Summer Jobs Special

With the school year being almost over most people are thinking about what they can do during the summer with their free time. Well there’s always the possibility of getting a job this summer. Summer is usually the best time for a student to get a job, because during summer most students aren’t distracted by school work, sports or other school related activities. It’s also the time of year when finding a job could be the most difficult, especially if everyone you know is also trying to find work in the city.

While finding a job itself is hard, it can be even harder if you aren’t 16 yet. It’s almost a proven fact that most jobs that hire teenagers look for teens that are at least 16 years of age.”The employers that do contact the school are those looking for students age 16 and older, not the younger (14/15) student”, says Mr. Furrer. While this may put upper classmen like juniors and seniors at a higher advantage, it puts younger students like freshman and sophomores at a disadvantage. That’s not to say that they shouldn’t just have to wait until they turn 16 to get a job. There are alternatives for students who want to get jobs that aren’t 16 yet. Freshmen who want jobs could always sign up for WECEP if they’re interested in finding a job for themselves. Basically WECEP is a program that helps freshman find jobs that they can do during a few hours of school and even outside it. The work hours during school are from 3^rd to 6^th hour, and they are excused from P.E. Most of the jobs however are fast food jobs, but the students still get paid money like a regular employee depending on how many hours they work. Students could also have their parents help them find jobs for them. “I don’t think that I could find a job by myself before I turn 16, but my mom told me she could help me get a job before I turn 16,” says Jeronden Dorsey.

For sophomores, however, who are looking for jobs have to get a work permit if they’re under 16. What a work permit normally does is give the student permission to work once the student applies for a job. Students can get work permits from Ms. Ouska at the Guidance office. Once the student fills out their job application, they have to show it to Ouska, and then can ask for a work permit. Once they receive the work permit, both it and the application have to be turned in when the student begins working at his/her job.

Summer jobs help students do a lot of things, buy cars, phones, help pay for college, etc. Most students get jobs because they like having money and like showing they’re capable of being responsible about it. Remember, jobs aren’t like school work, you can’t just do it all over next year, students and people in general have to prove they are determined enough by giving it all when working for someone. If not then they’re either going to get fired or be stuck doing the things no one else wants to do. Jobs are important even if you don’t like them you still have to do it if you want to get money from them. So if you do get a job this summer, give it your best.