Let’s all agree that teenagers can come up with great reasons why they shouldn’t work this summer. I did it, you did it and they are doing too; in fact, only one-third of American teenagers are working anywhere this summer.
Over at US News and World Report today I offered up some unsolicited advice and permission for helicopter parents to get involved in their kids’ job search this summer.
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Good one, GL! I left a comment there, but here’s more…
In recent years, one of the best things I’ve discovered about all those “whatever you can find to earn a buck” jobs is – sharing stories about ‘em. When we tell each other about the various jobs we had as young people, it opens interesting doors into each other and helps us get to know each other a bit better. Surely a good thing.
You are so right, Robert. Funny how the stories just keep getting better and harder as the years go by. Did I tell you about the lawn I had to mow that was uphill no matter which way I pushed the mower?
No doubt, teenagers need some amount of decompression time for the summer… I run a tight schedule during the school year, and this past Memorial Day Weekend never felt so necessary.
Still, I find it a shame that so few teenagers work during the summer. Some of the best lessons I have ever learned, and more importantly, the ‘people-skills’ I developed, have come from summer employment, NOT school. I started out volunteering at a pool-based summer camp, maneuvered that into a clerical/ lifeguarding and swim instruction position at the hosting scuba diving shop, and this year am now working at a law firm.
My friends who didn’t get started early (I was volunteering before freshman year of high school) are still asking people if they want fries with their Whoppers… and while there is nothing wrong with that, I certainly believe that I feel more accomplished at the end of my summers than they do.
With the college admissions process demanding more and more out of students, though, I imagine we’ll see a jump in teen employment among the most ambitious students.
Knowing there are more kids entering college than ever before, and reading a story somewhere about what to do when wait listed at college, and letting the fact that only one-third of teenagers work during the summer makes me wonder if there are simply no jobs…or energy to find or create one?
Interesting discussion…
GL,
One issue is that the summer is actually shorter out here than it used to be during our day. We had three solid months to work. These kids have just over two.
Still, no excuse. Working in the heat all day at Flynn’s Nursery kind of made going back to school a bit more palatable, truth be known. But, we went back refreshed, because the summer work was a real change of pace.
For the truly motivated, and creative, jobs are available. My friend struggled to get a job at Burger King and never had any success transferring to EB Game, but once he thought outside the box, he found a great paying gig working as a tutor.
I’ve never worked at a place which ‘advertised’ the position — I got in at the dive shop by volunteering and the law firm because the lawyer used to be my neighbor (but I interned for several months until he began paying me for my efforts; not part of the original plan). Finally, a local anti-gang program interviewed me and extended an offer because I’ve made myself very knowledgeable about youth-oriented restorative justice and civic engagement.
My friends who have their CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) license all have found jobs, and those with a WSI (Water Safety Instructor) certification are doing well for themselves teaching swim lessons. Job hunting as a teenager isn’t easy, but with enough foresight and motivation, it’s doable.
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