Battling For Summer Jobs

With nearly 10% of American adults unemployed, there’s new competition for an enterprising teenager looking for a job during summer vacation. The acne-prone set is battling for jobs against their elders - older workers who would be in more skilled occupations if not for the recession - in traditionally seasonal industries such as retail and hospitality.

Despite the bleak economy, teenagers looking for work this summer shouldn’t be too disheartened. A February survey by CareerBuilder.com found that about one-fourth of US employers were planning to hire summer workers.

Obvious places for a teenager to visit and fill out an application are McDonald’s, The Gap, and Six Flags. However, there some other less evident industries that often need teens for summer employment.

Hoover’s Editors list 10 teen-worthy occupations off the beaten track, along with an example of a company that may hire such a worker.

1. Carpenter’s Helper - Centex Homes, the main homebuilding subsidiary of Centex Corporation, builds in nearly 700 neighborhoods in some 80 markets in more than two dozen states. It operates most heavily in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

2. Floral Design Helper - FTD offers more than 400 floral arrangements available for next-day delivery throughout the US.

3. Home Companion/Caretaker - Brookdale Senior Living has some 550 facilities in 35 states. The company provides meal service, 24-hour emergency response, housekeeping, concierge services, transportation, and recreational activities.

4. Kennel Attendant - PetSmart provides in-store boarding facilities, grooming services, and obedience training.

5. Packer/Mover - Atlas Van Lines, the main subsidiary of Atlas World Group, transports household goods throughout the US and between the US and Canada. The company is one of the largest movers in the US.

6. Plant Nursery Assistant - Home Depot targets the do-it-yourself and professional markets with its selection of about 40,000 items, including lumber, flooring, plumbing, gardening supplies, and tools.

7. Recycler - For a fee 1-800-GOT-JUNK? will haul away any nonhazardous materials that two people can lift.

8. Zookeeper’s Helper - The Zoological Society of San Diego is a not-for-profit organization that operates the 100-acre San Diego Zoo, which cares for more than 4,000 individual animals.

9. Library Assistant - The New York Public Library’s four research centers and 85 branches in metropolitan New York contain more material than any other library in the US - about 52 million items.

10. Vehicle Washer/Detailer - Waterway Gas & Wash operates about 20 combination car wash-gas stations in and around the upscale communities of Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Services include washing, hand drying, waxing, and vacuuming.