Written by Devin Miller, Relate Contributing Writer

Even if you’re not in college yet, you can start building your resume with job experience, internships and volunteer work. The key is to find opportunities that are related to your interests and career aspirations.

Job experience:

Velia Biagianti and Kelly Martineau, both education majors, work at a summer girl’s camp.

A summer job doesn’t need to be something you do to merely bring in the dough! Look for jobs that are related to what you hope to major in. For example, if you plan to major in elementary education, try getting a job at a local summer camp or day care. Likewise, those interested in going to culinary school, for example, should seek jobs working at their favorite restaurants.

When applying for these positions, make sure to mention that you plan to pursue further education in these fields; if employers know this, they will be more likely to hire you over someone who is applying just to get a short-lived summer job.

Internships:

While many internships are designed specifically for college students, a little digging and investigating will prove that there are opportunities for you!

Many companies offer positions for upperclassmen in high school that may be less demanding than a position that would be given to a college student. “Washington City Paper,” a weekly publication in Washington, DC, offers an internship in community development which they say is great for a high school senior.

In some cases, you may need to create your own internship. E-mail companies or organizations that you are interested in, and ask if they could use assistance in any of their departments.

Ask friends, family members, teachers and guidance counselors about any opportunities they may know of. This is a great time for you to start working on your networking skills. As the well-known saying goes, “It’s not always what you know, it’s who you know.”

One thing you must keep in mind: most internships are unpaid. The experience you gain from an internship is most valuable, not how much money you make while doing it.

Volunteer work:

Volunteerism looks great on any resume or college application! Find a charity or organization that you feel a connection with and ask how you can get involved. You will be able to work for a cause you are passionate about while gaining new life skills and making connections with new people.

Also, you may be able to get academic credit for volunteering. Check with your guidance counselor to see if your volunteer work counts for service learning hours.

These opportunities are available everywhere. Ask religious organizations, libraries and local schools about ways to get involved in volunteer work. The Internet is a huge source of information on this subject. Search for causes that are of interest to you and see how you can help to make a difference.

Whether you are looking for a job, internship or a way to volunteer, the possibilities are out there! Do not get discouraged simply because these opportunities aren’t placed right in front of you; it will take a little bit of effort and investigating to find the position that’s right for you.

When you do find the perfect fit, you will be ecstatic to have a valuable bullet point to add to your resume!

Tags: college applications, get involved, job experience, volunteer work, volunteering on resume