Teenagers Are Struggling To Land A Summer Job—Here's How To Create One For Yourself

Forbes

a day ago

Summer high school job
Finding a summer job as a high school student isn't as simple as it used to be. According to The New York Times, unemployment amongst teenagers rose to 13.4% in May, up from 12.4% the year prior. Traditional summer jobs—from cashier jobs to those in tourism, at summer camps, and in food service—are being lost to adult candidates, increasing automation, or dwindling industries, leaving teenagers without sources of income and experience over the summer months.
Summer jobs remain critical for college applications—even an unglamorous summer job scooping ice cream or walking dogs can demonstrate a student's responsibility, motivation, and leadership skills to admissions officers. Amidst this barren employment landscape, students can show an additional measure of resourcefulness and creativity by creating an opportunity where one doesn't exist. Developing an entrepreneurial venture during the summer months can allow students to gain invaluable professional experience and craft something authentic, purposeful, and self-driven.
Here are three key characteristics of successful ventures for teens to consider as they start their businesses this summer:
Students interested in starting their own entrepreneurial venture over the summer should devote ample time to planning and strategizing. Even launching simple businesses mowing lawns, babysitting, or selling crafts on Etsy requires students to conduct market research, develop pricing strategy, create marketing collateral, and determine a reasonable schedule based on their responsibilities and summer plans. Cutting corners or rushing into commitments without appropriate planning can counteract the potential for positive impact, showing disorganization and short-term thinking. In contrast, a thoughtful approach signals maturity and professionalism. It also increases the likelihood that the business will remain sustainable throughout the summer and even into the school year. This kind of long-term sustainability is important to admissions officers, who generally want to see students' dedication and depth of involvement over time.
Most importantly, devoting time to brainstorming and market research can allow a student to create a meaningful job that addresses a need, however small it may be, in their local community. Maybe the local dog park is overrun with waste bins that are never properly emptied, or elderly community members need help with mowing or tech setup. Maybe a student is an amateur chef who notices that there are few affordable bakers in the area for parties and community events. Taking the time to notice such needs can allow students to develop a summer job that not only benefits their resume, but makes a tangible difference in their communities.
Strong summer jobs should reflect a student's skills and interests. This does not mean that a student interested in aerospace engineering should start building their own planes or that a student pursuing political science should launch a political consulting agency. Admissions officers know that students are teenagers; they don't expect them to run multimillion dollar corporations over the summer, and a student who tries to do so will likely reek of privilege and inauthenticity rather than ingenuity. Instead, students should take a more introspective approach and choose summer jobs that align with their interests and passions. For instance, the aforementioned aerospace engineering applicant might launch a small business as a handyman—this is a humble and manageable endeavor for a student, but one that still allows the student to apply their problem-solving skills, small-scale application of engineering principles, and mathematical and analytical thinking. Summer jobs will not fully immerse students in their intended profession, but they should provide small opportunities for students to gain real-world experience that can be applicable to their future careers.
Finally, the most successful summer ventures are grounded in self-reflection. It's not enough to complete a job or earn a profit—students should also take time to reflect on what they've learned, how they've grown, and what skills they've developed along the way.
Virtually all professional experience can allow students to cultivate skills that they will use in college and in their future career, but only if they take the time to meaningfully evaluate the experience. Students should keep a journal or log their reflections on a blog in order to maintain a record of their successes and failures (which can be equally beneficial for their growth and professional development!). As they document their experiences, students should be sure to pay attention to both the quantitative aspects—how much money did they make? What was the size of their client base? How many new employees or business partners did they onboard?—as well as the qualitative aspects of their summer venture—how did they grow as a person and professional? Did the experience clarify their goals or interests? How did they overcome challenges along the way? The former are helpful metrics to summarize on an Activities List in their college applications, while the latter can serve as inspiration for their personal and supplemental essays.
Ultimately, while the shortage of summer work poses a challenge for many teens, it can also be a valuable opportunity to cultivate and demonstrate a resourceful and resilient attitude. Students who develop their own summer employment opportunities will not only emerge with practical, transferrable skills like budgeting, time management, communication, and leadership, but also develop self-confidence, leadership capabilities, and a clear sense of purpose.