Many will take on related assignments teaching summer school, working as camp and recreational counselors, or coaching a sport. Other common seasonal jobs include working in construction, retail and, in rural areas, farming.

A particularly hot area is travel and tourism. Since summer is the busiest time for travel, national parks, resorts, ranches and tour companies all need extra help. Teachers work as tour guides, instructors, even as performers for cruise lines. If you don't live near a major travel destination, opportunities can still be found at theme parks, recreational areas and swim, golf and tennis clubs.

If you're the entrepreneurial sort, think of how you might use your skills and interests to take advantage of the prime travel and leisure season. A New York-based drama teacher leads a tour of sites where famous movie and television scenes were filmed. An English teacher from the Chicago suburbs runs a seasonal business selling tennis gear and stringing racquets. And a special education teacher leads kayaking tours in the Poconos.

Others have financed their own vacations by becoming travel writers or travel agents. A junior college instructor/travel agent from Massachusetts says while she hasn't made a lot of money, she and her husband are able to take trips and have experiences they otherwise could not afford.

Another opportunity lies in child care. With school out, many dual-income households need help watching their children – and who better to provide it than a teacher? Of course there is the traditional nanny role, however two teachers from Connecticut found it more lucrative to provide a camp-like experience for groups of children.

Families need pet care, too. Just ask the math teacher from Wisconsin who helped pay for her masters degree grooming, feeding and exercising horses while their owners go on vacation.

Teachers extend their expertise into other money-making pursuits as well. One New Jersey-based chemistry teacher has more than doubled his salary by taking on projects for a pharmaceutical firm. A high-school gym teacher gives private swim lessons at the local lake. And two elementary school teachers, who had been making jewelry as a hobby, now sell their pieces at art fairs, craft shows and flea markets.

"From tutoring to bartending to real estate...you name the job and there are teachers doing it," says Leslie Getzinger, a spokeswoman for the AFT. Finding the right summer job is a matter of aligning your skills and priorities. Take inventory of what you like to do and what you're good at and determine how hard you're willing to work during your "time off." Contact local businesses and organizations that might have a need for your services. Use your network or join an online service like www.sologig.com, which helps market the talents of its members and match them with a wide variety of projects nationwide. Members also have access to a database of thousands of assignment postings and can contact the companies or agencies directly.

Whether your goal is to have an adventure, supplement your income, or make some serious money, there are plenty of opportunities. All it takes is some creativity, advanced planning and a positive (yet realistic) outlook to find the summer job that will work for you!

According to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey, hiring managers identified the top mistakes job candidates make. Read on about the worst qualities you can display in an interview and real-life examples.

1. Poor Communication Skills
A candidate who has bad grammar, talks too much, or does not listen is a red flag. Being too open during the interview is a killer, too. You should be candid, but don't spill your guts with all your personal problems. And think before you speak - one candidate at a drug treatment facility asked if they drug-tested and if there was advance notice.

2. Poor Performance or Preparation
Yes, there are job seekers who don't prepare or even know what job they're interviewing for. Physical ticks like lack of eye contact or extreme gestures and movement turned off employers. Other candidates simply flaked out - answering a cell phone, eating a sandwich, or jumping up out of the chair and falling down.

3. Negative Attitude Displayed
Hiring managers are turned off by unenthusiastic, bored or arrogant behavior. Using profanity, acting cocky, or putting down a previous boss will quickly turn off an interviewer. One 37 year-old candidate said the only reason he seeking a job was because his mother wanted him to.

4. Inappropriate Appearance
Improper dress and grooming can jeopardize an interview, too. Ladies, this is not a pick-up opportunity, don't dress like you're going clubbing. Guys, jeans and a t-shirt are not acceptable. Countless hiring managers cited instances of candidates who obviously did not bathe. Think that's bad? Said one employer, "One candidate did not wear shoes to the interview. How you can forget your shoes?" Oh, and please be sober.

5. Lying on Resume or During Interview
Do you have to be told that dishonesty is a no-no? "One guy mentioned his arrest after completing on an application that he had never been arrested," said one hiring manager. And just in case you weren't sure, stealing from a prospective employer is also frowned upon in an interview.

"We were in a hotel lobby, so I had a pretty steady flow of customers," says Paige. "And since our hours were limited, there were a total of four employees. The set-up was perfect."

So perfect, in fact, that Paige figured she'd stay at the store for a while, even though she knew she could make more money when a friend at a clothing retailer offered her a position as a store manager at a mall in Natick, Mass.

