Summer jobs for high school students

As another school year draws to a close, you might be wondering how to fill your time during the holidays. Getting a casual job is a great way to save money and gain experience. We’re here to shed light on the best summer jobs for high schoolers.

Jobs for high school students can be tricky to pin down. How much experience you need and how old you have to be varies from job to job. But many prospective employers are more concerned with how mature you are than your actual age (as long as you meet or exceed the minimum working age in your state or territory). There are also plenty of summer jobs for high school students with no experience at all. You just need to know where to look.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Fast food crew member

Many high schoolers’ first jobs are with popular fast-food chains. These places tend to have a large workforce of under 18s, on-the-job training, and a variety of shifts on offer. Fast-food restaurants (especially the ones in service centres) often hire additional crew members over the holiday periods to accommodate the increase in customers. You’ll get to work with people your age and gain many transferrable skills. If you prove your worth, you may even be asked to stay on after the busy period.

This is a great option for those who have other commitments during the holidays, as fast-food restaurants have long opening hours (some are even 24-hour), so you may have some flexibility with your shift times. It’s important to note, however, that you’ll need to adapt to a fast-paced working environment, as the position title suggests.

Retail assistant

Hiring Christmas casuals is common for many retail stores in November and December as shopping centres fill with people scrambling to buy gifts. While many shops now look for retail assistants with prior experience, there are still some out there willing to hire high schoolers seeking their first job. Shop managers are often looking for someone reliable, patient and proactive, with clear communication skills. You might even get product discounts, which can help you cross some items off your own Christmas gift list.

 

Santa’s helper

Many shopping centres open a ‘Santa’s workshop’ during November and December, where families can come to get festive photos taken or gifts wrapped, participate in Christmas activities, and purchase personalised Christmas decorations. These spaces often need several assistants, sometimes called ‘Santa’s helpers’ or ‘elves’ to help people line up, organise the photos, and take payments. It’s a fun way to get into the festive spirit for those who love to dress up and enjoy spending time with children.

Have a look at your local shopping centre’s website or social media channels to see if they’re hiring and be aware you might need to undergo training or apply for a qualification that allows you to work with children.

Letterbox dropper

Some local businesses offer special prices on products or services over the summer period and still rely on traditional letterbox flyers to spread the word. You can find flyer-dropping jobs on popular freelancing websites (check whether there’s a minimum age requirement to make a profile), or by approaching local businesses and enquiring. Real estate agencies can be a good place to start, as they often provide printed market reports in their local area.

Pet sitter/dog walker

Lots of families travel over summer and can’t always take their pets with them, resulting in an increase in demand for pet sitters. Pet minding is a great casual job for high school students with a love for animals. It can involve visiting the pet owner’s house to feed the pet, or take them for walks, or bringing the pet into your own home to mind night and day (if your family is happy to add a temporary furry or feathery friend to the household). You can ask family friends if they need a pet minder or create a profile on popular pet minding websites; though if you’re under 18, your parent or guardian will likely need to take joint responsibility for your jobs.

Fruit picker

Several fruits such as grapes and cherries require picking by hand. Most fruit-picking roles don’t need any previous experience, so are often considered good summer jobs for teens. Fruit-picking jobs are often posted on popular job sites like Seek or Indeed, and sometimes on Gumtree as well. As with all jobs you undertake, make sure you read through your employment contract carefully, look into your worker’s rights, and vet the company through a general online search for reviews before signing any paperwork and beginning work. Keep in mind that fruit picking involves a lot of walking and repetitive bending, so it might not be the best option for those with back, neck or shoulder issues.

Warehouse workers/pick packers

Keen to get in on seasonal retail work but not so keen on a customer-facing role? Warehouses will be looking for additional workers to pick and pack online orders over November and December. Pick packers need to be efficient and sensible, and they may be required to lift heavy items or undergo training to use lifting equipment. As you’ll be working in a warehouse, you’ll need to follow safety protocols too. Warehouse worker job ads are posted on popular job sites by small businesses as well as large retail companies.

Catering staff

With the arrival of the Silly Season comes an increase in parties and events that require catering and events staff. Catering companies will be looking to take on additional workers during this time and offer an array of day and evening shifts for those looking for flexibility in their work. Make sure you read job ads carefully, as some catering companies may only recruit over 18s due to restrictions around serving alcohol. Keep in mind that you may need to organise your own transportation to and from jobs, whose locations will likely change day to day, so this summer high school student job may be better suited to teens with a driver’s licence and access to a car.