Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:51
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
If you are serious about wanting to help your kids, OP, you need to start to be open minded- there are lots of jobs and kids and kids/adults can decide. In my opinion (as a business owner that hires people) and a parent of two young adults, working hard at a job that wants you is awesome and that kind of grit is really good for future employment. It’s also important to model for your kids that they are not “too good” for some jobs- starting out is hard and maybe that will lead to something else.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:46
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
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.
I think this is a bad look for you, OP.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:41
Subject: Re:For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
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.
You probably had a pretty big opinion and hefty "concern" regarding your sister's pregnancy and parenting skills too.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:35
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Any work experience is good, returning to the same employer is a good look, lifeguarding shows responsibility and interpersonal skills, especially if also combined with giving lessons, managing some aspect of the staff (which often comes with more years).
FWIW, the summer after freshman year my DD had a job with our local park service - doing natural resources work, fairly menial hard labor but is related to her environmental science major. Sophomore year she had a big study away experience in Spring semester so she opted to not job hunt at all because she'd been asked back to the parks. Did a 2nd summer there, was a team lead because she was more experienced. Was able to get a formal internship with a large organization in the field for her rising senior summer on the strength of that experience.
Regardless of how expensive and selective the college is, internships are really hard to get these days. Any work experience is good and showing commitment and advancement is good too.
FWIW, the summer after freshman year my DD had a job with our local park service - doing natural resources work, fairly menial hard labor but is related to her environmental science major. Sophomore year she had a big study away experience in Spring semester so she opted to not job hunt at all because she'd been asked back to the parks. Did a 2nd summer there, was a team lead because she was more experienced. Was able to get a formal internship with a large organization in the field for her rising senior summer on the strength of that experience.
Regardless of how expensive and selective the college is, internships are really hard to get these days. Any work experience is good and showing commitment and advancement is good too.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:34
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
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.
You are wrong to be so meddlesome, yes. You worry about you.
Wow.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:33
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
At least she's making money instead of getting exploited in some unpaid internship like a squid while looking down her nose at kids working regular summer jobs, convinced she's setting herself up for some fabulous career that might not exist in two years. Don't be a chud.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:28
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
YATA OP.
Have you read a newspaper lately to understand the job market?
Have you read a newspaper lately to understand the job market?
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:26
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
+1 Just because something is labeled internship doesn't make it a great opportunity. Your niece may not have been able to find a paying internship (lots of college kids can't, and don't have the family money to take an unpaid internship), or she may just like being out in the sunshine for one last year until she has to do a 9-5 job.
Either way, I envy the OP with her faux concern for her lifeguarding niece being such a big "problem" in her life that she had to ask strangers on DCUM about it.
I'm asking out of both slight concern and to better understand the landscape for our own children as they prepare for college. Thanks.
Did you try talking to your niece about how her summer plans came about?
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:22
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
My DD is a rising college junior and she will be lifeguarding again this summer. I’ve spent zero time worrying about how this will look to future employers.
She’s been employed at the same pool for four years, which shows loyalty and longevity. It’s also a job that requires self-discipline and responsibility to do it well (and we want our lifeguards to do the job well).
OP, she’ll be fine.
She’s been employed at the same pool for four years, which shows loyalty and longevity. It’s also a job that requires self-discipline and responsibility to do it well (and we want our lifeguards to do the job well).
OP, she’ll be fine.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:18
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
+1 Just because something is labeled internship doesn't make it a great opportunity. Your niece may not have been able to find a paying internship (lots of college kids can't, and don't have the family money to take an unpaid internship), or she may just like being out in the sunshine for one last year until she has to do a 9-5 job.
Either way, I envy the OP with her faux concern for her lifeguarding niece being such a big "problem" in her life that she had to ask strangers on DCUM about it.
I'm asking out of both slight concern and to better understand the landscape for our own children as they prepare for college. Thanks.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:16
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote: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.
+1 Just because something is labeled internship doesn't make it a great opportunity. Your niece may not have been able to find a paying internship (lots of college kids can't, and don't have the family money to take an unpaid internship), or she may just like being out in the sunshine for one last year until she has to do a 9-5 job.
Either way, I envy the OP with her faux concern for her lifeguarding niece being such a big "problem" in her life that she had to ask strangers on DCUM about it.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:13
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote: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.
+1 You sound not particularly bright OP. Be glad that your niece is happy and healthy and gainfully employed.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:12
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Maybe she worked up to being a manager. This position can give her excellent skills (leadership, conflict resolution, scheduling, delegating tasks) and references. My rising college senior got a lot interviews for internships, but did not get one. He will work at his summer restaurant job again this summer. The internships are few, and much harder to come by.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:08
Subject: Re:For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote: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.
Her mother didn't share anything about her looking for, interviewing for, and not getting other "real" internships. She knew she could do the lifeguard thing, again, so I guess she didn't bother pursuing any other opportunities.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:06
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote: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.
After two years of expensive college, the only job she's equipped for is...the same unskilled job high school kids can get at age 15? That's a little bit puzzling. I'm not saying she is, but on a resume, it seems really unambitious.