Why can't my daughter find a job???

That’s nothing.

The summer that my daughter was 17 (before her high school senior year) – she spent all summer looking for a job, feeling out every retail or restaurant app she could find. She applied to at least 40 different places. No luck.

Then in October, one of the retailers where she had applied called her – so she took the job, after school & on weekends. It was a national chain store and working conditions were terrible, and they managed to find ways not to pay for all her hours – so she quit the job after a few months. (But a few years down the line got a nice little check in the mail as a result of a class action settlement againt the company for all of the back pay they owed workers).

In May of her senior year she had a friend who had a job with a major retailer, and through the friend found out about an opening and who to talk to about applying. Her interview involved a test related to the type of merchandise being sold – something that was no problem for her. So she got the job - and later found out that there had been more than 300 applications for the position.

But the point is, sometimes there is a period of several months between an application and a return call for an interview, and there is a lot of competition. And it helps to network rather than simply fill out apps.

Shoot, my husband and I sent out 273 resumes when we got out of grad school and got only a handful of replies! that was not fun. But we ended up in Maine, so I can’t complain. The employer called us months after the resumes went out.

Just noticed from above post that some (many?) applications have been online. IMO, for summer type jobs, you really need to pound the pavement and go in person.

Check your local Nextdoor (if you have one) or Facebook page as suggested earlier. Sadly most jobs are snapped up in the spring. She could offer tutoring and put signs up at the local grocery store. My younger son ended up doing a language study program in Jordan for this reason. His friends mostly seemed to have very part time gigs at the local beach clubs. If she can’t find a job, she might look for some volunteer work. Many eons ago I spent one summer giving tours at the National Cathedral and working putting together architectural walks for another organization in DC. It didn’t pay, but at least it was something I could put on my resume.

My younger son spent his subsequent college summers working at his college. They rent out dorms for the summer and need quite a few people to run the “hotel”. He ended up being the lead student supervisor the last summer.

I think she will have to get a volunteer gig, which is easy enough. @mathmom , yes, it’s something to put on an app.

Last year, she submitted an app, did nothing, and got a call a couple of weeks later to start that day. I always got any job I applied for, including the one I do now… I guess I am clueless about how the job market has changed.

To echo many here, she just started too late.

At my U, we employ summer employees on my research project and these are filled by mid-April at the latest.

The summer jobs I worked in college were all filled by early May.

Maybe its been mentioned already, but how about volunteering at the local humane society or we just did a local Race For Life event for cancer research.

Try some of the temporary work sites. She may not be eligible for an office temp job, but there can be some short-term gigs that could help. Or as someone said the various websites for jobs.

My D worked at a nursing home in the dining room one summer. Horrible job, so it had lots of turnover and they didn’t mind that she was only available during the summer.

Some of my kids’ friends did not disclose they would be returning to college in the fall, and were hired by restaurants, but my kids didn’t feel comfortable doing that.

My S worked as a camp counselor one summer, but the application process started in January.

My D worked as an office temporary as well - she liked that much better than the nursing home!

Craigslist search for “summer” or “college”. Indeed.com



My S sent about 100 this summer. He finally got a job after 4 weeks

We are in the Chicago area, and most restaurants with a patio need summer help. Either bussers or hosts or servers.

I would walk in and apply.

Are there any businesses near you that would be particularly busy over the summertime? My son easily got a job at a local Boomer’s, an amusement park/arcade near us, they were desperate for staff over the summer. The trick is to think it through, what businesses tend to get busy over the summer?!

I agree with previous posters that it’s very important to “pound the pavement”. Our process is this - I drive the kid to the local strip mall, Main St., etc. (ideally one with a variety of locally owned businesses.) Kid goes in to EVERY storefront, smiles and politely asks whether they are hiring - regardless of whether there is a sign posted. We’ve been successful with this method every time. Also, kid does not volunteer that they only want the summer - but tells the truth, if asked.

If you want a summer job the time to start applying is as soon as she gets home from college. By now, a business has already hired all the summer help it needs. Maybe look into volunteer work. It might be unpaid, but at least she would have something on her resume for the summer.

Sometimes it is luck. D #1 was in England for the spring semester, but came back to a job her roommate from London had suggested. She’d also applied to a local movie theater, they took 4 weeks and 3 interviews but did hire her. She started, hated it, and quit. The job she has is renting boats at the city park. She loves it. It is definitely seasonal.

Other daughter got a VERY late start on trying to set up a job, but just started one this week at a civil eng firm. Just luck.

Both supplement their ‘day jobs’ with babysitting, dog sitting, house watching for people they’ve known for year. My niece and nephew used to do that too. My nephew is doing an internship with a professor, but supplements it with referee work on weekends.

I don’t think it is too late for camp counselors or other seasonal jobs. Kids leave their jobs all the time and replacements are needed.

Is there a company that does valet parking in your area? They are always looking for people. My son is valeting this summer and making good money.

^^ I have a question, @Proudpatriot Does your son know how to drive a manual car? I always wonder about that when I’m offered valet parking as an option. Since I have a manual car, I always wonder if they can really park it. I’m too cheap to pay for valet parking, but I wonder.

My daughter can drive a manual and I suggested she try for a valet job. Her car is a 1978 VW Bus. She’s always trying to teach other 18-20 year olds (and even her boyfriend who is 23) to drive. She wouldn’t have trouble with a manual, but I can’t imagine her trying to drive a big Hummer or jacked up truck as she’s only 5’3".

Restaurants- not chains. Have her walk in to a busy local place or 2. Especially by the lake or beach if possible. Hostess, busgirl, etc. Alot of places are short-staffed because of vacations.



She needs to go in person-midmorning if they do lunch or mid afternoon for dinner places.



Online and email searches don’t work for local restaurants.

Exactly, @thumper1! My son got a job working at a summer camp, and his lifeguard certification took only a few days and was free.

She should talk to her high school friends who work around town and let them know that she needs a job. Many openings are filled through current employees.