About Summer Jobs in Oakland, CA
Oakland Summer Jobs Overview
Getting a summer job isn't just for staying busy or earning extra money when school is out. Summer jobs teach high school and college students life skills—money management, self-confidence, responsibility, and how to be part of a diverse workforce. The process of getting a summer job also helps students learn job skills like how to put together a resume and nail an interview. Companies looking for summer workers typically don't require any previous work experience, making this seasonal work perfect for students developing their resumes.
There are plenty of jobs available for students looking to work between school years. Summer break opens the doors to outdoor jobs like being a lifeguard, camp counselor, or caddy at a local golf club. Restaurant jobs are also popular and will help you develop customer service skills.
You can expand your search for service jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Oakland, California
If you're considering applying for Oakland jobs, three things you might hear about when you move here are sea monsters, gnomes, and secret staircases. The Oak-ness Monster in Lake Merritt, the only natural saltwater lake located in a city, has remained elusive since its first spotting in the 1940s. Oakland's gnomes are a little easier to find. An anonymous resident has painted and hidden thousands of gnomes all over the city since 2012. While you're looking for a gnome, you might stumble across a secret staircase. Hundreds of shortcut staircases were built a century ago to help streetcar and bus passengers commute from their Oakland jobs to their neighborhoods without having to walk along the city's winding roads.
If you're not in the mood for a scavenger hunt, you can spend a day exploring the banks of Lake Merritt, which includes miles of walking paths, greenspace, and a wildlife refuge. Or you could spend one of Oakland's 260 sunny days a year hiking in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park just outside downtown Oakland. Ready to explore the Oakland area? You can also try expanding your job search to the suburbs of San Leandro, Alameda, and Berkeley.
Update Your Oakland Summer Resume
Treat that summer job like a full-time job and utilize "real-world" tools. The most important of these is a resume. Plug your info into this resume template designed especially for students. Or, look at other resume samples if you have a particular occupation in mind and browse resume writing tips to look your best on paper. Has anyone told you about cover letters? You need to write one—it accompanies your resume and tells the employer why you're interested in and qualified for the job. We have a cover letter sample for recent graduates and cover letter writing tips available on Monster to help you get past your writer's block.
How Much Do Summer Jobs Pay in Oakland, California?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in summer jobs in Oakland, California, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median detailer pay in Oakland is $16.45 per hour, which is 25% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Oakland Summer Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in summer? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those summer jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Oakland, how to nail your job interview, and more.