Summer Job and a Summer Vacation? Can you have BOTH?

You sweat your way through the fall and winter semesters at school. You struggled to land a job for the summer or may be you are still looking. You need to work, but what you really want is a vacation. Can you pull it off? While you might be thinking of where you'd go and whether or not you can afford the trip, there is another critical piece to the planning process that is often overlooked by summer employees. Will the boss give you the time off?

Don't assume because everyone else at work is going to get some time away this summer that you will, too. The fact is that your job may exist because others are going on vacation and you are needed to hold down the fort. So how do you take care of you?

Negotiate!

If you know in advance that Cousin Jim is finally marrying his longtime girlfriend in Saskabush this summer and that you'll need a couple of extra days off to get to the wedding and back again, ask for this time off when you are negotiating other aspects of the job offer like pay and work schedule. You may have a rough time getting along with your supervisor if you accept a summer job only to ask for time off soon after your work begins.

Sometimes, though, opportunities to get away just pop up. On Tuesday you may think that you'll be stuck in an artificially-lit cubicle all summer, but by Thursday you may have an offer you don't want to refuse to stay at a beach-side cabin the following week. What shall you do? How should you ask?

The following articles all offer some good tips on negotiating days off and for other things, too, that make working worthwhile. Check them out:

Canadian Living - "Negotiate Time off for the Holidays"

Career Builder - Things You Can Negotiate for at Work and Didn't Know

Changing Minds - The Right Time to Negotiate

KISS

- Ideally, negotiate for time off when you are negotiating the job offer; you may even get paid days off if you ask for them up front
- Ask co-workers who have been on the job longer for tips on how to approach the boss
- Know your employer's (the organization's and your supervisor's) needs and tailor your request to be win-win
- Anticipate and plan around any draw-backs your employer may bring up
- Choose an appropriate time to meet; don't send your request by email unless several long-time employees insist that this is the best strategy
- Make your case clearly and be honest
- Be prepared for the offer of un-paid leave; will you take it?
- Be prepared for "no"; how will you cope if you cannot go?

Have a great summer and, my wish for you, a happy vacation, too.


...Pam