"I'm the type of person who finds comfort in a routine, so I didn't want to do anything to upset my daily life," she says.

But when Paige found out her store was closing to make place for a hotel cafe and bakery, she was forced to scramble for a new job.

"I didn't have anything ready - no resume, no suit for interviews," Paige says. "I started from ground zero."

Be prepared

Career adviser Micah Pratt says he hears scenarios like Paige's often.
People don't think they need to prepare themselves for whatever might be next in their lives," says Pratt, who advises information technology workers in Houston. "Jobs are temporary things these days. Companies have no loyalty to you, only to the bottom line."

That's why Pratt says he thinks employees should continually look for the perfect situation, even if they've recently been hired.

"Until you're working for a place that gives you exactly how much money you want - meaning you name the price - and showers you with perks and time off, you don't have the 'perfect job,'" says Pratt. "You may have a great job but there might be something out there that can offer you more."

Pratt doesn't advocate jeopardizing a current job by overtly looking for a new employer, but he does say workers should always be ready to look for a new job at a moment's notice.

"Be prepared to find work immediately," Pratt says. "That's the important part. Whether you're looking or not is unimportant. What matters is that you're always ready to look."

Basic guidelines

Once you decide to remain active in the job market, there are a few things to remember:

- Update your resume each time you take a class or seminar, are assigned to a new project, complete an exemplary task or are honored with a company award. It's easier to summarize accomplishments for a resume when they are still fresh in your mind.

- Proceed with caution when networking with clients and peers. You want to establish yourself as a talented, ambitious individual, not a glad-handing job seeker.

- Do not publicize the fact that you're looking for a job to your co-workers.

"You shouldn't assume everyone wants what's best for you," says Pratt. "Sometimes, people just want your job, and they'll use whatever you say to them to help their cause. You don't want to have to defend yourself in front of your boss because someone opened his mouth."

- Do not send off resumes in every direction. Pick and choose the jobs that really appeal to you. You may come across these jobs as frequently as once a day or as infrequently as once every two months. Too many resumes saturating the market could eventually lead unnecessary information back to your boss.

- Make your current job your main focus. Turning your back on your work to send out resumes and cultivate contacts may hasten your plan to look for a new job.

Tim Moran, corporate staffing director at Hallmark Cards Inc., was candid:

"There are a lot of crummy companies and nonresponsive people in HR and line management. Some are born that way, some are self-made, and some have been developed by the pressure of the economy."

Truer words never spoken. One has only to listen to job hunters tell their stories to know that many human resource departments and practitioners aren't doing the kinds of things that would cause them to be featured in "best practice" training manuals for the profession.

Hallmark may be a throwback to fast-fading era, Moran said, but the Kansas City-based company continues to try to respond to all job candidates about their status. The company - which has done more downsizing than hiring lately - nonethless maintains an updated "talent bank" of candidates it doesn't have a job for immediately but whom they might be able to hire some day.

While Moran championed the Hallmark way, his prime reason for speaking recently to a group of area career counselors was to tell them what he and other good corporate recruiters want their job-hunting clients to know. His wish list:

- Candidates should "know themselves." Candidates who don't know where their talents and interests lie, who can't explain their career paths, who can't effectively summarize their accomplishments will not get past the interviewer's door.

- Applicants should know exactly what they want to do. There are no brownie points for telling an interviewer, "I just heard this was a good place to work and will do whatever's open." Candidates should apply only for jobs that mesh with their skills or experience and should be able to explain what position they want and why.

Interviewees should have done basic research into the organization, being careful to get updated and accurate information. "Beware of the Internet. Don't trust everything you see there," Moran said. And don't try to trump the interviewer with arcane details about the company.

- Candidates should be aware that everyone at the hiring organization may be giving feedback about their behavior when they come for interviews. Hallmark has even checked with the parking lot attendant to see if candidates were polite. Finding personality "fits" with organizational cultures is vital, Moran said.

- Candidates must "create the click." Their resumes may show that they have the background to handle the job, but the personality and attitudes they convey to the interviewer will answer an equally important question: Is the candidate motivated to do the job?

- Unsuccessful candidates shouldn't burn bridges. They may be a close second choice and in line for the next opening. "Don't ask, `Why didn't I get the job?' but `What could I have done better?' " Moran recommended.

Finally, he recommended that job hunters keep in mind something that might at first sound illogical: "Each `no' gets you closer to `yes' - provided you don't give up."

