Job Seeker FAQs

AboutJobs.com is an international database of job openings and internships for students and recent graduates and professionals looking for summer opportunities. There is little that is more valuable or exciting for a teenager, high school student or college student than the different work experiences available during the summer. A summer job helps to pay the bills and is often a necessity, but it also provides our youth with the opportunity to learn new skills, meet people from different cultures, travel to interesting, far-away places and to get a taste of what working life might be like in a future career. AboutJobs.com allows a summer job seeker to explore opportunities both locally and across the US, Canada and the world.

You may search the jobs database by keyword and location here: Find Jobs

AboutJobs.com does not match job seekers with employers. But we have several tools that will help you find a job.

You may search for jobs on AboutJobs.com by keyword/s and location using the Find Jobs feature from the top navigation bar, if you have a specific type of job in mind. For example, if you are looking for a Lifeguard position, you might use "Lifeguard" or "Waterfront" as your keyword. Then choose the city or country in which you are looking for a job.

You may also choose to browse Jobs by Region if your priority is to work in a specific part of the country/world. This feature allows you to narrow down your job search geographically.

When you find a job on AboutJobs.com that interests you, please follow the instructions on the job posting to apply for the position.

Most of the camps that advertise their jobs on AboutJobs.com include room and board in their employment package. The minimum age for most Camp Counselor positions is 18. You can also try searching for jobs on AboutJobs.com using the keywords "room and board". Additionally, many seasonal employers offer subsidized housing for their employees. It should state clearly in the job posting, or on the employer's website, whether they offer free or subsidized room and board to their employees. Most of our seasonal employers start their hiring in February, once they know which returning staff they will have from the previous summer.

AboutJobs.com does not match job seekers to employers but we list many job opportunities for job seekers that have secured a J-1 Visa. The regulations regarding J-1 have changed - job seekers from many countries must have a job secured before they can apply for a J-1 Visa. We recommend that you contact the sponsor organization that you are working with to obtain your J-1 Visa to assist with your job search. They most likely have direct relationships with employers and may be able to help place you with one of them.

You may also want to visit the U.S. Department of State's website for more information regarding working in the United States: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1275.html

Students or recent graduates from the U.K. and Europe may be eligible to come to the U.S. on a J-1 Visa for practical training or apprentice work. Many hotels, ski resorts, summer camps and restaurants are able to hire qualified students or recent graduates. Due to immigration constraints most of these positions are limited to a year in length. It is difficult to find a permanent, full-time job in the hospitality industry in the U.S. if you are a recent graduate unless you already have permission to work in the United States. Your best bet for getting into the U.S. in the hospitality industry is to work with a large ski resort, large hotel chain or resort. These companies usually work with the U.S. government to secure up to several hundred work visas each year for seasonal workers. Finally, you should visit the BUNAC or CIEE websites. Each of these companies works to help find visas and/or work experiences for students and recent graduates.

If you are under 18 years of age you are restricted from doing certain types of work, and if you are under 14 years of age then you may not be able to work legally at all.

The requirements for work permits and proof of age vary from state to state. Some states don't require the job seeker to have a work permit or proof of age (e.g., Oregon puts the burden on the employer hiring minors to get certified), but many states require employees under the age of 18 to provide proof of age or to hold a work permit.

We have resources on AboutJobs.com that provide some detail, but teens in school can also visit a school guidance counselor for more information and, in many cases, to get an actual permit. Also, keep in mind that there are federal and state regulations that limit what teens of certain ages can do in the workplace. Teens under 14 cannot legally work outside of the entertainment industry or a family-run business/farm and teens between 14-16 may be prohibited from some more dangerous tasks - like working a grill, operating heavy machinery or using knives.

Employers will typically understand what teens of certain ages can and cannot do and will hire accordingly, but the laws are set up to protect teens, so it is always good to know what you shouldn't be asked to do on the job.

If a child is under the age of 14 and isn't legally old enough for non-farming work but still wants to earn money for the summer then parents can help them take an entrepreneurial path - babysitting, gardening work for family friends, creating and selling a service or product, etc.

