Unique Summer Job Ideas

By Jennifer Peek

Summer jobs (or any job for that matter) can be either hard to find or just not in your area of interest. Don't get me wrong - sometimes you have to take a job that is just that: a J-O-B. Not everything you will work at is going to be something you love. And while that may be the longer term goal (or even one that you work on while you have a not-so-glamorous job), there are times when you will just have to work.

But whether it is what you love or just a job, it doesn't have to be the typical summer job. It can be a unique summer job - whether working for someone else or yourself.

What is a unique summer job and where can you find it?

Start by using your imagination and your list of things you really like to do or spend time on. For example, do you enjoy expressing yourself through art or even just looking at all different kinds? Maybe one of your favorite things to do is explore local art fairs or flea markets looking at one-of-a-kind pieces.

Next, come up with a list of at least 10 ways that can lead to a way to make money - without lots of time or investment. Remember - we are talking about working for summer and time is limited!

In our example, a list of 10 things might look like this:

1. Working at a local flower shop arranging flowers artistically.

2. Assisting a floral designer during the busy summer bridal season.

3. Working as a summer intern/temp in a graphic design studio.

4. Helping local artists set up, staff and tear down their exhibits at art fairs and flea markets.

5. Working at a summer children's art camp.

6. Working at a local pottery studio helping others create unique pieces of art.

7. Working at a local art gallery or craft shop.

8. Designing your own jewelry and selling it at a weekly farmer's market in your area.

9. Working at a local landscape and/or lawn and garden center.

10. Designing landscapes as a freelance artist and helping homeowners make it a reality by assisting in the buying and planting process (or using this as a way to generate leads for a local landscaping company and getting a portion of the profits).



Now - narrow down your list to what is practical and doable for both you and your area. You probably want to have at least 3 ideas that survive and you would really be interested in doing. Then try to make them work. If 2 of your ideas are to find certain types of jobs and that doesn't work out, move on to idea #3.

You might have to keep moving down your list or even do the brainstorming again with a different thing that you love. What if you love bicycles? Not just riding them - but figuring out how they work, fixing them and sharing all that with your friends? Your unique list might include working at a local bike shop, offering a mobile fix-it service for flat tires and fixing slipped chains around your neighborhood or giving a Saturday morning workshop on basic bike care.

Let your creative juices flow! And then get started on your plan. That's really all there is to it. So...try something unique this summer and see where it leads you!



Jennifer Peek is a CPA and mother of two. She writes about all aspects of kids and money at her website http://www.money-and-kids.com Get more great summer job ideas at http://www.money-and-kids.com/summer-jobs-for-teenagers.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Peek http://EzineArticles.com/?Unique-Summer-Job-Ideas&id=1263957

Teen Summer Jobs - Get Started Now!

By Jennifer Peek

Look for a summer job now? Yes! Plenty of employers are ramping up their hiring now so they can make sure they have their spots filled by the time school gets out. Use that to your advantage!

But...it's only April!

I know it seems like spring has hardly sprung, but the calendar says it's only a few short months until summer activities are in full swing. And employers for amusement parks, summer camps and garden centers are gearing up for their busiest seasons.

To make sure they get qualified staff and have time to train, they are starting the recruiting process now. But don't let that scare you. Instead, use it to your advantage and do a summer job search now.

Here's how:

Comb the classified ads in your area. I've seen multiple ads for lawn and garden centers over the past several weeks.

Check out the seasonal employers that are in your area. This might be an amusement or water park. It could also be the local YMCA (which will need summer camp counselors) or landscaping businesses.

Check out the web. While this is not your best bet for local jobs if you live in a smaller city, it might give you some ideas. It can also be good for finding summer camps that are hiring if that fits your interest.

You may find that the job that you really want is not hiring yet. That's OK. Get the details on when they will be accepting applications and mark it on your calendar. Then be sure to follow up and apply when the timing is right.

Even if you are working for yourself...

Making your plan for a summer job now is also important if you are going to be working for yourself. Lots of people are starting to make plans for their summer schedule now. Planning your schedule as well can help ensure that you are on their lists.

This is especially true if you are going to be painting houses or providing any type of child care. When we had our house painted last year, we called in March to be sure we got on the schedule for a summer job. And, I just got handed the sign up for summer school and day camp when I dropped my kids off at school today.

Even if I wasn't thinking about either of those things, I am now. And looking for qualified, energetic people to provide me with the services I will be needing. Make sure your name is out there for your potential customers!



Jennifer Peek is a CPA and mother of two. She writes about all aspects of kids and money at her website http://www.money-and-kids.com

Check out more information on summer jobs for teens at http://www.money-and-kids.com/summer-jobs-for-teenagers.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Peek [http://ezinearticles.com/?Teen-Summer-Jobs---Get-Started-Now!&id=1080125 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Teen-Summer-Jobs---Get-Started-Now!&id=1080125

Kid Jobs, Grown-Up Pay - 6 Money-Making Ideas From Your Old Summer Jobs

By Leigh Peterson

Ah, to be young again. Long summers, sleeping in, no school. Sometimes we all long for those care-free days. But remember some of the creative ideas you had? Remember not having to work yet setting out to anyway? Think back to some of those ideas you had, and maybe you'll get a new spark from an old idea.

