If you’re a parent of a teen, you may be wondering how you can get them to learn some valuable life skills and be more responsible, especially during the long summer months. Maybe you’re worried that they will be lounging around all summer — and you’ll be funding all of their activities with their friends.
Now might be a good time to start talking about the possibility of encouraging your young adult to consider getting a summer job.
Summer jobs can help teens build communication skills, manage their finances, build their resume, gain independence, network, develop a work-life balance, establish a strong work ethic, stay out of trouble and become more responsible.
A good place to start looking is your local Parks and Recreation Department. Or, consider a seasonal summer job at Huron-Clinton Metroparks, where they will learn how to maintain a work-life balance, have some spending money — and maybe even save some money before school begins.
How to find a job
The easiest way to find a job is through someone you know, such as a family friend looking for a babysitter or pet sitter. But these jobs can be temporary. If your teen wants more regular employment, start by looking up jobs on Huron-Clinton Metroparks’ website.
“Metroparks can help with seasonal jobs for teens,” says Danielle Mauter, Chief of Marketing and Communications at Huron-Clinton Metroparks. “Lake St. Clair Metropark (also known as Metro Beach) and Stony Creek Metropark seasonal jobs give teens the opportunity to work in a toll booth, as a food service attendant, boat rental attendant or adventure golf attendant.”
She suggests that parents and teens look on their website to see all the job postings and their descriptions to find something their son or daughter will enjoy. Applying for a job is easy, too.
“They can apply for these positions right online and will receive a call from a supervisor shortly after,” says Mauter. “If you don’t get a phone call the very next day, don’t get discouraged because they may still be receiving resumes and doing interviews.”
She also explains that although the two Metroparks in Macomb County can always use seasonal (and part-time and full-time employees), if you’re looking to lifeguard, the Wayne County Metroparks could really use your help. The lifeguard positions at Lake St. Clair Metropark have already been filled for the season.
In addition, your local Parks and Recreation Department or YMCA may have a pool and are looking for lifeguards, so reach out and see what might be available for your teen.
“Lifeguards are another really important job with a shortage in the park systems, recreation centers and YMCAs,” says Mauter. “We have a pilot program with YMCA this year to become certified for free if you are interested in becoming a lifeguard in a Metroparks location.”
Currently, Lower Huron Metropark and Willow Metropark have lifeguard openings.
Find a job with “perks”
Huron-Clinton Metroparks offers perks to all full-time, part-time and even seasonal employees.
“One of the really big perks is spending the summer outside,” says Mauter. “Others include paid time off and a summer bonus structure.” These perks are also for seasonal employees too.
Another perk is the chance to make new friends. “Seasonal staff in the past have said the reason they love working for Metroparks, in addition to being outdoors and the perks, is the team environment — a group of co-workers you establish friendships with,” says Mauter.
How a summer job helps your teen
Some of the best parts of having a seasonal job are figuring out your strengths and weaknesses at an early age — and also deciding if that job is something you want to keep doing or not. Just because you have a job one summer doesn’t mean you have to do it the following summer. There are plenty of opportunities for teens to explore.
“Our seasonal workers have to reapply, but it is not exactly the same hiring process,” says Mauter. “They will receive a reminder that goes out from the previous year asking if they want to come back or not.”
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/qEv1iJL
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