What should I do for a summer job?

What type of summer job should I get?

• I really want to get a summer job to keep myself busy and to make some money. I'm 17 and my ideal job would be to work at a retail store because I love people and I think I'd be good at it. There's a few problems, though: 1) My family vacations for 2 weeks in the summer and then after that I have 1 week of band camp to attend. So I'd have to tell my employer that I'd need three weeks off and that probably wouldn't be ok with them! 2) I think a retail job would be hard to find in the summer. I don't want to work while I'm in school, but by the time I'm out of school the college kids have already snatched up all the jobs. What do you think I should do? Should I try to get a job in retail and see if I can get three weeks off somehow, or should I have my dad get me a job a few times a week at one of his friend's business offices? (I'd probably be shredding paper the whole time.) Do you have any other job suggestions for me? Or ways to find jobs?

• Answer:

  There are a few industries that generate more business during the summer, and therefore hire for summer positions, and retail is certainly one of them. Wherever you decide to go, just tell them upfront about the three weeks, and be as specific as possible so that they know when you are available. Most companies understand that people take vacations during the summer, so it probably won't hurt you as much as you think. Another possibility is to try to get a summer internship. This is especially good to do since you'll be thinking about college soon, so it will not only look good on your college applications, but it will also look good to future employers. It also may help you to discover your preferred career path so that you can find out what you really like to do before you go to college, instead of after graduation like many people. Good luck!