Summer hiring for teens - please help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Those posting "camp counselor" -- nope. Many camp counseling jobs were taken long ago. It's not like June hits and camps suddenly realize, oh, we need counselors. They might have an occasional opening if someone has to drop out/gets sick/whatever at the last second, but most camp counselor jobs go to kids who already know that camp and are known by that camp. Not something you just waltz into at the last second. I was an adult staffer at a summer camp for five summers pretty recently, and our teen staffers were committed as far back as January of that year.

Also, agree with the PP above re: lifeguarding. It's a serious pursuit with lives on the line and you must pass tests and get certifications.

OP, the best response is the one where the person said your son should set up some things like yard work, dog walking, anything that lets him set up his own hours and by-the-hour tasks. I know -- that's not always easy to do either. Wish I knew you - I would LOVE to hire a go-getter local teen to do some yard work for us but know no one to ask and there aren't teens just hanging out in our neighborhood....

For day camps this is not true:

https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=camp+counselor&l=Bethesda%2C+MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My teen walked around the mall near us with resumes and got something within an hour. Applying online didn’t work, but being there in person did! Can your teen try this? Lots of places are hiring.

Agree with this approach and another PP who mentioned the same. That said, I do think companies should stop telling people to apply online if in person is the actual way to get hired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ think companies, especially big chains, are being too picky and then whining about the lack of labor. Really, how hard is it to teach someone to run a cash register? ”

+1
Companies are always whining about labor

+1. They have databases with tons of applicants(particularly right now) but also want to be especially picky about who they select. ThereEither you’re desperate for workers and therefore are going to hire people or you’re not desperate and are going to pick and choose as you desire. But labor shortage this is not.

[Anonymous]

I know that in the Carolinas places are desperate for workers right now. Restaurants are having to close down because they can’t fully staff them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that in the Carolinas places are desperate for workers right now. Restaurants are having to close down because they can’t fully staff them.

OP's kid is 17. He's not going to uproot and move to the Carolinas for a summer job.
And 17 is too young to even find some type of group housing or temporary housing like Airbnb. Unless OP happens to have a close friend or family member that can house her kid, there's no way for him to get a job down there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 weeks is a really short time to be available to work. It’s not even all summer. Your teen will have more luck doing yard work, sports coaching, babysitting, tutoring...where he finds his own customers and sets his own hours.

When they ask how long you will be available to work just say that you are looking for options that you can continue into the Fall.

Teaching your kid to lie. That's great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:M daughters had low response online. Walk your application/resume over and speak to a manger. Both kids got hired when they did this.

I was going to post this, have not read the rest of the thread yet, but get all scrubbed up, go in and act eager.

[Anonymous]

My kid had an easy time getting a job with Fairfax Co Parks and Rec. but he was able to start a week before Memorial Day and work until a week after Labor Day and it’s a truly seasonal position. It’s only $11/hour, but he’s outside most of the time. He was offered a job as a sticker in a grocery store. It paid more, but even with COVID winding down, I feel better with him outside. It was also going to be largely late night stocking, which isn’t great.

[Anonymous]

I'm not local, but my teen found her job by going in-person like PPs have mentioned.

[Anonymous]

15y old got certified as a lifeguard as soon as he turned 15. Was hired before he even had the certification. Is working 20 hrs/week until school get out and then FT after that. He is making 11.75/hr and can walk to work. He is loving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 weeks is a really short time to be available to work. It’s not even all summer. Your teen will have more luck doing yard work, sports coaching, babysitting, tutoring...where he finds his own customers and sets his own hours.

When they ask how long you will be available to work just say that you are looking for options that you can continue into the Fall.

And then kiss that place goodbye when you are looking for references.

It will be 5 years before hourly customer interacting employers ask about references. They need warm bodies, they don’t care about references.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:M daughters had low response online. Walk your application/resume over and speak to a manger. Both kids got hired when they did this.

This is the way to do it. In person works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 weeks is a really short time to be available to work. It’s not even all summer. Your teen will have more luck doing yard work, sports coaching, babysitting, tutoring...where he finds his own customers and sets his own hours.

When they ask how long you will be available to work just say that you are looking for options that you can continue into the Fall.

And then kiss that place goodbye when you are looking for references.

It will be 5 years before hourly customer interacting employers ask about references. They need warm bodies, they don’t care about references.

DD15 needed two revert for her summer job. Luckily, her two former Girl Scout leaders were willing to do it.

[Anonymous]

The watermine is hiring. I always thought it looked like a fun place for teens to work when I used to take my kids there. It looks like they will train if he’s not certified. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/watermine/employment-opportunities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Those posting "camp counselor" -- nope. Many camp counseling jobs were taken long ago. It's not like June hits and camps suddenly realize, oh, we need counselors. They might have an occasional opening if someone has to drop out/gets sick/whatever at the last second, but most camp counselor jobs go to kids who already know that camp and are known by that camp. Not something you just waltz into at the last second. I was an adult staffer at a summer camp for five summers pretty recently, and our teen staffers were committed as far back as January of that year.

Also, agree with the PP above re: lifeguarding. It's a serious pursuit with lives on the line and you must pass tests and get certifications.

OP, the best response is the one where the person said your son should set up some things like yard work, dog walking, anything that lets him set up his own hours and by-the-hour tasks. I know -- that's not always easy to do either. Wish I knew you - I would LOVE to hire a go-getter local teen to do some yard work for us but know no one to ask and there aren't teens just hanging out in our neighborhood....

Most pools in our area are looking for lifeguards but they need to be lifeguard certified and CPR certified.