In a decision that's not arrived at easily or quickly, they are deciding to turn their energies into going into business for themselves.

For many displaced workers, it's difficult to wean oneself from the "security" of a regular paycheck, which perhaps had health insurance benefits included in the compensation package. But, whether born of eagerness or desperation, entrepreneurism increasingly is the choice.

Individually, I've been speaking with many weary job hunters who are realizing that the jobs they had are not coming back and that they need to do something else.

Those were anecdotal impressions from a small slice of the population, so I was intrigued to see them substantiated last week in an economic outlook column in The Wall Street Journal. Writer Jon Hilsenrath reported on some statistics that chart the recent swivel to self employment:

- The Labor Department's monthly household survey indicated that in the last year, self-employment increased by 400,000 households.

- The Commerce Department reported last month that proprietors' income (excluding farmers) rose 8.6 percent from a year earlier.

- Economy.com, an economics research firm, noted that business incorporations in Delaware (the leading state for incorporations because of business-favorable laws) saw a 14 percent jump in limited-liability-company registration application fees for the year that ended June 30.

But, as Hilsenrath indicated, these statistics can be viewed with or without rose-colored glasses. On the positive side, the numbers suggest that business startups are helping set the economy back on track. On the downside, they underscore the jobless recovery.

Simply because skilled, experienced professionals give up job hunting after many fruitless months, it doesn't mean that income streams immediately begin flowing into their pockets. It also doesn't mean they plan to hang out their shingles for the long haul; they could return to the job market when it looks like organizations are hiring again.

The uptick in proprietors' income, reported for the sector, also could indicate that already-established proprietorships are doing better -- not that new kids on the entrepreneurial block are prospering.

And the increase also could indicate, as I've often noted before, that incomes are shifting from employee payrolls to project work, in which independent contractors perform work on a temporary, or as-needed, basis.

The best to be said of the recent statistics is that they give some numbers to stand on for long-term job hunters who are teetering on the edge of self-employment. Even then, the growing ranks of entrepreneurs can be interpreted positively or negatively.

Business cards. You know how it is - you can never find yours when you need it, and it's everywhere when you don't need it. Career consultants, though, advise being more scrupulous about carrying business cards and actually using them.

"You never know when you're going to meet someone who could become a customer, business associate or sphere of influence," says Jeffrey Mayer, president of SuceedingInBusiness.com and author of several career advice books.

Mayer tells story after story of people he has met who couldn't find their cards or who have had to look endlessly through packed purses, messy briefcases or bottomless pockets before finally producing one. And then, once they do find their own card, they'll probably lose yours.

It's time to change all that and start taking business cards more seriously, says Mayer, because it might just make a difference in your career.

Lloyd L. Feinstein, founder of Career Marketing Consultants in New Providence, N.J., also advises that you make the most of the cards.

"Of course you have to have the regular information, but you can also put an elevator pitch in and areas of expertise," he says. An elevator pitch, for the uninitiated, is a sentence you can say in 10 seconds or quicker that makes you sound interesting and memorable. For example, if you are a financial planner, you might say, "I help people sock money away for their old age."

Make your card memorable, says Jonathan E. Perelman, president of the Wharton Club of New Jersey for alumni of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Perelman says he gets tons of cards at various business functions, and they all become a blur after a while. He jots down notes for himself on the backs of cards so that he can remember the person and immediately enters them in a database when he gets back to the office.

But the cards he really remembers are the ones that are different.

"Once $5 fell out of a card," he says, adding that that card was a definite keeper. "It folded open, and in it, it said 'make money for you and your clients.'" That, along with the $5, prompted Perelman to follow up with a phone call to the man, an insurance salesman. He now does business with him.

More advice experts offer about business cards:

- Always keep an adequate supply of business cards in your briefcase, wallet or purse.

- Make sure to replenish your supply after events.

- Create a system for giving and taking the cards, always keeping them in the same part of your purse or briefcase or pocket. For example, you could collect cards in your right pocket or briefcase divider, and give out ones from your left pocket or briefcase divider.

- When you take a card, either make a mental note of what the person looks like and what they said, or jot down notes on the back of the card

- Don't forget to follow up. If you don't ever contact them, you might miss out on opportunities.

One of the primary ways to use a personal connection - or "hook" - is in the cover letter that will accompany your resume. According to experts, a well-written cover letter that clearly explains your hook to the prospective employer can reap rewards ranging from winning an interview to receiving a job offer. The key is finding your hook and using it in your contact with the prospective employer.

