Bored over the summer? Want to go out with friends but have no money? Are you just sick and tired of your parents trying to get you to go visit your checker-playing grandparents? A summer job might be the choice for you.

Why should you get a summer job? It’s the best way to gain experience and money without the stress of school or sports. A job in the summer means you can work more hours, gain connections through coworkers and managers, and you can even carry the job into the school year but make your schedule fit with theirs. They help with your communication skills, multi-tasking abilities, and how to act in high stress situations.

What are some cons? Well as much as everyone loves money, we all love a social life too. Since it’s summer, places take advantage of long shifts, about 5-8 hours, which could cause you to be exhausted. Another disadvantage is hiring can be a first come first serve in many jobs. Seasonal jobs, like those in the summer, tend to fill up very quickly, leading to shorter shifts and, in turn, lower pay.  Aren’t you supposed to be happy about less hours and shorter shifts? Yes and no, because when you check your bank account and there’s nothing but some dust, you’d wish that you worked a tad more.

Who is hiring? First you’ve got to think about where you’d be okay with working. There are places like department stores, i.e Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Target, the fast food industry, i.e Mcdonald’s, Burger King, and Chick-fil-A, and sit down restaurants, i.e. Applebee’s, IHOP, and Panda Express. You have to think about what kind of field you’d want to go into or you feel you’d excel in the most. There’s also local summer jobs for things like lifeguarding, YMCA, and if you’re interested in some other non-normal jobs, check out Indeed and type in your desired working location to find some cool odd jobs.