Summer jobs for 16-year-olds — can we make a list?

[Anonymous]

Fast food. No one wants to work there, especially 20somethings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-where is your kid lifeguarding as a 15 yo? I thought you had to be 16.

NP here…Red Cross lifeguard certification minimum age is 15 and while I’m not in OPs area, all of the pool management companies around me definitely hire kids that age.

[Anonymous]

Sarah's Handmade, Playa Bowl, Max's Best Ice Cream, Olazzo (hostess), smaller businesses (RIP Henry's Sweet Retreat), HeyTea, The Baked Bear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It is tough out there. Teens are competing with 20-somethings and in some cases, older adults, for jobs. I’m hearing that from many corners, which is why I’m gathering a list now. I’ll have a better idea where to start come December.

What is the goal of her working? Is it money, keeping her busy, something else? If it's just to occupy her and you can afford to pay her an allowance, consider giving her chores, errands, cooking for the household, etc.

Summer nanny is always in demand, especially if she can drive, but 16 is young for a lot of parents to consider. Grocery bagger is a possibility.

[Anonymous]

The goal is teaching her responsibility, a work ethic, keeping her busy and money — all of it. Also, giving her exposure to different people and different kinds of work. Right now, she doesn’t have a clue what she’d like to study in college or what she’d like to do for a job in life. I realize she’s young for that, but she’s not going to figure that out by laying around surfing social media or hanging out at the mall all summer.

She isn’t scared of working and wants to work — this isn’t something we’re forcing on her.

Frankly, I don’t want to pay her for chores — that’s part of being in a family and doing your part. She has gotten paid for extras but it isn’t the same and it isn’t enough. She needs to start learning how the world works.

[Anonymous]

^^ I agree-- do not pay your kid for chores! And I agree that working exposes you to different kinds of people, and asks you to step up in a way that you won't with your family, friends, or sports team. I think it makes people more mature.

[Anonymous]

Does she like kids? Summer nanny is a popular one. I liked hiring college kids because my kids thought they were more fun than 25+ women. 16 is a bit young, but a lot of people telework and are home as well, so it could still work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ I agree-- do not pay your kid for chores! And I agree that working exposes you to different kinds of people, and asks you to step up in a way that you won't with your family, friends, or sports team. I think it makes people more mature.

SAME. I give zero money for chores and hate that other people do. Chores are part of being in a family.

I think of all the things that made me mature, babysitting was #1. I babysat after school for 3 hours, 3 days a week. I also babysat other families on Fri/Sat nights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS started working at a local boarding kennel when he turned 16. He likes animals, dogs in particular. He also is an ADHD kid and it keeps him moving since he is walking dogs, cleaning up, etc throughout the day.

He's still working there PT while taking community college courses now at 19.

Whoa, is this a chain or a local spot? My kid would love to work at a boarding kennel one day (also a kid with ADHD who loves, loves, and I mean LOVES, dogs.)

I'm not in the DMV area unfortunately. In Richmond. But, I'm sure that they are around your area as well. It's a local spot with (2) branches and we lucked out and one of them is a 5 minute drive from our house. It made it easy for us before he got his license to get him to his work shifts - he walked home sometimes since it was so close. He likes it since his "customers" don't complain - he has said multiple times that he likes the behind the scenes aspect of the job. While most of their customers are dogs, they also board cats and other animals - he's had anything from exotic birds to rabbits and guinea pigs too. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 13yo is currently refereeing soccer games. Its not really a summer job. Its seasonal but shes making $20-$40 per game depending on the league. She does 2 games in a Saturday and makes $40-$80 for that.
The certification wasnt too hard. Approx 5 hours online and 5 hours in person.
Also has ADHD but loves soccer.

My 14 yr old referees as well. Do you know if there are any summer games that need refs in Fairfax county?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The goal is teaching her responsibility, a work ethic, keeping her busy and money — all of it. Also, giving her exposure to different people and different kinds of work. Right now, she doesn’t have a clue what she’d like to study in college or what she’d like to do for a job in life. I realize she’s young for that, but she’s not going to figure that out by laying around surfing social media or hanging out at the mall all summer.

She isn’t scared of working and wants to work — this isn’t something we’re forcing on her.

Frankly, I don’t want to pay her for chores — that’s part of being in a family and doing your part. She has gotten paid for extras but it isn’t the same and it isn’t enough. She needs to start learning how the world works.

I would also add that the process of getting a job is also valuable. DD worked for the first time last year, when she was 15. Went through an interview, filled out all the tax forms, etc. She interviewed a lot to land her summer job, and the process and rejections also taught her a lot. She is much better at communicating now, follows-up when she does not hear back, writes more professionally, knows how to dress, etc.

As a counterpoint to that, I have a nephew who is a college freshman. Great kid. Very hard working, honest, ethical, etc. A friend of the family setup an interview for him, which he did not pass. For starters, he showed up freshly showered with messy hair, and wearing a T-shirt. The friend was in the interview, and even when she lobbed softballs at him, he didn't know what to do with it. Like when she asked him about the decade plus he had spent playing soccer at a high level, he could not translate it to how he should talk about team work, work ethic, supporting his team mates, all the sort of stuff that could directly translate to work life. Even with significant coaching, he still has a hard time connecting pieces of his non-work related experience to work. After watching him, the friend talked to her kids about how to prepare for interviews, because she had not realized that this is something you have to train for.

[Anonymous]

Edith’s Pizza and the New Balance store in Bethesda both hire 16 year olds.

[Anonymous]

DCs have worked at ice cream shop, bakery, movie theater, Target, tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Nothing Bundt Cakes hires teens.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to the PP who talked about interviewing. This is something I’ve talked to my DD about and she doesn’t want my help (but needs it). She can dress the part but needs help answering questions. She can smile and look pretty but does not know how to express herself articulately.

I’ve also done her tax forms etc for her; it seemed like there were a million (she has no patience for it, gets very frustrated very quickly). I know I shouldn’t but it literally would not get done if I didn’t and the kid needs to work.