Students use Trevecca’s career development office to find internships and summer jobs

Maven McGregory

Staff Writer

Elijah Spencer spent weeks searching for a summer job with no luck. Frustrated and unsure where to start, he turned
to Trevecca’s Career Development and Connections office.

With their help, he landed a job just in time.

As summer approaches, college students are looking for ways to make money, gain experience, and build their resumes. For many students, a summer job is more than just a paycheck—it’s a chance to save for the upcoming school year, enjoy a bit of extra cash, and gain hands-on experience that opens doors for the future.

“Money is the main thing. I wanted to get a job anyway, but it would be nice to find a job in my content area,” Spencer said.

After months of searching with little success, Becky Farley, director of career development and connections, reviewed his resume and made key changes to help him stand out. Soon after, he found an arts administration internship on Handshake, in hopes of gaining experience to be a band director.

“She changed the wording, getting rid of some other jobs that weren’t relevant to the internship. We worked together to optimize my resume to work well with that software, be readable, and appealing,” Spencer said

John Radzimanowski, a career coach, emphasizes the importance of early job search to give students a better chance of securing a position.

“Start early. Do it now, as opposed to, at the end of the school year in May. You want to give yourself a chance to compete,” said Radzimanowski

According to Indeed, the best summer jobs for students include administrative assistant, animal caretaker, bank teller, barista, brand ambassador, customer service representative, line cook, receptionist, restaurant server, and retail sales associate.

While some of these jobs may seem out of reach for students with little experience, that shouldn’t discourage anyone from applying.

“Students often come in and say, ‘I don’t really have any experience,’ but I always tell them, ‘Yes, you do,” said Becky Farley. “Together, the student and I pull out the eight career competencies: problem-solving, critical thinking, communication at all levels—oral, written, technical, and digital—and technology. I help students see beyond the self, look at the competences, the skills, and then that’s what we write out.”

Students have multiple ways to find jobs, with career fairs being one option, though not the only one. Handshake is a key resource, connecting students with employers seeking interns, full-time, and part-time workers.

“You want to diversify your job search. There are jobs on Handshake but not on LinkedIn, and there are jobs on Linkedin that aren’t going to be on Handshake. If you really want a job, you want to cast a wide net,” Radzimanowski said.

For students seeking extra preparation, Trevecca will host a speed mock interview session from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on March 26 on the third floor of Jernigan. Students can register on Handshake to participate.

The college career fair at the Nashville Fairgrounds on April 2 will also feature companies hiring for summer positions from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.