Summer Lovin’ in Hospitality: Your Guide to Making the Most of your Working Summer
Dec 15, 2023
Ah, summer ☀️ – the sun, the beach, the... aprons? That's right, if you're planning to spend your summer hols working in the wild world of hospitality, then get keen for the best summer yet. From bussing tables to eating the leftover hot chips out the kitchen’s bowl, your summer gig will be full of fun, food and sun, all the while earning you some bread 💸.
Whether you're a fresh-faced newbie or an experienced hospo veteran, we've got all the inside scoop you need for your seasonal stint, here’s our hot tips on how to make the most of your summer holiday when working on your side hustle!
1. Make use of your time off 🏖️
When your shift starts at 4pm, it sometimes feels like you can’t do anything with your day until you start work, especially if you love a good sleep-in. If you think of it as a school day (if it’s not too traumatising), think of how much time there is during the day. So whether you need to recharge your social battery from smiling at customers all night, or chill with your mates at the beach to regain your faith in humanity, make sure to make the most of your time off. You can even head to the beach with your new hospo friends to let the sun re-energise you for your evening shifts.
2. Don’t go on a spending spree with all your hard-earned money 💰
Okay obviously you can spend some of it, after all you’ve been working hard. Treat yourself to a few “Merry Christmas to me” moments, but don’t lose out to the temptation of spending all your newfound earnings. You don’t want to be left saying “I can’t come sorry, I don’t get paid till tomorrow” when your friends are planning to watch the new Hunger Games. Budget wisely, allocate some funds for those unexpected beach-side ice cream runs, go to op shops to save, put a portion of each payslip straight to your savings and watch it grow.
3. Networking isn’t just about wifi 🤝
Especially when entering a new job, it’s basically a whole new set of friends and opportunities. Your colleagues aren’t just co-workers; they are potential besties and collaborators and your employers are potential future job references, and mentors. Build a network that extends beyond the workplace so that you can survive all the irritating customer interactions, and savour every drop of fun summer has to offer as well as gaining all their hospo wisdom and skills while you can.
4. And most importantly…✨have fun✨ 
The cheesiest line ever we know, but it holds the key to surviving hospitality. The incompetence of customers can really test your patience, and sometimes it’ll be your last straw when the EFTPOS machine carks it, but making fun of it and having a laugh (often at the expense of customers) with your friends throughout your shift is the way to get through it. Embrace the chaos and get some good stories to share with your mates.
Ready to get started and land that summer job? See below for venues hiring right now near you!
