Creative Summer Jobs for Teens

When it comes to summer jobs for teens, a little creativity can go a long way. This is especially true this year, when the job market looks a bit dismal. With some creativity, you may be able to carve out an employment niche for yourself. Here are some ideas for creative summer jobs for teens.

1. Deliveries
Do you have a bike? You may find summer work making deliveries for local businesses. As businesses seek to keep costs down, a teen on a bicycle is a more affordable option than a delivery company. It also helps businesses avoid sending one of their own employees out of the office to make deliveries.

2. Pet Sitting
During the summer, a lot of pet owners are looking for an affordable way to have their pets cared for while they’re out of town. Boarding pets can be expensive, and some pet owners opt out of conventional vaccination schedules, making boarding impossible (boarding kennels generally require updated vaccinations). So you could potentially make money while savings other people money – a win-win! The more experience and references you have, the better; if you have horse-keeping experience, for instance, that can help expand your employment opportunities.

3. Look No Further Than Yourself
If you can’t work at a traditional company this summer, go into business for yourself instead. There are so many possibilities! Here are some thoughts for your own creative business this summer:

-Website designer

-Lawn and garden care

-Mother’s helper (you babysit in the children’s home with their mother or a parent present)

-Visiting shut-ins or those in nursing homes (family members would hire you to visit with their elderly relatives; no professional healthcare involved – just visiting and cheering them up)

-House cleaning

-Car washing

-Portrait drawing

4. Farming
Okay, you probably don’t have a farm (if you do, even better!). But if you can find a piece of land, you can grow your own produce and sell it at your local farmers’ market. If you don’t have the land at your own home, some people who do have farms are willing to rent you a piece of land or let you farm a piece for a fee.

So get creative! Think about what you’re good at and see if you can get someone to pay you for doing it. Find a way to make your skills useful to others.