Summa is coming, and your parents pockets are only so deep, so its time to find yourself a job. But how do you make that happen when you have no experience?

Tip 1: Don’t get your Mammy to go around the town handing out CV’s. Every time a Mammy hands in a CV it goes straight into the bin. If you can’t be bothered dragging your butt out of bed to find a job, you have a long way to go before you can actually do one. Seriously.

Tip 2: Get a good CV. Not all your experience has to be paid. Do you coach a sport, help fund raise for a cause, babysit your little cousin or do the odd Saturday in your aunties sweet shop? Stick it down. To be clear, do not lie, but by all means don’t be afraid to sell yourself. On an added note, if your email address is [email protected], change it to something more professional before you add it to your CV. Oh, and on another added note SPELLCHECK!!

Tip 3: If you can’t get a paid job this summer, do something to improve your chances next year. Try to find someone who will let you work for free (for a few weeks) in return for training and a good reference. If you can get some barista training in a coffee shop you’re laughing. And if you make a good impression, they might even keep you. Alternatively, volunteer at a local charity, you never know, you might even enjoy yourself.

Tip 4: If you manage to get an interview, don’t pretend you know it all already, you don’t, and no-one will buy it. Admit that you will need training, but assure the interviewer that you learn quickly and will work hard. Be polite and make you sure you thank them for their time.

Finally, if you don’t get a job straight away, keep trying. Most places get lots of applicants over the summer and its generally a case of being in the right place at the right time. Good luck!