Anonymous wrote:Pre-covid our teen had some trouble (and it was mentioned confidentially) they wanted workers who were not heading to college. They wanted low wage workers without many other future prospects.

This the problem. Places want someone who will stay on in the fall. That rules out most students.

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.

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.

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.

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....

Dunkin Donuts by me starts at $15/hr.

I was a WaWa yesterday and they started at teen at 13/hr and 800 bonus. When the kid said she could start right away they handed her a black polo, hat, smock, said go put this on and wash your hands.

As a former restaurant owner, a lot of money goes into training someone- even as a hostess, and there are req. for that at the big chains. You can't hire someone for 6-8 weeks period- even at a mom and pop, they won't all of a sudden not need your son in 8 weeks, so why wouldn't they want to hire someone who would stay longer over him? Has nothing to do with low wage worker nonsense, just good business sense.
Need to look at a seasonal place for a seasonal job. His best bet would have been lifeguarding, but you needed to train earlier for that. But keep in mind for next year.

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.

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

Most of the chains will hire them. Target will.

Pre-covid our teen had some trouble (and it was mentioned confidentially) they wanted workers who were not heading to college. They wanted low wage workers without many other future prospects.

Dominos in McLean has a sign that they have a 500 signing bonus.

Anonymous wrote:I've seen signs everywhere. My DS turned 16 in April. He found a local country club was hiring for a lot of seasonal positions on Indeed. He applied and heard back right away. He had a Zoom interview and was hired within two days. He started last week. I've also seen summer camps pop up on my FB feed. Rover Valley Ranch is one that comes to mind. There is also another one in NH that begins with a Q that keeps showing up.

^River


Here's the NH camp: https://www.campquinebarge.com/staff/

I've seen signs everywhere. My DS turned 16 in April. He found a local country club was hiring for a lot of seasonal positions on Indeed. He applied and heard back right away. He had a Zoom interview and was hired within two days. He started last week. I've also seen summer camps pop up on my FB feed. Rover Valley Ranch is one that comes to mind. There is also another one in NH that begins with a Q that keeps showing up.

They depend on where you live, but with summer tourism opening up our area needs people in food service type jobs everywhere you look. Try craigslist? Might mean starting with a low level job like dishwashing if no prior experience but restaurants are great options for seasonal work for students.

A lot of teens are too picky about where they work. Not saying that's the case here, but my friends kids who complain have a list of jobs they won't do. Also, PP is correct--many places won't respond to online applications for low level jobs because it ends up wasting the manager's time. Go to the place, get an application, fill it out, then ask to meet with the hiring person when you bring it in. Coffee shops, retail, restaurants, grocery stores, best approach for them al.

To all the PPs talking about lifeguards-you have to be certified, and it's not as easy as people think. Although I did hear they lowered the standards somewhat due to the shortage. It's also not an easy job, especially at public pools.

For the swim portion, you have to swim 300 yards either breastroke or freestyle, without switching strokes. Tread water for 2 minutes without using your hands. Swim 20 yards (ungoggled) to retrieve a brick from 10' of water, swim with the brick back to your starting location holding it throughout the swim. The brick cannot be submerged, and two hands must be holding the brick throughout the swim. That one is usually hard for people.