As you begin your research on a prospective employer, keep an eye out for any clues that could lead to a personal connection with someone in the company. Here are several ways to locate common hooks:

If the company's Internet site contains executive biographies, read them carefully for any possible connections. Where did they go to school? Do you share the same alma mater? Where did they work earlier in their careers? Do any of their previous employers match any in your work history - or even your parent's? Did you live or grow up in the same town? If so, weave this information into your cover letter and send it to the executive with whom you found a connection. Send a second letter to the human resources contact.

Perhaps you've unknowingly volunteered side by side with someone from the company you're targeting. Check out information about any foundations the company may have or corporate sponsored charity. Call the head of community relations to see if you can make a connection. He or she may be willing to get your resume to the right person.

Another way to create a connection is through a company's customers or suppliers. Check out trade publications and press release archives to find out who the company's major suppliers and clients are. You may find a connection. Perhaps you've worked for one of them as an employee or intern, done freelance work for one of their divisions or know someone who works for one of their clients. Use this information in your cover letter or call your connection directly and ask for their assistance. You also can use this same process to identify connections between your previous employers and those you are targeting. One person who applied to Loyola University in Chicago cited her work experience in Catholic higher education as well as her knowledge of the Jesuit mission from attending Loyola New Orleans.

Have you attended seminars or industry events that featured the CEO or another top-level executive of a company that you are targeting for employment? Include a sentence or two about something he or she said during the speech in your cover letter. You might say, "I heard you speak at the NIRI luncheon last week and was impressed by your insight on how new rules will impact future reporting. I came across this same situation in my current position as..." Send your letter directly to the executive who spoke. Send another copy to the human resources contact.

Are you a member of the same professional organization as the hiring manager? Use this information as your hook to demonstrate that you know the business and already have a connection to the company. Include a statement about the benefits of the organization in your contact letter. For example, "I see that you too are a member of the Public Relations Society of America. Over the years I have found great value in networking with its members."
Have you worked for a competitor of the prospective employer? More than likely you have great industry contacts and understand the challenges in the industry. This is a distinct advantage that can spell success for you.

You may have a hobby or interest that can create a personal connection between you and the company. A graphic designer who weaves and knits as a hobby interviewed for a position at a major catalog retailer that specializes in women's fashions. She earned an interview by highlighting her knowledge of fibers and clothing construction and connected that to some of the retailer's products.

Can you uncover a connection with anyone in the company through your network? If so, use it. Candidates who come personally recommended by someone whom the recruiter knows and trusts have a distinct advantage over all others.

Employer hot buttons:

1. Ability to do the Job. Sounds simple enough, but you would be amazed how many people apply for jobs for which they are not qualified. Before the decision makers dig deep into a candidate's background, or invite him or her in for an interview, they must first confirm this very basic criteria. Establish your ability through your resume or resume portfolio by placing your emphasis on accomplishments, results performance and insights into emerging trends, opportunities and challenges.

2. Initiative. Unless you are entry level, most decision makers are looking for someone who can "hit the ground running." They do not want a long learning curve that requires costly training and where the new hire cannot produce quick results. Today's decision makers have very little patience. Demonstrate how you quickly identified a problem or need project, initiated an action plan, and produced bottom-line results.

3. Job Growth. Decision makers look for people who go beyond their defined "job description." Show that you are adaptive and willing to take on additional responsibility and that you will go the extra mile to achieve success. You don't want to be perceived as someone who is stuck in the comfort zone and always content with the status quo.

4. Self-Confidence. Decision makers want to know that they can totally put their trust in you to perform the job and produce the desired results. They develop this trust by seeing your confidence. Confidence can be displayed in numerous ways. Here are just a few of the things that decision makers look for: A) Speak with authority. Use phrases like "I can," "I will," and "I know." Avoid phases like "I think," "In my opinion," and "I feel that." B) Demonstrate a commanding presence by your appearance, posture, eye contact, and body language. C) Show your track record of ongoing success. Decision makers will not have confidence in you if they can only see a few accomplishments scattered over several years.

5. Leadership. Leadership is not reserved for senior executives or managers. For example, a janitor can show leadership by finding a better way to do his/her job, by setting a great example for his/her peers, or by finding ways to cut costs through more effective cleaning equipment or a new supplier for less expensive cleaning materials. Leadership is a rare commodity. Show decision makers that you have the courage to take a leadership role, regardless of your level or function.

