A summer to remember: whether you spend it at a job, in an internship, or volunteering, summer vacation is a great time to get a taste of your future career - Special Feature

Career World, Feb-March, 2003 by Melissa M. Ezarik

New teachers in Rocklin, California, got a gift this school year--a tubful of gym passes, food, and other freebies from local businesses. It was Rocklin Chamber of Commerce's summer intern, Elham Nurbakhsh, who made it all happen. The 17-year-old high school senior says, "It was very rewarding when I met the teachers and they personally thanked me."

To complete the Teacher Welcome Packet project, she explains, "I had to look through the directory of all the [local] businesses and select those that I thought would be of benefit to the teachers."

Next came the pitch. She called each business to describe the purpose of the packet and ask for contributions. After gathering the donations, Elham wrote an article for the Chamber's newsletter and presented the packets to the teachers.

Everyone Benefits

But the teachers weren't the only ones to benefit What Elham learned brought her a step closer to her ultimate dream of owning a marketing firm. "Not only did I have to promote my project and myself, but I also saw how other businesses promote themselves," she says. She learned the power of persistence, too. "I definitely had to call the businesses numerous times to get the response that I wanted. It worked!"

Exploring a potential field now can mean Learning what you want--and don't want--to do. "The more meaningful summer experiences you can find, the more confident you'll become in both your own abilities and your career choices," says Peter Vogt, president of Career Planning Resources, a Minneapolis company that helps college students and recent grads.

Elham recommends the internship experience. "If you have some career goals in mind, or maybe some that you are unsure of, an internship absolutely helps in making your options more clear," she says.

Gaining firsthand experience also means making valuable contacts. Jeff Allen, co-founder and chief operating officer of AboutJobs.com, creators of the Web site SummerJobs.com, says a good relationship with your boss may later mean a reference for college or a future job.

When you can't find a direct link to your goals, don't panic. Experts say that any summer job offers the chance to develop useful skills and experience. For example, a camp job offers a perspective of what it's like to live away from home and work as part of a team, Allen says. A restaurant job provides experience in dealing with people, thinking on your feet, and handling money. "These skills all can be useful later in life," he adds.

Briana Lasher, the school-to-career program manager at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, says that a job can help you learn to handle challenges you'll encounter throughout your career. These range from dealing with a co-worker who is constantly late to controlling your anger when a boss yells at you or criticizes you in front of others.

Skills such as teamwork, communication, and self-motivation are in demand. Year after year, a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers finds that employers want these types of skills, says Vogt, who is also the MonsterTRAK Coach for Monster.com's career site for college students.

Ready for a job, internship, or volunteer activity that brings you closer to your career goals? Here's how to find the best opportunity, win it, and make the most of it.

Find It

Every successful person- from the professional sports star to the astronaut-started somewhere. Vogt says, "Don't let yourself fall into the trap of thinking that only they can achieve their career dreams while 'a regular person like me' may not be able to. That's just not the case." The key is attaining your goal in manageable steps.

Not sure where to start? Ask someone who is already in that career about the types of summer jobs and internships they think you should pursue, Vogt advises. Or read biographies of successful people in that field to find out what steps they took.

Remember that the type of skills you may need to develop can be found in many places, not just in your chosen field. For example, if you'd like to be a business owner someday, start any kind of business now, such as a lawn care or pet-sitting service, suggests Austin Jackson, founder and CEO of A+ Summer Jobs.

If you're not planning to work for yourself, start thinking about your summer long before you put away those sweaters. Many internships start filling up in February, and summer camps hire as early as the previous fall, Allen says.

To find an opportunity, ask your personal contacts (parents, friends' parents, teachers), visit your guidance office and the library, check the local papers, hit the mall to request applications, and check online job sites (www.aplus-summerjobs.com, www.summejobs.com, www.coolworks.com are a few for high school students). Go directly to the Web sites of larger companies and organizations you'd like to work for to find information on internships. Consider stopping by a smaller company in person.

Win It

The best opportunities won't come to you. In fact, you may have to do everything you can to present yourself as the best applicant. Allen offers these tips for making yourself shine: