There is a lot of competition in the job world. College students are under a lot of pressure to find a good job after they graduate, and the competition is fierce. Many students spend their summers working as unpaid interns in hope that it will improve their resume and increase their chances of finding a job after graduation. Although paid internships do provide a slight edge, a 2013 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that very few recent grads who worked in unpaid internships actually received a job offer.
The good news is that there are other ways to spend your summer that will provide the same training and learning experiences as an internship. Working as a camp counselor not only offers a paying job, but it also provides valuable experience that will help in the job hunt after summer is over. In the New York Times article The Camp Counselor vs. the Intern, Dan Fleshler observes that it would be “outrageous that someone glancing at resumes would believe that a 20-year old who fetches coffee at Google is more impressive than one who spends days and nights nurturing, teaching, organizing, comforting, and inspiring.”
Counselors do work that influences the lives of future generations and spend their time helping children grow into successful adults. They inspire children of all ages to try new things and motivate them to work hard. They form connections with campers, parents, and other staff. This in turn gives counselors experience in things like group management, communication, and setting goals, which are all skills that employers seek. Working as a camp counselor gives hands on experience that helps college students find jobs after they graduate.
