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Focus on Working at Summer Camps

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JobMonkey.com
Volume VIII, Issue #21
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Are you a high school or college student looking for a summer job? Are you a nurse, handy person, educator or administrator? If you answered yes to any of the above, guess what? You can find great summer employment opportunities at a camp. Since there's no better time than today to apply for a summer camp job, this timely edition of the JobMonkey newsletter is dedicated to helping you determine what summer camp job is right for you.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Tricky Interview Question: Tell Me About Yourself
2) Spotlight: Finding the Right Summer Camp Job
3) Around the Monkey: Recession-Proof Careers
4) JobMonkey Job Center: Summer Camp Job Openings

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CAREER ADVISOR: Tricky Interview Question: Tell Me About Yourself
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by Amy Lindgren

Don't you hate when interviewers ask, "Tell me about yourself?" If this question curls your toes, you're not alone. Job seekers regularly rate this as one of the most difficult questions to answer.

Why? Well, for one thing, interviewers use it as a warm up and may not even be listening when you answer. It's difficult to wow someone who is shuffling papers or looking for a pen.

Another problem is the question itself. Tell you what about myself? My favorite movies? My dog's name? (Just a hint: Assume those are not things the interviewer wants to know.)

Your chances of getting this question are strong, so your best strategy is to be prepared. Here are five steps to building a good answer.

1. Before the interview, identify the key things needed in a successful candidate. Which of these do you have? Choose three to be your main messages throughout the interview.

2. Write a (very) short paragraph about each key message. These paragraphs will be the crux of your answer.

3. Practice using an introductory sentence for the answer: "I'm glad you asked. There are three things I wanted to tell you about myself as related to this job..."

4. Practice being quiet (shutting up!) at the end of the third point. It weakens the answer when the candidate trails off and can't seem to conclude the message.

5. Don't worry about details such as where you grew up or who has influenced your career. For the most part, the interviewer doesn't care, and including these things will make the answer seem more like a personals ad than a powerful introduction to a job interview.

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SPOTLIGHT: What's the Right Summer Camp Job For You?
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Do you fondly remember your summers at camp? Leisurely days spent swimming, making arts and crafts, and roasting smores around a bonfire? You can relive these lovely summer memories, while earning serious college spending money or a respectable two-month salary, as a camp employee. There are a multitude of different camping settings for you to consider -- from day camps jobs to camps for children with special needs to sleep-away camps to specialty camps for budding artists, musicians, athletes and more.

Whatever camp setting you choose, one constant is the types of jobs you will find at just about any summer camp. Here's a rundown on six of the most common employment opportunities at summer camps. As you read through this descriptive list, think about your own skills and experience to determine which kind of summer camp job is right for you.

(1) Summer Camp Counselors
Of all the staffers at camp, counselors work most closely with the campers. This seasonal position is round-the-clock, so be prepared to work hard. with hardly a break. If you are employed at a day camp, your hours will typically be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., although some day camps offer early drop-off and late pick-up for the convenience of working parents. Over-night camp counselors typically work for one or multiple sessions, earning one day and one night off for every two weeks of employment. As a camp counselor, your duties will range from corralling your campers (probably the hardest and most important aspect of your job) to planning safe and fun activities for them to organizing special days on- or off-site.

(2) Summer Camp Nurses
Every overnight camp, and many day camps, employ at least one on-call nurse. At larger camps (1000 person+), there may be several nurses on staff, as well as a doctor. To be hired as a camp nurse, you will need a degree in nursing plus RN or LPN certification. As a camp nurse, your job duties will range from treating minor aches and pains to arranging ambulance transport for children with broken bones, severe allergic reactions and other major ailments. You will also be responsible for reviewing each child's medical file and being prepared to handle preexisting conditions; at camps for children with special needs, treatment regiments can be especially demanding.

(3) Summer Camp Administration
If you've worked for many summers as a camp counselor, you may be ready to make the jump to summer camp administration. Responsibilities can include budgeting, organizing special events, coordinating insurance, hiring and training staff, and more. The camp director is like the CEO; other key administrative staffers may handle finances, marketing, hiring, and general administration duties. Many camp administration jobs are year-round positions, with a peak in hours over the summer.

(4) Summer Camp Lifeguard Jobs
If a camp offers free swimming or swimming lessons, state law typically requires the presence of a trained lifeguard. At small camps, this typically means hiring a handful of camp counselors who also have lifeguard certification. At larger camps, especially those with on-site swimming pools, full-time lifeguards need to be hired. Lifeguards typically are required to have CPR and first aid certification.

(5) Summer Camp Groundskeeper
The very nature of many summer camps is being outside in ... nature! Which means that groundskeepers are essential staff people, responsible for maintain campgrounds, mowing the lawn and pruning the trees. At larger camp, year-round groundskeepers are responsible for winterizing the grounds, clearing hiking trails, etc. Light carpentry, pool maintenance and other duties may also be required. As a groundskeeper, be prepared for physically demanding labor and lots of hours spent in the sun.

(6) Summer Camp Kitchen Staff
Some camps require their counselors to take shifts cooking in the kitchen, but most sleep-away camps hire full-time kitchen staff to make and, in some cases, serve daily meals. Meal plans aren't usually gourmet, but they do need to be well-balanced, with special attention paid to food safety.

Want to learn more? Check out the JobMonkey's extensive section on working at a summer camp.

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AROUND THE MONKEY: Recession-Proof Careers
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Whether you are looking for a part-time job for the summer or a full-time job for years to come, job security is probably a major priority -- especially in these difficult economic times. Check out this recent post from the JobMonkey blog about four of the most recession-proof careers.

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JOB OPENINGS: Plethora of New Summer Camp Jobs
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If you are in the market for a summer camp job (or any kind of job, for that matter), the best place to start your search is at the JobMonkey Job Center. With hundreds of job listings from around the country and the world, the Job Center is updated daily and free for job seekers!

Find current jobs in the Job Center.

 

 

 

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