Family & Friends

The Money Mom: Still Looking for a Summer Job?

Posted by Jean

The New York Times recently reported on the “silent victims of the economy” – the 16-24 year olds that are currently competing for summer employment. Facing a record 19.6 unemployment rate, this country’s youth are certainly struggling — and if your child hasn’t yet started his or her summer job search, it’s definitely time to get going! “Consistent with last summer, I’m finding that teens have to submit 10 applications to get one job offer,” says Steve Kimball of SnagAJob.com. “The competition is high.”

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t jobs out there. I asked Kimball about where there are still opportunities if your teenager hasn’t found work yet. “There are lots of sectors still hiring,” he says. Right now, SnagAJob has postings ranging from positions at 11 Six Flags locations to shelf-stocking and cashier work at national craft stores like Michael’s and JoAnn Fabrics. Keep in mind, however, that some of these positions have age regulations. “National companies likely won’t hire you until you’re 16,” says Kimball.

If you’re trying to think out of the box, Kimball suggests approaching companies with an idea of your own. “Go to a non-profit organization to see if they need help stocking shelves or organizing donations for a nominal stipend,” he says, “and prove that you’re willing to help them get work done.” Also, if your child is particularly handy, you could pay them to do the work around the house you’d normally hire someone else for, like repainting the porch or mowing the lawn.

While some positions require a high school diploma, many do not. “Small businesses are always looking for teens and young adults,” says Kimball, for part-time help with organizing their office, helping with social media sites, and answering phones. According to SnagAJob, 61% of small business owners say that they’re hiring. “This is where you want to use your network of family and friends as leverage,” says Kimball. Now is not the time to feel shy about asking the friend who asked you for connections to return the favor. Or about putting your own teens to work.

Tom Gegax, author of The Big Book of Small Business, thinks hiring your own kids is a win-win. Instead of putting the money you’d pay them in some other teen’s pocket, you keep it in the family. “If your business is providing your family’s livelihood, your children might be some of your most honest and hardworking employees you can hire,” says Gegax. “Hiring your own children gets a bad rap sometimes, but you’re hiring them already knowing their attitudes and what they’re good at.”

But what if your child’s interests stray from your business’ focus? Perhaps you and another small-business owning friend could swap. Start with ground rules. You’ll need to set the same expectations of your own child or a friend’s as you would of any of your other employees. And paying them the same wage (I don’t think collusion laws apply in these circumstances) would eliminate any familial tensions. Then let them put the experience on their resumes and use it to get a job on their own after college, a time when Gegax doesn’t approve of hiring your own kids. “They need to understand job searching and have experience with other employers. They need to see how tough it is.”