Seasonal jobs are great opportunities for teens to earn money when you may have a bit more free time from school. Whether it is over summer vacation or during the holiday season, there are some key things to keep in mind to get the most out of your seasonal job. If you’re looking for a seasonal job right now start with Get Schooled’s Job Launch tool - just enter your zip code and start swiping to find seasonal jobs in your area!

Preparation is key!

If you want to work over the holiday break or summer vacation, be sure to start getting ready to apply for jobs at least a month before you want to start work. This means making sure that you have a resume and a cover letter ready to go. You can send in your resume to Get Schooled for review and we’ll make sure you’re ready to go for your application process!

Search creatively

In addition to using JobLaunch to look for jobs in your area, there are often creative ways you can look for seasonal jobs. Depending on the time of year there may be an increase in hiring. For example, in summer many cities host Summer Youth Employment Programs which help teens find jobs. There may also be extra openings in your area for camp counselors, lifeguards, and childcare workers. During the holidays, there are short-term ways to earn money with holiday-specific pop-ups - like Halloween stores, Christmas tree sales, or gift wrapping. Large retail stores are also often looking to hire short-term work during this time.

Networking

Whether you are still searching for a job or you already have a job, your network can be a key to your success. Asking people in your life if they know of seasonal jobs is a great way to start your search. People to ask are your parents, adult relatives, teachers, counselors, coaches, and neighbors. If you’re in college already don’t forget to stop by the career center for help! Once you land your seasonal job, your new co-workers and managers are now a part of your network! Building relationships with those people may mean gaining a reference for future employment or even coming back to the same job season after season!

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Working smart

You may be out of school on holiday break or summer vacation so you likely can work more hours. Depending on your age there may still be working hours limits so it is important to know your rights if you are under 16. Working on holidays can also mean making more money! Companies may offer “time and a half” pay for employees who work on holidays. This means that if you normally earn $20 per hour at your seasonal job, during these peak times you could earn up to $30 per hour! Be sure to ask about this possibility when you are hired and if you plan on working on holidays. No matter what, you will also still need to track your earnings for tax purposes. Your paystubs will deduct taxes from your overall pay, but at the end of the year you may be owed a refund so be sure to stay on top of your taxes! Get Schooled has all the information you need to manage your money wisely!