For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?

[Anonymous]

My niece goes to an expensive and selective college. Her mother just me told she’s back home and lifeguarding again this summer, the same summer job she’s had since high school. Am I wrong that this is a bad look? At her college career fair this fall, the only work experience on her resume is going to the same summer job 3 or 4 summers in a row, which is a gig any high school swimmer can get when they're 15 or 16.

[Anonymous]

1. This is really none of your business. It seems like you just came on here to rag on your niece.

2. No. It's not an internship, but you didn't need the internet to tell you that.

[Anonymous]

You are gloating as you try and get strangers to agree how your niece’s future career prospects are not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My niece goes to an expensive and selective college. Her mother just me told she’s back home and lifeguarding again this summer, the same summer job she’s had since high school. Am I wrong that this is a bad look? At her college career fair this fall, the only work experience on her resume is going to the same summer job 3 or 4 summers in a row, which is a gig any high school swimmer can get when they're 15 or 16.

What kind of lifeguard? At a crowded Ocean Beach It is pretty serious business. At some pools she might also be providing lessons. I would find out about her responsibilities before I start attacking her. She is also earning money so good for her.

[Anonymous]

Op, this isn’t a good look for you.

Any job is better than no job. You have no idea if she sent out 10s of resumes and nothing stuck.

Our company is providing 1/3 of the intern offers we did 2 years ago because of AI. And this is an industry that is historically BEGGING for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, this isn’t a good look for you.

Any job is better than no job. You have no idea if she sent out 10s of resumes and nothing stuck.

Our company is providing 1/3 of the intern offers we did 2 years ago because of AI. And this is an industry that is historically BEGGING for students.

Good point. Nobody really wants an AI lifeguard for their kid.

[Anonymous]

First of all, it is noe of your business. Secondly, having a lifeguarding job is better than no job. I work with college students looking for jobs every day, and it is a very tough market, even for rising seniors. She has a job, which is the main thing. I see too many students looking for jobs who didn't do anything before trying to find an internship summer before senior year and THAT is a bad look, not working as a life guard.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I would rather hire someone who has actually worked than have a fluffy internship.

It's possible that she now has more responsiblities - maybe she also manages scheduling, or training, or also the snack shack.

And kids have 40 years to work a more traditional job. Maybe she loves being a lifeguard and wants to keep doing it until the "real world" intervenes.

Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

My kid worked as a lifeguard for several years in HS and college, and worked up to being a manager. Helped them get a good internship but not until their rising senior year. Was offered a FT job after graduation.

[Anonymous]

My son goes to a cringingly expensive university (97K a year!) and for the 3rd year in a row, he will be a STEM camp mentor to middle schoolers on a military base. They like him, and always welcome him back.

He also, through dogged determination, got a valuable research opp at his university, with a professor he loves. It was a last minute thing, totally unexpected, after desperately searching for internships FOR MONTHS, and writing endless cover letters and cold-emailing many people.

He still has never had an internship in his life

But this is better. It shows that an employer is willing to hire him again and again. And the research thing with a famous person in his field is the cherry on top, because it's exactly the specific thing he wants to do in his future career. He will be able to name-drop and talk about his project in future job interviews.

No, this is not a bad look at all, OP. You clearly are looking for any excuse to diminish your niece's accomplishments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are gloating as you try and get strangers to agree how your niece’s future career prospects are not great.

Not in the slightest. I'm a little concerned for her. Our oldest won't start college until next year, so it's not like I'm saying my kids are better than their cousins or anything like that either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, it is noe of your business. Secondly, having a lifeguarding job is better than no job. I work with college students looking for jobs every day, and it is a very tough market, even for rising seniors. She has a job, which is the main thing. I see too many students looking for jobs who didn't do anything before trying to find an internship summer before senior year and THAT is a bad look, not working as a life guard.

I am trying to explain this to my nineteen year old who wants to spend the summer doing nothing.

[Anonymous]

It's a fine look, nosy auntie!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are gloating as you try and get strangers to agree how your niece’s future career prospects are not great.

Not in the slightest. I'm a little concerned for her. Our oldest won't start college until next year, so it's not like I'm saying my kids are better than their cousins or anything like that either.

Well if my kids were at the beach or the pool swimming, I want a trained lifeguard getting paid to help them if they need it. So good for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are gloating as you try and get strangers to agree how your niece’s future career prospects are not great.

Not in the slightest. I'm a little concerned for her. Our oldest won't start college until next year, so it's not like I'm saying my kids are better than their cousins or anything like that either.

Oh please, you are completely judging here. You may not be aware, but it is a very tough job market, particularly for young people without experience. Between AI, cutbacks in internship programs, and the global economy it's not easy to get a internship. The fact that she is welcome back at a previous job is a good sign in terms of her character and work ethic. Honestly, she's working a lot harder than some kids with fancy internships.