advice needed...teenagers and summer jobs

scottmel · Mar 28, 2015

My DD16 just turned 16 and is all for getting a summer job. She has in the past ran her one dog sitting service and done very well. She is quiet and a little shy and thought she might like to be around other people working vs. working independently all the time. Fair enough.

She has applied for a few jobs, gotten one interview and was told her personality, while nice and very kind, didn't suit the energy level they were looking for to host kids parties. Fair enough.

She has applied to several local chains around here as a stocker more behind the scenes person. How far should I have her pursue this if nothing works out? A few businesses mandate that she work 2 days during the school year and honestly she goes to a demanding private school and that just isn't a viable option for the school year.

Do most of your 16 year olds have jobs? She could continue with the dog sitting, money isn't an issue for her...she's a real saver! I just thought it would be good for her breaking out of a shell to seek outside employment...

Kelash265 · Mar 28, 2015

My DD17 had her first summer job at age 15. We live in an area where there are a lot of seasonal jobs. It worked out well for her and she is planning on working there this summer again for her third year. She has also had a part-time job at a clothing store until it closed. She is now at a shoe store. She only works a few hours on the weekends.

I think summer jobs are great for kids. Originally, I only wanted my daughter to work summers but she get she could handle year-round and it has worked out well. Good luck on your DD's job search!

Southernmiss · Mar 28, 2015

What about the movie theater? A lot of kids here work at the movie theater.

My kids referee soccer and work at the local waterpark.

Happy Snowman · Mar 28, 2015

I'd encourage her to keep dog sitting. If she can find a real summer job, where she doesn't have to work during the school year, great, but those are few and far between. She can probably be as busy as she wants with that while having some flexibility too. A job is a job at that age and running your own business is better than working at McDonalds I think.

teller80 · Mar 28, 2015

If it's more about breaking out of her shell rather than earning money, have you considered having her do volunteer work?

ronandannette · Mar 28, 2015

scottmel said:
My DD16 just turned 16 and is all for getting a summer job. She has in the past ran her one dog sitting service and done very well. She is quiet and a little shy and thought she might like to be around other people working vs. working independently all the time. Fair enough.

She has applied for a few jobs, gotten one interview and was told her personality, while nice and very kind, didn't suit the energy level they were looking for to host kids parties. Fair enough.

She has applied to several local chains around here as a stocker more behind the scenes person. How far should I have her pursue this if nothing works out? A few businesses mandate that she work 2 days during the school year and honestly she goes to a demanding private school and that just isn't a viable option for the school year.

Do most of your 16 year olds have jobs? She could continue with the dog sitting, money isn't an issue for her...she's a real saver! I just thought it would be good for her breaking out of a shell to seek outside employment...

Just following the "rule"...

teller80 said:
If it's more about breaking out of her shell rather than earning money, have you considered having her do volunteer work?

This is actually a really good idea under your circumstances. Find something that supports a cause she's interested in. This will also look just as good on college applications and future job applications as a part-time fast food job would.

FWIW, my DS spent summers working full-time at a local children's camp and we basically forced him to hold a part-time job during the school year of grades 11 & 12 for pocket money. He had two shifts a week as a server in the dining room of a senior's residence; a job he got through a friend who already worked there.

Disneyland1084 · Mar 28, 2015

Do you live near a water park? Maybe she can apply to be a lifeguard. I live minutes from a water park. I go there all summer long and have noticed all the lifeguards are teenagers.

Kayabee · Mar 28, 2015

What about a town summer camp, or a local water park or mini golf place. Not sure where you live, I'm in the Northeast so those places would be seasonal here.
My dd works for a caterer, and will have more work during the summer since its party season.

mommasita · Mar 28, 2015

My son started at Mc Donald's at 16, he is still there at 19.. SUPER shy, and it is a great place to help that... I myself started at 15, and there was nobody more shy than me.. It really helped me come out of my shell. I stayed their for 4 years, and every job I ever got after was a credit to Mcd's, or so I was told..
My daughter will be 16 next month, and just starter working this weekend at Chapters/Indigo!! (book store) Super proud of her, she told me at 7 this would be her first job, and low and behold it worked out.. she is NOT shy.. She goes to a private school and will do maximum 12 hours a week.. I want her to remain an honor student, but I firmly believe in the balance and importance of part time work for students at a certain age, especially the ones like mine who LOVE to spend!!!!!!

There is Mcd's.. A pet store maybe.. Local pools often hire in the summer..

scottmel · Mar 29, 2015

teller80 said:
If it's more about breaking out of her shell rather than earning money, have you considered having her do volunteer work?

Thanks! She has volunteered at a cat clinic since she was 13 but has expressed interest in the dog program. I just signed her up yesterday with my husband as you need adult with you to handle the dogs....so this will be a nice next step for her at the clinic. Good idea thanks....

Dawnlight · Mar 29, 2015

Look into town recreation programs; they are often looking for teens for summer jobs either working with kids or at entrances to beaches/parks, or at concession stands.

My teens have always done summer academic programs, so haven't worked over summer, but they might this year. I'm hoping they get jobs at the local boating program where they have been active in the past.

Mkrop · Mar 29, 2015

Around the seasonal places like Rita's Water Ice and DQ hire teens. Also the nursing homes hire teen to dishwash or serve/bus tables.

DS17 works at a retreat house as a dishwasher. People come and stay for retreats like marriage retreats etc and they are feed and housed there for a week or usually weekends.

