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Beyond the Lemonade Stand: Summer Job Ideas for Teens

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School’s out, steamy mirages hover on sun-baked streets and the smell of chlorine and sunblock hangs in the air. It may be the dog days of summer, but for many area teens, it’s the season that signals pounding the pavement for part-time work. In this tough job market, enterprising teens who take a creative approach to summer employment may find it easier to rake in extra cash without competing with more seasoned job-seekers.

 

Teens should begin by talking to family, friends and relatives. Ask if they know of entrepreneurs seeking to hire summer help.

 

“Entrepreneurism has grown dramatically, and it’s not solely attributable to people wanting to be their own boss. It’s coming out of necessity,” says Pam Dobies, a business management instructor and director of UMKC’s Bloch School Career Network. “People are forced into finding ways to make money and forced to go out on their own to pick up a few extra bucks.”

 

Also consider jobs that can evolve into interim work during the school year, a college internship or a full-time job after graduating college.

 

Alvin Tan, an international student at UMKC and entrepreneur, says summer is a good time to take advantage of learning opportunities to explore your interests. He recalls shadowing his parents, both financial planners, when they met with clients.

 

“Start when you are still young and have little commitment. Those are the best times to get involved and active,” says Tan. He is in the process of starting several newproducts, including Natural Husk Ware, which is all-natural dishwasher-safe biodegradable tableware made out of rice husk and tree sap, and a portable dog feces vacuum that he expects to launch early next year.

 

Last summer, Lanie Dunn, 17, a junior at Blue Valley High School, channeled her entrepreneurial spirit into a non-profit she calls “Shoes for Paws: An Animal Cause.” She crafted artistic designs on shoes and donated the proceeds to a local animal shelter. While she continues to work out the marketing of her business, she takes pleasure in the creative process.

“I really enjoyed decorating these shoes for people. I saw how many people liked them and it made me happy to see them enjoy them. It’s a good feeling that people really like what you are doing, not only because of the cause, but because of what you created,” Dunn says.

Need job ideas that might work for your teen? Dobies offers the following tips:

Market yourself, network and carefully manage your image.

 

“Build a network starting now. Burn no bridges and be very mindful about how others perceive you. Connect with people who can provide great letters of recommendation,” Dobies says.

 

Create an album or portfolio highlighting your products or services. Ask your clients to write comments to include in your portfolio.

 

“Show what a fabulous person, reliable person, productive person and positive person you are,” Dobies says.

As the adage goes, if at first you don’t succeed, keep trying.

 

“Persistence is a requirement in order to be successful in this world!” Dobies says. “As well as integrity, we don’t have enough of that,” she adds.

Christa Hines is a freelance writer in Olathe. Visit her at www.ChristaHines.net

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