The
summer job has long been considered a rite of passage for American
teenagers but sluggish job growth has made securing employment – for
anyone – a job itself.
With work hard to come by in most sectors of the economy, college students and graduates are snapping up work that was traditionally considered the domain of high schoolers
in the past. But if you're a job hunting teenager or the parent of one,
don't let this news discourage you. Although increased competition has
raised the bar for all applicants there are still plenty of options for
teens to consider as the school year comes to an end. To make your
search a little easier, we've compiled a list of companies and
industries that are teen-friendly and ready to hire.
1. Yum! Brands: Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC
There's at least one of each of these concept stores in every city, if not dozens, making this a good place to start. Food service
work is a common first job for high schoolers and a great place to gain
people skills. Pizza Hut in particular is on a hiring spree and has
just posted over 6,000 openings. Sonic Drive-In is another fast food retailer that's ramped up hiring; it's even posted openings for roller-skating carhops!
2. Movie Theaters
Summer blockbusters are a boon for movie theaters.
The influx of moviegoers in the summer pushes theaters into hiring mode
in the spring. The great news for teens: theaters love to hire them to
run concession stands, act as ushers and sell tickets. Their hiring
practices also usually fall in line with their states' minimum age
requirements. These gigs also have the potential to turn into steady
jobs that students can juggle through their final years of high school.
3. Lifeguard
This is a perfect summer job for athletic kids who want to spend their summer outdoors. Keep in mind that lifeguarding
requires training and certification, which typically takes a couple of
weeks to complete. This might take as long as a month for students
finishing up school classes so it's important to get the ball rolling
soon because new hires are usually picked by Memorial Day. The American Red Cross, the American Lifeguard Association and the YMCA
are just a few organizations that train and certify lifeguards. The Red
Cross's minimum age requirement for certification is 15 but
requirements may vary at your local pool, water park, oceanfront or
lake.
4. Summer Camps
Working as a camp counselor
is an alternative option for outdoorsy teens. Parents are always
looking to keep their young children occupied in the summer while they
are away at work, creating a great need for counselors. Applicants
usually need little or no experience, making this an easy job to score
for a first timer. Check at your local YMCA or elementary school for
leads on positions at kids' summer programs.
5. Amusement Parks
Most amusement and water parks also require little or no experience. Six Flags
has posted over 300 positions for applicants 16 years and older. There
may also be opportunities at smaller or privately owned parks, which
often hire applicants as young as 14. Teens can work in a variety of
roles ranging from ticket attendant to rides or games operator to working at a food stand.