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

If she just wants quick cash type of job (and not something to post on her resume type of job) have her go to your local Chinese restaurant for a delivery driver job … friends have found most pay small amount under the table but you keep tips and they hire drivers all the time without looking for any long term commitments. Gas, car insurance etc is all on you but its good quick easy money and hours are usually like 5-10pm.

Someone mentioned Nextdoor.com – a young college woman I know posted on there she was looking for summer work. She got so many inquiries about babysitting that the’s now making a small fortune taking neighborhood school kids to the amusement park, for day hikes, day trips to arts festivals, etc. Essentially, she ended up creating her own day camp program for very local kids.

You have had lots of great suggestions, OP. Things that have worked for my kids (some of these have been mentioned) include coaching /reffing in a sport, delivering Chinese food (! this job was also a good one for over Christmas break), tutoring in an area the kid knew well (math and languages), volunteering in babysitting type capacities (VBS? we have some Food Bank sponsored day camps, too, for very low income kids that offer some enrichment activities as well as meals), volunteering in more skilled capacities (in short lived camps/programs for kids with special needs). Babysitting and pet sitting for money are good jobs, too.

Your D writes; does she have any other skills or could she pick up any other certifications?

Both kids did start looking for jobs earlier as college went on and both ended up working away from home in the summer as they found positions close to their schools. Sad not to have them home, but the kids were happy to be busy and working.

If you don’t get a job where I am, it is because you don’t want a job. I disagree about face time, retail/fast food etc are on line applications if they are chains.

And when you go in person…go in nice business casual clothes. This includes shoes. You want to make a favorable first impression.

And maybe take nose rings, lip rings, etc. out.

@twoinanddone -My son does drive a manual transmission but you don’t need to in order to get a valet job. He drive a manual and my husband and I both have manuals.

My son says they always schedule someone who can drive one. The managers and assistant managers need to drive a manual. Since there aren’t that many manuals that come in that is plenty. At least at his job there will always be someone who can drive a manual to park your car. He is working at a fancy hotel and valet parking is the only option.

@MaineLonghorn , no piercings other than ears. But she would probably think a nose ring is pretty cool.

Yeah, so would my daughter. I know it’s not fair, but older people definitely have strong feels about piercings.

In many places, summer jobs are super tough to find this summer. Clearly this poster’s adult child is doing the basics right - filling out online applications but following up in person, hopefully with resume in hand, asking to speak with the manager. My recent high school grad got her job this way - followed up an online application by walking in, got interviewed and offered a job on the spot, despite being perfectly clear about availability. VERY lucky.

Of course, she will come nowhere near earning the $2700 that Brown explicitly puts into her financial aid package as her summer earnings. Nonetheless, the income will be important.

Only useful recommendation is to keep at it. Every day for the next couple of weeks at least, go out with resume in hand, nicely dressed, walking in to stores and restaurants. Getting late enough in June for some new hires to quit or be fired!

Best of luck. And for those of you who think summer jobs are there for the taking for everybody, please be careful about judging. Even in locations with lots of openings, many employers ARE reluctant to hire and train workers who will be quitting soon. Many of my daughter’s friends are having this problem. My kid was lucky and she reminds herself of her good fortune during and after each long shift!

My son is also looking for a summer job rn. He has never worked before. So he is discouraged with the job application to begin with. If he finds something, he will keep at it during the school.

Another thing…don’t be picky.

My DSs first job was as a dishwasher in a restaurant. It was not glamorous at all…but it was a job. He worked his way up to salad prep, then to bus boy, then to waiter. It all took time…oh…and he also weeded their gardens. He would do anything they asked him to do…and they knew they could count on him.

He worked there off and on for 6 years.

Power washing driveways and walks? A few kids here have rented a power washer and advertised that they would clean people’s driveways, patios, and walks. There may be other small business seasonal opportunities like that.

I want to add to look at Facebook. Look at the sites of local small businesses. Sometimes they will post an opening their to their clients before going to Craigslist, other places. My son got his paid internship with an equine vet by seeing a Facebook add for a position he wasn’t qualified for but calling and asking about shadowing (volunteering). When they met it turned out the vet was from the college he will be attending and the guy offered him a job paying over minimum wage from now until he graduates if he wants it. Look for the small places.

Not certain, how it popped up, but in the range of things to worry about when raising a young adult nose piercings is not one of them. Our DD who still doesn’t have her ears pierced got her nose pierced, and no it didn’t fall off and no she didn’t turn into a dysfunctional person; she’s still headed to Hamilton to study political science/international relations and run xc/track - and yes, her coach was fine with it…

I don’t think anyone here is making judgements on body piercings just pointing out that some employers prefer workers without visible piercings other than conventional earrings and visible tattoos. It’s just the reality still for some places.

@doschicos, got it, but just can’t fathom that an employer would care about a single stud in the nose - a big hoop or a post sure…

Check out hotels; they often need additional staff in the summer, especially for housekeeping.

Don’t put potential conflicts on online apps. That may cause them to automatically get kicked out by the program before she even gets an interview. Discuss conflicts in person.

"@ doschicos, got it, but just can’t fathom that an employer would care about a single stud in the nose - a big hoop or a post sure… "

My daughter has multiple ear piercings and as I understand this creates inconveniences during her college life. She has to remove redundant stuff during alumni, networking and charity events, athletic competitions, photo ops, internship interviews, etc. Her current internship employer definitely cares too.

I’ve been applying to summer jobs here at home, and no luck so far either. I even had an interview at one place a couple weeks back and they said they’d call me back for a second interview; the next time I heard anything from them was when they sent me an email telling me that they were “unable” to offer me a position. Well, duh, you didn’t call me back for a second interview! Of course you were unable to, SMH. I was planning on being at a job for the summer so I could make money to maybe help pay for college, but its looking increasingly unlikely at this point - only about 6-7 more money-making weeks before I head back to school.



The worst part is, I might have been able to get a job down in my college town as well had I been able to stay. I had an interview with this one app development team last month, and they asked if I was going to return to my college town for the summer. I feel I might’ve gotten the job if I wasn’t home for the entire summer. SMH. So frustrating.