by Linda L Kinyon

Created on: July 08, 2008   Last Updated: April 07, 2011

There are many options for teens looking for summer jobs. The teen job market being is hot this year, and many teens are opting to ride the bus, bicycle or even walk to work due to the increasingly high prices of gasoline. Some of them are just trying to find enough money to buy their own school clothes for next school year while still others are trying to pay for their own cell phone bills. Still others are hoping to help mom or dad out during a tough economy crunch our nation is going through.

So where does today's savvy teen begin to look for a job? Here are a few ideas to help you get started on your way to a successful teen summer job.

Have your teen dress for success and hit the malls. While most teens love to shop and cruise the malls, many forget that it takes employees to staff these stores. It takes stockers to stock the shelves, janitorial services to keep the trash cans dumped and the floors cleaned as well as cashiers to ring up those purchases in order to keep a shop running smoothly.

Check out your local amusement and/or water parks as they are gearing up for a great summer. If your teen enjoys this type of atmosphere consider seeking employment in such venues. Check online, call the local amusement and water parks and watch for ads in the paper. Get those applications in early as these jobs go fast.

Check out day camps. While most overnight and weekly summer camp programs fill their staffing in early, many of the day camps are still seeking counselors, swim instructors, life guards, craft supervisors and more. Call your local youth center or youth association and get a listing of day camps. Then patiently call the day camps and find out if there are any openings in your field of expertise or interest.

With school out many day cares are hiring summer help. Call your local day cares. If your teen loves to work with younger children this could be a great opportunity to get their foot in the door and work towards a teaching degree of some sort.

For the more entrepreneurial teens, help them start their own business. In addition to running websites, setting up websites and maintaining them there is also your own yard work company, painting, car detailing (including washing, waxing and interior clean out), or even dog walking or pet sitting.

If your teen is looking to go into a specific trade such as pharmacy tech or nursing, find out if your local area has any internship programs. A few skills can go a long way into setting your teen up for a lifelong rewarding career.

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