With summer rapidly approaching, many students are wondering how they’re going to make the most of nearly three months of free time. For most, this means applying for jobs. As someone with experience juggling three jobs, I feel qualified to evaluate and rank summer occupations. Here is my curated list of the most beneficial and enjoyable positions.
- Tutor
Tutoring others provides an opportunity to maintain academic skills over break. This can put you ahead of your classmates. You also get to set your own hours and charge whatever you deem appropriate. Although being your own boss is great, you need multiple clients to get a sufficient number of hours.
- Camp counselor
There is a wide range of camps you can choose from, as it doesn’t necessarily need to be in Kansas. However, some great local options include Outdoor Education Laboratory (OEL), the YMCA, or even a sports camp through Blue Valley Recreation. You can get creative in planning activities for kids and work on your leadership skills. Like tutoring, hours are limited so if you’re looking for a consistent job, you might want to consider other avenues.
- Nanny
If you love working with children and are comfortable with varying hours, there are plenty of families with young kids in our community and sometimes nannies are more affordable than daycare. However, this is a well sought after job, so you need to distinguish yourself from other candidates. One way to do this is by including prior babysitting or childcare experience on your resume.
- Golf caddy
Unlike the other jobs listed, you don’t need to like kids to enjoy this one. You do need to endure the sun, carry golf bags, and walk long distances, though. The pros outweigh the cons because this job often pays well with tips, it offers valuable networking opportunities, and is a solid source of physical activity.
- Lifeguard
I’m biased with this one because I have been lifeguarding for over two years now, but what’s not to like? You can work on your tan, interact with all kinds of people, learn how to manage difficult situations, and make a decent wage. Additionally, it will motivate you to stay in shape, as lifeguarding demands physical fitness to be prepared in the case of an emergency. Being CPR certified will always be advantageous as well.
