The Best Summer Jobs You Can Get!

When most people think of summer jobs, they think of babysitting and working in fast food, but these aren't your only options. In fact, there are some really cool jobs available that you can consider, which makes going to work so much better every morning. Let's take a look at some of the best summer jobs out there:

Attraction & Zoo Workers

In the summer, tourist destinations like aquariums and water parks are extremely popular, so many locations hire additional workers. You don't have to get stuck in concessions though. Some parks have openings for interns to work directly with the animals under the supervision of professional trainers. While you may not be a lead trainer in a temporary position, your summer job could certainly involve some tasks with cool creatures.

Whiter Water Rafting Guide

River rafting guides help new and experienced paddlers make it down a river as safely as possible while still having tons of fun. You have to be a veteran rafter to work in this kind of position, but if you are, this is an adventurous, fun job you should consider.

Golf Beer Cart Attendant

During the summer, golf courses are hopping, and along with more general jobs like grounds maintenance and ball collection, you could also be a beer cart attendant. So-called "beer carts" actually have beverages of all sorts, and your job will be to travel around the course and sell drinks to thirsty golfers. It's a great job if you like to meet new, interesting people.

Seller on Etsy or eBay

Selling on online sites like Etsay or eBay is a great summer job option because you can work from anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. Etsy is a great place for homemade items that you make yourself (like an online craft fair), while eBay is great for reselling items you purchased (like an online flea market or yard sale). The earning potential on these sites is unlimited - it depends how much time you want to put into it.

Game Tester

All major game studios have quality assurance testing, often with temporary teams that work on a specific game. QA jobs don't pay well, and some are even volunteer positions but the perk is that you'll get to check out a game before it is on the market. It also looks good on your resume if you hope to land a full-time job in the video game industry, which can otherwise be a tough market.

Ship Crew Members

Yes, you can actually get a job on a ship! Crews are needed to man ships that do harbor tours or take passengers on short trips in scenic locations. Think: Alaska, Great Lakes, and so on. Summer is the busy season for sailing, so temporary positions are more readily available than during the rest of the year.

Birthday Party Hostess

Restaurants, bowling alleys, miniature gold courses, skating rinks, museums, and other summer destinations often open their doors to groups having birthday parties. Some hire special event staff during the summer to help coordinate these events. It's a good options if you like working with kids.

 

Seasonal Firefighter

During the summer, many companies hire additional firefighters, since there is a greater need, especially with fighting forest fires in rural areas. You can also find volunteer summer firefighter positions if the paid companies in your area aren't hiring. Most provide free training.

Housesitter

As a housesitter, you'll essentially live in someone's house while they're on vacation. Additional duties might include caring for pets or providing lawn care. You can do this occasionally when people in your neighborhood go out of town, or you can market your housesitting services, which is an especially good option in more upscale communities where people travel to their summer homes often during the warmer months.

Tour Guide

Tour operators the world over hire guides and support staff, who begin work in mid-May and usually quit around late-September. The major perk of this kind of job is that you'll get to travel as you're working or get to know your local landscape much better. Staff members often get perks like discounts on travel, great tips, and more.

Booth Babe

"Booth babes" are girls that companies hire to demonstrate their products or talk about their services at conferences, industry shows, and other events. If you're a people person who enjoys talking to others, this might be a good job for you. Even though many companies seek out attractive girls, "booth babes" can actually be male as well, and for most companies, looks aren't as important as your passion and ability to represent the company well.

Mascots and Amusement Park Entertainers

Theme parks, restaurants, and lots of summer tourist destinations hire summer workers to dress up as mascots. You can also work as another kind of amusement park entertainer, like a juggler or singer. Most of these positions are with amusement parks themselves, but there are also dance troupes that travel around the country to perform at lots of different places.

 

Cirque du Soleil Workers

Cirque du Soleil is a modern circus that combines comedy with acrobatics, dance, and theatrics. At any given time, there are over a dozen Cirque shows going on through North America, many touring multiple cities. You can join a summer tour with a troupe as a performer if you're talented enough, but even if you're not a trained gymnast, you can still work on a show as part of the costume crew, in ticket sales, hauling equipment, and more.

 

As you can see, your summer job doesn't have to be boring! Which position works for you? That depends on your age and goals. Let's start by looking at some information for college students looking for summer jobs.

 

Summer Jobs for College Students >>>