Is it worth the risk?
I don't know about you, but this is the question I kept asking myself as I looked for jobs during this unusual summer.
With COVID-19 cases spiking around the country, there’'s an added risk to taking any job. For many teens, indoor jobs such as waitressing or working in retail may not be the best option, as COVID can spread rapidly in indoor spaces.
However, if you are still looking for an in-person job, many outdoor opportunities exist. While it does not eliminate risk entirely, working outdoors while wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing may be a safer alternative to traditional indoor jobs.
If you're having trouble generating ideas, here are some of my favorites:
Golf Courses
Since golf lends itself well to being socially distant, many of your local golf courses may have reopened. Working as a caddie, driving golf carts, or selling drinks on a course may be a great way to earn some cash while staying safe.
Lifeguarding
In some states, pools are up and running, just in time for families to beat the summer heat! The Red Cross has begun to offer blended online and socially-distant, in-person lifeguard certification classes, so there’'s still time to become certified to work at your local pool.
Construction
When a friend told me they were working in construction this summer, I was surprised. I'd never thought of it as a summer job for teens. However, doing smaller odd jobs on construction sites is a reasonably safe option this summer and will help you learn handy skills. Wouldn't it be nice to save cash by knowing how to renovate your first apartment yourself?
These are only a few ideas to get you started, but outdoor job opportunities are plentiful this summer as people try to regain normalcy while avoiding COVID exposure. Since working virtually can often feel isolating, working outdoors may be a relatively safe option that’'ll help you feel connected to others while filling your wallet.