Spring break is coming up and soon students all over will be looking for that perfect job.  Or, not.  Most simply find a job close by, or that pays enough, or is easy to get.  If, on the other hand, you want a summer job that is fun, exciting and interesting, here are five things you can do today that will help.

1.  Don’t worry about your resume so much.  Today, resumes are basically de-valued.  And, your resume will not get you the job of your dreams.  It is harder than that.

2.  Make a list that starts with this: “If I could, I would love to do {fill in the blank} this summer.” Make this fill-in-the-blank exercise fun, yet thoughtful.  Stretch yourself…and make the list at least 20 items long.  One young woman I know made her list… she wrote that she wanted to work on a TV show in New York City.  She had NO experience, training, schooling, nothing…just thought about it. She landed herself an internship at a big network news show in NYC, and now, three years later, books guests for one of the nation’s top political commentators.  Here is a fool proof way to tell if you are thinking big enough.  Share this list with your parents and friends.  If they smile, or even laugh out loud at your list, this is a good sign.  Big goals do that.

3. Now work hard at finding how to find your big, laugh-out-loud job.  Remember how you worked hard on that school project…this will take just as much time and effort.  I was amazed at how my own kids would kill themselves over some school project, yet only want to spend about an hour finding a summer job.

4.  Don’t forget to ask your parents and their friends for help, first.  We want to help you find this cool job.  A job flipping burgers?, not so much.

5.  Be persistent, creative, unique, friendly, positive and-and-and-and, wait for it: Act like you deserve the summer job of your dreams. Why shouldn’t you get this job?  Someone will, it may as well be you.