10 Fun Summer Jobs for Teens and How to Get Hired

Are you looking for the best summer jobs for teens or summer jobs for college students? You’re in luck! Now is the time for these seasonal roles, and we’ve put together a few fun ideas plus tips for landing a great summer gig. 

Whether you want to work part-time this summer to earn some extra cash, or you’re looking to make bank with a full-time seasonal job, we’ve got some great ideas for you. 

Summer hiring is something many industries rely on to get through their busiest season. That means it’s the perfect time to start looking for summer jobs for teens and college students. There are tons of fun ways to earn money over the summer months, even if it’s your very first job. 

The beauty of summer work is that there are usually no expectations of a long-term commitment! You can even think of a seasonal job as a trial run—trying on an industry to see if you like it before you commit to a career.

Fun Summer Jobs that are Hiring

Check out the list below for some ideas of summer jobs hiring now. Any of these can be a lot of fun, and you’ll get a great experience while fattening your wallet.

1) Summer Camp Staff and Counselors

If you enjoy being outside in a camp environment, being social, playing with kiddos, planning games, and activities, and being active, this may be the perfect summer job for you. Summer camps of all kinds (think: science, music, religion, and more) depend on summer hiring to fill their staff and counselor roles. 

2) Hospitality Employees at Restaurants and Hotels

The hospitality industry is busiest during the summer. People often go on vacation during the summer months, so hotels and restaurants are booming! 

There will be job openings for everything from servers to customer service reps, cashiers, cooks, and cleaning staff. This is a fast-paced industry that will suit you well if you enjoy dynamic work helping people, talking with and making guests laugh, and being organized. 

Restaurant environments will be more vibrant and loud, while hotel jobs can be quiet and slower-paced.

3) Childcare Providers

With many children out of school during the summer months, parents depend on childcare providers. These caring folks help to fill the gap and watch kids while their parents are at work. This is another energetic, playful job where safety and fun are top priorities. 

If you love being around children, this may the summer job for you!

4) Festival Workers

What’s more fun than a summer festival or fair? These joyous events roll through towns across the country every summer season, and with them come some great summer jobs for college students and teenagers. 

You might run a ticket booth or check-in station, clean up litter, work a registration table, or assist guests with getting around. If you enjoy music, loads of laughter, and the smell of corndogs and funnel cakes in the air, this is a great short-term gig.

5) Tutors

Even though kids are often out of school in the summer, the learning never stops. Tutors are key to helping students stay on track and get ahead for the coming school year. 

If you love learning and enjoy sharing knowledge with others, being a tutor can be really rewarding. Plus, you get to choose which subject to focus on, so go with your favorite!

6) Dog Walkers, Pet Sitters, and Doggy Daycare Staffers

Do you love animals? Then why not become a dog walker or pet sitter for the summer? Many people work during the day or take extended trips during the peak summer season. When they can’t take their pets with them, they need someone like you to help care for their fur babies. 

Doggy daycares are also popular during summer for the same reasons, and they focus on hiring for summer to help keep up with the extra work.

7) Lifeguards

Summer = swimming. It’s just part of the deal. So, with that comes summer lifeguard jobs at local pools or beaches. If you’re not afraid of a little (or a lot of) SPF, this may be the go-to summer job for you. 

8) Retail or Grocery Store Employees

Retail and grocery stores always need help, and summer is often even busier. 

This is one summer job where you’ll learn valuable skills that you can apply in any future job—things like customer service, sales, using computer and software systems, and handling money.

9) Tour Guides

As we’ve mentioned, summer is the time for a vacation. That means that tour companies, souvenir shops, and anything relating to tourism gets a major boost, which equates to summer jobs hiring now. 

10) Garden Center Staff or Farm Hands

Do you love gardening and helping things grow? The summer months are known as the “growing season”. It’s prime time for places like garden centers, farms, and parks, so they ramp up summer hiring to fill their staff. 

These prolific roles require getting your hands dirty, heavy lifting and physical labor, and being outside.

How to Get Hired

When going for a summer job, remember that the employer understands this is likely just a temporary gig for you. At the same time, it’s important to help them choose you over the competition (because it can get fierce!). Sure, you probably won’t become a 30-year veteran at their company, but you can still add value while you are there. 

Help them to see what you’re great at and how your talents and skills fit into their culture and requirements. This will set you apart from other candidates who just expect to fill an open spot for a few months.

If you’ve found your dream summer job, get ready for the summer hiring season by checking out more helpful articles on Snag! We’ve got everything from resume tips to interview pointers across tons of industries and jobs. 

And if you’re interviewing for what you think are the best summer jobs for teens right now, share your helpful tips with other readers in the comments below!