Question:
My son is finally old enough to look for a job this summer. On top of
it, his girlfriend from LA is going to be spending a good chunk of the
summer with us, and wants to find a job.
Where are good places to look for short-term gigs for teens? Any
recommendations? Warnings?
I haven't had to do this kind of job search in 25 years - looking for
folks who've done it recently
Answer:
-It is actually a little late for the better jobs, students
start looking for them and locking them down in the April
timeframe. Internships, especially the paid ones, are often
nailed down 6 months to a year in advance.
That leaves places like fast food joints and grocery stores.
The grocery store gig can be real work in unloading trucks
and stocking shelves. Plus they often want that work late
at night. Fast food joints are a good opportunity for someone
who is reliable and can follow instructions. While some folks
look down on people that work fast food, I have respect for
anyone who does a job in a good manner and is proud of their
work. In fact, fast food can be a pretty big challenge due
to the fast pace and customer demands.
For outdoor work, companies are always looking for crew
for landscaping, painting, and light construction work.
-Another good place to look is with the City's. When I was in my teen
years I would work for City of Maple Grove doing street repair and lawn
cutting and so fourth. Not a bad summer gig at all. Hours are not that
bad either. Check with your local Public Works division and see if they
are still hiring. They pretty much are hiring through the summer
since there is a slacker or two in the bunch that they hire and get rid
of.
-You might try Valley Fair. They might still be looking for folks.
Looking here, quite a few departments are full.
http://www.valleyfair.com/employment/jobs/joblistings/
Otherwise the recommendation for contacting local municipalites is a good
one.
