Each summer, millions of students flock to their first jobs. For many students, a summer job simply means some spending money while out of school. However, for workforce professionals, employers, and community leaders, these positions should mean much more. Summer jobs have the potential to create pathways and career exploration.
Summer jobs teach more than how to make an incredible milkshake. As workforce professionals, we know employers are looking for individuals with technical skills who can also communicate, demonstrate professionalism, solve problems, work as part of a team, and adapt to change. Employability skills aren’t typically taught in one course or even in one year. They are built upon experiences and learned through coaching and work.
That’s why summer jobs are among the most impactful workforce-readiness programs we can offer.
Career Exploration Starts with a Summer Job
Thoughtfully designed summer jobs programs are effective workforce development strategies. They aren’t just summer job programs.
Good summer jobs programs teach participants about workplace expectations. They allow students to learn about careers they may be interested in and help them gain confidence in their abilities. If a student works in health care, manufacturing, IT, construction, hospitality, government, or nonprofit, they are learning skills that employers are seeking.
Summer jobs allow students to learn:
- How to show up on time and have good attendance
- How to communicate professionally with managers and co-workers
- How to be a team player
- How to manage your responsibilities and meet deadlines
- How to solve problems that occur on the job
- How to be accountable and professional
Building Blocks for Life
Summer jobs teach essential skills that individuals will use throughout their careers. But they can also open students' eyes to career options they may not have considered.
Many students who enter summer job programs may not be aware of all the industries in their region or the careers available to them. Imagine introducing a student to the fields of health care, skilled trades, IT, public service, manufacturing, logistics, financial services, or entrepreneurship through a summer job.
Giving students a head start on career pathways helps them make real-world connections to their education. It also encourages them to obtain certifications, attend apprenticeships, complete internship programs, or pursue post-secondary education and training that lead to industry-recognized credentials.
Summer jobs shouldn’t be the end goal; they should be the first step.
Employers: You’re a Part of the Solution
Employers are a vital part of successful summer jobs programs. When employers open up their doors to create summer positions, they aren’t just creating jobs. They are preparing for their future workforce and discovering future talent months, sometimes years before they would have otherwise.
By providing summer jobs for students, employers can:
- Begin building talent pipelines
- See potential employees in action
- Connect with local workforce development organizations
- Give back to their community and create a better tomorrow
- Help build the local economy
Employers who provide youth employment positions are investing in the future workforce. Whether that student goes on to be their supervisor or not, today’s summer employee is tomorrow’s qualified workforce.
Partnership and Collaboration are Key
Strong summer jobs programs don’t exist in a vacuum. They work because workforce development boards, educators, community organizations, employers, government agencies, and nonprofits collaborate to remove barriers and create opportunities.
Often, it takes more than just a summer job to ensure participants succeed. Providing support such as transportation assistance, career coaching, financial literacy, mentors, supportive services, and ongoing case management can determine whether a participant completes only a summer job or launches into a career.
Summer jobs programs are workforce development at their core. By creating opportunities and connecting youth to employers, we are meeting the needs of both.
Success Should be Defined by More Than Summer Employment
We can’t measure the success of a summer jobs program by how many youth we place into jobs. While that is an important metric, there are others that determine the program's success and its long-term impact on participants.
Did they gain confidence in the workplace? Did they make connections with future supervisors? Did they find a career pathway? Did they continue working towards their education, training, an apprenticeship, or even find full-time employment?
When students have access to summer jobs, they have opportunities to learn vital workplace skills, continue their education, and build a better future for themselves. Summer jobs create career pathways, support local economies, and help build stronger communities.
Let’s work together to ensure more students have access to these opportunities.
