Summer jobs are not just for the young. They provide prospective workers with the opportunity to shake the office cobwebs away. Why not take the plunge?
"Those were the best days of our lives". There is always a certain nostalgia for summer, especially the summers of our youth. While half-days are still a part of Maltese culture and the work ethos (for the lucky few), have you considered taking on a part-time job just for the sake of trying something new? No, not for the money, but just to have a different kind of experience, meet people who would not normally come your way, and broaden your horizons.
S is for sun, swimming and students
Summer jobs are traditionally the preserve of students. They need the money, and the tourist industry makes the most of cheap labour. English language schools employ "animators" who work round the clock to entertain and keep safe the hordes of young foreigners. Working for an English language school is almost the equivalent of au pair on the CV of women of a certain social status. It is another stop-gap, in between job activity that almost every university student whose English is passable does at one time or another.
Do not underestimate the value of your summer work. Whether you are handing out sun-beds on a beach, selling hot-dogs at your local take-away, or serving cocktails to coachloads of tourists, you will be gaining skills in customer service, possibly acquiring a new language, and even gather ideas for a business you can set up on your own.
Having the chance to meet and converse with foreigners is essential for helping you gain the confidence and curiosity needed to leave these shores and sample the wondrous wide world out there. You will learn something valuable from every job you do, so never be ashamed of summer employment, no matter how "servile" you feel it is.
Who said that work cannot be fun?
Summer jobs have an unreal quality about them - while they are a job entailing all the responsibilities, you know it is just for a short time, so you can relax and enjoy yourself more than when you are in your "career domain". It is a bit like a holiday romance, where you give your utmost and live intensely, but know it is not going to last forever. You might even take on a bit of a new personality, live out your fantasies.
This "unreal" aspect of summer work is what makes it an appealing option for anyone even in mid-life to take on for a few months just to break out of their normal routine. Yes, there is life outside the office, money to be made while seeing the sun.
Increasingly, people are feeling the need to socialise, yet are fed up of hanging around bars. So why not take up a job that allows you to mingle? Instead of just lying on the beach, you can get a tan while providing vital nourishment to the masses by working at a beach resort.
How do you do it?
It is not surprising that the majority of people have fixed traditional ideas on what constitutes appropriate work. There is a standard involved and certain expectations keep people from looking for employment that would be considered too casual and unskilled. While there is a certain cachet involved in enrolling as an assistant commissioner during elections (simply counting or stamping ballot sheets), an equally mundane job elsewhere would be frowned upon.
However, to the British upper class, it is perfectly acceptable for a young woman to work in a chalet in winter, where she will hone her cooking, hosting and general management skills. Au pair work is also seen as a relatively safe way to expose yourself to another culture. Even Hillary Clinton (as a college student) worked a summer in Alaska's fishing industry.
The world is your oyster
The Internet is a mine of information for summer work in foreign climates. Whether it's sheep-shearing or cotton-picking, the natural world that operates according to season always needs willing hands with the sticking-power to get the job done.
This ability to see a job through, especially one that is mundane and repetitive, will give you a strength of character that will be a great asset. You might think that it is just another easy job, but not everyone has the gumption to take on such tasks. Muscle and a suntan will ensue, but your soul and mind will get an equally valid work-out.
You could teach English, work in a pub, pick fruit, work in a national park, a theme park, on a cruise liner, dude ranch or summer ski resorts or take up caretaking jobs like house sitting and dog walking.
Just think about it - the UK theme park Alton Towers offers over 1,000 seasonal job opportunities between the end of March and the end of October. At Club Med, thousands of jobs in sunny places are taken up each year by nationals from over 70 countries. Sounds too good to be true?
Check out these Websites for a mind-boggling array of seasonal work: www.aplus-summerjobs.com, www.coolworks.com, www.pickingjobs.com, www.summerjobs. com/do/where, www.summer-jobs.biz/. The Website www.payaway.co.uk/dirtourism.htm offers an excellent, comprehensive directory of Websites offering seasonal and summer jobs.
Have boat job, will travel
Closer to home, the booming local yachting scene provides an opportunity for summer work that involves travel while earning decent money. Our position in the centre of the Mediterranean is very useful. Not only does the yachting world pay well, but if you are careful and do not become a permanent fixture at seafront bars, you can come back with your wages intact.
If you are on a foreign-registered boat there is no income tax to be paid, and all food and drink is provided for. No water and electricity bills either!
Anyone without qualifications can opt to be a stewardess, deck-hand or cook, while qualified chaps have their sights on first-mate and skipper jobs. The owners of the vessel - usually suitably wealthy - may be eccentric in the extreme, but even that will add to the richness of your summer experience. Make sure to do your own research into visas required for the countries you may visit.
Using your assets
A trend that is showing a gentle upturn locally is that of enterprising individuals who sell their wares by organising small summer schools for children. This is when art, craft, dance and drama experience can be passed on.
There is plenty of scope for offering sailing lessons, canoeing courses, water skiing lessons, and even wakeboarding - the options are there. If you are qualified, go out and grab that wave. Keep in mind that any business venture will require permits, insurance and VAT.
Rites of passage...
Always fancied working on a kibbutz in Israel but feel that you have missed your chance? Many older people have been turned away because of the age restriction. However, volunteer programmes are now offering kibbutz working holidays for people over 35. Even a retired couple could enjoy a kibbutz experience, lasting from two weeks to six months.
You will not actually be making any money, but will instead have a cheap holiday while gaining valuable experience and making friends. You will be required to subsidise your stay at the kibbutz by between US $20 and US $25 per day, depending on the kibbutz, and depending on how much work you do, how much off-time you take, etc. Count on $20 per day if you are reasonably fit. This includes accommodation, all meals, laundry, etc.
You will perform light duties for up to four hours a day - such as helping in the kitchen, picking fruit, working in the laundry and helping in the factory. Then there is the full social life available to kibbutzniks and volunteers, such as swimming, sport, evening pubs and discos, as well as lectures on Israel, folk dancing, arranged outings and tours. And you will experience the thrill of country life, healthy food and living, and meeting people from all over the world - all on a shoestring budget. (www.kibbutz. co.za/over35.html)
Roll on summer
Whether you are a student, teacher, office worker or between jobs, thinking laterally about summer employment can open your horizons to a world you never thought possible. Even employment locally, while not matching up to the Alaskan adventure-type job, can be an enjoyable experience that will either be a stepping stone or just a fun way to earn your way.
"Seasonal jobs for adventurers" just about sums it up. Summer jobs, internships and volunteer positions can all lead to permanent employment. You also get a chance to find out if you like the lifestyle related to a variety of occupations. This is one of the few occasions where formal qualifications are far less important than excellent interpersonal skills.
Remember that many summer placements abroad are advertised from December to February, so plan accordingly. Maybe next summer will be your best yet.
CSB Recruitment Agency has been supporting the local business community with its services since 1987. For further information you can write to CBS at Vincenti Buildings, 14/19 Strait Street, Valletta VLT 08, call 2122-5800 or 2124-6543, fax: 2123-0520, e-mail: jobs@vacancycentre.com, or visit www.VacancyCentre.com.