How To Prepare Children For Summer Jobs

Parents are always looking ahead toward their kids' futures. As the seasons come and go kids love keeping busy finding fun things to do. Summer is one season in which parents are hustling to find things for their children to do, especially the older kids - tweens, teens, but for this age group Summer jobs are at the top of the list. So how do parents prepare their kids for Summer jobs? Let's take a look at Summer job prep options.

1. Review your child's Winter months activities. Did the activities hone your child's leadership skills, team-building skills, impact the community, etc? Did your child learn any new software, create websites, start a business, start a Blog, start a movement? Did your child's activities produce any awards for them?

2. Help your child develop his or her resume. Those Winter months activities need to be tracked and accounted for on your child's resume. If you're a savvy parent on developing resumes, host a Resumes Night Out with your child and some neighborhood children. Teach the kids how to develop their resumes. Click on the link below to read a wonderful Hub on developing a child's resume.

3. Begin to gather references for your child. Look to teachers, clergy, neighbors, coaches, school counselors, and business owners, if your child has worked at a business previously. You want references from those who have worked closely with your child and can give a great character, academic, and work ethic reference.

4. Help your child network with other kids who are a step ahead in the work arena. Hold a Summer Jobs Forum at your home, hosting kids from the neighborhood who will be looking for Summer jobs as well. Facilitate a brainstorming session on the how, who, what, and where to begin the Summer job search. Libraries are a great place to network along with information on library bulletin boards. Google kids' Meet Up groups in your area.

5. Let your child know that a healthy employee makes an employer happy. How? Employers who have healthy employees consider them low health risks which keeps healthcare costs down for the company. So why is this important to your child? If your child has put on some extra pounds during the Winter months he or she needs to shed the extra weight to look and feel better, and to improve their chances of landing a Summer job. Let's face it, employers are more prone to gravitate to individuals who are "attractive." Ok, I said it. It's a harsh reality, but it's true, and your child must be aware of this early in life.

6. If your child has social networking pages make sure they are clean and clear of possible items that might not shine a good light on your child. Employers peruse these sights looking to make sure whoever they hire are reputable individuals.

7. If you want to give your child a leg up, then have an on-line home created for your child. Many children create websites or Blogs about themselves, their interests, accomplishments, etc. Then put the link to your child's on-line home on his or her resume.

8. Help your child consider the days and hours he or she would like to work along with the logistics / transportation of getting to work before nailing down a particular job.

9. If you, the parent, have several social networking pages inquire from your sites if anyone knows of upcoming Summer jobs for kids. Create a post on Facebook or Tweet your inquiry. Do a search on Facebook of companies with student Summer programs, student internships, and/or student part-time work. If your child does have an on-line presence include the link to it within your inquiries.

10. If your child has an on-line presence make sure there is a statement on each web page that he or she is looking for a Summer job. Include proper contact information such as phone number and an e-mail address.

11. Make sure your child attends college symposiums or workshops during the school year. Contact colleges and universities in your area to see what workshops or symposiums they offer for kids in a certain age group - you'll be pleasantly surprised. Some workshops will be free or have a minimal cost. Some colleges and universities offer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) enrichment activities. Workshops and symposiums are usually one day and are held on weekends. Put these workshops and where they were held on your child's resume.

12. If your child has been nominated for a class, workshop, conference, etc. don't forget to list the recommendations on their resume.

13. What will really spruce up your child's resume are one or two quotes from teachers. For example, if your child's name is Samantha the quote could say, "Samantha's organization of the Spanish Club has proven to be an asset to Design Academy. It's growth under her leadership has been phenomenal."

Begin your child's Summer job search early. Don't wait until the Summer months are upon you. Remember, the early bird gets the worm.