My Favorite Summer Jobs

As a high school and college student I worked hard to play hard. Shit, I may have even played harder before I was 21 than I did after I was 21. Every night was a new adventure, a new party or a new event. I had to be at everything, even if it meant I had to wake up early the next morning to go to work. Now, at the ripe old age of 27, I am like a 90 year old lady. Give me a glass of wine, good TV show and I will be in bed by 10:30.

There are a ton of summer jobs anyone at any age can pick up to make extra money. Take advantage of the long days and get a little extra work in before that late night dinner outside.

Server at a Beach side Restaurant

Before I got into the retail world I was a server for 5 years. Where I made the most money was at a waterfront restaurant the summer before I moved to LA. Most east coasters probably can agree, there is nothing like going out to dinner, sitting right next to the water and watching the sun set and my customers agreed. Cha Ching!

Summer Camp Counselor

There are camps of all kinds in every community that are looking for helpers. A friend of mine is a theater guru and a middle school teacher. During the past four summers she has run a summer theater camp. She spends 6 weeks during her summer off working and making extra money and still has a few weeks before back to school in August to herself.

Ice Cream Shoppe Scooper

My first job ever was at a small ice cream shop in my town. I worked there for 5 years and after I passed down my baton to my sister who worked there for 6 or 7 years. (She was the favorite.) It was the perfect job for a 15-20 year old. Not to mention all the ice cream you could eat.

The ice cream shoppe I worked at as a teenager.

Lifeguard

So this is the one of the jobs on this list that I have not worked in my 14 years of work-life. Community pools, beaches and country clubs all hire lifeguards each summer to keep our swimming water safe. The great thing is each summer it is easy to return to these jobs making them ideal for college students.

Bar Carts at a Golf Course

The area of Connecticut I grew up in is full of country clubs and a ton of my friends during their summers home from college would drive a golf cart around the greens selling beer and drinks to golfers. It was a great way to make a ton of money (golfers like pretty girls) and get a tan while you’re at it.