Summer has officially begun. For many young people, alongside summer activities, summer jobs are on the table. In addition to earning money, summer jobs are the first experience with working life for many young people. Everyone’s path to summer jobs is not equal and many of us have different experiences from different jobs.
Work experiences from different fields can help you figure out what kind of career and duties you might want to take on in the future. Experience from outside your own interest can also broaden your horizons. Working in any field can teach you about time management, as well as negotiations and communication in the workplace in general.
In this article, we will tell you a few stories from our own previous summer jobs. We will focus on what kinds of summer jobs we have had and what we learned from them.
Summer in the hustle of a café
“I worked as a waiter in a café-restaurant several years ago. My tasks varied: I prepared hot and cold drinks, took orders, worked at the register, served tables, and kept the place tidy. I enjoyed the variety in tasks, shifts, and customers. It was nice to work as part of a team, where I could rely on everyone doing their part and helping others when needed.
It feels like Oulu comes back to life on sunny summer days. This was especially visible at that workplace. At lunchtime, it was bustling, and I encountered plenty of customers. Sometimes, seagulls would fly onto the terrace tables as surprise summery guests. On rainy days, the café was calmer. Then we chatted about various things with colleagues between our small tasks.
The good working environment and a relaxed atmosphere with my colleagues brought me joy every workday. In addition to experiencing a positive work environment, I also developed as an employee. I learned to work better under pressure, my social-skills got better, and my enthusiasm for helping others strengthened. Although I am not currently pursuing a career in the restaurant industry, I remember this summer at the café fondly.”
– Eppu
Learning about the importance of well-being during festival summer
“A few summers ago, I worked at a medium-sized music festival as restaurant staff. Before the festival, I was excited, but also nervous for what’s to come. There were a lot of employees and tasks to do, and the festival area itself was quite difficult to navigate. There was only a little time for orientation, so I had to rely on my previous experience in the field and figure out things by myself.
The workload surprised me. There were a lot of customers to serve throughout the evening and my shifts lasted over 10 hours each day. The work was done at a fast pace and there was little time for breaks; only during the artists’ performances. Fortunately, we had a good team working together flawlessly. Yet, I was very tired after the festival. I would not have been able to get through the week’s arrangements without the support of my loved ones.
Although my experience was rough, I decided to work at the same festival the following summer. The decision was easy, because changes had been made for the event. The festival had more employees and all the restaurant operations were not the responsibility of one single team. I even got to run my own booth, working together with familiar employees. This time around the experience was actually really nice. There was even time to enjoy the artists and the festival atmosphere!
A big realization I had during my first summer was the importance of feedback. It ensured that the employer could change their practices the following year. Discussions and bringing my own perspective to the table helped the progress. I learned that difficult situations can be turned into opportunities and you never leave them empty-handed. Although the first summer was tough, it led to trust and greater responsibility the following year, which allowed me to develop my skills even further.”
– Annika
Being a personal assistant clarified my career choice
“Alongside my studies last year, I worked as a personal assistant a few evenings per week. During the summer I worked as a day assistant, filling in for another employee. As a personal assistant, I acted as the client’s ‘right hand’ and supported them in daily tasks. In the evening shift, I helped the client with everyday routines, and during the day we engaged in various activities. For example, we went shopping, had coffee, and enjoyed the warm summer days.
The client in personal assistance is also the employer of the assistant, which creates an interesting dynamic for the work. I was lucky because my client gave me very direct and constructive feedback when needed. I started to appreciate direct and honest feedback even more, because it gave me the chance to get better in my work.
My job as a personal assistant was my first job that involved the social sector. We had many conversations with my client, and that helped me to become a better listener and conversationalist. I was positively surprised by how much a personal assistant’s work can vary depending on the client’s needs, work place, and even time of day. Overall, this experience strengthened the feeling that the social sector is indeed the right field for me.”
– Eppu
The opportunity to enjoy summer while working
“A few years ago I worked in a hotel in a rural town. The company also owned an old historic villa by the lakeside, which could be rented out as accommodation. My responsibilities as a worker included making breakfast and lunch, handing over keys and handling customer payments. The villa could accommodate around 15 people at a time.
The atmosphere of the historic building was unique and the lake view was beautiful. Simply driving to the villa was pleasant in the early morning sun. At the villa, I was able to work alone and do everything at my own pace and style. Encounters with customers in the morning were chill and everyone was in a good mood. Hosting breakfast on the patio was especially nice. I received a lot of positive feedback for my work.
It was rewarding to be part of people’s experiences and the slow-paced morning was a wonderful change from the hustle of larger hotels. I appreciated the opportunity to do my work in my own peace and enjoy the best aspects of summer alongside my work. I believe this experience helped me to become braver and more confident, which has helped me in my future jobs.”
– Annika
Seek new experiences with courage
Ultimately summer jobs can vary in terms of familiarity, tasks, and locations. Although the summer jobs in our examples were not the lifelasting careers for us, we left each place with more lessons learned. The experiences have guided us in the right directions for our future, and we’re happy to have had many opportunities to try different things.
The best thing about being a summer worker is the opportunity to learn. You should not fear mistakes and blunders in advance, after all they are part of one’s development. You always learn something new from problematic situations – about work or even about yourself .
We encourage you to courageously try new gigs and tasks that interest you – even if you feel nervous about whether your skills are good enough or if you will fit in the job. You can still gain a lot from the places that feel intimidating at first, as long as you have the courage to try, and ask for help if needed. Summer jobs are the best place to learn.
This article was written by summer interns of Byström’s Information and Counseling team, Annika and Eppu.
The article is part of the Youth Services’ 80th anniversary content.
