Summer Jobs for High School Youth

 Written by Susan Gillespie, Youth Employment Counsellor

Looking for a summer job? What are your options?  What should you do now?

Many employers offer summer or seasonal employment, which starts in spring and goes throughout the summer into the fall. So, think about your availability as many employers will ask for it even before the interview as part of their pre-screen. A pre-screen is typically done by phone where the employer will check to see if you have the basic qualifications and availability for the position.

Summer plans:  Employers will ask if you are planning to be in Calgary for the summer and what your availability is for work. Talk to you family about summer plans - if there are trips planned or if you have summer school or need to look after younger family members. Be aware that most summer camp or day camp jobs cannot accommodate vacations and summer school schedules. Calgary Stampede offers 10 days of employment, and other employers will hire part time.

How are you going to get there:  Research employer’s operating hours, transit availability. You probably do not want to take transit for two hours each way or be stuck when transit is done at night.

Resume:  Employers are interviewing now for summer jobs, so prepare a targeted resume and start applying now. Your resume should reflect your transferable skills and how they relate to the job you are applying for, so no generic resumes!  Your resume needs to be like a commercial, short and targeted to your audience.

Hiring events:  Check out the Youth Employment Centre Annual Hiring Fair on Thursday, March 28^th at the Big Four Building. Explore opportunities through the YEC website as all employers are listed so you can research ahead of time. You can explore employers based on the minimum age they hire 15, 16, 17 or 18. Don’t wait until the hiring fair to apply. Target your resume and apply before the event. 

Volunteer:  If your summer school schedule or family commitments have limited your availability, this is a fantastic way to gain work experience and do something fun. Check out Youth Central or VolunteerConnector for volunteer work, depending on your interests.   

Summer camp positions:  Typically, full time in July and August with training in May or June. Most summer camp jobs hire at 16 and you will need to complete a Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search. These can take up to 3 weeks so start one now as they will be mandatory for camp positions. There will also be a requirement for First Aid/CPR most camps look for the 2-day Standard First Aid/CPR Level C with AED also called Intermediate First Aid/CPR.

Free certification:  Alberta Health Service Basic Food Safety can be done ahead as well. These courses don’t take long and show you are committed to learning and safety.   

References:   Try to have at least two work related references (some employer will ask for three), an adult who can speak to your ability to be dependable and follow through. This could be from volunteer work, a family you have done babysitting for, teachers, team coach. You must ask someone first if they are willing to be your reference and you cannot use family. If you do not have any references, volunteering is a great way to get one for the future.

Other opportunities:  For summer internships related to trades, IT and health care check out Careers Next Gen and Off Campus Learning opportunities through your high school. 

If you do not know where to start, visit us at The City of Calgary Youth Employment Centre. We offer drop-in employment services to youth in Calgary ages 15-24.