You’re looking for the perfect summer job in high school—something that’s fun, earns you extra cash, and makes your college application stand out.
It’s a challenge but not impossible, especially if you’re creative and know where to look. And, you don’t need to sacrifice your summer to make the most of a summer job in high school. Part-time summer jobs offer the same learning opportunities, and some may even have tuition benefits for college. Here are some insights from experts on summer jobs that will help you save for college—and could even help you get in.
Match Your Skills with Freelance Opportunities
The things that come naturally to you may be skills that are in high demand. This includes creating social media videos, taking care of younger siblings, or coaching. These can help translate into freelance jobs. You might be surprised at how you can market your skills, both for intended employers and for college résumés. Are you involved in your high school theater? Offer acting lessons for younger kids. Have a creative social media account? Consider parlaying those skills into content creation or graphic design.
Consider what you like and what your skills are and you will be able to find work tailored to your lifestyle. Plus, freelance and one-off gigs can give you flexibility. “Freelancing can also offer the advantage of allowing the student flexibility to make their own schedule, so a student might take on some freelance work in their off-hours as a résumé-builder while still maintaining a more traditional summer job,” notes Michelle McAnaney, founder of the admissions advice site The College Spy.
Look for Work Related to Your Intended Major
“I value anything that provides exposure to a potential career path, so students have a purpose for studying their field and are motivated to tie their education to their future plans,” says Greg Kaplan, college counselor and author of Earning Admission: Real Strategies for Getting Into Highly Selective Colleges. These jobs may require some legwork to find, and it might be helpful to speak with your guidance counselor to see if they know of any specialized programs or internships. It also might be helpful to tap into your extended network, too. For example, if you’re interested in law and your friend’s aunt is a lawyer, ask if they ever hire high school students to do light filing or administrative work in their firm. Your network may also be able to point you toward adjacent experiences, such as work with a local nonprofit.
Check Out Companies With Scholarship Programs
Fast food and retail stores also offer competitive employment options with additional perks for high school and college students. For example, Starbucks offers scholarships to their student workers. The company will pay all tuition costs for employees who want to earn a four-year online bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. Students become eligible for tuition assistance after they have worked 240 hours at a qualified Starbucks location over the course of three, consecutive months, says Lindsay Gueren, counselor at Woodstock High School.
Gueren notes that there are other corporate programs to look into, including Earn and Learn from UPS, which will help with your college expenses, a bonus of up to $25,000 for part-time employees (up to $5,250 in assistance per calendar year). Publix grocery stores also offer tuition reimbursement programs for any associate with six months of continuous service who works an average of 10 hours a week. Program eligibility may change; check the company website and ask your manager or HR department for any clarification.
Finding a gig that offers tuition reimbursement can help save you money in the long term as well. Earning credits from an online school in high school can help you complete required courses prior to college, which could help you get your degree faster and help you save you money.
Get Into Research
Professors not only teach, they also conduct research, and they often rely on students to assist them. While these students are likely college students, that’s not always the case. “If you can find a job in a research lab, like assisting, data entry or lab maintenance, you’ll be helping out a professor in an important way,” notes Nicole Porter, project director at Center for Community Research and former teaching fellow at DePaul University. Hopefully you’ll develop a relationship with the professor and they’ll pay it forward when it’s time for college applications. A recommendation letter or a good word at their university would add a lot of value to your application.” To find openings, consider reaching out directly to a few professors at a nearby college who specialize in the field you’re interested in. You may need to spend some time on their faculty page to get to know more about them. Even if they don’t have openings, they may be able to refer you to a colleague who does.
Don’t Shy Away From Retail or Restaurants
“Retail and service-related positions are typically fast-paced and require multitasking,” notes Lacy Nettleton, assistant director of admissions at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. “A social and positive attitude as the face of a restaurant or retail store speaks volumes about a student’s personality and commitment to customer service. In both retail and serving, beyond customer service, employees also often are in charge of inventory and merchandise and/or the cash register. These are big and important responsibilities that show a student is ready to take on the demands of college life.” Need some inspiration? Read how a routine summer working at the mall can become rich material for a college application essay.
There are a wide range of summer jobs you can leverage to boost your college application. The key to making a summer job into a position that enhances your résumé is to absorb as much experience as possible. And even if it’s not the perfect fit, chances are, you’ll learn something—and make money at the same time, too.
