6 Sizzling Summer Job Resources

Your first summer job. Was it heavenly? Or horrible?
Summer jobs are often the place where students acquire basic Career Literacy™ knowledge and skills. They learn self-management skills when they show up on time, people and problem-solving skills when they calm an upset customer, and technical skills when they ring up a charge card transaction.

A summer job experience may be life-changing as students are introduced to career fields that captivate their interest. They may encounter challenges that develop new skills. Their experiences can clarify what they like—and what they detest. Many jobs drive home the point better than any parent that it is important to stay in school and earn a career certificate, a degree, or enter an apprenticeship program after high school.

Here are six excellent resources for students looking for work—and parents who want to help them:

1. The “Summer/Part-Time Job Tip Sheet” was created for our popular presentation, “How to Help Your Teen Find a Summer Job.” It provides suggestions for jobs and where to find them as well as proven tips that can give a student a competitive advantage over other job seekers.
2. Check with your local community college Career Services office for open positions for summer employment. For easy access, 12 northern Illinois community colleges post their positions on CCJobNet.
3. “Summer Job Central for Teens 2007” is a list of resources prepared by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Go to the home page for the Illinois Career Resource Network and click on the “Summer Job Central” icon.
4. “Teen Job and Career Resources” is offered by Illinois CLICKS!, a reference website sponsored by the Illinois State Library, with contributions by Illinois librarians—”the Original Search Engines” as the website proclaims.
5. The city of Chicago lists a number of Job Resources for Youth.
6. And another Chicago resource: Mayor Daley’s Summer Jobs Program “KidStart” has good information about how to find a job. Perhaps your community has a similar program.

Happy job hunting!