Getting a summer job has become so necessary and even mainstream that Sasha Obama was spotted working at a seafood place on Cape Cod this summer. For most of us, summer jobs offer a way to earn a little extra money for college tuition or maybe even buy a few concert tickets. No matter what the money is used for, summer jobs offer much more than just financial gain.
I spent the summer hostessing at a local restaurant and lifeguarding at a community pool. Both were incredibly enjoyable, and offered a look at more than just what I was getting paid for.
1. Small Talk
Walking someone to their table often takes much longer than one would expect, and just walking slowly in front of and smiling at a customer is not at all sufficient, nor is walking by someone in a lounge chair several times while picking up toys on a pool deck. Being skilled in small talk is extremely necessary for any summer job, whether it's with a customer you need to be friendly with or a new coworker. Being a little more of a quiet person myself, small talk was always something I equated to a magician or improv actor, not me. Having so much experience talking to all different types of people this summer has helped me immensely.
2. Your Job Description Can Be Summed Up In A Few Words
As one of my coworkers pointed out, despite our many responsibilities, we lifeguards just sit in chairs for a living. Hostesses also just hand out menus and give people tables. Enough said.
3. Maintenance is Your Strong Suit
You may not know absolute everything about your job, but you do know how to clean. Thanks to a summer of working, you have developed a penchant for manual labor, such as sweeping, mopping, laundry and cleaning bathrooms.
4. Enforcing Rules Is A Lot Harder Than It Looks
I personally hate yelling at people. It's just as uncomfortable for me to tell a kid not to run on the slippery pool deck or ask people not to move furniture as it is for the person doing it. Believe me, I don't particularly enjoy telling 13 year olds they can't be in the hot tub even though the age requirement (18!) is clearly posted. I like to think this will help prepare me to parent one day.
Summer jobs are great for teaching people how to deal with thunder, rescue people, take reservations and strategically place people at tables, but they also leave us ready for the next season as soon as it ends.