I do not know about everyone else here but finding a part time job for the summer is nearly impossible. My son has been trying to find some work this summer and can’t seem to get anything.
It is doubly frustrating when you see all the employment numbers and jobs data. They seem to indicate a great economy but apparently not for entry level part time work. The of course all want prior work experience.
When I was growing up there were plenty of jobs for kids in the summer and I always had work. Maybe I am just too old and think things will remain the same. Maybe businesses just don’t hire kids anymore. What a waste of willing labor.
Anyone else experiencing a similar problem in the Northeast?
I’m in the northeast, as well. Summer jobs are insanely hard to find. Restaurants don’t hire kids here at all, and there are very few lifeguard positions. Most employers want to hire adults or people who are available year-round.
I’m in New England. Businesses are dying for help. Might not be the jobs your son wants or related to his college studies but there are opportunities to make $$. Landscapers will pay $20-25 per hour as an example.
When my teenager first went on a job search last summer she also had a hard time. She was applying online because that is what most of the businesses were saying to do. However she wasn’t having any luck finding anything. Then I said “pound the pavement, go directly to the businesses and tell them you applied online and were wondering if they were hiring.” She spent 2 hours in the mall going store to store and lo and behold, within a few days, had not one but 2 offers of employment. She was 17 at the time. She didn’t get too many hours but enough to have a few extra dollars. I realize this may not help OP but some teenagers don’t yet understand the power of standing in front of a store manager and asking for a job. Lots of fast food restaurants hire summer help in our area as do the retail stores.
I agree that applying in person is key, especially for smaller, independently owned businesses. Dress cleanly, bring a resume/personal info sheet, make eye contact, shake hands. One of my kids got a job at a place with no official openings just because the owner liked my kid. A good presentation definitely helps. One afternoon led to multiple offers.
Big chains with online apps resulted in radio silence.
Several nieces and nephews in their teens in NJ, MA, ME, PA, NY, VA and MD. All have summer jobs, albeit several of them have worked part-time during the school year. Most kids I know do that and most employers seem to give those kids more hours during the summer months.
We also live in the northeast. Both daughters have jobs (one temporary, since she will be back to university in September). Neither is doing precisely what would have been their first choice. My youngest was turned down by two or three places that were closer to what she wanted to do before finding something.
“of course all want prior work experience.”
We have noticed this also. Being bilingual might have helped my younger daughter get her first job.
Walking into businesses worked for my D about 4 years ago. She walked into independently operated small restaurants and got a job at the smoothie place as a cashier and clean up. She also got a job at a small hawaiian fast food place. About 4 weeks later when she showed up to her work shift, it was shut down
I think the problem is in finding a “summer job.” Part time jobs are in pretty decent supply on Long Island-- my 3 kids (ages 15, 18 and 19) have 4 jobs between them.
But “Summer” is a problem except for seasonal work like lifeguarding. Employers don’t want to be shorthanded come September. “Part time” is light years away from “summer job.”
I think that’s right bkmom. My kids all had part-time jobs during the school year and then worked more hours in the summer. But at that point they were known quantities who had been trained before the busy season. Their employers didn’t hire only summer help. I can’t stress enough how unlikely it is for a student to get such a job. Restaurants here really don’t hire kids, nor do landscapers. Most kids I know who have jobs either have them all year or get them through family connections.
Edited to add: the City has a summer youth program for kids here. It’s done by lottery and quite wonderful. It only lasts for six weeks, but that does get something on a resume and many employers will keep the kids on longer or bring them back the following summer. However. The paperwork requirements are quite strict, and many, many, many kids who get picked in the lottery are not able to complete the paperwork requirements by the deadlines and end up not getting placed.
One thing that helped my kids… and again, they were searching for part time work, not summer work:
After they completed that online application, they sent a letter (snail mail) expressing interest in the job and mentioning that they had filled out the online application. ( OK, I take credit for that tidbit of great advice.)
I absolutely believe it got their applications pulled from the stack and looked at. From there on, of course, it was up to them to actually get the job.
““Part time” is light years away from “summer job.””
I agree also. This is what got my youngest turned down at the first two or three places where she applied. My oldest was looking for “permanent”, which helped since they definitely will still want her in September.
I live in a rural county in the Hudson Valley of New York. Virtually every retail outlet you can name is looking for part-time and seasonal workers. I can’t recall a time in the past 20 years when the “Help Wanted” signs have received more use than this year. Landscaping jobs are at a premium in this area, since they pay well and provide a good workout and tan as well. Farm work is primarily the provenance of immigrants from Mexico and the Caribbean. Government financed summer jobs are much reduced from a generation ago but the private sector has more than offset those losses.
Around here, a lot of places have help wanted signs and want folks to apply in person. I’m not looking for a job, so no idea if it’s summer jobs or permanent jobs and no idea about hours or compensation either. Restaurants and small businesses especially are looking for willing workers. Some of their regular workers want to take some summer vacation and would be happy to have reliable workers to help out.
Back when I was a college student in the dark ages, I would work summer programs, as a leader of kids. Pay was better than minimum wage and the job was just for the summer. My S and other relatives have held similar summer jobs. My relative still send their kids to summer programs, so they still exist. Younger kids could be jr leaders to gain experience and get 1st dibs to be hired when they were older. Those who needed money would get whatever jobs they could–grocery stores, food service, etc.
