Summer Jobs: More Than Money in Your Pocket

Summer jobs aren’t just about earning a paycheck and learning how to manage the money you’ve earned. These jobs provide valuable work experience and help youth develop professional skills and discover their talents. It’s an opportunity to take responsibility, learn time management skills and how to get along with co-workers. Summer jobs also provide future employment references, mentorship and can even help a teen succeed in school per Stanford researcher, Jacob Leos Urbel.

Thinking back on my summer jobs, one of the most unique positions I held was at the House of Seven Gables in Salem, MA. I was hired as a tour guide at age 15 and underwent rigorous training before the tourist season began. There was a script to learn and facts that had to be memorized before I could be trusted to lead a tour. I also had to have dresses made, all the tour guides wore period costumes of a calico dress and hoop skirt. I would have fit right in on the set of a Jane Austen production. In fact, each tour was a performance of sorts. I loved opening the door to the secret staircase with a flourish. This experience helped me hone my public speaking skills and taught me how to build rapport with people.

I asked a few people around the office to share memories of their summer jobs and here’s a few examples from AICPA staff members who specialize in learning and development:

Melony Johnson—manager, development and engagement

A summer job that helped me to develop my professional skills was courtesy clerk at a neighborhood grocery store. I learned how to pursue opportunities for growth and know when to move on when my skills and talents are not being recognized. Ultimately, I learned:

How to really listen

The art of customer service

The importance of setting goals and putting in the effort to advance professionally

Michael Grant—director, learning design and development

After my freshman year of college, I took a job out of my “comfort zone”, and worked on the sales promotions team for ADT Security Systems. It was a commissioned based job where our small team rode around the city in a company van offering special promotional incentives (free equipment) to secure new customers. This opportunity made me increase my self-confidence and also exposed me to the following:

Strategic marketing principles and creatively “pitching” to potential clients

Value proposition

Presentation and communication skills

Negotiation techniques

Networking and relationship building

Clar Rosso—vice president, member learning and competency

After my sophomore year of college, I was a summer intern for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their community services and special events department. I learned that eating lunch in an empty baseball stadium is a pretty incredible experience. I learned about the importance of:

Stakeholder communications

Giving back to your community

Supporting nonprofits

Managing messages with the media

Determining when to in-source and when to outsource key business functions

What skills did you develop in your summer job? We’d love to hear from you. Share your comments below.

Jennifer Gardner, Manager–Communications and Social Strategy, Member Learning & Competency, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

Scooping ice cream courtesy of Getty Images.

Summer Jobs: More Than Money in Your Pocket

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