Seasonal Jobs that are cool, unsual and fun

Here are some of the best job sites for job-seekers searching for seasonal, fun, unique, unusual, and cool jobs

Are you an adventure-seeker? Looking for a seasonal job? Just want part-time employment? Need to work a second job? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the place for you because you'll find listings for cool jobs, unusual and unique jobs, seasonal jobs, odd jobs, part-time jobs, and more.

Lifeguardingjobs.com -- a great resource for job-seekers looking for lifeguard and other aquatic positions. Job-seekers can search by jobs, state, and county. Free to job-seekers.

MountainJobs.com -- dedicated to bringing together mountain employers with high quality job-seekers, where you can search for a wide variety of professional and unusual jobs and internships and read company profiles. Free to job-seekers.
ResortJobs.com -- where you can go and search for jobs by location or keywords and post your resume for employers to view. Free to job-seekers.

SeasonalJobs.net -- where job-seekers looking for seasonal employment can search for jobs (by position or location) and post your resume. Also includes additional seasonal employment resources. Free to job-seekers.

SeasonJobs365.com -- where job-seekers can find temporary work, summer jobs, winter jobs, working holidays, jobs abroad, ski and snowboard jobs, holiday reps, resort work, catering, and other seasonal work. Job-seekers can search or browse job listings by location or job type. Part of the One World 365 network of Websites. No cost to job-seekers.

SeasonWorkers.com -- a job site covering all aspects of worldwide working travel and seasonal recruitment -- including winter resorts, summer resorts, outdoor jobs, and TEFL positions -- where job-seekers can search job postings (by job category and country) and then apply directly to whichever one interests you. No cost to job-seekers.

SnagAJob.com -- where students (high school and college) can find part-time, summer, and seasonal jobs. Job-seekers can search by location or job type and then apply for the jobs you're interested in. Free to job-seekers.

SummerJobs.com -- where summer job-seekers can search by keyword or location for summer jobs. A very nice resource. Free to job-seekers.

ThemeParkJobs.com -- where job-seekers interested in working in the theme park industry can search for jobs (by keyword, location, and job type), register for a job search agent, and post your resume. Free to job-seekers.

Summer Jobs Ideas

So you are a teenager, either in high school or college, and you are wondering, "It sure would be nice to have a job this summer..." You have a lot of options. In fact, you have a "bewildering array of options." You can work in restaurants, small businesses, retail stores, amusement parks, summer camps and so on. There is a job out there that fits almost anybody. The important thing is to recognize that you do have options. In recognizing them you gain the ability to explore your options. Here are a variety of things to think about during your exploration:

* You can do the normal thing--you can go apply for a job at the local fast food restaurant. This may not be a bad thing to do, depending on your attitude going into the job. If your attitude is, "I hate this job," then obviously you will get nothing out of it. If, on the other hand, you look at it as an opportunity to learn how a business works from the inside out, then you can get a lot out of it. Start gathering the knowledge and skill with your summer job. Try as many positions as possible and ask lots of questions about cash flow, staffing, inventory, etc. Keep in mind that there are lots of different kinds of restaurants: fast food, family dining, elegant dining, etc. They pay differently and appeal to different people. Look around at the options before making up your mind.

* You can work at a place like a amusement park that hires a lot of people in the summer. Again, attitude will control what you learn. You can learn an incredible amount about business and human nature in a job like this.

* You can work at a summer camp, resort, or vacation spot that hires lots of people in the summer. Ditto on the attitude. The advantage here is that you might have the chance to travel.

* You can volunteer at any number of places: hospitals, shelters, clinics, summer youth programs, etc. You won't make any money, but the experience can be invaluable.

* You can get an entry-level job with a small business and learn the business. Options are endless. Just open the business section of the phone book or drive around and see what is out there. Drive through small industrial and office centers and knock on doors. It will be helpful if you have a skill the business can use such as typing, computer skills, etc., but that is not necessarily a requirement. Again, make learning the key. What you are looking for is a small business that is interested in hiring an eager "gofer-type" employee and then showing you how the business works. Take what you can get and learn, learn, learn.

* You can enter a summer educational program. Many colleges and community colleges run summer classes. Go take some. Write around or talk to some guidance counselor at school and see what is out there. If nothing else you could join a "continuing education program" at a college or university and get a jump-start on college.

* You can look for summer intern programs at local companies. You can call your local or state government and see what you can find. Many states and municipalities offer summer job programs.

