DS16 is looking for his first summer job. Would love to hear how yours got theirs. Do kids still just go around submitting applications at every place they can think of? or is there a better way now?
How did your teen get her/his first summer job?
- Thread starter notsyrup
- Start date
My DD16 is a lifeguard so she just applied to our pool. They are really good at hiring members children. Does he have any special skills that would narrow his search for what he wants to do? Also think of businesses that would need a lot of summer help, ie, ice cream shops, park districts, YMCA camps, etc. I would recommend applying early and to a lot of places.College kids come home in May and grab a lot of openings.
You should also check with his HS to see if they can offer any suggestions.
You should also check with his HS to see if they can offer any suggestions.
Eldest son signed up for detasseling thru the school...then he got on the waiting list @ our little grocery store...middle son detasseled...when he turned 16 he went to every place @ the I-80 truckstop...found a job @ Truck-O-Mat washing semis...quit that when a grocery job opened up...youngest son started helping in the kitchen @ the local bar & went on to the grocery when it had an opening...DSD babysat & nannied in the summer...helped out @ a local restaurant some during the school year...
All our kids worked @ least part-time year around...not many just plain summer jobs around here other than lifeguarding or park work...besides, they needed the money for car expenses...
All our kids worked @ least part-time year around...not many just plain summer jobs around here other than lifeguarding or park work...besides, they needed the money for car expenses...
My teenagers have had a HUGE problem getting a job before they turned 17. It's because they can't work later than 8 at night during the school year.
There are only so many lifeguard jobs.
If your town/YMCA/Park District has a before & afterschool babysitting program, they hire teenagers in the summer who have taken the babysitting class.
Also a good summer job for kids as young as 12 is referree-ing for soccer. The class to be an assistant ref/linesman is $75 and they go through April. http://www.illinoissoccerrefereecommittee.org/site/epage/83872_849.htm They get paid $15-20 per game, and they self-schedule online for when they are available. They don't need much more than a basic understanding of soccer to ref the line (and if they know nothing, they will learn in class).
High school age kids can also train to be a center referee once they have experience. Pays better, etc.
There are only so many lifeguard jobs.
If your town/YMCA/Park District has a before & afterschool babysitting program, they hire teenagers in the summer who have taken the babysitting class.
Also a good summer job for kids as young as 12 is referree-ing for soccer. The class to be an assistant ref/linesman is $75 and they go through April. http://www.illinoissoccerrefereecommittee.org/site/epage/83872_849.htm They get paid $15-20 per game, and they self-schedule online for when they are available. They don't need much more than a basic understanding of soccer to ref the line (and if they know nothing, they will learn in class).
High school age kids can also train to be a center referee once they have experience. Pays better, etc.
Caddys. If they don't mind getting up early, being a caddy pays good money. Usually the country club has meetings in early March
My DS had a very hard time getting a job. He put in applications but it seems it really matters to know someone nowdays.
He has 2 friends who have worked at the local movie theater for a while and put in a good word for him. It is a great job...
He has 2 friends who have worked at the local movie theater for a while and put in a good word for him. It is a great job...
I would do it now before college kids come home at spring break--or an extended break. That is when they take all the jobs for the summer. I would suggest park district or the local pool--they seem to hire lots of high school kids
Reffing soccer is what my kids did--they didn't pay to take a class--they just did it through the park district--and the park district had a one hour class. The pay wasn't as good--but still not bad--hard thing was it was only on Saturday mornings--maybe 3 shifts---so if you do as Kathy suggested--you open up to more opportunities. I know one manager told my dd to go get licensed then she could ref tournaments and that pay is suppose to be excellent.
Reffing soccer is what my kids did--they didn't pay to take a class--they just did it through the park district--and the park district had a one hour class. The pay wasn't as good--but still not bad--hard thing was it was only on Saturday mornings--maybe 3 shifts---so if you do as Kathy suggested--you open up to more opportunities. I know one manager told my dd to go get licensed then she could ref tournaments and that pay is suppose to be excellent.
If you have a plethora of CC's to choose from, and your DS gets good grades, consider choosing a club that supports the Chick Evans scholarship. If he's an exceptional kid, and hits it off with members who can vouch for him, he should have a decent shot at a fantastic scholarship. http://www.wgaesf.org/site/c.dwJTKiO0JgI8G/b.6021361/k.8BED/WGAESF_Home.htm
My DD19's first job was at 15. She LOVES a local Japanese restaurant in town & was in having dinner with her dad one night. They were hiring, she said "How about me?" and they went for it. At 15 she was waitressing, bussing & learning how to make sushi. I'm sure it wasn't legal, but it worked for her. She's worked at a couple restaurants & most recently Ace Hardware as a cashier. I think you have to be 18 at Ace, though. Around here, smallllllllll businesses & non-chain/franchise restaurants hire the most young teenagers.
Your local baseball league might use teenagers for umpires, too. I had about 75 teenage boys & girls working for me last summer. Hoping it's less this year. That's a lot of schedules to manage.
You can work at the age of 15 with a work permit.
