Teens Summer Job

Finding Teens Summer Jobs

There are many different teens summer job opportunities out there, but a little creativity may be required to find the perfect job for you. You might want to start by brainstorming jobs you'd like to have, or places you would like to work. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Lifeguard
• Camp counselor
• Store clerk at your favorite store
• Waiter, waitress or hostess at a cool restaurant
• Intern at your local newspaper or radio station
• Day care work
• Work at the library or a local museum
• Outdoor jobs like working at a zoo or in a national park
• Landscaping
• Construction
• Work on a farm

If you already have an idea of what you'd like to do when you're out of school, or what you'd like to major in in college, try to find a summer job that will help you explore that career.

Online Resources

Of course your local newspaper is a good source for teens summer job opportunities, and you can always call businesses directly where you are interested in working. But the Internet opens up a whole new world of job search possibilities. Here are just a few sites to check out:

• Cool Works for jobs at resorts and national parks
• SnagAJob
• GrooveJob
• Teens4Hire
• Student Jobs
• Got a Job

Unpaid Jobs

If your reason for wanting a teens summer job is not monetary, another good option for you might be an internship. Especially if you want to work in a particular field, there may be volunteer opportunities where there are not paid positions available.

Check with your local hospital, library, animal shelter, senior center, YMCA or anywhere else you might be interested in helping out. These volunteer positions might not be full-time, but they will give you something to do, allow you to help other people and leave you with a good bit of free time for hanging out with friends.

What's more, volunteering looks really good on college applications. Volunteering shows that you care about people other than yourself, that you're willing to work hard and that you spent your free time doing something a little more useful than working on your tan. A volunteer option is certainly something to consider if you don't need the money.

Teen Jobs and Safety

When considering a teens summer job, it is also important to think about safety. Many teens work in potentially dangerous jobs on farms, doing landscaping or working as a lifeguard. Even working in a restaurant can lead to injuries if you try to carry too much at once or get burned or cut.

The main thing to remember is that you certainly don't want to cause a permanent injury so early in life. Take all safety precautions seriously and don't try to do something you know you shouldn't. Being young is no protection against machinery accidents, falls, cuts, sprains or anything else.

For more information on safety issues related to your specific teens summer job, check out the Summer Job Safety website published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.