Five summer job ideas for teens

If you’re looking for inspiration beyond the usual fast-food roles or potentially stressful customer service positions, this is the list for you. Use these summer job ideas as a jumping-off point to help your teenager gain valuable experience that they can take with them into a fulfilling career.

Internships

An internship in your teen’s field of interest is a great way to learn more about that field and vet potential career options. Paid internships can be very competitive, but many businesses and organizations offer similar ‘intro to work’ programs teens can also take advantage of.

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Searching, applying, and interviewing for internships is great practice to prepare your teen to enter the job market. Your teenager will get the most out of an internship where they have access to training and mentorship, and chances to test themselves outside of their comfort zone.

Volunteering

Volunteering experience may be unpaid, but it can also be more fulfilling: studies have shown that volunteering can support better mental health, increased self-esteem, and fewer signs of depression.¹ This makes sense when you consider the typical motivations for volunteering, usually a calling to give back to one’s community.

Much like an internship, volunteer roles may lead to valuable relationships that could also provide professional references down the road, or even future opportunities for full-time work with the volunteer organization. And of course, they look great on a resume or college application.

Volunteer roles come in all forms, and you can volunteer at any age! Your teen can start with brainstorming the issues, causes, and types of work that are important to them. Or a dip their toes in with few shifts a community soup kitchen, or beautification/cleanup work around town. The animal shelter is always a popular option—who doesn’t want to hang out with cute cats and dogs?

Lifeguarding

Serving as a lifeguard at a swimming pool or state beach sounds like fun on paper: not only do you get to hang out by the water all summer, but you get to meet new people, maybe get in shape, and participate in a pop-cultural coming of age.

However, lifeguarding also comes with great responsibility: after all, people’s lives are in your hands. Most municipalities provide or require training to become a lifeguard, which involves lifesaving skills like CPR training. In addition to instilling lessons of responsibility and public service, the practical skills that your teenager learns from lifeguard training can be useful for a lifetime.

Pet sitting

If your teenager loves animals, why not spend the summer caring for furry friends? Your teenager could take advantage of the vacation season to offer their services as a pet sitter or dog walker in your neighborhood. Plus, there’s plenty of social media content to be mined from cute pets!

These are also great opportunities to take responsibility, practice people skills, and get some experience with self-promotion. Pet sitting or –walking also offer a lot of scheduling flexibility, perfect for those who want to still have a memorable summer.

Try being a content creator

It’s never been easier to showcase one’s personality and interests for an audience. Whether your teen’s hobby is video games, makeup, cosplay, stamp collecting, or something else, they can flex their creative muscles and their planning and communication skills to foster a following. This is also a great way to meet like-minded people who also embrace their hobbies.

Of course, the thrills of always being online can come with their own perils. Be sure to work with your teenager closely on their screen time, educate them on the importance of protecting their privacy, and check in if you notice a shift in your teenager’s mood, which could be a sign of online bullying or trolling.

Aside from making an income, there are many creative ways to use summer work and volunteering to learn more about a potential career path, build valuable relationships, obtain useful skills, and more. Help your teen earn some extra money during the summer or set up their career for higher earnings and a competitive edge. For more budgeting tips, learn how to teach your kids about money and budgeting, or improve your own financial literacy so you can pass on good money habits.

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