Summer is approaching fast. Finals are just around the corner. The weather is slowly getting warmer, the sky is becoming more blue, and you can already feel the cool summer breeze in the air. As we get closer to summer, lots of opportunities from companies and organizations will arise for teenagers to take part in.

As UCSB students start to go back home for the summer, more spots will open up all over the city as companies will be losing a large percentage of their workers. As a student, there are plenty of job, volunteer, and internship options to choose from this summer, regardless of your age.

If you are having trouble deciding on a job that interests you, or are just curious on some different options, consider the following:
– Cashier
– Waiter
– Busser
– Tutor
– Retail associate
– Lifeguard
– Fast food attendant
– Daycare assistant
– Barista
– Camp counselor
– Junior referee or umpire
– Social media manager for a business
– Amusement park attendant

If you are wondering how and where to find open job listings, consider checking the website of a company you are interested in (ex: sprouts.com) and look for a “careers” or “jobs” tag. Below are just a few easy-to-use websites which offer a wide variety of options in your area:

– Indeed
– LinkedIn
– Snagajob
– Hireteen
– Craigslist

If you are looking for a local small gig in your community such as babysitting, dog walking, car washing, cleaning, tutoring, etc, you can check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for quick, straightforward listings.

Volunteering is a very common activity people take part in to benefit their community, and it’s something you can include on college applications and future job applications. Volunteering doesn’t always have to be work on your feet; it can be something such as providing food, water, and affection to loving animals at your local animal shelter. Here are just a few volunteer opportunities you can try as a teenager:
– SBHumane (animal shelter)
– Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
– Food Bank
– Santa Barbara Zoo
– Camp Counselor
– SBTeenLegal
– Online language tutor

Finally, If you are looking for a way to improve your language and interaction skills, you can consider looking for jobs abroad. Jobs abroad can take place all around the world in countries such as Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, China, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, France, Chile, and many others. Some examples of activities you would partake in include, but are not limited to, being a theme park attendant, manual labor for agricultural practices, summer camps, teaching English to others, and au pair (a helper from a foreign country living as part of a host family). These opportunities are costly, but they are a great way to explore the world and learn new skills.

Whether you want a full-time summer job, a job abroad, or a simple volunteer opportunity, there are plenty of possibilities to take advantage of. As summer dawns upon us, more spots will begin to open up. Make sure to remain consistent, polite, and ask for help when needed.