Finding a Summertime Job

Summer is here and many students are looking for part time jobs, and trust me I know my way around jobs, having held down quite a few myself. What's great about summer is that there are a plentiful amount of these jobs available and since school is out, for most of us, we can work around our employers schedules. Also summer tends to bring in more business for stores so retail chains especially tend to hire more in the summer. The following are a list of places I found most acceptant for new employees during the summer months.

Grocery Store: Most every grocery store will be at its peak period of hiring new employees during the summer months. Look to places like Winn-Dixi, Publix, Food Lion, And other grocery stores. Many times you'll be stuck with the mediocre jobs like cleaning floors, mopping, pushing carts and so on, but it's still a job that pays. Also a great perk to working at a grocery store is that many times employees get great discounts on merchandise, so next time you pack for the beach you can do your shopping at the place you work and save a few bucks. Pay at a grocery store is probably going to be minimum wage or a little above, but hey, at least it's a job.

Surf Shop or other beach oriented store: These places are great to work at especially if you are a beach enthusiast. Many times these places offer jobs during the summer because obviously this is when they get most of their business. Also if you're an avid surfer or beach bum and have previous knowledge about the area you're working then you'll be more likely to be hired on. Employers love people who can offer just a bit more customer service then the usual person, and knowing about surfing, the beach, beach wear etc. will make you a great candidate for the job.

Look to theme parks! Theme parks are obviously busier during the prime vacation months and so see if you can get a job working at one of them. I once worked part time at a Disney Park, and aside from the tough boss the perks were great. Normally you're work environment is fun and light, and you get a lot of interaction with customers, in this case guests. Aside form the fun atmosphere the pay tends to be a bit higher then minimum wage and the benefits are really good. One great thing about working at a theme park or attraction is that it offers great real world training and experience, especially in the workings of PR and other consumer producer relations.

Lawn Work: This is an old fashioned job type, but one that can pay very well, and there is always a market for. Grass grows no matter what's going on in the world, and many people are bothered with the chore of cutting it, edging it, and weed eating the lawn, so you step in as the lawn guy! This job can pay well for only a few hours of work, and in most cases you can be your own boss, unless you work for an existing lawn care service. Once you have a customer base, that can be built up in a few weeks time, you'll be set for the summer. Also this kind of job offers very flexible hours so you still have time to enjoy your own summer vacation.

Dog Walking: This is something that I do for a few people, and it's not exactly the most glamorous of jobs, but pays nicely. The key to this job is having not only a good relation with your customer, but also their dog. This is a job that should only be undertaken by someone who likes animals and that can stick to an early schedule. Many people that work during the day look to dog walkers to take care of their pets and give them exercise, and are willing to pay a pretty penny to have that done.

The above are just a few good summertime jobs that should be available in many places. The Surf Shop idea can be applied to any specialty store, I just happen to be near the west coast and live near the beach so it's kinda a perfect job for me. Just check around, you'll notice Help Wanted signs going up everywhere during the summer and should not have a problem finding a decent job, especially looking in the places listed above.