6. Compatibility. Much to the regret of some people, decision makers look for a certain amount of conformity. This does not mean you must be the quintessential "Dilbert." Rather, organizations seek people whose personality style and behavior match the requirements of the job and the corporate culture. For example, we all know about the employee who is never happy with anything, is a continual whiner, and always finds fault with everyone else. During your interviews, avoid criticizing your former employer or placing blame on others for why things didn't get done. Always demonstrate your positive mental attitude (PMA).

7. Attitude. OK, we wrapped up number six by mentioning your PMA. Let's build on that. If you want to be the standard by which all others are measured, then walk in the door with a high energy level, tons of enthusiasm, a zest for living, and the determination to be the very best at whatever you do. Enthusiasm is infectious. Others feed on it. It is motivating and drives others to higher levels of productivity and success. Show your enthusiasm every chance you get and you dramatically increase your chances of being hired.

8. Social Skills/Interests/Involvement. In today's business world, it seems that professional courtesy and conduct are from another era. You can never say please and thank you enough. Give credit and praise to others. During your interview talk about the team's performance and the contribution that everyone else brought to your projects or your job. Show your interest in what others were working on and how you were willing to help. Show your involvement in organization activities—both social and professional.

9. Integrity. Over the past few years we have witnessed the tragic abuse of authority and total lack of integrity by many of our nation's top senior level executives. Many have gone to jail and others will probably soon follow. Needless to say, this is a powerful message to everyone. Demonstrate your uncompromising integrity, professional ethics and personal morals. If a decision maker wants you to "wink" at laws or professional conduct, you don't want to work for that company.

10. Communication Skills. We can't ever communicate too much. I admit that companies often have too many meetings, but I don't equate those meetings to communication. A good communicator possesses outstanding written and oral skills and knows how to use them effectively. Demonstrate to the decision maker how you continually use communication skills to achieve your goals. There is a lot of information here to absorb and it is difficult to hit all of these hot buttons through your resume and interviews. But by being aware of these hot buttons you can consciously try to touch on as many as possible. Instead of focusing on what you want, focus on what the employer wants and you will land that next job.

Here's what's true about job search duration. To find a job, it takes slightly less than a month for every $10,000 you make. In a down economy, add a month or two. If you're employed, add four to six months on top of that. Why? During the day you just don't have the time. At night you don't have the energy. And that's assuming you know what you want to do next AND that your job didn't go to Bombay
If you are employed, and you are sure you want to move on, here are some points to ponder:
1. Make a realistic assessment of how long this will take you. Nine to 12 months is generally right.

2. Talk to yourself. Can you hang on that long, or should you just take a deep breath and leap?

3. Talk to your spouse or partner and weigh the pros and cons. What does a job change mean to the family? Will you get the same money? Will your spouse need to get another job? Can you stay in the same city? Are you sure your partner would move to another city if you got a job offer out of town?

4. Plan your strategy, and that often means to hire a career coach. The job world has changed so much, we aren't often sure how to move, where to look, or how to talk about what we've done. You'll save yourself time if an expert is helping you.

5. Look at your days/weeks and determine what you can carve out for the job search. You have to do research, networking, resume writing, and interviews. Can you get up an hour earlier a couple of days a week? Can you get to the library at lunch to research companies? Can you go to a conference room with your laptop and surf the job net? Can you have early morning coffees throughout the week to network with friends or people who can help you develop leads?

6. Get an accountability buddy. One man in the Northeast who wanted to return to his Midwestern roots, spent a year fretting over the above points/issues, and going nowhere. His most trusted ally was his sister, so they decided to formalize the arrangement, following the procedures typical of job clubs. The deal was he had to call her on Sunday evenings to report his progress and detail goals for the upcoming week. She was to be supportive as well as challenging. He found a new job in about three months. She kept him on the mark.

7. Don't be afraid of networking. People hate to do it; it's still one of the primary ways to find a job. For over two-thirds of us, the next job is gotten through networking…going to coffees, saying what you're looking for, asking for leads. Ya gotta be out there.

8. Keep the search confidential. Don't tell your boss till you have the next job. You'll have a problem in certain professions, which are small, tight and highly networked. Gossip fairly zings along those communication lines. If the boss will find out in about five seconds, 'fess up. Otherwise, play your cards close to your chest. Have NOTHING come to the office, tell potential employers not to contact your present one, take vacation or sick days to do interviews. People at work will find out if you're careless. Trust no one.

a little more than mere teaching