Many summer camps hire foreign students to work for the summer. You can find many of the camps here on AboutJobs.com. Many camps, however, will need you to work for an entire season. The U.S. summer camp season usually runs from late May/early June through August. The BUNAC summer camp USA program may be of interest to you (http://www.bunac.org/uk/summercampusa/), as they help match job seekers with a summer camp and also assist in the visa process. You must be between 19 and 35 to apply to the BUNAC Summer Camp USA program and you should have some experience working with youths.

Many of the companies who list jobs on AboutJobs.com do realize that candidates from other countries will be applying for their job openings. Some employers will work with a qualified candidate to arrange a work visa. However, it is extremely difficult for employers to sponsor visas for employees unless they are filling a special need that cannot be filled by the local population. This is true for much of Western Europe and North America. However, many Eastern European and Asian countries have slightly less restrictive policies. We ask employers who use the site to indicate whether or not they will accept applicants from any country, but many of them do not include this information. Your best option is to identify the job openings that best match your skills and qualifications and then to contact the employer directly to find out if you are eligible to apply for the job opening. You should also plan ahead and try to obtain a work visa many months before your work starts. It can take several months to get approval for a visa. For a fee certain organizations, like BUNAC (http://www.bunac.org/uk/summercampusa/) and CIEE (http://www.ciee.org/) can help you obtain a work visa to go overseas or come to the U.S..

Yes, you should create a well-presented resume/CV. Even if you don't have any experience yet a resume is a great way to show that you are active and interested in different subjects and to show that you are organized and able to write well. Make sure your resume uses perfect English grammar and is consistent and clear. The best way to get rejected for a job is with a poor resume.

Maybe. Make sure that you fully understand what the employer will expect of you before you take a job. You should also fully understand what you will be doing in your job, how much you will be paid, work hours, etc. In some cases you might want a contract, especially when working overseas, so that you fully understand the terms of your employment. If you are being offered travel benefits or end of season bonuses then a contract is a good idea.

Never, ever pay an employer or recruiter to find you a job, reserve your job or as a deposit on housing. The job market is still very strong for summer job seekers and you shouldn't need to pay to find a job or to access jobs. Be careful of employers who seem suspicious and unprofessional and use your best judgment when sending money or private documents to employers found on our site or anywhere else. If you feel a request by an employer is unreasonable you should use caution and ask the employer for more information or references.

It is very likely that you will need a valid work visa, though many students arrange to work without following the laws of the country in which they are working. While this is common we do not recommend this approach as you will have no legal recourse in the event that the employer mistreats you, unreasonably terminates you or withholds benefits or pay. Your safest approach is to work with the employer to learn the local immigration laws and to have them assist you in obtaining the proper paperwork. Make sure you understand visa and immigration requirements before taking a job abroad. The above tips about not paying money to employers are even more important when working abroad.

When applying to jobs on-line include your resume as text as part of your email, and also as a text attachment. Many employers do not want to open attachments, especially Microsoft Word attachments, because of the fear of viruses so make sure your resume is in text format as part of your original email. Also include a short, descriptive cover letter as part of your email that says a little about yourself and why you want the job. You can type the cover letter in your email as you would a normal email message and then follow the cover letter with the body of your resume. As always, use spell check and make sure your cover letter uses proper English grammar.

Many employers are overwhelmed by the response from applicants on our site and cannot respond to everyone. When you send your resume and cover letter it is appropriate to mention a follow up time and method in your cover letter. For example, you might write "Thank you for your time and consideration. Please review my resume and let me know if you have any questions. I will follow up in two weeks by email or phone to see if you need any more information about me and my qualifications." Keep track of who you send applications to and schedule a follow up time to send a second email or call to find out about your job application. Please use your best judgment when responding to employers and do not call or email them excessively, as it will most likely annoy them and hurt your chances of being hired. Be organized and persistent but do not become a nuisance.

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For more information about AboutJobs.com, please contact us.