One day when I was very young, I hung a sign on my bedroom door that said, "Rainbow Factory - $.10 per Rainbow." I got two customers that day - my mom and my dad, who each paid ten cents and each got a beautiful rainbow, drawn by me, with Crayola markers.

A year or two later I put up a new sign. This one said, "Butterfly Factory - From the Maker of Rainbow Factory - $.25 a Butterfly."

I think each venture lasted a day or two. I would love to say I went on to become an artist, but for some reason I moved away from art and toward other things in college. Looking back I get a chuckle that I had such ideas, and sometimes wonder if that spirit is still inside me.

So, what did you do as a child? Why not revisit those activities and start making money again? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. You Ran a Lemonade Stand

Create a new lemonade! Buy some fruit, juice, and other ingredients and spend some time experimenting. Write down each recipe and every measurement as you go, and tweak a little with each try. Once you have something delicious and unique, you can start selling the fresh, healthy drink at church bazaars, neighborhood sales, and flea markets! If you have any small, independent health food stores nearby you could approach them as well. Who knows, you might even find a health-conscious business owner interested in partnering with you, bottling it up, and getting distribution.

2. You mowed lawns or shoveled snow

As a single woman I can tell you there have been many times I wished I knew of someone who was willing to handle these tasks for me. Make up a flier and create a listing at an online classifieds site like Craigslist or Backpage. Fliers could go in laundromats and store bulletin boards, and you can get to know the people in your neighborhood to see if they need help. Ask your friends if they have any friends or relatives who need help with such tasks, and remember to offer a "Friends and Family Discount." Also, don't forget about poop-scooping! If you don't have a schedule flexible enough to offer pet sitting, try this instead. I know a woman who does this full-time. She offers her services for free whenever shelters or pet stores have outdoor public events in exchange for a booth for her own advertising.

3. You organized car washes

We all know there are free car washes on every corner in the summer, but instead of trying to get people to come to you, GO TO THEM! Offer a car wash pick-up service. You'll pick up their car while they are at work, wash and vacuum/wipe down/detail the interior, and return to their workplace to get paid. You might have to start with friends, neighbors, and family until you become a trusted business, or you can approach car wash operations and see if they would be interested in the idea. Now that I think about it, I'm going to see if anyone in my area offers this for oil changes, too.

4. You had a paper route

Start a courier service. This will likely be more successful in a larger city and you might need to tell your car insurance company that you are using your vehicle for work. This would be a good opportunity to purchase a magnetic sign for your car, such as those offered at magneticsignsontime.com. A similar possibility is an errand-running or grocery shopping service, which could be a god-send to busy mothers or the elderly.

5. You helped the younger kids with homework after school

There are many sites that need online tutors. You can start at tutor.com Or, this could be a nice opportunity to work at home with kids in your town. The web sites TutorLinker.com and TutorMatch.com can help you do just that. You could start your own web site advertising these services.

6. You helped mom bake cookies for the bake sale or made the pot-luck dinners

Offer an in-home cooking service or a learn-to-cook in your own home seminar. There are a lot of people who either don't like to cook or can't do it comfortably due to age or illness. The seminar could be every other week for 5 weeks, or longer durations for more lessons.

With commitment, any of these jobs can become professional and fruitful....even franchised. But for the Renaissance Lifers out there, they can begin as a few fun pools to dip your toes in.


Renaissance Woman http://www.ARenaissanceLife.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leigh_Peterson http://EzineArticles.com/?Kid-Jobs,-Grown-Up-Pay---6-Money-Making-Ideas-From-Your-Old-Summer-Jobs&id=1045456

Looking for Summer Jobs For Teenagers And Kids?

By Mary Green

Finding summer jobs for teenagers has not always been easy, but now you no longer have to worry about what your kid can do to earn their own money. Recently I found some different sites online that offer information about what kids can do. Below is some of that information, along with questions to think about to help you come up with your own ideas.

Ideas for summer work:

Parks and Recreation Programs

Babysitting during the day of school aged kids.

Working part time at a day care for the summer.

Car washing

Put on garage sales

Work at local vegetable stands.

And now on to the questions.

Working outside:

What do you have to do each summer to make your lawn look nice?

What do you have to do to keep up your garden, or gardens?

What has to be done around your house outside to go from winter to spring, spring to summer?

Working inside:

Are there any chores you specifically do not like to do?

Would it be easier to have someone do all your once a week chores?

Family:

Would it be nice to have an occasional helper for the kids?

What kinds of things do you do as a family?

Which of these things could you do together to make money?


The easiest way for you to find ways for your child to make money is to think about inconveniences. Such as the questions above, think of things you need done, or would to have done, and what you would consider paying for these things to get done. Once you have some ideas, you can sit down with your child and talk to them about what they would be interested in doing. Then once you have an idea of what they want to do you can help them come up with fair prices.

After this, to advertise, you would want to start with your friends and family or your neighbors. Preferably you would want to only have your child working with people you know and trust, or in the least bit you could have your child pick a partner. That way with each of them carrying cell phones, even those without service can call 911, they will be much safer.



You can find out more information and many more ideas for kids to use to make money on their summers off, by visiting [http://www.kidswantmoney.com]http://www.kidswantmoney.com, the author of this article is also the owner of the new website [http://www.biznetwomen.com]http://www.biznetwomen.com, where you can find all the resources you need for business women online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Looking-for-Summer-Jobs-For-Teenagers-And-Kids?-&id=516245