Create a Job and Be Your Own Boss This Summer

A summer job doesn’t necessarily mean standing over a hot flame flippin’ burgers. Maybe you’re not old enough for a formal job or don’t have a car to get to work.

Why not create a job? Consider what interests you and start now to put a game plan together to get a summer job that you’ll love.

Of course there are the tried and true favorites: lawn care and kid-sitting. Ok, only kid-sit if you truly love kids! But households where both mom and dad work can really use some help during the summer months when the kids are home from school, so there’s plenty of opportunity (and your Saturday nights are still free). And you’ll get a great tan if you choose to mow lawns, trim hedges, and prepare flower beds.

But why not think outside the box:

Teach older people computer skills
You’ve grown up texting and surfing the Net. Computers are second-nature to you, so why not share what you know with seniors who’d like to learn how to send email and pictures to their kids and grandkids? You could work one-on-one or with a small group, and charge by the half-hour or hour.

Design a web site
Is there someone in your family or a neighbor who runs a small business? Use your Internet savvy and artistic talents to create an informational web site for their business. It’s an awesome addition to your resume.

Become a pet-sitter
Dropping the pooch or kitty off at a kennel is just not an option for some pet parents. Pets can be traumatized when cooped up in a cage for a week or more. Many pet owners prefer to hire someone to stop by a few times a day to let the dog out, feed their furry friend, and give them a little playtime, right in their own familiar home.

Be an errand assistant
If you do have wheels to get around, consider running errands for busy people or the elderly. Your services could include picking up dry cleaning, groceries, or prescriptions; or standing in line at the DMV to renew a license plate.

What else can you think of? Whatever you decide, it’s a good idea to start planning now. Do a little research:

• Are others in your area offering the same services? Look in the phone book. If you see pages of phone numbers for pet-sitters, you may want to consider another route.
  
• What’s the typical rate for this service in your town? Survey the competition or ask around and see how much people are willing to pay.
  
• Who are you going to try and sell to and how are you going to tell them about your service? Consider how to get your message to the right audience. For example, if you’re teaching computer skills to seniors – ask local senior or community centers if you can post flyers in their lobby.

Finally, line up clients and go to it! Get your flyers out. Talk to friends, neighbors, and family and let them know what you’ve got going on. Networking is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get business. And most of all, work hard, but have fun and enjoy your own business.

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