<p>This is the first summer that i won't have spent at camp and i need help finding a summer job. I would be interested in some sort of research position. Pretty much i want to work somewhere besides a camp and an ice cream/food/movie theatre type job. I know this is being kind of picky, but does anyone know where to look for research or other types of jobs? Most that i have found either want you to actually have been in college or there are programs for people still in high school, and i feel like the in between time period is leaving me jobless.</p>
<p>Find a family friend and see if you can work in his/her office. I worked as an eighth grader in my dad's medical office last summer alongside high schoolers. For those kinds of jobs, you won't be paid tips or anything, and you won't have the fun of working alongside your friends (which is a huge perk of a typical summer job--seriously consider lifeguarding!), but you'll be in the air conditioning! And with those types of jobs, look for companies that have a lot of filing that no one in the office wants to do. Like, my dad's business was transferring paper files to the computer. </p>
<p>You won't be getting anything too terribly "job-like." You can basically do the grunge work at an office or do nothing terribly stimulating at an ice-cream shop (hey, free ice cream!). </p>
<p>Whoops, I realized you just said research. But still following that same advice, find a family friend in that field or at a local college. I'm sure there are some low-flying profs who would love a kid to help out with research.</p>
<p>As a researcher, I can't imagine what you might do as your first job. You would get as much, if not more, benefit from working in an ice cream parlor or store, having to interact with people, do sales, or something of that nature. It would build your character, you know, as a person. </p>
<p>I have great difficulty employing, for free, even college kids without experience. I've tried a few things but really, as a highschool student, it's probably not realistic. I am overseeing a HS student's internship at the moment, but even that required a lot of work on my part just to find something he could do and be of use to me (and its a short term, free thing and all for him, not me). My daughter is in HS, and she can run errands for me, sort stuff, and do little things in the lab, but it's not 'research' as I think you might be picturing. I have graduate students for my real work. And both she and I would MUCH rather have her riding horses, or organizing a fund raiser with her friends, or working at McDonalds. Normal kid stuff, you know? But don't worry, it's back in fashion now.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. And starbright, i completely understand you not wanting high schoolers to do the real work. but is there anything in the lab setting you would let a high schooler do? I know if i got a job it wouldn't be actually doing research, but i would like something in the research setting just to get a sense of it (since, as you have pointed out, i have no real experience. just science fair and lab based science classes)</p>
<p>I've spent my summers away at camp since i was in 5th grade, but i feel like i'm ready to do something more. I love my camp, but i also want some real experience. There is also this whole thing my brother went through where no one wanted to hire him for any engineering internship over the summer for the past few years because he didn't have any experience (he is graduating from college this spring). but how are you supposed to get experience if no one will hire you without any?</p>
<p>Well, volunteer work is one thing you can do. No, it's not employment but it's very close and because you're not paid, it might be easier to find it. </p>
<p>Working retail isn't that terrible. It's a good starter job and after this summer, you might have the ability to go back, if you want. At least, you'll have something on your resume. Whether or not you like it, you deal with people and that's always interesting...</p>
<p>Jobs in high school aren't glamorous. But, if you look hard, you might get lucky.</p>
<p>It's the classic catch 22, I know. Can't get a job without experience but how to get experience? I recall feeling the same way!</p>
<p>As the poster above says, being a volunteer first is a good idea for the 'cool jobs'. Alternatively, getting ANY paid work experience first is useful because it will demonstrate that you have general experience and employer letter of recommendation which can tell your future employer that you are reliable, punctual, hard working etc. </p>
<p>I can't speak for all labs, there is huge variability (depending upon size, staff, what is the research focus and methodology). So my experience and my lab may be different than other professors. But in all cases, you are competing with undergraduates who will often work for free just to get experience. </p>
<p>It's great you have so much enthusiasm. And I completely understand why you'd want to get closer to the thing you are passionate about. Your only problem is you are trying to jump a few steps and I do not think it's a realistic goal. </p>
<p>I do not mean to be discouraging because others may have some great suggestions for you. Keep in mind too that my opinion is only based on my own experience and also not knowing all the details about you other than what you've shared.</p>