I would just keep applying everywhere, and if the job is too much during the school year she can quit, that has been the rule for DS17 since he has very difficult classes as well. His place of employment has been very accomdating

CyndiLooWho · Mar 29, 2015

We're in the same boat as you; DS16 just turned 16 and we want him to have a job. But he takes mostly Honors and AP classes at school, and barely has time to go to Scouts during the school year. It will be almost impossible for him to work even 1 shift during the school year. This seems to be a real opportunity killer. He is an Aspie, and he really needs to get some experience to help him figure out how to handle working with people who don't have to work around his quirks.

It also doesn't help that we are a university town. There are lots of older kids looking for exactly the same types of jobs that a 16 would do. And it seems that even fast food, where I worked my butt off from 16 to college graduation, are hiring older workers who are available year-round.

For those who do have kids who do summer work, how do you work around vacations and such? We will be in Orlando one week in early June, and ds16 will be in a tech summer camp one week. He also plans to complete his Eagle project this summer, but he should be able to do his planning and fundraising around whatever hours he would be working. He would just need to be guaranteed to have Sat off on the two Sats of his project.

Happy Snowman · Mar 29, 2015

CyndiLooWho said:
We're in the same boat as you; DS16 just turned 16 and we want him to have a job. But he takes mostly Honors and AP classes at school, and barely has time to go to Scouts during the school year. It will be almost impossible for him to work even 1 shift during the school year. This seems to be a real opportunity killer. He is an Aspie, and he really needs to get some experience to help him figure out how to handle working with people who don't have to work around his quirks.

It also doesn't help that we are a university town. There are lots of older kids looking for exactly the same types of jobs that a 16 would do. And it seems that even fast food, where I worked my butt off from 16 to college graduation, are hiring older workers who are available year-round.

For those who do have kids who do summer work, how do you work around vacations and such? We will be in Orlando one week in early June, and ds16 will be in a tech summer camp one week. He also plans to complete his Eagle project this summer, but he should be able to do his planning and fundraising around whatever hours he would be working. He would just need to be guaranteed to have Sat off on the two Sats of his project.

Most places won't hire someone for a summer job that need that much time off. If he needs to earn money, probably better off doing lawn work or something that is flexible over the summer.

mommasita · Mar 29, 2015

Yes, that will be difficult.

My daughter worked it out in advance that she has an 11 day Europe trip as school ends.. After that I can't see her requesting a single day off, unless they are trades, which they are allowed to do, especially a Saturday at the mall.

CyndiLooWho · Mar 29, 2015

I was afraid of that. I always got what I needed off when I was a teen, but I also worked 20 hrs during the school year at a minimum (some weeks it was 40, plus a full pre-college load). DS can't do that. I guess we need to look for good volunteering activities for him instead. I had hoped that he would work at the local boy scout camp, but he didn't get the apps in back in January b/c we didn't realize how far in advance you have to apply.

And his little brother has no chance at all at a summer job, b/c he will be marching with the HS band and doing band camp most of July from here on out. :/

Gumbo4x4 · Mar 29, 2015

My kids aren't quite to that point, but my sister & I simply didn't go on vacation anymore once we reached driving/Summer job age. That's just part of it, unfortunately.

christineann · Mar 29, 2015

Volunteer work sounds like a good option that in some cases will give her more flexibility in scheduling (animal shelter since she likes animals?). If you live in an area that has museums, that is a good year round option - many will let the high school kids work around their school schedule. My kids also went to a highly competitive school, and my daughter worked for a museum that allowed her to work around school and her year round basketball schedule. I think she only worked one afternoon weekday shift per week when she could during the school year, and it kept her foot in the door for summers. Son worked at the school for the athletic department during the school year, which was obviously according to his class schedule, and worked other jobs during the summers. Jobs and/or volunteering are great ways to prepare kids for the "real world" (and colleges love to see it on applications).

Mkrop · Mar 29, 2015

CyndiLooWho said:
We're in the same boat as you; DS16 just turned 16 and we want him to have a job. But he takes mostly Honors and AP classes at school, and barely has time to go to Scouts during the school year. It will be almost impossible for him to work even 1 shift during the school year. This seems to be a real opportunity killer. He is an Aspie, and he really needs to get some experience to help him figure out how to handle working with people who don't have to work around his quirks.

It also doesn't help that we are a university town. There are lots of older kids looking for exactly the same types of jobs that a 16 would do. And it seems that even fast food, where I worked my butt off from 16 to college graduation, are hiring older workers who are available year-round.

For those who do have kids who do summer work, how do you work around vacations and such? We will be in Orlando one week in early June, and ds16 will be in a tech summer camp one week. He also plans to complete his Eagle project this summer, but he should be able to do his planning and fundraising around whatever hours he would be working. He would just need to be guaranteed to have Sat off on the two Sats of his project.

You dont know unless you ask..I say this to DS17 all the time. When DS went for his interview he mentioned activities and vacations and they said they would work with him. And they have been great! I know a local nursing home around here that hires teens for their kitchen/wait staff who are completely willing to work with teens for their schedules. Kids are always trying to get in there! One football player I know worked only Sundays for the nursing home bc his games were every Sat. Another football/rubgy player works every Sunday for Rite Aid bc he cant work Saturdays except in the winter. DONT ASSUME!

Mkrop · Mar 29, 2015

And many volunteer places want consistency as a job does, I know we have run into this when both of my kids needed service hours.(and my younger brother for a underage drinking thing...oops), they wanted them to give so many hours a week and for it to be consistent, it wasnt just being able to show up when it was convenient or a one time deal. Some places were asking for more than a job

advice needed...teenagers and summer jobs

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