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Are you going to spend another summer on the shore? Or are you going to earn some valuable work experience? Try these suggestions and Web site links to assist you with finding employment, internships, or volunteer opportunities this summer.
Know what it is you want to do...
The first step in your search is to identify the area or population in which you want to work. Knowing in what area of the profession you are most interested will help narrow your search and make it more likely that the experience will be beneficial for you. Take some time to figure out what you like most or what you are most interested in learning.
Write or update your resume...
Once you decide in which area you want to work, you will need a resume to outline your previous work experience in the field (if any). Be sure to include your volunteer experience, extracurricular activities (i.e., NSSLHA membership), and leadership positions in your resume. If you have a resume already, make sure you update it to include those items.
Not sure if your resume does a good job promoting your assets and talents? Show it to a counselor at the office of career planning and placement at your school or share it with a professor in your program. They will be able to assess your resume and offer suggestions for improvements.
You may be asked to provide contact information for references. If you plan to use one of your professors or a former employer as a reference, let them know in advance. They will be quicker to reply if they know to expect a call. You will also want to make sure to get summer contact information from your professors before you leave school for summer break.
Start looking...
The competition for summer employment is fierce but that does not mean it is impossible. The most obvious place to start your summer employment search is by asking the professors in your department or contacting the career planning and placement center on your campus.
As a member of NSSLHA you have access to the ASHA Career Center. Look for a position, post your resume or sign up for the "Notify Me" service at and receive announcements in your area of interest as they become available.
The ASHA membership directory and ASHA's "Find a Pro Service" are other valuable resources for identifying opportunities in your area. Conduct a search by area of interest and city and state then contact members directly to see if they have any opportunities for the summer. You can access the membership directory and the Find A Professional service online.
You might even try contacting the speech and hearing state association in your area for possible leads. Links to all state associations are available on the ASHA Web site.
Another place to look for employment is the local yellow pages. Call the local hospitals, clinics, and schools that work with children with speech and hearing disorders to see what opportunities are available.
If you enjoy working outdoors, try finding a summer camp that works directly with children with speech and hearing disorders. Link to camp sites for kids with communication disorders or access links to summer camps on the ASHA Web site.
Here are a few that you may contact directly:
Atlantic Coast Special Educational Services
Ocean View, Delaware
302-537-7263
Windsor Mountain International
603-478-3166
Camp Huntington
High Falls, New York
845-679-4903
Camp Kodiak McKellar
Ontario Canada
877-569-7595
Camp Lee Mar
Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania
215-658-1708
Meadowood Springs Speech & Hearing Camp
Pendleton, Oregon
541-276-2752
Other Resources for Summer Employment:
CoolWorks.com
CampJobs.com
Summerjobs.com
Petersons.com
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
Search for "Summer camps" for a list of camps serving the deaf and hard of hearing.
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