<p>This is the summer Son really should get a job. He hasn’t started looking yet, but I’m getting worried. </p>
<p>The news is full of stories about people coming out of retirement and taking minimum wage jobs to help make ends meet. If it’s really THAT bad, I’d rather Grandpa got the most hours at DQ. </p>
<p>What’s going on out there? Are teens finding work?</p>
<p>I live in OH & it is pretty grim. Thankfully my husband is a general manager & we can let my sons work for us when they want to. My sister lives in FL & her daughter has never been able to find a paying job (she volunteers at a library) ever. So it is even worse there. My oldest was lucky to get a job at school over the summer as a personal assistant for a gifted program (we live 40 min away) and they hired him this fall on a work study. The funniest thing is that he makes more on the work study than he did over the summer.</p>
<p>I’m in Ohio too. My son went to a “job fair” at our local AAA baseball team - it was a real eye opener to him to see the HUNDREDS of people applying for minimum jobs. Won’t know for a bit if he gets a second interview…</p>
<p>He was a caddy last summer so he can probably do that at the very least - he didn’t love it (some of the people were JERKS!) but if they can use him it will be better than nothing. And he cuts grass for a couple of neighbors. </p>
<p>We need a new roof on our garage - my husband is thinking that instead of paying someone big bucks to do it, he will pay my son to help him - son will make some $$$ and we will save some $$$ that we would pay to someone else. </p>
<p>Guess you’ve got to be creative.</p>
<p>I am not usually a pessimist, but I think the chances of our kids getting paid summer jobs this year are slim to none…</p>
<p>Heard a story yesterday that our local day camp has a stack piled high of applications from graduating college students looking 4 summer jobs…it’s definitely trickling down…</p>
<p>If unemployed adults are working in retail, food services, child care and summer camps, what chance/choice do our teens have? Unless they are already employed PT during the school year, of course…</p>
<p>I would LOVE for someone to post that I am wrong…for once, I’m hoping I am…</p>
<p>I can’t post that you’re wrong, though I wish I could.</p>
<p>S1 is extremely lucky to be returning to a summer job he’s held for the past three years (first year unpaid as he was 15). No idea what he would do without that history/experience. </p>
<p>D isn’t a teenager anymore (college junior) but will very likely be taking a bird-in-the-hand paying position over spending the summer exploring career possibilities. Not ideal, but she gets that she’s fortunate to have the job.</p>
<p>(NY metro area here. And D is in PA.)</p>
<p>It’s pretty tough here, as well, but not impossible. It seems that some of the kids here are a little picky. They want jobs in the mall or otherwise convenient. ZG manages a retail shop that pays very well, but they have a very hard time getting kids to take the jobs. Also, a couple of establishments on the same block have problems too. I don’t get it.</p>
<p>My kids and their friends never had trouble finding jobs. They just looked for jobs - not “summer jobs” for the most part.
One took the lifeguarding test and spent a couple of summers lifeguarding. She guarded at our local pool, a country club and a hotel and made pretty good money.
One checked groceries at a local grocery store, then worked at Wal-Mart. She worked there from the end of her junior year in high school right through college and quit when she graduated. She worked at her college through work-study and WalMart held her job for vacations and summers.
One got a job at Barnes and Nobels while in high school. Last summer, she worked there part time and also got a job at a local hospital through their summer job program. She is in a health care major and was “lucky” to get the “dish room”. She is hoping to go back and now has a little seniority, but I heard they are cutting back some positions.
