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How to land a summer job (Part 1 of 3)

Part 1 of 3 in the Summer Job Series - Earn your first paycheck, build real-world skills, and gain experience that actually matters.

A summer job can do a lot more than just make you money.

At $17/hour, working 15 hours a week for 12 weeks adds up to more than $3,000 before tax. That could help pay for travel, save for a car, or even start investing.  And the best part? You don’t need a perfect résumé to get started. Everyone has a first job.

Choose the right type of job

The best first job is usually the one you’ll actually apply for. Start with jobs that fit your personality, schedule, and comfort level.

Job type Best for Key benefits
Retail Students who enjoy talking to people Flexible hours, customer service experience
Food service Fast-paced workers Teamwork and communication skills
Summer camps Leadership-oriented students Leadership experience, fun environment
Babysitting & pet sitting Flexible side income Independence, responsibility
Tutoring Strong students academically Higher pay, flexible schedule
Lifeguarding Active students Higher hourly pay, responsibility

Retail jobs (age 15+)

Retail jobs help build communication skills and confidence. Most stores train new employees, so experience usually isn’t required.

Why it’s good

  • Flexible hours
  • Easy entry point
  • Strong customer service experience

Food service jobs (age 15+)

Restaurants and cafés teach teamwork, speed, and responsibility under pressure.

Why it’s good

  • Lots of openings
  • Fast-paced environment
  • Great teamwork experience

Summer camps (age 15+)

Camp jobs are perfect for students who enjoy leadership, sports, or working with kids.

Why it’s good

  • Leadership experience
  • Fun environment
  • Often includes meals or perks

Babysitting & pet sitting

Flexible and easy to start with no formal experience.

Tutoring

If you’re strong in a subject, tutoring can pay well while letting you create your own schedule.  Typical pay: $15–$30/hour

Lifeguarding (age 15+)

Lifeguarding usually pays better than many other teen jobs once certified.

Government programs most teens miss

Many students only look on Instagram or ask friends for jobs. But some of the best opportunities are government-sponsored programs that most teens never hear about.

Program What it offers
Canada Summer Jobs Paid jobs at nonprofits and small businesses across Canada
FSWEP Federal government student jobs and internships
Ontario Summer Jobs Ontario-based jobs with public sector employers
Ontario Summer Company Funding for student-run businesses

Important: Many of these applications open in February or March and fill quickly.

Where to find real job postings

Platform Best for
Job Bank Canada Government and youth job listings
Indeed Canada Part-time and local summer jobs
LinkedIn Internships and professional experience

Search terms to use

  • “teen summer jobs near me”
  • “part-time summer jobs”
  • “summer student jobs”

Final advice

Choose a job that gives you more than just money. The best summer jobs help you build:

  • Communication skills
  • Leadership experience
  • Confidence
  • Time management
  • Professional experience

You don’t need experience to get started. You just need to apply.

Your action plan this week

Step Action
1 Pick 3 jobs that fit your interests and schedule
2 Find one real posting for each
3 Submit all 3 applications before the weekend

The hardest part is usually applying for the first one.

Once you do, it gets easier.

 

This is general information only, not financial advice.

 

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Ready to put this into practice?

Our events are built for teens — hands-on sessions where you take what you’ve learned and actually do something with it.  See what’s coming up: