Some University students have broken away from the concept of a traditional summer job by finding them in exotic places.
According to Ed Dawicki, author of “The Guide for Short Term Jobs in Exotic Places,” tourism is a $3 trillion-a-year global industry, and over 200 million people work in the tourism industry.
The guide book, published in 2003, has 50 pages of advice and includes a number of job listings. About 2,000 locations of actual jobs and about 5,000 jobs are listed in the book.
Dawicki’s book, which offers practical advice for students interested in summer jobs in exotic places, does not cover overseas travel. He said that the process of working overseas is more difficult than working domestically because of language barriers, wages and taxation.
Dawicki said that there are many opportunities available for students within the U.S. These include jobs as bartenders, waitresses and camp counselors. Students can also work on a cruise line, at a dude ranch, at ski resorts, hotels and amusement parks.
“The kinds of jobs a student can find vary, and some jobs are more suited for some people than other jobs,” said Dawicki. “I find the jobs that pay the best are in the service industry.”
In his book, Dawicki offers very specific advice on how to apply to these seasonal jobs. He said it is best not to apply online, apply early to get the best job offers, mail a resume, cover letter and a picture of yourself, call each place to verify that they have received your application, keep a record of who you talk to and when, be very persistent and sound interested and keep in contact with your employer until your first day of work.
According to Frannie Knobloch, an LSU student, in order to secure her job on Catalina Island, Calif., last summer, she had to pass a phone interview and send in a tape saying why she wanted to work on the island.
While working these summer jobs, some students, such as LSU student Jennifer Pollet, who has taken two summer jobs away, stay in employee housing or rent an apartment with friends.
“Overall, I find the money you do spend on housing is not quite an issue since the money you will earn makes up for the expense,” Dawicki said.
National parks and dude ranches most likely will allow the employee to stay for free, or for a much discounted price. Dawicki said that summer camp jobs and national park jobs do not pay as much and are usually taken to gain experience.
Cruise lines hire maids, activity coordinators, deck-hands and bartenders, while dude ranches hire people to help with the animals, serve food, and babysit. National parks hire students to rent boats, bikes and cabins and help with animals.
Pollet, who has worked on Misquamicut Beach, R.I., and Catalina Island, Calif., said that she made about $10,000 each summer in the service industry.
Dawicki said that in a resort town, if you are a food server or bartender in a very busy restaurant, you can expect to make at least a $1,000 a week.
When not working, many students take excursions on the weekend.
“Almost every day we went snorkeling in the crystal clear water, kayaking or cliff diving,” Knobloch said. “When we were not working, we traveled up and down the California coast, went to Mexico or spent a few days in Vegas.”
Dawicki said a summer job in an exotic place is something every student should experience.
“Being well-traveled is sort of like being well-read,” Dawicki said. “It adds an extra dimension to a person.”