Her job at Barnes and Nobles is alive and well - she is a barista at the Starbucks and apparently folks are more apt for for over $5 for a coffee than buy a car.</p>
<p>Trouble is, JustAMom, that yes, those are great typical summer or during the year jobs. But Barnes and Noble (for instance) is laying off people, not hiring. Our city has $$$ problems so all the city pools except one will be closed this summer. Grocery stores have capable adults who have more hours available to work than kids so they are hiring them. Even the country clubs are losing members and expecting to have less people at the golf courses, etc.</p>
<p>Kids in our neighborhood had trouble finding summer jobs LAST year, so I’m thinking this summer will be a bust also.</p>
<p>We live in AZ and the situation here is pretty bleak. With our economy heavily dependent upon tourism, there have always been plenty of jobs for students at the resorts and in retail stores, restaurants, etc. But they are all gone now. Stores are laying off employees, restaurants are closing, and occupancy rates at the resorts are plummeting.</p>
<p>Although I hope that my son will be able to find a paying job somewhere, I strongly suspect that he will end up volunteering at a social service agency this summer. Good experience, but it won’t give him any spending money for next fall.</p>
<p>SIGH. OK. Thanks for validating what I’m fearing. </p>
<p>I guess we’ll lower our expectations. If he can get 30 hours, great. If it’s only 10, that’ll have to be OK, too. In that case he’ll have to pick up more volunteer shifts at his Red Cross blood drives. No gas money there (much less college $) but at least it’s productive.</p>
<p>I suppose the same would apply for kid after first year of university? he was going to look in the town where he goes to school and possibly take a summer class…and then he could keep the job for next year…at least that was the plan.</p>
<p>D could not find any job last summer. Applied to about 30. She has a part-time position at her college that she really likes. She will not apply to any jobs this summer. On the other hand, she could have been in Med. Reserach lab for good $$ this summer. But they require 10 weeks, which she will not have becuase of month long trip. Those kids who are pre-meds, check out Med. Research labs, they might have spots in special programs that they run in a summer for college pre-meds. Ours is paying very well.</p>
<p>
I know - which is why she is lucky to have worked there for two years already.</p>
<p>Even in an area with a depressed economy - our area was seriously depressed years ago - there are some jobs out there. The question is - are the kids willing to do them?
There is nothing wrong with working at Wal-Mart and it can be a great job for a young person with good work habits. They have a pretty constant turnover and like to hire part time workers. Sometimes a kid has to juggle two part time jobs instead of one full time job.
The big problem is that kids are away at school and by the time they get home and start looking - it takes two weeks to find a job then another week or two to start work - the summer is nearly over.
Kids who are in high school now or just graduating can plan ahead and look for work that will carry them through.
My niece has worked for Dick’s Sporting Goods for a couple of years. She just decided to go back to college and moved a half a continent away in January. Dick’s is transferring her employment.
The friends of my kids all have “menial” retail jobs - but they show up for work and do a good job and are employed. They don’t pay much to start but my daughter is making nearly $9 at Barnes & Nobles now -
Anyway - there is always turnover in retail. Good luck to all job searchers.</p>
<p>D2 was invited back as a summer camp coach. Not sure how many hours she’ll get.</p>
<p>D1 is looking for an internship. Still no word.</p>
<p>If Wal-Mart jobs are available, then you are by no means in economically depressed area. When I said “No jobs”, I meant it.</p>
<p>McDonald’s in many areas are hiring. I suggested it to a niece of mine who was looking for a part time job. She was upset I even suggested such a place.</p>
<p>S has an opportunity to stay on campus and work this summer. He’d prefer to come home, but I told him to take the job. It took him a couple weeks to find a restaurant job last summer, and who knows if anyone will be hiring in May.</p>
<p>Older S would like an internship in Washington DC (govt agencies, think-tanks, etc). The majority of these pay nothing, yet they’re still very competitive to get. Anyone else out there have kids who have done anything similar? The experience would be great, but the cost of rent, transportation and food make it somewhat prohibitive for the average student – unless they already live or have housing in the area.<br>
He’s been lucky enough to get an off-site offer, which would allow him to do writing and research via computer, yet still live at home and work a local job. He’d love to experience DC, but it’s just not in his or our budget right now.</p>
<p>As for the younger ones - it’s slim pickings here in town. I think it’s the younger teens who are going to have the least luck. My suggestion for those in-between ages (too old for camp, too young for most jobs) is to take it as an opportunity for community service and volunteering. It’s better than sitting around bickering with siblings!</p>
<p>Car insurance for a teenage boy here in LA is 5200 a year. If son wants a job, has to be walking distance. Don’t live anywhere near a bus route. Trying for a day camp job, but after reading these posts, not optimistic.</p>