My daughter is a senior. She works at Chipotle. Her 1 year "anniversary" is coming up in March. It's been an awesome experience. I am now a HUGE believer in teens getting jobs, preferably retail, fast food, lifeguarding, etc. (i.e., not working in dad's office).

Plus babysitting gigs since she was 13 or so.

I worked in a factory as a temp admin helping with hiring for a couple weeks, damn did I appreciate college after that.

Anonymous wrote:Camp counselor and lifeguard. I’d have preferred them to work retail like I did to realize that people are dumb assholes.

Lifeguards learned that during COVID for sure.

Camp counselor and lifeguard. I’d have preferred them to work retail like I did to realize that people are dumb assholes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college bound DC has done a lot of volunteer work but never had a paid job. She wants to get a job this spring/summer before going to college. What kind of jobs would you recommend?

Hard labor. Seriously. Nothing helped my son more than working construction with his Dad and seeing what true hard work is.

+1

Another benefit is that these are actually good skills to have. DH has a white collar job but he also does things like lay concrete for our walkway. I do fold burritos really well but that’s about all Taco Bell has done for me.

+2. I (a woman) worked construction over the summers and the experiences changed my life. Not only the skills but the true labor. My DD will start in construction this summer as she turns 16.

Unpaid internship on the Hill

I worked at a pumpkin patch and lifeguarded for a few summers. Tried working at a store at the mall and hated it. I also worked the snack bar at a country club golf course. DH said he worked at a garden center in high school and cleaned residential pools with a pool company one summer.

what does this has to do with college admissions?

smoothie shop, front desk at tutoring center, office assistant

Dishwasher first then line cook

My son is working weekends in a restaurant right now. He comes home with aching feet and exhausted. He talks of tedium and repetitive tasks, but seems to be proud of it -- because he has never quite been comfortable with his privilege.

In addition to learning what it takes to earn minimum wage in this country, he has made friends who are truly outside of his socio-economic circle (aside from some fellow students) for the first time in his life. He has gained a better understanding that the cleaners and cooks around him lead rich, complicated lives their aren't completely unlike his own. Except some of them have to drive two hours each way to get to this job, and few enjoy the security or opportunities that he has.

This has been character-building in so many ways. Better than any of the internship of paid summer programming that he has participated in. I did the same in high school and I'd bet that, like me, DC is going to tip very well for the rest of his life.

My kid was a counselor in training at the Y, but that did not pay. She also pet sat a few times.

DS (college freshman) has done babysitting, camp counselor, after-school program staff, and cashier at a bakery

DD (junior) has worked as staff at a sleep-away camp, primarily working in the kitchen, and plans to work there again this summer as a counselor.

When I was in HS I did babysitting, cashier at a fast food restaurant (summer job), general office assistant (during school year), cashier at an Italian market (summer)

1st kid - McDonald’s then Walmart in the back stocking and unloaded

2nd - Arbys

Anonymous wrote:My DS works at a fast food restaurant, taking orders outside. Pretty tough during the winter.

He goes outside or he is in the window?