I was a cashier at a pool when I was 15.
My kids jr coached for their club swim team and also did swim lessons through the high school.
They got their lifeguarding, first aid and CPR cards through the HS too.
They got their lifeguarding, first aid and CPR cards through the HS too.
Forgot, my kids also cut my neighbors lawn for cash.
Does my MILs too.
My younger son was floating in cash last summer between swim lessons, coaching and the weekly cutting my neighbors grass. He wants it done rain or shine, whether it grows or not. $40 per week
Does my MILs too.
My younger son was floating in cash last summer between swim lessons, coaching and the weekly cutting my neighbors grass. He wants it done rain or shine, whether it grows or not. $40 per week
Not sure where you live, but my first job was at Brookfield Zoo. Perfect for school, FT in the summer, Weekends during school, a few more hours during Christmas break (Holiday Magic). The Zoo's busy time perfectly coordinates with school schedules. And the zoo is a TOTALLY different place before it opens to the public...the animals act very differently, much, much more active and then 10 minutes before they open they all go to their normal hiding places...it was really kinda funny.
This won't be helpful, but it puts me in mind of the story.
My first job was at an ice cream parlor. My sisters had both worked there when they were younger and had enjoyed it, so I got all spiffed up and went in and asked if they had any openings and was promptly told no, to which I responded: "that's too bad, my sisters really liked working here." They asked me who my sisters were and when I told them, they said I could start the next day. They didn't even know my name yet...:lol:
It was a great job...
My first job was at an ice cream parlor. My sisters had both worked there when they were younger and had enjoyed it, so I got all spiffed up and went in and asked if they had any openings and was promptly told no, to which I responded: "that's too bad, my sisters really liked working here." They asked me who my sisters were and when I told them, they said I could start the next day. They didn't even know my name yet...:lol:
It was a great job...
- Messages
- 94
- Highlights
- 0
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 102
- Location
- Long Grove
- Peak Coin
- 0.000000¢
- DB Transfer
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If you have a plethora of CC's to choose from, and your DS gets good grades, consider choosing a club that supports the Chick Evans scholarship. If he's an exceptional kid, and hits it off with members who can vouch for him, he should have a decent shot at a fantastic scholarship. http://www.wgaesf.org/site/c.dwJTKiO0JgI8G/b.6021361/k.8BED/WGAESF_Home.htm
My DD19's first job was at 15. She LOVES a local Japanese restaurant in town & was in having dinner with her dad one night. They were hiring, she said "How about me?" and they went for it. At 15 she was waitressing, bussing & learning how to make sushi. I'm sure it wasn't legal, but it worked for her. She's worked at a couple restaurants & most recently Ace Hardware as a cashier. I think you have to be 18 at Ace, though. Around here, smallllllllll businesses & non-chain/franchise restaurants hire the most young teenagers.
Your local baseball league might use teenagers for umpires, too. I had about 75 teenage boys & girls working for me last summer. Hoping it's less this year. That's a lot of schedules to manage.
One of my first jobs was coat check at Kampai in Mt prospect. I learned how to sing happy birthday n Japanese! I worked there at night when I was 16 after I got off franks Nursery and Crafts! Unlike kids today, I needed money if I wanted to do things or buy stuff! We weren't spoiled like kids are nowadays!
- Messages
- 94
- Highlights
- 0
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 102
- Location
- Long Grove
- Peak Coin
- 0.000000¢
- DB Transfer
- 0.000000¢
This is a perfect place for my dd19! She has NEVER had. A job!
My now 17 year old had a "job" at a chinese restaurant that her girlfriend got her. Paid cash to answer phones and ring up and only worked maybe 4-6 hours a week and you got paid after working 6 days! But it gives them a taste of how people are and that not everyone is going to be nice to them but that they have to hold their tongue. She now works at the library and gets an actual check. My older dtr got her job thru a man my DH coached with years ago who is a UPS driver. We asked him to keep an ear out for a job somewhere on his delivery run. It doesn't hurt to tell people you know that he is looking as maybe someone will see something.If you have a plethora of CC's to choose from, and your DS gets good grades, consider choosing a club that supports the Chick Evans scholarship. If he's an exceptional kid, and hits it off with members who can vouch for him, he should have a decent shot at a fantastic scholarship. http://www.wgaesf.org/site/c.dwJTKiO0JgI8G/b.6021361/k.8BED/WGAESF_Home.htm
My DD19's first job was at 15. She LOVES a local Japanese restaurant in town & was in having dinner with her dad one night. They were hiring, she said "How about me?" and they went for it. At 15 she was waitressing, bussing & learning how to make sushi. I'm sure it wasn't legal, but it worked for her. She's worked at a couple restaurants & most recently Ace Hardware as a cashier. I think you have to be 18 at Ace, though. Around here, smallllllllll businesses & non-chain/franchise restaurants hire the most young teenagers.
Your local baseball league might use teenagers for umpires, too. I had about 75 teenage boys & girls working for me last summer. Hoping it's less this year. That's a lot of schedules to manage.
