Here are my final tips for finding a summer job:

• Do not bring your mother to the interview with you.
• Do not be afraid to ask for help, ask for leads or ask for a job.
• Follow up with leads people give you . . . you never know what can happen.
• Whatever you do, stay professional and know that your job search is a building block for you. You are creating your “brand” for the future.
• Build your resume by being thoughtful about what you do.
• See impressive resumes from young people coming out of college because they planned their summer jobs.
• A survey of 1,000 hiring managers revealed that 65% of the summer workforce will be people returning from previous year.
• Always learn from your experiences.
• Learn from the experiences of others. Ask people what was your best summer job? Worst? Most creative?

Summer is short and sweet. In a couple of months at a summer job, you’ll have new friends, added contacts, sharpened skills, and (let’s hope) some money in the bank. You can return to school in the fall and tackle your studies with a deeper understanding of what you want in a job and what you can contribute.