By Emily Gianni
Summer is coming up (thank goodness!), which means it is time to look for a summer job. First, it is important to work so you have your own money to spend, instead of using your parents’ money. This gives you your own independence and you are able to spend your own money on what you want. Of course, some college students need a job to help pay for their college expenses, which means, you need a summer job. I gave jobs for a range of wages and hours, so here are the best summer jobs for a college student, with their pros and cons!
Lifeguarding:
Pros: You are outside all day, which is the most beautiful part about summer: soaking up the summer sun. When you are a lifeguard, you learn CPR, which is super helpful just in case of future emergencies. You also meet so many people when you lifeguard, especially at the pool, which can give you connections for future employment. You also get paid more if you work at a beach (or oceanfront) rather than a pool. Swimming instructors also make more money on top of lifeguarding.
Cons: You have to pay to get certified, which costs a few hundred dollars the first time you get certified. If you burn easily or don’t like being outside, this definitely would not be the work for you!
Babysitting:
Pros: This is a great experience for a job. You will get paid differently based on how many children you babysit and you will be able to possibly negotiate with the parents how much you get paid. You can find this job opportunity through your community and you can use a town’s Facebook page to find babysitting jobs.
Cons: You have to work with children all day, and you may have to drive them around, so you may need a car. You may need to learn how to cook to make food for the children. You do not do what you want to do, sometimes they will invite their friends over and you have to watch other people’s children.
Food Delivery/Driver:
Pros: You work on your own time. You can sign up for Uber Eats, Doordash, or Grubhub for food or Uber and Lyft just for driving. It is super easy to sign up and you get paid for the orders you deliver and tip! Tips are great because it is extra money you get. Driving is great because you do not really have to talk to anyone. You can also have your friends come with you when you drive around when you deliver your food deliveries.
Cons: First, you need a car to drive. You also use your own gas and don’t get reimbursed for your own gas. You may not be motivated to work since you create your own schedule.
Waiter/Waitress/Busboy:
Pros: You have a set schedule for work, at least a weekly schedule. This is a great job to learn how to deal with people: it teaches you patience. You make tips along with your original wage. You may have to work hours you do not want to work since you are a new staff member.
Cons: You may have to split your tips between your co-workers, although you earned them on your own. You are inside every day you work, so if you are working a lot, you may not have a lot of free time.
Camp Counselor:
Pros: You get to work with children all day, which could be a con, but if you do not like children, you probably would not be a camp counselor. This looks great on resumes because you work with children and depending on what you are doing at camp, you can obtain new skills to help with future jobs, especially if you want to become a teacher. You are able to meet other camp counselors and make new friends.
Cons: You do not make a ton of money at most camps. You may have to sleep away at this camp, away from your family and friends for part of the summer.
Whatever you like, there are endless possibilities for summer jobs for college students!