10 Best Summer Jobs for Teens
Here are 10 great summer job ideas!
- Babysitter – Helping your teen connect with parents in the neighborhood or family members with small children can give them a line on babysitting jobs, which tend to be flexible in scheduling and very part-time.
- Server – By working as a server, your child will gain a new appreciation for how hard the wait staff at their favorite restaurant works.
- Busser or Dishwasher – If you have a less than gregarious teen on your hands, bussing tables or entry-level back-of-the-house positions like dishwashing may be ideal.
- Camp Counselor – Outdoorsy teens may balk at the idea of spending the nicest months of the year cooped up in a restaurant or shopping mall, but those who have an affinity for dealing with younger kids may thrive as a camp counselor.
- Tutor – Tutoring is also a great way for your teen to stay sharp over summer break, while other kids are losing the skills they learned last semester.
- Movie Theater Attendant – During the summer months, Hollywood releases a slew of films that are projected to be box-office hits. As a result, your local movie theater will almost certainly be hiring additional staff members to deal with the influx.
- Lifeguard – Athletic teens who are loath to give up their poolside time over summer vacation may actually be eager to work as a lifeguard, especially if they’re particularly proud of their swimming skills. Just be sure that your teen is certified in CPR and other life-saving skills to give him a bit of an advantage over other applicants for this highly desirable position.
- Pet Sitter – Summer is the season of the family vacation, and most resort locations frown on an entourage that includes Rover or FiFi. An enterprising teen can capitalize on the situation, offering her services as a dog walker and pet sitter. Most teenagers will only be able to break into the business by working for people they already know, but word of mouth advertising can actually be quite popular. Before you know it, your high-schooler may have a booming little business on her hands!
- Retail Work – Though the winter holidays tend to be the busiest time for retail outlets, there’s also a relatively steady rate of turnover that creates openings year-round in some stores. Encouraging your teenage gamer to look for work in a video game store, a fashionista to seek employment in a clothing store or a bookworm to apply at your local book store will allow them to work within an area of interest while still earning money and gaining life experience.
- Internships – Many teenagers don’t have a clear idea of what they’d like to do professionally when they reach adulthood, but others are set on a career path from a young age. Internships are generally unpaid, so your teen may be earning experience, rather than money for her time spent. Still, internships look great on college applications and will provide her with some real-life work experience within a field that interests her.