Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:55
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Comments here about OP are pretty harsh. Yes, having any job is better than sitting at home for 3 months. But lifeguarding (again) at this stage in college will put this student at a disadvantage when she graduates and enters the job market, absent family connections. Internships are an important stepping stone to future employment.
Forgot to add, I am pretty sure the niece already knows her lifeguarding job is not ideal. I hope OP is not pointing that out to the mom or the niece.
But there aren’t enough internships to go around. So many have been cut. So glad the niece has a summer job. There are many college students out there still looking for regular service-type summer jobs.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:54
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Comments here about OP are pretty harsh. Yes, having any job is better than sitting at home for 3 months. But lifeguarding (again) at this stage in college will put this student at a disadvantage when she graduates and enters the job market, absent family connections. Internships are an important stepping stone to future employment.
No. A lot internships are meaningless. What matters is what you do in the position you have, regardless of its title, and how to explain this on the resume and the interview.
Just like for a college app - what matters is explaining what you did and why it matters.
OP was clearly judging in the most horrific manner, so she deserves to be judged the same way.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:54
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Comments here about OP are pretty harsh. Yes, having any job is better than sitting at home for 3 months. But lifeguarding (again) at this stage in college will put this student at a disadvantage when she graduates and enters the job market, absent family connections. Internships are an important stepping stone to future employment.
But there aren’t enough internships to go around. So many have been cut. So glad the niece has a summer job. There are many college students out there still looking for regular service-type summer jobs.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:49
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Comments here about OP are pretty harsh. Yes, having any job is better than sitting at home for 3 months. But lifeguarding (again) at this stage in college will put this student at a disadvantage when she graduates and enters the job market, absent family connections. Internships are an important stepping stone to future employment.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:16
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.
Bull crap. Otherwise, why did you feel the need to say that she goes to an "expensive and selective college" and title your post "For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?"
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:54
Subject: Re:For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
My rising Junior needs a job... so many of his college friends don't have summer jobs planned either.... and not rushing to get one....
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:51
Subject: Re:For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
She is in good company. HS age kids can’t get lifeguarding jobs at our MoCo neighborhood job because the college student lifeguards have taken the spots because they have experience and get hired over HS kids.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:49
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
I know several lifeguards this past cycle.
One headed to Tulane. One headed to Pomona. One headed to Dartmouth.
One headed to Tulane. One headed to Pomona. One headed to Dartmouth.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:46
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
How dare someone aged 18-22 not be doing some meaningless corporate opportunity like they will for the rest of their lives!
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:43
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Life guard is a great job figgy school and college students. Period.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:41
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I would rather hire someone who has actually worked than have a fluffy internship.
It's possible that she now has more responsiblities - maybe she also manages scheduling, or training, or also the snack shack.
And kids have 40 years to work a more traditional job. Maybe she loves being a lifeguard and wants to keep doing it until the "real world" intervenes.
Sheesh.
Lifeguards don’t do food. My kid lifeguards. Good money and training.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:39
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I would rather hire someone who has actually worked than have a fluffy internship.
It's possible that she now has more responsiblities - maybe she also manages scheduling, or training, or also the snack shack.
And kids have 40 years to work a more traditional job. Maybe she loves being a lifeguard and wants to keep doing it until the "real world" intervenes.
Sheesh.
+1
And she keeps getting hired back, so she's proving she's responsible and reliable in a job with real consequences if you screw up or flake out.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:22
Subject: Re:For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Anonymous wrote: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.
Maybe they didn't share with you because you're a nosy, busy body who isn't supportive of her family. Honestly, you should be ashamed. Healthy family relationships are a gift to be treasured.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 15:12
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
Glad that you said lifeguard, not fast food chain job.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:54
Subject: For a rising college junior, lifeguarding is not a “real” summer job/internship, right?
If the family has money, it's not a problem OP. They don't care.
If the family has no money and she's there on a scholarship, it may be that she can't afford to take an unpaid internship.
If the family expects her to come back to where they live and only live there, it might be better she take a local position, whatever that is.
If the family has no money and she's there on a scholarship, it may be that she can't afford to take an unpaid internship.
If the family expects her to come back to where they live and only live there, it might be better she take a local position, whatever that is.