My connection to Utah Valley University started long before I began recruiting college students for summer sales.

In high school, I went to UVU for different events hosted there. Later, while living in Provo, I went to UVU soccer games. Now I have a sister attending UVU, so the school is still part of my family's life.

I've loved watching what it has become. To me, UVU feels welcoming, full of life, and serious about giving people an education they can actually use.

You can enjoy college, meet people, go to a game, and still be working toward something meaningful. That combination appeals to me.

If you're a UVU student looking for summer jobs in Orem, I want you to think about one question before you accept the first opportunity that comes along:

What do you want this job to make possible for you?

Maybe it's paying for the next semester. Maybe it's having enough saved to travel. Maybe it's building confidence, starting a business someday, or giving yourself more choices after graduation.

Those are good reasons to take your summer job search seriously.

There's more than one way to get ahead

One thing I appreciate about UVU is that people arrive with different stories and different goals. The university's approach to education emphasizes flexibility, hands-on learning, and real-world experience.

Maybe you know exactly what career you want. Maybe you're figuring it out while working and taking classes. Maybe you care about doing well in school, but you also want to learn how to earn, build relationships, and create opportunities outside the classroom.

You don't need to have your entire future mapped out to start moving forward.

When I was in college, I didn't have everything figured out either. I knew I wanted more opportunity, and I was willing to work for it.

From $10 an hour to a $10,000 summer

I went to BYU and worked as a teller at Zions Bank making $10 an hour.

I was grateful for the job, but I didn't have much money. I was hungry to prove myself, and I kept wondering whether there was a job where I could earn more and see what I was capable of.

Then a friend told me about summer sales and the possibility of making $10,000 in a summer.

That got my attention immediately. At $10 an hour, earning $10,000 meant working 1,000 hours before taxes. The idea of pursuing that amount in one summer sounded like a huge opportunity.

I tried it. I worked through the challenges. And I ended up earning $10,000 my first summer.

But the paycheck wasn't the only thing I took home. I gained confidence, friendships, and sales experience that helped shape what I did next.

That experience is why I encourage students at UVU to give door-to-door sales a serious look.

What does freedom actually mean to you?

People talk about financial freedom like it's one big finish line. When you're in college, it can start with something much more practical.

Having a little breathing room when rent is due. Paying for school without scrambling every month. Saving for a trip. Having enough set aside that you can be more selective about your next job.

For me, the appeal of sales was the chance to develop a skill that could help me earn more over time.

Commission-based work connects your earnings to results. As you improve your communication, product knowledge, and consistency, you have the opportunity to improve those results.

That doesn't mean a summer job guarantees financial independence. Your compensation agreement, expenses, territory, training, and performance all matter. My first-summer earnings are my experience, not a promise of yours.

But if increasing your earning potential motivates you, it's worth understanding how this kind of work compares with your other options.

A summer job can teach you how to create opportunities

One of the biggest things door-to-door sales taught me was how to start a conversation when there wasn't already an introduction waiting for me.

You walk up to a door, introduce yourself, and learn how to connect with someone you've never met. Sometimes they're interested. Sometimes they aren't. You have to listen, respond respectfully, and keep learning.

That practice builds skills you can use in interviews, presentations, networking, and business.

You learn to explain an idea clearly. You learn to ask questions instead of doing all the talking. You learn that hearing "no" doesn't have to stop you from trying again.

You also learn to manage your effort. Nobody can have every conversation for you. Training matters, but you have to take what you're learning and put it into practice.

I liked being pushed that way. It helped me become more confident in what I could do.

Travel, friendships, and a different kind of summer

For some UVU students, the chance to spend a summer somewhere new is part of the appeal.

Summer sales can mean working in another state, learning a new area, and sharing the experience with a team. That can be exciting if you've spent most of your time around Orem and Provo and want to experience something different.

It is still a working summer. There are long days, rejection, and responsibilities. You're going there to learn and sell, so the location needs to fit the work as well as your interests.

For me, the friendships made the experience more meaningful. Learning alongside other people gave us something to work toward together.

If travel matters to you, ask where you'll work, what housing looks like, what you'll pay, and how much time you'll realistically have outside work.

How does it compare with other jobs in Orem?

Restaurant work, retail, campus positions, and internships can all be valuable. They can build skills, provide reliable income, and fit around classes. A strong internship related to your major may be the best move for your career.

The challenge comes when the options you're considering don't offer the hours, growth, or earning potential you want.

If that's where you are, compare them with summer sales on the things that matter to you:

  • Income: What could you realistically earn and keep after expenses?
  • Schedule: Do you need work around classes, or can you commit to a full summer?
  • Skills: What will you practice, and who will help you improve?
  • Location: Do you need to stay in Orem, or are you open to relocating?
  • People: Who will manage you, train you, and work alongside you?

Choose the opportunity that makes sense for your goals, then give it your full effort.

Could summer sales be right for you?

You don't have to arrive with sales experience or a perfect résumé.

What matters is whether you're willing to learn, accept feedback, work consistently, and treat people well. You should also be comfortable with the uncertainty of commission-based earnings and understand the financial commitment before joining.

If you're excited by the idea of building confidence, earning based on performance, and challenging yourself for a summer, let's talk.

If you need guaranteed income right away or must stay in Orem for school or family, local work may fit better. Being clear about that helps you make a better decision.

Explore a summer opportunity for UVU students

Between high school events, UVU soccer games, and having my sister at the school now, I've had plenty of reasons to appreciate Utah Valley University.

What I like most is the idea that you can arrive with your own story and work toward a future that means something to you.

That's what I wanted when I tried door-to-door sales. I wanted to earn more, prove something to myself, and give myself more options. My first summer helped me take a step in that direction.

If those goals sound familiar, visit our Summer Jobs for Orem and UVU Students page and apply to learn more.

We recruit students from Orem and UVU, but this summer opportunity will likely require temporary relocation to another state. We'll discuss the location, timing, compensation, training, and related expenses before you decide.

Tell me what you want your next summer to make possible. Let's see whether this opportunity can help you work toward it.