<p>With college admission behind us, next step is figuring out what to do this summer and our #1 choice is work! We’re thinking waitressing, retail sales, sports camp counseler as options. What types of jobs have other graduating seniors gotten and what did you think of them? Has anyone had any luck getting a real position or internship?</p>
<p>My son signed up with a temp firm the summer after high school and got an office job with a big telecommunications company - it paid $10 an hour and he worked from 10-3 for two months - not bad. And it was a 10 minute drive from home. It was more-or-less data entry - filling in contracts. But it was substantial enough to look good on his resume. The company was trying to fill a permanent position but needed the work done in the meantime.</p>
<p>Lots of parents have recommended temp firms - as long as the student has computer skills, plenty of companies need summer vacation backup help. And the likelihood of short-term assignments gives the kids some free time to enjoy themselves too.</p>
<p>It really depends on what your skills are. My son was lucky to be able to freelance computer programming. Back when I was in high school I worked in a library one summer. The college library I worked at used to hire kids in the summer to vaccuum the bookshelves and go through the shelves and make sure everything was in correct order.</p>
<p>D1 worked for the city Parks and Rec dept. 9-4 with a lunch break long enough that she could come home. No weekends or evenings. Great summer job! Hmmm…don’t remember the wage but it was more than minimum wage and she got to be outside!</p>
<p>Having D1 apply to work for community ed sports camp instructor positions.</p>
<p>My daughter has a job that the benefits outweight the money. It’s a little bit above minimum wage. She is looking at a job as a waitress because she could earn more in tips.</p>
<p>The college that accepted my son said he has to find a job (paid or unpaid) where he has “direct patient contact”. I’m hoping someone in the medical field can trust a 17 yr. old to interact with their patients.</p>
<p>S-2 picked up a good per diem job with an independent local moving company.
It was hard, hot and frustrating at times, but he got very strong before starting his freshman year. On a particular day he could choose not to go to the lot, but most days he went and made good money ($10/hr plus tips). Jobs came up on weekdays and occasional weekends. </p>
<p>He’s also kinda small and wiry. Not all movers are muscled huge guys. They also need some to be swift, carry many boxes quickly up stairs and so on.
If someone’s an eager type with good work ethic, that’s needed as much as the larger guys. Just don’t make a big deal with the rest of the crew that you’re heading off to college. One other college-bound boy who did this was deeply resented.</p>
<p>I’d say the most important thing to look for in a mover-boss is that he be mindful of the safety of his crew, even more than the speed of the move. You want your kid to emerge from the summer without any injuries.</p>
<p>D1 (who will graduate from college the May) was head lifeguard at city pool the summer after her HS graduation. She had been lifeguard since she was 15. D1 applied and was promoted when she was 17. She taught lessons, set duty schedules, supervised and disciplined the junior guards and was responsible checking/maintaining the pool chemical balance.</p>
<p>This summer she’s been hired as a research assistant at the state uni in a high energy physics group.</p>
<p>In between, she done retail sales and waitressing. Waitressing paid the best and had the best hours, but it’s one tough job.</p>
<p>D2 (currently as HS senior) will be a day camp counselor at a private summer program. She was a counselor at the same place last summer and a TA the year before</p>
<p>The summer after senior year was by far the best summer of my life. I worked a lot. I had two main jobs and played as a freelance musician. I worked as a camp counselor with my three best friends at the country club I am a member of. That was 8 AM - 3 PM usually. My other job was Development Associate for a music and arts conservatory. It’s a job I sort of fell into, but that experience has led directly into all of the jobs I have held since. After camp I grabbed food for the car, changed clothes, and drove over to the conservatory, where I would usually work until about 6:30 PM. There was no camp on Fridays or at the beginning or end of the summer, so during those days I worked full time (plus) at the conservatory. I am a musician and usually practiced at least four hours a day that summer, much of it before or after work at the conservatory. I also played a lot of gigs that summer (weddings, parties, etc.) on the side. </p>
<p>Anyway, I had a fun job at the camp, a real job at the conservatory, an extra job as a musician, and also spent many hours practicing (which is my favorite thing to do) and hanging out with my friends. It was ideal. I made well above minimum wage and was working more than 40-hours/week, so money was never an issue. I also love to work, and my conservatory job gave me the time and place for serious practicing, so I was in Heaven, but YMMV. :)</p>
<p>I worked at Dunkin’ Donuts last year and am planning on working there this summer… I am desperate for spending money in college! The pay isn’t great ($8/hr plus tips) but the unlimited free food and coffee is pretty nice. It’s great if you close at night and and are stuck with throwing out the donuts - I ended up taking two or three dozen home a night. We still have frozen ones in the freezer.</p>
<p>It would be great to work somewhere that looks better on my resume, but I have major issues sitting in a chair all day. I’ll think about that one once I’m in college.</p>
<p>toledo – My daughter scored a wonderful job as a PT aide at the physical therapy clinic where she had been going to rehabilitate her knee. The pay is really good, and she has direct contact by doing ultrasound treatments and teaching exercises to patients. (It’s also what convinced her she wants to be a PT). Maybe your son could check out some PT clinics. I know he’s looking at PA, not PT, but I still think they would appreciate that he has an interest in health sciences.
My younger D volunteers at a hospital and you are right – her direct contact with patients is very limited.</p>
<p>My senior S and his brother (college jr) have both worked year round at a grocery store since the day they turned 16. Older S has more than 4 years with the same company now and works"behind the desk" as a customer service guy. Younger S bags groceries and runs the register. They have always had flexible hours (younger S was able to keep his job thru 2 seasons of varsity football) and it’s good to be moving around in the air conditioned store in the sweltering summer months rather than outside. We live in the south. Outside summer jobs here can be miserable. </p>
<p>Also since this is a big chain grocery store, older S has been able to transfer to a store in his college town without having to reapply. He works a couple of shifts a week to make his spending money.</p>
<p>Hey, thanks, dbwes! That would work.</p>
<p>After my son’s PG year (i.e. after his <em>second</em> high school graduation!) he worked as a summer fill-in bank teller. The money is pretty good for a summer job and it was an amazing training program. Helps if you are available by early June as opposed to the end of June. The more weeks you can offer the better.</p>
<p>They were looking for 18+ year old high school grads with good math skills. Had to pass a reference check and a drug test. Also had to be flexible on availablity including work some Saturday mornings. And had to wear shirt, tie and dress pants … a little dress for success training!</p>