Summer Jobs and the World of Work

The waning days of summer means it's time go back to school and return to campus. It's also the time when high school and college students wrap up their summer employment stints.

Summer jobs provide a great deal more than income for the youngest members of the workforce. Experiences build resumes, form relationships, and offer the first taste of the world of work and employee responsibilities. First work experiences also set the tone for opinions about work. It can be rewarding, if not always thrilling.

Or it can be full of negativity, Dilbert-like redundancy, and useless activity.

Resume Building

Internships have become a practical necessity as a career introduction. For the lucky few these are full-time, paid experiences, but they are more likely to encompass volunteer time. Savvy students cultivate a network and seek out mentors to guide them to post-graduation positions. When a student's career direction is not yet set in stone, internships enable individuals to taste different fields and gain exposure that aids their decision-making and course selection.

In the absence of formal programs, volunteering in the non-profit world makes a difference while also building valuable skills. Volunteers can shepherd programs and projects, and enjoy seeing the results of their efforts. The global, connected view of Millennials brings a comfort level with social media and enthusiasm for the potential to impact the world.

Juggling Jobs

Students are practically poster children for employment that includes a collection of part-time experiences. The flexibility and short-term nature of these assignments can make this an essential component of the summer experience. This part-time juggling act is not all bad news when it allows an opportunity to mix and match experience, and paid and unpaid stints.

One of my nephews managed to deliver Italian food for a restaurant, provide driving services for a family with middle school children, and volunteer with the local ambulance squad before packing up for his junior year at college. The key to successful juggling is flexibility and willingness to work any shift -- seven days a week.

Off the Books vs. Following the Rules

As an HR pro I can't condone employment off the books, but I know that it is widespread, and young workers are eager to bring home cash without the hassle of a paycheck with deductions. That quick money is nice, but it does come with some strings attached. That ummarked envelope full of cash doesn't really prepare them for the reality of a check that's full of required deductions and record-keeping requirements. The process of moving beyond babysitting, yard work, and snow shoveling should include the structure of a formal employment relationship.

Any employer can flaunt the rules, but new entrants to the workforce are particularly vulnerable. My teenage sons started work at a bicycle store where the boss asked for paperwork and repeatedly said he was going to contact his accountant and pay them properly.

I bit my tongue, hoping they would benefit from the value of work experience. But I spoke up when their after-school work schedules became excessive. A few months later, they were still being paid in cash -- or worse still , with checks that bounced. Their employment experiences ended with lots of negativity about a lack of schedules, inconsistencies, and misdirection.

In my own household, and among friends and neighbors, I am pleased to report more experiences that comply with employment law requirements. From camp counselors to ice cream scoopers, these young workers learn the ropes of arriving on time, getting along with team members, and completing tasks. One of my sons happily signs into work as a lifeguard using a biometric time clock, knows where the weekly schedule is posted, and reports that there are no slackers among the crew; everyone picks up the dirty towels. He even brought home an employee handbook!

Employers, parents, friends, and neighbors can all strive to make these first workplace exposures a strong foundation for a productive working life.