Unique Summer Job Ideas
By Jennifer Peek
Summer jobs (or any job for that matter) can be either hard to find or just not in your area of interest. Don’t get me wrong - sometimes you have to take a job that is just that: a J-O-B. Not everything you will work at is going to be something you love. And while that may be the longer term goal (or even one that you work on while you have a not-so-glamorous job), there are times when you will just have to work.
But whether it is what you love or just a job, it doesn’t have to be the typical summer job. It can be a unique summer job - whether working for someone else or yourself.
What is a unique summer job and where can you find it?
Start by using your imagination and your list of things you really like to do or spend time on. For example, do you enjoy expressing yourself through art or even just looking at all different kinds? Maybe one of your favorite things to do is explore local art fairs or flea markets looking at one-of-a-kind pieces.
Next, come up with a list of at least 10 ways that can lead to a way to make money - without lots of time or investment. Remember - we are talking about working for summer and time is limited! In our example, a list of 10 things might look like this:
* Working at a local flower shop arranging flowers artistically
* Assisting a floral designer during the busy summer bridal season
* Working as a summer intern/temp in a graphic design studio
* Helping local artists set up, staff and tear down their exhibits at art fairs and flea markets
* Working at a summer children’s art camp
* Working at a local pottery studio helping others create unique pieces of art
* Working at a local art gallery or craft shop
* Designing your own jewelry and selling it at a weekly farmer’s market in your area
* Working at a local landscape and/or lawn and garden center
* Designing landscapes as a freelance artist and helping homeowners make it a reality by assisting in the buying and planting process (or using this as a way to generate leads for a local landscaping company and getting a portion of the profits)
Now - narrow down your list to what is practical and doable for both you and your area. You probably want to have at least 3 ideas that survive and you would really be interested in doing. Then try to make them work. If 2 of your ideas are to find certain types of jobs and that doesn’t work out, move on to idea #3.