Summertime is here, and with it comes the rush of high school and college students ready to enjoy their break. For many of these teens and young adults, the summer isn't just a time to relax and soak up the rays, it's also a time to find summer jobs and make some money.
When I was a teenager, finding a summer job was easy. Not only was it a great way to earn the money I needed to enjoy other summer activities, it was also chance to learn new skills and meet new people. Unfortunately, the past few years haven't been kind to the summer job market, and many young adults haven't ever been able to find a summer job. This year, however, things are looking up and summer job openings are on the rise.
According to a recent survey, 63 percent of teens asked said that they planned to look for a job this summer. What's more, 93 percent of them felt confident that they would be able to find work. This summer, they planned to use several different methods to find a job, with 47 percent saying that they planned to network with their parent's connections, 33 percent using online job boards and 32 percent relying on “Now Hiring” signs in store windows, this group of young adults definitely have a plan.
There are many different jobs that are in demand during the summertime. Here are some of the best summer jobs for teens and college students:
Camp counselor or other education job – From working as a camp counselor at a stay-away camp to working with a local summer program, educational jobs are very popular with teens and college students. Many guidance offices have information about teen job programs that help place students into these types of positions.
Retail sales – When I think of summer jobs for teens, one of the first places that comes to mind is a retail store in a shopping mall. During the summer, many retail stores hire additional staff and they look for teens that fit their brand identity to fill those positions. For example, stores like Hot Topic want to hire alternative looking teens, while Abercrombie and Fitch typically hire more clean cut students.
Food service – During the summer, jobs in food service are very popular with teens. From flipping burgers at a fast food restaurant to working at a snack bar at an amusement park or local pool, these jobs offer flexible schedules and some can even lead to part-time work during the school year.
Entrepreneurship – For business students and enterprising young people, the summer is the perfect time to start their own business. Some teens cut grass for people in their communities, while others might offer dog walking services. Even when the job market is tight, teens will always find some way to earn extra money. These do-it-yourself types have the opportunity to learn first hand about how to market their skills, manage their time and how to be accountable for their job performance, which are skills that will serve them well through the years.
What was your first summer job? Do you think that teens will have a better chance of finding work this year? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Image Source: MorgueFile
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