Summer Jobs for High Schoolers: Conquer the Hunt

March 27, 2017
Posted by: michael@mjprep.com
Category: High School

The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer, and the school year is rapidly winding down. Spring has fully sprung, and it’s the season for high schoolers everywhere to look for summer jobs. It can be difficult to know where to start, so we’ve done some of the work for you by putting together a list of ideas and resources for landing one or more perfect summer jobs.

Ideas for Summer Jobs

1) Care for People, Places, Plants, and Pets

Consider the following possible jobs: nanny, babysitter, mother’s helper, house sitter, plant sitter, dog sitter, dog walker, or elderly companion. If any of these opportunities appeal to you, Care.com is a good place to begin. You’ll create a profile and pay a small fee, and they’ll run a full background check to make sure potential employers can see that you have a clean record. Once approved, write and design your profile. This is no place to be humble:

If you have reliable transportation, mention it! This can often make you stand out from the competition.
If you have valuable experience caring for younger siblings or pets, talk about it!
No experience, but a stellar GPA? Brag about it! Many times, parents will pay a nanny/sitter more if they can also act as a tutor or homework helper.
You can set your own rates, but be careful not to price yourself out of a potential job.
Post a picture of yourself that would make an employer say, “Yes, I would trust this person with my house key/child/dog/etc.”
CPR and First Aid certification will make you stand out. The American Red Cross offers both face-to-face and online certification courses for around $25.

2) Lifeguard

If you worry that getting a summer job will cut into your pool time, why not consider becoming a lifeguard? There are TONS of opportunities available if you can meet the following standards:

At least 15-16 years of age.
Can swim 300 yards continuously.
Must tread water for two minutes using only the legs.
Complete a timed challenge.

Almost all cities require lifeguards to pass the American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Training before being hired. Most lifeguard jobs are listed on city websites. Search for jobs close to home, or submit applications directly:

3) Landscaper

Yard work is a booming business in North Texas. Homeowners with large lots will often pay someone else for maintenance because, let’s face it, mowing a lawn in 100 degree weather is no cake walk. If you have access to a lawnmower and some basic lawn care tools, you could already be well on your way to owning your own business. Joining Nextdoor and posting about your service is a great way to advertise in nearby neighborhoods. A lot of people prefer hiring local high school students to maintain their lawns as opposed to big corporations, and word of mouth from one satisfied customer can lead to several more. The incredible tan you’ll get from an outdoor summer job is just an added bonus!

4) Grocery

If you’re a big fan of air conditioning and can’t see yourself working outside in the summer heat, a grocery store could be the perfect place to spend your summer. Jobs such as cashier and stocker pay minimum wage and up, depending on company policies, your age, and experience level.
Aldi, a chain of grocery stores, holds monthly hiring fairs and starts all cashiers at $12 per hour. Find an upcoming job fair near you.

Most local grocery stores, including Tom Thumb, Albertsons, and Market Street, are all owned by Safeway.
Creating an employment profile with Safeway allows you to send applications to multiple stores, saving you time and increasing your chances of scoring an interview!

5) Retail

If you like the sound of the words “air conditioning” but a grocery store isn’t for you, retail could be the answer. Start your search at groovejob.com, a free search engine designed specifically for students to find part-time and seasonal work with employers like AT&T, Target, and The Home Depot. Working for a store where you tend to spend a lot of money comes with incentives: most retailers offer their employees a significant discount (anywhere from 10-50%) on products and services. You can expect to make anywhere from minimum wage up to around $12 per hour, depending on your job experience.

6) Tutor/Teacher

Maybe you’re a math whiz. Maybe you’re a pro at your instrument. If you have a special skill or talent, use it to your advantage! Hang up flyers in neighborhoods near elementary schools or middle schools. Nextdoor and Facebook are perfect online tools for spreading the word about your service in the local community. Once you have one client, offer them a discount on future services for anyone they refer in order to encourage them to send their friends your way. The best part of this job is that you can set your own rates and schedule. You just have to be proactive about finding the work!

7) Food Service

If you’re a people person with a good attitude and a lot of patience, working in food service could be a great fit. The best way to land a fast food job as a cashier or fry cook is to go to a location near you, fill out an application, and hand-deliver it to the manager. Dress to impress, because the manager could offer you an interview on the spot. Expect to be offered anything from minimum wage to around $10 per hour.

If a sit-down restaurant is more your style, try to pop in during a slow time, like mid-afternoon when the manager will have more time to speak with you about job openings. Many waitstaff positions do require experience, but host/hostess and line cook jobs can help you get your foot in the door and usually start around $8 per hour.

8) Golf Course

Now is the time to start approaching local country clubs and golf courses to find out if they are looking for extra help for the summer. Visit public golf courses and country clubs near you to find out if they have any positions open for the summer: pro shop cashiers, servers, greenskeepers, and caddies. Caddie jobs go quickly because on average caddies make an hourly wage of $10 plus unlimited tips. Try using job sites such as Indeed or Snagajob to narrow down your search.