You must take your student job search seriously and be willing to be inventive.  Being unique and demonstrating (not just saying) that you are a hard-worker and able to think independently will be an enormous help to you after graduation.

1. Get off the computer! Many local, smaller businesses do not have websites where you can look at job postings online.  You’re going to have to make a cold call or (better still) go visit these places and explain how much you would like to learn about their industry.  If they don’t have a job, offer to intern.  You’ll have more opportunity for “hands-on” experience at a smaller business than a large one. 

 
2. Volunteer at smaller, local organizations! Take this opportunity to show that you are a self-starter who just hates not having work.  If you volunteer at an organization that the employer is not familiar with, it may stimulate their curiosity.  They may want you to tell them about the organization and your involvement.



3. Multi-Task! So you’ve taken the cashier’s job at Wal-Mart because you needed money and you’re not exactly qualified yet to do much else.  You’re not going to become qualified, however, if you don’t branch out from your temporary job.  Work part-time and create your own local internship.  Shadow local professionals, go to court and listen to the lawyers or intern online as a programmer – this is not about school credit or money.  You need the experience and potential employers will be impressed with your dedication and initiative.  The people you follow (ask permission first, of course) may even be able to help you find a job later.



4. Be an entrepreneur! You start building your personal brand with your first job – why not make it something you love?  It’s not as impossible as it sounds.  Figure out what you like to do and make it into a business (you may just find your career).  Take pictures of people for a small fee or write a short story and sell it affordably.  Even if you don’t make a lot of money doing this, it will give you an edge when employers have hundreds or thousands of resumes to sort through.



5. Voice your opinion! If you read the back of a book, and think that the summary was poorly written then re-write it and send it to the author (or publisher) explaining why you didn’t like it, why yours is better, as well as what you did like (no one will listen to you if they think you are attacking them – use tact).  If you believe that something you saw on television wasn’t explained in enough detail for you to understand it then write the production company and say so.   If you point out something that needs improvement and give a plan to fix it, it may just get you a job.  Write a newsletter for different websites.  Writing is very time consuming for most companies/agencies and if your articles or sample newsletters show fresh ideas or are more likely to bring in customers, you might get hired working from home.