As the school year winds down and summer approaches, many students and young adults start looking for summer jobs. While earning extra money is a big motivation, summer jobs offer a lot more than just a paycheck. They provide valuable experiences, life lessons, and opportunities that can shape a person’s future in important ways.
Summer jobs teach important life skills that aren’t always learned in the classroom. Time management, communication, teamwork, customer service, and problem-solving are just a few examples. Whether it’s working at a restaurant, a retail store, a summer camp, or even a corporate office, employees gain real-world experience that helps them become more responsible and adaptable.
For example, someone working as a cashier learns how to handle money, interact with customers, and stay organized during busy hours. Someone working as a camp counselor learns how to lead activities, solve problems quickly, and care for children. These lessons build confidence and independence that carry over into future jobs, college, and beyond.
Raya Murad, a Health Academy junior at Seminole High School, has been working at Chick-fil-A in Sanford since last summer. She shared her experience balancing a job with her school life.“At first, I was nervous about working during the school year,” Raya said. “But I ended up learning so much about time management. I plan my week out in advance, and it’s made me more organized overall.”
Raya says working at Chick-fil-A has also helped her grow socially. “We’re always interacting with customers, and sometimes people are in a bad mood. I’ve learned how to stay positive and professional no matter what. Plus, the team I work with feels like a second family. We support each other and work together to get through rushes.”
Raya’s story is just one of many. Whether it’s fast food, retail, or childcare, teens and young adults across Sanford are finding opportunities to grow outside the classroom.
A summer job can also be a way to explore career interests or personal passions. Someone who loves animals might work at a veterinary clinic, dog daycare, or a pet store. Someone interested in fashion might land a job at a boutique or help with online marketing for a clothing brand. A future teacher might spend their summer helping kids at a day camp or tutoring younger students.
Even if the job isn’t directly related to the future career you want to pursue, it can still teach useful lessons. For instance, working in food service builds patience and multitasking skills—important traits for almost any profession.
Many summer jobs allow young workers to meet professionals in different fields. These connections can be valuable for future internships, job recommendations, or even full-time jobs down the road. A good relationship with a manager or supervisor can lead to a strong reference letter or mentorship opportunities.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for summer employees to be offered part-time work during the school year or even a full-time position after graduation if they leave a good impression.
Colleges and employers appreciate seeing that applicants have real-world work experience. A summer job shows initiative, work ethic, and commitment. It also highlights important personal qualities like responsibility, leadership, and the ability to work well under pressure.
When applying for colleges, scholarships, or future jobs, being able to list a summer job and talk about what was learned there can make an application stand out.