My daughter just finished her freshman year and came home from college nearly a month ago. She has filled out 17 job applications, both online and traditional paper. She has phoned and walked in to businesses to follow up. She has also enquired about job openings only to be told they want someone who can work beyond summer. I don’t understand. She is applying for retail jobs, and has worked as a cashier before. These are places that are advertising for part time help.
It’s looking unlikely she will find a job. We did not expect this. Apart from babysitting, she has no source of income this summer. Has this happened with other people? Any suggestions for ways she can earn some money this summer? We are flummoxed and really just assumed she would easily be able to get a job. Some of her friend are working at day camps, but it’s too late for that. The only other thing that can happen is that my husband will arrange for her to “intern” for a couple of weeks at his colleague’s office, so at lest she has something to put on a resume. Any advice?
She should continue to check her college’s job postings, including in the student newspaper. Many colleges have part time jobs for students that can be performed remotely such that she could work on it from home this summer, and continue it when she goes back in the fall. My daughter has that type of job. Also, is there a Skyzone, LazerTag or other type of indoor amusement business in your town. Those type of businesses constantly need staff to fill shifts.
Since many employers don’t want to train someone who leaves in a few months, I’d have her look for seasonal work. Local pools, landscaping companies, maybe greenhouses, fruit stands, etc.
@Lindagaf, some of my friends are reporting similar experiences with their kids. Maine’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in 32 years and there are help wanted signs everywhere. But kids are interviewing for lots of jobs and not hearing anything back. It’s weird.
This summer, my daughter, same age as yours, is working at the local YMCA as a summer camp counselor. She got the job because one of her good friends has been working there for several summers. It pays over $10 an hour and has regular working hours. And D loves working with 10-year-olds, luckily!
Restaurants? Especially in areas that are popular in the summer. Maybe a hostess or even busing tables. Retail tends to be slow in the summer so may not offer much in the way of employment.
I would still have her check summer camps. Some end up hiring late if a counselor backs out.
Otherwise, babysitting can be very lucrative if she can find enough hours.
She is not alone…I’ve known several kids the past few summers who struggled to do anything after their freshman summer. The reality is that good summer jobs are filled in January / February. Companies have fewer openings, and they use them to screen their potential full time hires next year. Freshman are just too young for them to be interested.
I think by May a lot of jobs are filled. My daughter just finished high school and was able to slide into a summer job as a lifeguard really late in the process, but only because the person who hired her was taking the same lifeguard course as a refresher. Next year we plan to have her start putting out apps during spring break.
Has your daughter tried waitressing jobs? They may be full, but even if she could pick up a shift now and then it would help. Are there temp agencies near you? They may be an option too. Can she tutor? She could put up notices in the local libraries and grocery stores. If you don’t need the money, try to find places where she can volunteer. That would give her references to use when she looks for jobs next spring.
My girls’ experience has been that it is best to begin lining up summer employment over spring break and to know what is seasonal work in your area. Where we are- it’s summer camps, lifeguarding, ice cream shops, or the seasonal canoe/kayak/zipline places. Also- area fitness centers may hire additional people for their onsite sitting service. Try your neighborhood facebook or NextDoor group to identify sitting (kid, pet, or house) opportunities.
She had a part time job last year but it was truly awful. She hated it and doesn’t want to go back. It was poorly run and the employees were treated badly.
If she likes animals, how about petsitting? She can let the people she babysits for know she’s available in case their neighbors or friends need somebody. Maybe a flyer at church, the local Post Office, anyplace with a public bulletin board.
Most kids here are camp counsellors after freshman . They get 10 bucks an hour plus babysitting jobs out of it. have your daughter at least talk to her friends in those jobs. My daughter went to summer school last year and wasn’t planning on working. She come home with a month of summer left and told all her Facebook friends she was Intersted in working. 2 days later she got a call that a camp had fired a counselor and she got the job.
It may be too late for this year but try things which might be considered more seasonal and not require as many year round staff. I’m thinking of car washes or plant nurseries or lawncare companies and someone else mentioned lifeguards, summer camps (usually they begin looking around Christmas break) if you’re in a colder weather state. Look for new businesses who often higher more people to begin with than they will need later.
I just passed a sign in my neighborhood ( a big college area) yesterday for a site called Care.com. It was clearly encouraging college kids to sign up and get jobs. They will likely be temp jobs, but she can pick up some cash and stay out of the house for the summer. I agree with above posters than next year, she should start trying to line up a summer job during spring break.
Yes many students are having this problem, even ones from top institutions, like most of my friends. I will say it will be better for your daughter to find a stable job near her campus, and keep it over the summer while taking summer classes. Unfortunately that means only coming home for a few weeks at a time during the year. Employers are far more wary of high turnover rates than ever before.
For the most part it really has to be a seasonal type job or some sort of internship for a college student, and they hire in the spring. Even minimum wage entry level jobs at restaurants and stores understandably don’t want to hire someone for three months. Even seasonal jobs can be iffy because college students aren’t available through Labor Day weekend.
Around here it is usually lifeguarding, ice cream stands, landscaping/nursery type labor, grocery stores(a continuation of a high school job), parks and rec. summer program, baby sitting, or a parent connection. All are long gone–can’t even imagine what kind of job could be found now.