Waiter, cashier, barista, stocker, babysitter… the options for a teenage job may seem minimal, but they’re endless! With proper research and job searching, every ambitious teen should be able to start their financial planning before they reach adulthood.

Finding a summer job is appealing to many high school students but could prove to be particularly difficult, primarily to freshmen, due to most companies that accept teenage workers setting the age limit at a minimum of 16 years old. This is where more “unofficial” areas of work come in handy such as camp counseling, babysitting, and dog walking.

 While these side hustles may not pay as much as your average fast food joint or retail store, they are certainly great opportunities for kids to get some form of work experience and connections for future employment and resume building. As a matter of fact, resume building could also be a great opportunity for high schoolers to get some extra money as long as they have the proper information, knowledge and technology to build said resume.

Now maybe there are jobs with better opportunities and pay for 14-15 year olds to get work, but it will prove difficult without prior experience or connections. Sophomore students and up, however, may have an easier time finding work in established brands such as McDonalds, Home Depot, Dunkin Donuts, etc. 

Companies such as these could always use extra help to operate efficiently, so a motivated teenager may be able to land themself a spot as a cashier, cook, barista, or stocker for a competitive hourly pay if they prove themselves to be a reliable and responsible employee while keeping up with their studies. 

At the end of the day, every teenager looking for work must acknowledge that a summer job will add more responsibility and stress to their lifestyle. They will learn to work with a team without the sense of security provided by a teacher directing them daily or a peer to rely on to get ahead. This could provide teens with valuable life skills such as basic responsibility, reliability, teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

 If one truly believes they are capable of handling work and school, then a part time job will prove to be a great way to build a personal brand and gain work experience. Students could make their job search easier by seeing what opportunities or recommendations are provided by their school, analyzing their local community’s businesses, and utilizing platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed. Paired with this, students should aim for local establishments such as Home Depot, Menards, or Mcdonalds that are hiring for team members, maintenance, cashiers, stockers, and more!