You can get a job anywhere and then spend the money to do something you really enjoy. For example, work at night and take pilot lessons during the day. Or work at night and explore a hobby or sport during the day. You can work for yourself. Create a summer job mowing lawns, taking care of kids, painting houses or whatever. well that is pretty basic but till you have other options being worked out, no harm in keeping yourself busy.

You can also hunt for opportunities on the web. Go to the directory of online resources and read other articles there on job skills, career options and so on. Use keywords like "jobs for minors" and "Summer jobs for minors" or "part time jobs for teens" in the big search engines and see what you find.

Where Teens can Find Summer Jobs

There are any number of places where you can look for a good summer job:

* Local merchants: local stores often need good help – and not just in the summer.
* Small businesses: most towns have a number of small business offices – and your family or friends probably know several owners or office managers.
* Corporate offices: many have established summer jobs and internship programs, but often these are the most competitive.
* Stores at the mall: have a favorite store you like to shop at in the mall? Maybe now is the time to get a job there –- just be careful not to spend all your earnings buying their products.
* Hotels and resorts: summer is the busy season for most hotels and resorts.
* Tourist attractions: even if you don't live in Florida or California, most states have tourist attractions that especially need help during the busy tourism season.
* Golf & Tennis clubs: as the weather improves, these clubs are usually looking for part-time help.
* Grocery stores: maybe not the most exciting jobs, but probably the most convenient -– and not just for summer.
* Fast food and restaurants: local restaurants always need good help -– and while not the most glamorous, it's still a job.
* Parks and recreation departments: city, state, and national parks and recreation departments often develop special summer programs, and thus have job opportunities.
* Local government summer job programs: often various government agencies sponsor different kinds of summer youth work programs.
* Summer camps: okay, you went to camp as a kid – now you can go back as a counselor and get paid while being at camp.
* Working for yourself: there are all sorts of jobs/businesses you could develop for yourself in your neighborhood.
* The Web: especially if you want to work outside your neighborhood, or even your state, the Web is the place for you to explore all sorts of summer job opportunities.

Some Jobs for High School Students

Jobs for high school students offer a variety of working experiences. Some can give you work that will be valuable in your future education or help you make decisions about a future career. Other jobs give you needed job skills and allow you to earn some cash. Some work for teens occurs only during the summer or on long school breaks, such as working as a life guard or camp counselor, or there are other jobs for high school students that are offered on a year round basis.

You should know that different countries might have different rules that govern how much you can work. Some countries and certain US states may have specific laws about your ability to work, your need to get parental permission, and the amount of time you can legally work in a given day or week. These laws can be to your advantage since they will protect from overwork by employers. Get familiar with labor laws in your state or country before seeking work to make sure you’ll qualify for jobs you might like to hold.

If you’re too young to hold down a job from most private sector employees, as many students under the age of 16 may be, there are still plenty of jobs that you can get. Many of these are things like taking care of children, working as junior camp counselors, doing housework or lawn and garden work, or possibly even delivering weekly newspapers. Babysitting can actually be a very lucrative profession and allows you to decide exactly how much you want to work.

Many parents rely on the services of babysitters and a good babysitter with excellent references and lots of experience can command a rate well above minimum wage. If you’re interested in pursuing this, take some baby-sitting classes where available, especially infant and child CPR. Don’t forget that you might be able to hold a summer childcare position since many parents who work full-time are faced with tough decisions about how to provide childcare for younger kids during the summer months when school is not in session.

Private sector jobs for high school students are often entry-level work. Places to look include at retail stores, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and environments where receptionists are required. Many well-known coffee chains hire workers on a part time basis, and lots of retail jobs become available during the Christmas season.

If you’re good at your work, you may be able to retain seasonal jobs year round. Such work won’t usually pay much above minimum wage, but they can help you train in the service sector, and these useful skills can help you land jobs later in life. Similarly, work in restaurants, especially entry-level work such as hostessing and busing tables, is fairly easy for teens to find.

Other jobs for high school students may give you additional experience. Companies may need part time office assistants, and if you have basic office and computer skills and a pleasant manner, you may be able to find one of these. Students that are skilled in a musical instrument or that have high academic achievement could find work giving private music lessons or tutoring.

You do want to consider exactly what jobs for high school students will best fit in with your schedule. Employers who can’t respect your schedule and routinely schedule you to work too many hours or when you are not available will cause conflicts in fulfilling your high school work. Many employers are excellent at understanding this and if they hire a lot of high school students they may already have a good sense of the scheduling needs of most high school kids.