The Struggle of Finding a Summer Job, as Told by The Office

Amongst the stress of finals and packing up a cluttered dorm room is the impending anxiety of finding a summer job.  Whether you’re looking for an internship, a part-time gig, or you’re just desperate for anything that pays, who better to explain the struggle of finding summer employment than the employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

Step 1: Realizing you’re broke

At the end of the school year, every student cringes when they look at the balance of their bank account.  After textbooks, late-night munchies, and stress-induced online shopping, you’ll realize you need to find a summer job.  

Step 2: Being overwhelmed by job search sites

Type in your zip code on any job search site, and you’ll see hundreds of listings pop up.  Most likely, you’ll find yourself scrolling right past most of them.  But take a deep breath, because there’s still 27 pages to look through.    

Step 3: Feeling underqualified for every job

Throughout the job hunt, you may find yourself wanting to tear up your resume and give up when reading the “necessary experience” section of the job application.  Seriously, 3-5 years of retail experience seems a little excessive, doesn’t it? Side note: does binge watching Netflix count as a special skill?  

Step 4: Listening to your parents reminding you to get a job

I know mom and dad, I need to start making my own money. But it’s a cruel world out here for college students trying to find a summer job, okay?   

Step 5: Being jealous of all your employed friends 

Everyone has at least one friend who’s already locked down a killer summer internship.  Or even worse: a friend who found that rare, magical, paid internship.  It can be hard not to be salty when you’re still on the job hunt.   

Step 6: Applying 

After a tiresome job search and a few mental breakdowns, it’s finally time to apply.  Get out your resume and your letters of recommendation, and let the self-promoting and exaggeration of special skills and accomplishments begin!   

Step 7: Finally getting the job

The struggle is over and you’ve finally got yourself a summer job—AKA a source of some money to replenish the bank account you drained over the school year.  Celebrate now, ’cause tomorrow morning, it’s time to get to work, girl.

And for all you collegiettes still looking for a summer job, who knows, maybe a small paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania is hiring?