Summer can be a busy time in the hospitality industry. The sunshine and warm temperatures lure many of us out on vacation, or to restaurants and bars to enjoy the balmy weather.

All this activity means hospitality businesses are eager for help. That’s fantastic news for students, who may be looking for a way to earn some cash during their time off from classes. 

Plus, summer jobs can help students finish their studies with a well-rounded resume. Instead of just a degree, you could have a degree and several job placements to show that you’re serious about your career. Here’s what students should keep in mind when they’re looking for summer hospitality jobs.

When to Start Applying for Summer Hospitality Jobs

Some hospitality operations—especially large hotels and resorts—may be bringing on a large seasonal staff. To manage the logistics, they could start looking for summer candidates months in advance. If you’re interested in a hotel or resort job, you could start your search as early as February!

If you’re looking for a local restaurant job, on the other hand, there’s no need to start the search so early. You could start applying in April for a late-May start.

What to Look For in a Summer Hospitality Job

Some students approach the summer job as if it’s unrelated to their career goals. They just think of it as a way to make a little money. But if you consider the summer job as an extension of your education, you’ll be more likely to find a position that will help you in the long run. 

Start your job search with an assessment of your career goals. If you hope to open your own restaurant one day, maybe you should look for a summer job in an independent local eatery. If you want to work in event planning, you could look for a role that will introduce you to event operations. 

You could also approach your summer job as an opportunity to learn a specific piece of software or equipment. Opera, for example, is a popular property management software used in many hotels. A position that will teach you how it works will provide a valuable addition to your resume. 

Consider Travel!

You could work in paradise over the summer. 

Many resorts in popular tourist destinations need summer help. You could spend your summer working on the beaches of Hawaii or in the forests of Yosemite. If you’re looking for a summer resort job away from home, try to find one that includes staff housing so you won’t have to move furniture with you.

Keep in mind: if you plan to look abroad for your summer job, you’ll probably need to secure a work visa or visitor’s visa with permission to work. These regulations vary depending on where you hope to go, so make sure you know the laws well in advance.

Don’t Discount Internships!

Many of us have a misconception that internships for college credits are always unpaid. That’s not at all true. Many hotel and hospitality companies offer paid internships for college students, especially through some of the larger hotel chains. Hyatt Hotels, for example, has a robust paid internship program with positions in many departments and locations across their vast portfolio of hotels.

Check with your school for internship guidelines. Some colleges and universities have limits on the number of college credits you can receive.

If You’re a Tipped Employee…

Tips are taxable income! 

Federal and state income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax will automatically be deducted from your paycheck by your employer. But if you’re making the tipped minimum wage ($2.13/hr in some states), your hourly wages won’t be enough to cover the tax obligation for your tip income.

Set aside 25% – 30% of your tipped income to cover your taxes. If you don’t, you could be in for a nasty surprise come April.

Where to Start

A quick search on Hcareers can help you to find summer job openings in hospitality. Search for the type of work you’re interested in, and the city where you’d like to work. Use combinations of common keywords to search for summer jobs, like:

• Summer
• Seasonal
• Internship
• June, July, August

You can also filter for seasonal work by clicking “Seasonal” on the Job Type filter.

Fishing resorts in Alaska, beachfront getaways in Florida, big city adventures in Los Angeles—it’s all on the table for an exciting and educational summer job!