Summer jobs for teens

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Think of summer jobs for teens and flipping burgers immediately springs to mind, but in this day and age of the Internet and the MP3 there are other options out there for the savvy minded teen.

Here are some great summer jobs for teens you may not have thought of:

Travel where the jobs take you

Want to work at a historic landmark or learn how to read a wildlife map? Or maybe dress up like a pirate or other character and lead people onto their vacation adventure?

If so, maybe a job off the beaten path is for you. Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, Six Flag’s Amusement Parks, and many of the other great vacation destinations throughout the nation offer seasonal jobs, perfect for the older teen seeking adventure. If this sounds like your idea of the perfect summer job here are some tips before you apply:

Recruitment programs are in place for most of these locations, and the Internet is a great place to start your research.
Start your search for employment in these coveted jobs early as many teens return to work at these locations summer after summer well into college. But if you’re starting late, don’t give up. These jobs also have high turnover, so positions often become available throughout the season.
Internship programs are often available if you are looking to gain experience in a particular field or course of study, some even offer college credit.
Most of these locations have a reduced cost lodging and meal plan in place for their summer staff. Usually the cost can be deducted from the staffer’s paycheck.
Keep in mind many of these places require you to be at least 18 years old and have some applicable work experience.

Strike Out on Your Own

Have you ever had a great idea of how to improve a business? Would you love to use your special talent as a way to make your summer cash? If you have ever thought of becoming an entrepreneur summer is a great time to start your own business. You could try:

House cleaning

Errands

Dog Walking

Pet Sitting

Some advantages of going it on your own are; the ability to use your special skills and knowledge, to make your summer cash, doing something you enjoy, and being independent.

To succeed in your own business you will need to make sure your idea will be profitable. One way to do this is to start early in the year working on a business plan.

Once you determine your idea is a good one you will want to see about funding for any supplies you will need to get started. You might try asking your parent’s for help with this, if they see you have taken the time to create a business plan they might be willing to lend you the money themselves or work together with you to find other resources to make your venture possible.

~Got Talent

Are you an artist, designer, or computer whiz? Why not spend your summer cultivating your talent while earning some extra money.

Some ideas to be successful at turning your talent into cash:

Rent a booth at the local craft fair, art show, or flea market to show off your skills and make some sales.

Create professional looking business cards or flyers for distributing to interested parties. You can also place these on local bulletin boards, just be sure to check with the business for approval.

Brainstorm innovative ways to find new clients. Maybe offer a discount for referrals or take out a small ad in the local newspaper or weekly ad roundup.

Have a friend with a similar talent? Consider combining your efforts by splitting the expenses.

Faces or New Places

If you are hard working, love the outdoors, like to meet new people and are up for adventure many tourist attractions, golf clubs, amusement parks and summer camps need extra help in the summer as it is their busiest time of the year.

The types of jobs you might find here include:

Landscaping
Camp counselor
Ticket taker
Food service
Life guard
Housekeeping
Retail sales

To find a position at one of these locations, start by looking in your own hometown at the various vacation destinations. The local amusement park or mini golf course may need extra help at this time of year to serve the added influx of visitors to the area.

First impressions are always important so make sure to dress professionally for any interview! A nice suite is always a safe choice.

Check with your local recreation commission to see if they have any openings in the parks for summer workers to help with landscaping, mowing, park tours, pool safety, field trips, summer camp activities, or operating an information or reservation desk.

So now you see, summer jobs for teens can be a great way to earn some money, make new friends, expand your horizons and even start to work on your future career.

Got Talent