How to heat up your summer job search

Summer hiring to soar this year with 2 in 5 employers expecting to recruit seasonal help.

Even though some places in the country still have snow on the ground, it is time to start thinking about where you are going to work this summer. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 34 percent of employers hiring for the summer say they typically complete their hiring in May — and 31 percent are already done (typically finish in April or before). Twenty percent finish in June, 9 percent in July and another 7 percent in August.
If you're looking to line your pockets with a paycheck during these sunny months, you're in luck. Forty-one percent of employers plan to hire seasonal workers for the summer, a significant jump from 29 percent last year. And not all summer jobs are temporary. A large majority of employers hiring this summer (79 percent) say they will consider some summer hires for permanent positions — up from 76 percent last year.
You can expect better pay than years past. More than 3 in 4 employers hiring for the summer (79 percent) will pay their summer hires or interns $10 or more per hour on average — up from 74 percent in 2016. One in five employers (19 percent) plans to pay $20 or more per hour.
A look at who's hiring
Employers hiring seasonal workers this summer by company size:

• Companies with 50 or fewer employees — 28 percent are hiring summer workers, compared to 23 percent last year.
• Companies with 250 or fewer employees — 37 percent, compared to 27 percent last year.
• Companies with more than 500 employees — 45 percent, compared to 31 percent last year.

Employers hiring seasonal workers, comparing the 10 most populous cities:

• Miami: 66 percent
• New York: 58 percent
• Los Angeles: 45 percent
• Washington, D.C.: 46 percent
• Chicago: 40 percent
• Houston: 38 percent
• Boston: 33 percent
• Dallas: 29 percent
• Atlanta: 28 percent
• Philadelphia: 21 percent

Although summer jobs are commonly associated with recreation and outdoor work, many employers whose companies are hiring for the summer say they are hiring for a variety of professional and support positions, including:

• Engineering: 27 percent
• IT: 27 percent
• Customer service: 22 percent
• Office support: 19 percent
• Sales: 15 percent
• Manufacturing: 12 percent
• Banking: 11 percent
• Retail: 9 percent
• Research: 9 percent
• Hospitality/leisure: 8 percent

It could be worse…
While you may be on the hunt for a job as a lifeguard or camp counselor, many go off the beaten path to find their summer paychecks. When asked what is the most unusual summer job they have ever had, employees pointed to these crazy experiences:

• Being a theme park ride tester
• Wrangling alpacas
• Tagging turtles on a Florida beach
• Being a carnivore keeper at a big cat rescue center
• Getting bitten by mosquitos for pay

To land a summer gig, Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer for CareerBuilder, has these tips for job seekers:
1. Get specific about your accomplishments. Provide examples of how you've contributed to previous organizations, quantifying results whenever possible. If you're in high school or college, you can reference class work or involvement in school or community organizations.
2. Show you're knowledgeable about the company. Discuss something interesting you recently read about the company during the interview. It underscores your enthusiasm for the job.
3. Talk about long-term interest. If you're interested in a permanent position with the organization, inform the hiring manager up front. It can set you apart as a serious candidate.
4. Submit a cover letter. Often overlooked by job seekers, the cover letter enables you to showcase your communication skills, grab their attention and highlight your main selling points.
5. Remember to send a thank you. A thank-you note or email shows follow through and enables you to further emphasize why you're the best candidate for the job.