Where to Look for a Summer Job

“I’m helping my teenage nephew look for his first-ever summer job. I’m keeping an eye on the regular job boards, but are there particular places we should look for these kinds of opportunities?”—Todd from Little Rock, AR

That is great that you are helping your nephew! In recent years, the summer job market for youth has been quite competitive, but it is looking up. According to the annual Snagajob survey of retail, hospitality and food service industry hiring managers, 74 percent plan to make summer hires, and only 14 percent plan to hire fewer summer workers than in 2013. Employers reported that they expect to hire an average of 25 summer workers—the vast majority of whom will be new to the company.

What this means is your nephew has an excellent opportunity to find a job for the summer, and starting to look now is a great strategy for getting the job he wants.

Summer jobs are not always posted to general job boards, so you may need to go right to the source—the company or organization that your nephew wants to work for.

If he wants to work in parks and recreation, perhaps as a lifeguard or camp counselor or in facilities maintenance, check out the park district’s website or even go to the main office in person to speak with someone about job openings.

If he wants to work for a large company—such as a grocery store chain, national retailer or restaurant chain—he may be able to apply online.

However, if he wants to work for a local business, he may have to do some good, old-fashioned pavement pounding and visit the establishments to find out if they’re hiring.

Networking can also be a great tool, even for summer jobs. Does he know what he might want to study in college or have an interest in a certain field? If you know someone in that field, ask if he can work as an assistant or intern. Depending on your nephew’s financial situation, gaining on-the-job experience may be more beneficial than earning a paycheck.

Does your nephew have an entrepreneurial spirit? Maybe he wants to start his own business. Babysitting, landscaping and dog walking are just a few of the many business opportunities for youth.

And last but not least, check in with your local Goodwill. Many Goodwill agencies have a variety of opportunities for youth, either through their own organizations or with local businesses.

To find your local Goodwill, select “Job and Career Support” and type in your zip code on www.goodwill.org.