Summer is a busy time for high school students, whether they are taking an extra class or going to a pre-college summer camp. One of the most popular options is summer jobs, whether it’s being a camp counselor, a lifeguard or others.
Junior Samantha Kirkpatrick will work at Birdie’s, a restaurant located on Stanford Golf Course. She works as a waitress and helps with jobs such as cleaning tables or setting up decorations.
“I’ve learned a lot of skills with working…being a waitress and waiting on tables has given me social skills to be able to talk to people…and deal with customer service, and also work events. I think it just establishes a lot of good morals and a sense of responsibility. You get to work for your own money, so you get to spend your own money, which is nice,” Kirkpatrick shared.
Having summer jobs has many benefits for both college applications and beyond. A job can demonstrate maturity, time management and a good work ethic. Students also gain experience working in a professional setting that is not offered in the classroom, allowing them to be a step ahead among their peers.
Counselor Esperanza Flores helps guide students who are interested in applying for a summer job. “I feel that summer jobs prepare students for professional work and college. It gets them used to working in a collaborative setting…I think it just has a lot of skills that you could take on, that are transferable…when you get to college.”
It is also imperative that after one is accepted to a job, they must get a work permit which is a legal document required for minors to be eligible to work legally. For high school students, permits can be received from the counseling office or the administrative office. These permits are required for all jobs for minors since they follow the child labor laws.
Although it may seem daunting at first, having a job over the summer is a productive way to spend time. For those interested in applying, start by creating a resume with the help of a parent or counselor. Starting to work earlier in a professional setting brings many benefits for high school students.
