RED-Hot Summer Jobs
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The Job Search
Summer's almost here: Time for fun in the sun, big parties ... and finding a job. How are you going to make some cash AND have fun? We've got your back with 15 summer job ideas for you. We'll let you know what's hot (and not) about each one. So check out the choices, and kick off your adventurous -- and profitable -- summer.
What's Cool This Summer:
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'Pool Watch'
Have a crush on David Hasselhoff? Think you should be spending summer in a bathing suit, soaking up the sun -- and getting paid to do it? Lifeguarding is the gig for you.
Summer Sizzles: You get paid to lounge in the sun in your suit, terrorize small children with your whistle, sit in a tall chair and swim laps on your breaks. Your coworkers are buff, tan and bathing-suit clad.
Summer Fizzles: Lifeguarding actually takes intense concentration. From your perch, you have to stare closely at other people splashing around & having fun all day.What's Cool This Summer:
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Country Club Chic
Do you adore Serena & Venus Williams? Dream of rocking terrycloth shirts and whale-print pants -- at the same time? Go to the core of prepdom with a cushy country club gig as a tennis instructor, ball collector, or even desk jockey at the front gate.
Summer Sizzles: Work on your tan and your backhand, plus get a free pass to the club's amenities ... hello, preppy hotties.
Summer Fizzles: Tennis ball injuries, pressure to shop at Talbot's.What's Cool This Summer:
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Tee Time
Tiger Woods is your hero, you dream of driving a golf cart one day and you love lugging equipment for tips. Working as a golf caddy is the only gig for you.
Summer Sizzles: Outdoor time in what are typically idyllic settings, plus unlimited access to the green to work on your swing. Summer Fizzles: Lugging golf clubs in summer heat for inconsistent tips: enough said.What's Cool This Summer:
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Call of the Wild
Camp ain't just a scene. It can be a great escape that's social, adventurous, mainly outdoors and gets you out of the house.
Summer Sizzles: Working at a camp is a great way to meet new people and kick it with your coworkers as much as the kiddos. Plus, you can bring your personal expertise in almost any subject to a camp setting (even basket weaving).
Summer Fizzles: You have to work with kids. Overnight counselors get away for the summer in an outdoorsy setting, but usually trade big wages for the privilege.What's Cool This Summer:
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The Reel World
It's 85 degrees and sunny, and you're inside with the shades down, watching 'High School Musical' ... for the 16th time. This summer, instead of following the pack to an outdoor job, follow your heart: Find a nice, cool indoor gig at a movie theater, where you can watch as many flicks as you want.
Summer Sizzles: You stay cool even on the hottest days, don't have to mess with that slimy sunscreen and get to enjoy all your faves flicks for free before anyone else.
Summer Fizzles: By summer's end, you'll be pastier than Edward Scissorhands.What's Cool This Summer:
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Livin' Fast
If you want a summer job that'll satisfy your fried food obsession and your wallet, then the fast food biz is for you. We mean, who really cares about bans on little things called trans fats?
Summer Sizzles: You have access to all the fries you'd ever want, and probably get to wear a super-cool visor. Plus, hourly cash that's not tip-dependent. Yes, you're 'lovin' it.'
Summer Fizzles: You have access to all the fries you want, and probably have to wear a lame visor. Plus, fryolaters make a summer day hotter than you'd ever want.What's Cool This Summer:
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John Shearer, WireImage.com
Your Nanny Diary
You squeal at the first sight of a stroller in restaurants, coo when you see Baby Gap ads and are on top of the bestseller books for the under-five set. This summer, consider a nanny gig.
Summer Sizzles: You get paid well to play with the cutest little things on Earth all day long, watch cartoons you love and enjoy a super-size swing set. Plus, sometimes you get to go on sweet trips with the family you work for.
Summer Fizzles: Those 'cute' kids won't stop crying, aren't toilet trained, could be teething, and aren't allowed to watch TV or go outside. Wow -- you're in the for the longest. summer. ever.What's Cool This Summer:
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Dave Hogan, Getty Images
Dish It Up
If you're the type to gab a mile a minute, pay attention to detail, appreciate food and like carrying plates, try waiting tables this summer.
Summer Sizzles: It's a potentially lucrative gig, available anywhere you'd want to spend a summer & you can eat for free. Plus -- everyone knows that restaurants are dating central.
Summer Fizzles: It's physically demanding with unpredictable $$ and potentially late hours.What's Cool This Summer:
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Hammer Time
Do you dream of getting buff under a hot sun, working long, laborious hours, whistling at passersby and making tons of cash? Check out construction gigs.
Summer Sizzles: It's a great skill set with typically high hourly wages. You usually get to work outdoors, and get strong fast.
Summer Fizzles: Potential to lose a finger while working hard on long, hot days.What's Cool This Summer:
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Brand X
Amuse Yourself
If you can't get enough of Magic Mountain, cotton candy or long lines, consider a working at an amusement park. Jobs options include ticket-takers to selling food at concession stands -- not to mention those fun costumes you could wear.
Summer Sizzles: You get to ride the Turkish Twist and stuff your face with candy all you want, plus you're outside.
Summer Fizzles: You get to ride the Turkish Twist and stuff your face with candy all you want, which experts say may lead to puking. But at least you'll puke outside.What's Cool This Summer:
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Grande Fun? Mais Oui
If you love to travel, hang with kids and work on your language skills, working as a kids' tour leader or camp counselor overseas could be the fit for you.
Summer Sizzles: For the cost of a plane ticket, you get paid to explore foreign locales and enjoy things like hotties with accents, steak frites and discoteques. Did we mention babes with accents?
Summer Fizzles: Pay is typically not tres bon, and downtime to explore on your own in usually minimal. Best bet is to leave early & stay late to max out the adventure.What's Cool This Summer:
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Brush Up
Are you secrely an artist who yearns for huge, Pollock-esque canvasses? Painting houses could be your sweet summer job. A lot of painting businesses train unskilled house painters and can be a way to get your art on, in a big way.
Summer Sizzles: You get to be outdoors and play with paint, often for solid money.
Summer Fizzles: Paint fumes + hot weather = hurl-worthy. Plus there's more pressure riding on house painting jobs than on that finger painting you loved as a kid.What's Cool This Summer:
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Digital Vision
A Three Hour Tour
Do you dig having an audience? Are you down with local monuments and sights? Sounds like being a tour guide could be your summer niche.
Summer Sizzles: You get to do what you do best: Talk. Also, you're probably outdoors a lot, meet interesting people from out of town, and get to know more about your area.
Summer Fizzles: You're popping throat lozenges like Kanye West's collar. And all those questions about who died in Grant's tomb get SO annoying.What's Cool This Summer:
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Sell Away
Your idol is Summer on 'The O.C.,' you love helping people with inane requests and you live for sample sales: Welcome to your summer retail gig.
Summer Sizzles: If you find a retail gig at a store you already love, you can stock up (get it?) on some sweet threads and gear for mega-discounts. Plus, your pals can come visit and 'shop' when things get slow.
Summer Fizzles: When things get slow, your friends are nowhere to be seen, your copy of People is already done, leaving you with only 'War and Peace.'What's Cool This Summer:
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Beck and Call
If you're all about service with a smile, then the hospitality biz is for you. A lot of hotels and restaurants hire extra staff for valet, room service and the front desk for summer months.
Summer Sizzles: You can earn mad tips just for doing your job right. At hotels, you can also sometimes get access to the establishment's amenities. Hello, sweet pool!
Summer Fizzles: You can also work your butt off for dubious rewards. Make sure you have a solid base pay.What's Cool This Summer:
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