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Summer is often the best time for hundreds of teenagers to earn extra cash. This trend is on the increase year after year. In fact, the summer job market has become tighter than ever. The proportion of summer job seekers to job availability is 1:3. Find out what are the most sought after summer jobs for teenagers. Take a look at summer jobs for 13 year olds, 14 year olds and youth. Pick up tips on landing up a great job this summer!
Why summer jobs for teenagers?
For decades, teenagers and young adults worked cutting grass, flipping burgers or as ushers in a movie hall tearing tickets. These days, teens want summer jobs that have 'more substance' - summer jobs that offer work experience which will benefit them in future, or which will provide them with a way to network.
Teens and young adults are also willing to work as volunteers on unpaid terms if they are unable to find a summer jobs. School kids work on voluntary basis to add an experience to their college applications. Since college has become very competitive, volunteering work by the applicant helps to add a little extra bit of advantage to their college applications.
The summer jobs often help to teach the teenagers and youngsters' responsibilities, resourcefulness, reliability and self motivation. Working in a hospital with patients, teaching young children tap and ballet in a dance school, teaching in elementary schools, working as life guards in swimming pools and similar summer jobs can inculcate in youth certain qualities like concern and understanding, patience and perseverance, ability to help people, being attentive in work and ability to manage time qualitatively.
Summer job market
A recent report on Labor Market Studies reports that 'teens have been squeezed out of the labor market'. The number of teens with jobs for summer reached historically high levels in 2000 AD whereas it nosedived in 2001 following terrorist attacks in the US. Last year only 36 percent of teenagers worked and this year also the statistics remains unchanged. According to a teen work force study, 1.6 millions teens have been dropped off without work.
Summer jobs for youth
- Employers are interested in hiring candidates who perform well at school. It is good to get the best possible grades in the school. Teens with rigorous academic programs are preferred.
- Employers prefer teens that have the ability to get along with others. It is good to participate in school-sponsored activities like clubs and sports.
- Participating in community activities is seen as an ability to serve others by prospective employers.
- Be aggressive. A job does not fall on one's lap. The employers have to be sought. They will not seek the candidate.
- It is good to ask teachers, counselors, parents and friends about places that are hiring teens. Calling and going to the location to apply will help.
- Employers are impressed when teens take the effort and initiative to ask for a job. They believe that it is self-motivation that counts if a teen really wants a job.
Learning to fill an application, preparing for spot interviews, practicing to talk about oneself beforehand, learning something about the company where work is available, follow up with determination are some of the primary requisites for a good summer job.
Summer jobs for teens aged 13 to 16
Teens aged between 13 to 16 years of age have a tough time getting summer jobs. These kids normally join fast food joints or retail stores. Increasing competition from older teens and immigrant workers make job hunting for teens tough. Fast food joints and retail stores are also more interested in employing retirees looking for part-time work and new college graduates unable to find career-track jobs. The growing need is to work harder than before for positions that pay lesser than before.
Popular summer jobs
- Kids try to find summer jobs as party planners or garage organizers or work at internet auction sales for a cut of the profits.
- Baby sitting is a lucrative summer job for those particularly below 16 years of age, who may find getting a corporate job more difficult. Teens charge $ 7 to $ 10 per hour for kiddies' care, which is very well above the minimum wage.
- Marketing companies are a good source of summer work for teens. For instance, a Bubble Yum gum company in the US paid $10 to $ 12 per hour for teen workers for their campaign in 2005.
- High school kids earn well above the minimum wages working as lifeguards. This would ideally suit strong swimmers. Candidates have to be atleast 16 years of age and must pass an initial exam that includes vision and swim tests.
- Jobs in city parks and recreation centers pay as high as $ 10.71 per hour for first year recruits.
- Summer resorts like beaches and country clubs, stores and restaurants are eager to appoint teens during peak months and are willing to pay more than recruit workers.
- Day and overnight camps are a steady source of summer jobs for teens. This also helps in a good resume building.
How to look for a summer job?
Summer jobs basically depend upon how old the teenager or kid is and how little or more they are willing to get paid. For instance, getting work in the vocational trade as plumber or carpenter may earn only the minimum wage for the teenager worker. If the kid is in college, there are campus offers and summer job fairs where a lot of jobs are offered by summer camps or ranches that are spread all over the US. Sometimes, the camps offer training for kids who do not have experience. Most of these camp jobs are on the Rocky Mountains. For a whole summer worth of hard work, a kid is likely to be paid about US $ 1000. Camps do not hire any kid under the age of 16 years.
Where to look for Summer Jobs?
- City, country and State Government run exclusive programs for Youth.
- Tourist and vacation spots like hotels and resorts, parks and recreational areas, amusement, entertainment and theme parks. Museums, zoos, and aquariums
- National Park services which offer even unglamorous positions as hotel maids, park maintenance, tree planters and restaurant workers.
- Airports
- Child and elder care providers
- In hospitals and health care facilities
- In hotels, restaurants, fast food joints, ice cream parlors, juice bars.
- Clothing and accessory stores
There are a number of career and recruitment websites for a teenager above the age of 14 years looking for full-time or part-time summer job. The basic membership is free of charge and it allows the teens to search summer jobs and apply online, be considered for openings, get latest news information and offer tips on how to land a job, earn money and/or get work experience.
Teenage jobs and Labor laws
The US department of Labor is the sole agency that monitors youth labor and enforces youth labor laws. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets wage, hours worked and safety requirements for minors (individuals under age 18 years) working in jobs covered by the statute. However, within the limits of these laws, many youths are employed in summer / seasonal jobs or year round jobs.
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