Tips for Teens: Getting Your First Summer Job

It seems that teens, today, have a harder time finding a job then the days of my own youth; and finding a summer job is incredibly hard these days. One main reason this is the case is because, more often than not, teens are now competing for jobs with adults who can fill those positions on a more permanent basis, instead of temporarily for the summer.

In my own youth, once summer season came around, and you were at least 14 years of age, there were lots of jobs that teens could easily apply for and get; such as fast food places, local convenience stores, grocery stores, movie theaters, local public pools and parks, beach clubs, golf course, and more. Unfortunately today, these commonly youth held positions are being quickly grabbed by adults who need work and can fill those slots permanently.

So, this makes teen summer jobs scarce, but not out of the question. Teens have to be creative and not wait till last minute. The following is a list of tips and suggestions for teens that are looking to improve their responsibilities by taking on a summer job:

It is important to look for summer work way before the summer season approaches. Start your summer job quest in the months of March and April if you get out of school in May, and April and May if you get out of school in June.

Try to use your hobbies and personal likes as a way to build your experience base; making yourself more appealing to the possible employer you are seeking a job with.

Look in your local newspaper for jobs listed as temporary work.

Go to your guidance counselor and see if they know of any summer teen hire programs. Your school may already have a program like this in place, and if not, maybe you can suggest implementing one. You never know, maybe your school needs summer help for grounds and school maintenance projects.

Sometimes, your local supermarket will have a job board. You may be able to find some odd jobs that you can do.

For older teens, you can always apply to be a camp counselor. Day camps and sleep-a-way camps are a wonderful option for teen summer employment.

Check out your local home improvement/building companies. They are always looking for an extra hand to pound some nails, drill some wholes, and paint some walls.

Become a mother's helper for the summer, by passing out flyers in your local neighborhood. This is different from a babysitter, which is also another good summer job, but with a mother's helper you are accompanying the mother and assisting her with occupying the children and watching them if needed.

Start a yard and landscape operation in your neighborhood. You can get some of your friends in on it too. Make up flyers to advertise the specific yard tasks you will do (gardening, edging, trimming hedges, and mowing lawns), and your charging rate.

Create a maid service in your neighborhood. Like with the mother's helper and yard work jobs, you can go around your local neighborhood and build up clients that would like some light house work done at an affordable price.

If you are good at a specific subject in school or several different subjects in school, you can build a tutoring business during the summer months. You would be surprised how many parents would love their child to have that one on one extra help. Again, use your local neighborhood to build your clients from.
Of course, you can still apply at all the local convenience stores, movie theaters, pools and parks, grocery stores, etc...

All in all, if you are a teen looking for summer work, you must sit down and think about what you can do or are willing to do. Do not wait till last minute, or you will find yourself sitting out home all summer without the benefits of extra earnings you could be making had you prepared your employment options during the spring months. Be creative and use your personal hobbies, skills, and know-how to find the perfect summer job for you.