Summer Jobs for Teens

A summer job can offer significant benefits for teens, including life experience, valuable work experience, building upon social skills, and a nice paycheck. Earning their own money can give teens a great sense of independence and, of course, decrease their reliance on your wallet for the things that they want. Do you know the kinds of jobs teens can do during the summer? Some of it may depend on the area you live in and your teen's abilities. There are many more options for today's teens than there were for us when we were looking for summer jobs.

Jobs for 12-14-year-olds

Teens 12-14 years old can find several job opportunities extending past the paper route. While a paper route may still be an option in some areas, it’s not a good choice for all teens in this age group particularly if you consider that so few of us get newspapers delivered today. Some of the options that could work well for this age group include the following:

•       Babysitting. A tried-and-true way for teens to earn money during the summer, babysitting can allow responsible teens to build their client list of neighborhood parents while providing a helpful service. Be aware of local rules related to the legal age for babysitting.
•       Yard work. An industrious teen can pull weeds for neighbors, mow the lawn, trim hedges, and more. This is an excellent opportunity for a teen to build his own business, learn the value of hard work, and earn the money he needs.
•       Pet sitting or dog walking. Local pet parents could just love having a trusted person helping to take care of their beloved pet while they’re at work or on vacation.
•       Online opportunities. Your teen may be able to start a YouTube channel or build up a following on Twitch. The income isn’t guaranteed, but it might be a fun way for a teen to combine an interest with a desire to earn an income.
•       If your teen is crafty, they could sell their creations on sites like Etsy or set up a table at area outdoor markets.

It’s essential to be aware of the labor laws involved with 12-14-year-olds. The official legal age to work for a business in the United States is 14.

Jobs for 14-16-year-olds

Many more job opportunities will open for teens in this age group and the ones already listed:

•       Tutoring other students. No teen wants to spend their summers doing schoolwork, but an intelligent teen could find a way to turn their smarts and experience into an earning opportunity.
•       Housesitting. From watering plants, bringing in the mail, cleaning, and more, housesitting is a good opportunity for a responsible teen.
•       Working at a grocery or retail store. Not all stores will have a policy that allows them to hire teens under the age of 16. Do a bit of research into the stores in your area. There may be several that can give him the chance to earn an income during the summer months.
•       Fast food, restaurants, and other food services. These positions can be an excellent opportunity for teens to earn a good income while working on their social skills. As with stores, not all places that serve food will have a policy that allows for the hiring of teens.
•       Amusement park positions. If you live near an amusement park, you may find that there are several positions available for teens.
•       Golf caddy. If you live near a golf course or country club, you may find there are positions for an enterprising teen to earn a bit of summer money.

Teens may also be interested in some other online job opportunities. They could start up a business selling their artwork or memes on shirts, do odd jobs on freelance sites, and open up dropshipping stores.  While these are good ways for anyone to make extra money during the summer months, they don’t necessarily allow your teen to get the same benefits he’d get from a job that takes him out of the home. Your teen will learn so much more about the world of work if he can secure a summer job that takes him away from the couch and his gaming console.

Tips for finding a summer job

These tips may help your teen to secure a summer job:

•       Help your teen put together a resume and cover letter that details his type of experience.
•       Make sure he has a list of good references to share with hiring managers.
•       Network with family and friends.
•       Be open to a wide range of job opportunities versus being focused on just getting a job at a favorite coffeehouse.
•       Be professional and polite; this extends to dressing to impress.
•       Prepare with mock interviews with family and friends. 
•       Start looking for a job as soon as possible.

Teens can learn valuable life lessons from a summer job that sees them bag groceries at the local grocery store. They can also learn time management, improved people skills, and see a boost in their confidence levels. If your teen has been struggling with confidence levels, depression, anxiety, and other mental wellness concerns, Liahona Academy can help. Teens in crisis can find great benefit in a program that addresses their unique situations. A teen who feels like he can cope better with his mental health may feel better equipped to take on a summer job.