Seasonal Work Discrimination

When companies refuse to hire temporary workers, desperate times call for dishonest measures

Many students seem to have a hard time finding a summer job. In my experience, those who struggle the most are the students that go to college away from home and return only for the three months of summer. Unfortunately, I am one of those students.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics 81% of part-time undergraduate students are employed at the same time they’re enrolled in school, and a large percentage of these students also look for work during their time off.

These college students often depend on a summer job to help pay for their schooling and basic needs. To qualify for a minimum wage job, it takes more than just filling out an application and waiting for an interview. Companies want reliable workers that plan to stay for more than just three months and don’t seem to consider summer seasonal workers.

A lot of companies look at training someone for only a couple months of work as a waste of time. There are some companies that do hire students for the summer but more often than not, they only give you a minimal amount of hours per week. It is almost like they are already preparing for you to leave as soon as they hire you which creates an uncomfortable work environment.

“I had eight interviews with jobs that paid minimum wage and not a single one hired me. McDonald’s even sent me a rejection letter.”

For me, last summer was tough. I had eight interviews with jobs that paid minimum wage and not a single one hired me. McDonald’s even sent me a rejection letter. It was at that point that I realized I made the mistake of telling these companies that I would only be around for the summer. But it shouldn’t be that way, I shouldn’t have to lie just to provide for myself during those three months.

Many students not only work to provide for themselves but for their families as well. Some young adults need to support their parents, children and even their siblings. I think companies don’t understand the dependance that college students have on a summertime job. It is a time for us to worry about work only, whereas during the school year there is more than just our eight-hour shift on our mind.

Companies should come up with plans for seasonal hires no matter the kind of job. Whether or not there is an influx or outflow of individuals, summer is a season of change. Many people use the few months of warm weather as time for vacation, families are out out for summer and in California summer is prime tourist season.

This summer, I switched up my technique. During interviews, I said I was a new transfer student in the area and sure enough, I was hired in no time. Working all day, every day can be stressful but not being able to find work is a different kind of stress.

Being in an environment where you aren’t welcomed doesn’t feel good. There are college students all across the country who go homeless because they don’t have enough money and then on top of that, can’t seem to find a job.

Though it shouldn’t be this way, it seems the thing to do when applying for a summer job is to tell the company that you’re there to stay. College students are often young adults trying to get a handle on their responsibilities and it is unfortunate that the world has persuaded us to lie in order to survive.