Classes are coming to an end, dorm rooms are being emptied, and the sun is beginning to shine. If you’re like me, you are experiencing a total lack of motivation, a decreased attention span, and have cravings for lemonade and the smell of sunblock. While some students are beginning to study for finals, I have begun my search for a summer job, as many of you will be doing soon. After surveying students on the Kirkwood and University of Iowa campus’, I have found some of the best jobs for any job seeking student out there!
Lifeguarding
Want to get paid to lie out in the sun? Then lifeguarding is the job for you! To become a lifeguard, you have to take a lifeguard and CPR certification course that can last anywhere from one week to six months. These two certifications last for two years. And if you like working with kids, lifeguards are often given the opportunity to teach swim lessons! Lifeguards get paid more than minimum wage because they are considered skilled works. Making anywhere from $9-$15 an hour, lifeguarding is a great way to make money and get a tan.
Retail
Every time I go to the mall, there is at least one store that I cannot avoid going into. If you are like me, then working in retail is where you belong. Retailers offer discounts to their employees because they want you to wear their merchandise while working. Retailers pay minimum wage, but often give bonuses for working on certain days or great customer service! Getting a discount to buy and wear their clothes, while helping others buy and wear the retailer’s clothes? Yes, please!
Waitressing
Being a waitress has to be one of the most popular jobs for college students. There will be enough employees on staff to make the schedule flexible, as well as giving you all the hours you want! If you are a social butterfly who loves to talk to new people, then being a waitress is a great job for you. The downside? Waitresses make a little less than minimum wage. The upside? The more you talk and make the customers feel at home, the bigger your tips will be!
Babysitting
If you have the imagination of a 6 year old and love kids, then babysitting is perfect for you! The Red Cross offers courses in babysitting which certifies you in CPR, rescue breathing, and other valuable lifesaving skills that could be invaluable for a babysitter. By no means, however, is the babysitting course required. While watching their children, parents expect the babysitter to play, make lunch, dinner, or a snack, and then sit on the couch and watch a movie after putting the children in bed. Babysitting allows you to set your own prices and pick which jobs you want to take.
Theme Park Worker
Do you crave the adrenaline rush you get from riding a roller coaster? Or the rush you get from racing to the end of the next ride? Then working at a theme park is your ideal position. Not only do you get to talk and meet new people every day, the lines for rides after the park closes are the shortest lines you will ever see! With at least 50 other people on staff, the schedule will be very flexible yet still give you the hours you are looking for. Theme parks offer jobs as food vendors, ride controllers, and even lifeguards can find work at theme parks. Though they only make minimum wage, theme park workers definitely have no shortage in fun and adrenaline!
Now that you have a good idea of what some of these jobs are like, go out and get one! But do not limit yourself to this list alone. There are job opportunities out there every day; you just have to look for them. Cut grass, walk dogs, wash cars, be a personal shopper, anything! The opportunities are out there, now go get them! Good luck Collegiettes!
Stay tuned for more tips and advice on how to make 2012 one of the best summers of your life! Our new column “HC Summer 101” will be your guide to everything everyone’s favorite season has to offer! If you want to see something particular in the column, let us know in the comments below! HCXO!
Sources:
Retail
Six Flags Old Guy
Babysitting
Lifeguard
Waitress
Help Wanted