work can turn a 40-hour work week into 50 hours or more, so it's essential to know what your transportation options are, how long it will take you to get to and from work during rush hours, and how much it will cost.

"For some, the opportunity to work close to home, to walk to work, may be more important then another few thousand dollars a year for a job they have to drive 45 minutes a day to get to," says Orchard.

Also, if there are some opportunities to travel for work, you will want to know how frequently and to which type of locations, generally. You will at least need a passport, but you may also require other documentation.

Bottom line: Evaluate job offers as career opportunities

There is no magic formula for deciding if a job offer is right for you. Examine the quality of the opportunity in the context of your career, not just the money you'll be making.

Orchard says she thinks students' ultimate goal should be creating new career opportunities for themselves: "Be aware of the professional brand identity you want to build, and look for opportunities to build that by developing skills and seeking opportunities you will both enjoy and learn from. The best opportunities often come from what we call 'planned happenstance' - being open to and then prepared to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you to develop your career."

Poll: If it wasn't the right match, would you reject a job offer?

In October, I wrote an entry about my little sister, Jordi, and her seemingly endless quest to find meaningful work after graduation. I called it "Confession" because the whole situation seemed a little bit embarrassing, given my day job as founder of TalentEgg.ca.

But the problem was even deeper, as I explained in the entry. Jordi is an A-Player in almost every definition of the term: super involved, accomplished, and passionate about her career of choice (not-for-profit).

I am happy to say that today, as I write this follow-up, Jordi is not only employed, but employed by her dream employer in her dream job, and the method she followed has lessons for all of you who are currently in the same boat, or about to graduate in April.

Now, I hear from dozens of Jordis every month, people who have had equally tough times landing their dream job following graduation. And just as her problem is not unique among Canadian graduates, the solution to her problem isn't either: anyone can apply the steps Jordi took to have a better chance at landing their dream job.

How Jordi got her dream job

1. Focus

Jordi began her job search at the beginning of September, 2009. She devoted some time to figuring out exactly what she wanted to do and decided she would focus broadly on entry-level opportunities in the non-profit world.

2. Willingness to change

She applied to a handful of positions, but it quickly became evident to her that her passion (or lack thereof) for some of the jobs she was applying to showed clearly in her applications. Upon realizing this, she pivoted, and decided to re-focus her job search more specifically.

3. Hard work

In October, Jordi had one of those moments. She caught wind of an opportunity that not only was perfect for her in every way, but one she knew she'd be really good at. So she put together an application.

But this wasn't just any application. It was a 10-page document, including a Top 10 list, a short proposal for the role, a cover letter and, of course, her résumé.

While that may sound like overkill, it actually wasn't - the document went over her qualifications, then gave actionable recommendations for the role and the growth of the organization, usable with or without her in the role. It then closed with why SHE was the best person to execute those recommendations.

4. Persistence (and more hard work)

This 10-page document was also well-researched. In order to prepare for both the application and the subsequent interview, Jordi organized meetings with people close to the organization. The purpose of these meetings was not to solicit recommendations from those people, but rather, they were genuine informational interviews, providing her with the information she needed to assess how best to approach the application process, as well as if she was right for the role.

Jordi also submitted her application to be checked, edited, torn apart, and criticized by anyone and everyone qualified to do so.

5. Perseverance

Jordi didn't get that job.

She was upset, of course, but she had a genuine interest in the organization and its mission, so she continued to volunteer for them. This led to further exposure of her talents and capabilities to decision makers in the organization.

One month later, she received a phone call from a director within the organization. A new opportunity had become available and they offered her the job.

I would love to say that Jordi handled her job search with consistent confidence, grace, and enthusiasm, but that would be a lie. There were frustrated e-mails and threats of "settling," but after four months and 30 applications, Jordi has her dream job, and I'm really proud of her (just don't tell her that).

The holidays are a great time to unwind, have fun with friends and family, and do some things completely unrelated to school or your career.

But in between the eggnog and Auld Lang Syne, you may also be able to find some time to prepare for a job hunt in the new year.

Once you're back into classes in January, it can take a lot of work to juggle staying on top of school work and your search for paid work all at the same time. There are a number of things you can do over the holiday break to get a head start.

Find some focus

Do you know what kind of work you are going to be looking for? To help give your job search focus, it's important to get more specific than, "I'd like to find a job that I'll love." Great objective, hard to know how to get there.

Ask yourself some questions to narrow things down. What industry? What kind of role? Before starting to look for work, spend some time figuring out what kind of work it is that you want to do.

Read up on job search strategies

While you have a break from reading textbooks and endless journal articles, why not try reading up on job search and career strategies? You can find books at your local library or bookstore.

Online, you can spend some time on sites with job search tips and stories, like TalentEgg. Also, see if your school's career centre has job search information on its website - there might be lots of great information there, and some even have online tutorials or courses you can do from home.

Update your résumé

Have you looked at your résumé since you applied for summer work last year? If not, now is a great time to add in your most recent activities.

Then, take a look at your résumé in a new light - does it seem targeted to what you want to do now (and not still focused on getting last summer's job at a camp)? Whether that's a full-time job after you graduate this year, or a new summer position for those of you returning to school next fall, make your résumé geared to your next step.

Start networking

You've undoubtedly heard it is estimated that 80% of jobs are found through networking. The thing about building your network is, just like Rome, it can't be built in a day. So don't wait until you graduate.

Perhaps over the break you can spend some time contacting people of interest. Do a few informational interviews to learn more about jobs or organizations of interest. You can also reconnect with people who are already in your network - like your former professors, or co-workers and supervisors from past jobs and volunteer work.

Find out about job search support on your campus

Most schools have great services and resources to help your job search along. Check out what services you can use once you get back to campus.  Are there workshops? Individual appointments? Networking sessions with employers? Alumni panels? Job postings?  Take a look now to see what is coming, and pencil a visit to the career centre into your calendar.

So there are a few things you can do to get a head start on your job searches. Enjoy your holidays!

Cathy Keates is the director of Career Considerations and the author of Not For Sale! Why We Need A New Job Search Mindset