Let’s put aside the laughter, tomfoolery and romance for a second and focus on the important lessons learned from summer jobs. We asked a few career advisers to share some key lessons people often learn from their summer jobs:

Time management

Career coach Kevin Blackstone says summer workers learn a lot about time management and the importance of hitting deadlines because they have to juggle their job responsibilities with everything else going on in their life, including summer school, family commitments, social happenings and more.

Work ethic

Blackstone says it’s important that summer workers learn the value of being on time. “It’s all about punctuality for bosses. If you’re not showing up to work on time, don’t expect to get a good recommendation from your manager when you leave,” Blackstone says.

Work counselor Tammi Strong says good summer employees learn about accountability. “You may have dropped food on the floor or undercharged someone for an item and you’ll need to own up to those mistakes,” she says.

And don’t even think about sleepwalking through the job. “It’s about putting in the effort and making the company, camp, pool or wherever you’re working a better place.”

Blackstone says that part of establishing a strong work ethic is increasing one’s level of professionalism. “You have to look the part at all times and always put your best foot forward,” he says. “There is no down time, especially when you’re dealing with the public.”

Collaboration

Strong thinks today’s college students are already pretty good at working with others because a lot of class grades depend on group projects. But she says there are still lessons to be learned from being part of a team. “Most importantly, you have to learn how to communicate with others, especially people who aren’t in your normal wheelhouse,” she says. “And you’ll need to learn how to resolve conflicts, which is a skill most students lack after they graduate and get their first job.”

Managing money

Getting paid on a regular basis is sometimes a new thing for summer employees so how they save and spend their money is important. “Set a monetary goal and do everything you can to reach that goal,” says Strong. “You should spend some money on yourself and have fun but not at the expense of failing to raise the money you need for your ne/xt semester at school or that used car you’ve had your eye on.”

Tribune News Service