Students take on summer jobs and internships to gain work experience, develop skills, and earn income. Employers in industries such as retail, food service and recreation hire teenagers to fill seasonal positions, while professional organizations offer internships to students interested in gaining early exposure to specific career fields.
One common summer job for high school students is lifeguarding. To qualify, students must complete training courses and obtain certification, such as those provided by the American Red Cross. Lifeguards are responsible for monitoring swimming areas, enforcing safety rules, and responding to emergencies. This job requires strong communication skills, attentiveness, and the ability to react quickly in critical situations. “I learned how to work on my feet because a lifeguarding shift is never the same and you have to be ready to adapt to emergency issues,” senior Emily Teague Fallsmead Pool summer lifeguard said.
In addition to lifeguarding, high schoolers frequently find summer employment in retail stores and restaurants. Retail workers assist customers, handle transactions, and manage inventory, while restaurant employees work as servers, hosts or kitchen staff. These jobs help businesses meet increased demand during the summer months and provide young workers with experience in customer service, teamwork and time management.
High school students also seek internships to gain experience in specific professional fields. Banks, for example, offer internships where students assist with administrative tasks, learn about financial services and observe banking operations. Other industries, such as healthcare, technology and law also provide internship opportunities for students who are interested in exploring potential careers. Internships allow students to gain firsthand knowledge of workplace expectations, develop technical skills and build professional connections. “My internship this summer will be at a bank and will give me real-world experience to ensure this is the career I want to pursue,” junior Mia Coven said.
Aside from gaining experience, high school students who work during the summer often earn wages that they can use for personal expenses, savings or future education costs. “I will only work once a week this summer at a plant store as I have a lot of things to manage and take care of including applications this summer,” junior Bryson Filbert said.
According to the Maryland Department of Labor, 42% of high school students in Maryland have a summer job or internship. Students have opportunities sprouting from their connections to their community. “ I got the job at Carmen’s Italian Ice during the summer because I’ve heard from my friends that work there and grew up going there,” junior Peyton Higgins said.
