PROS:

• Forge strong relationships: Unlike some other jobs, this one lets you work for the same customer over and over again. “You can build a connection with both the kids and their parents and teach kids life lessons,” Micah Britton ‘19 said.
• Flexibility: This job is more relaxed than the other two jobs listed here. After all, parents are not companies so they can afford to be more lenient when it comes to the rules of the job. “You can work the hours you want,” Britton said.

CONS:

• Erratic nature: Sometimes these jobs can be steady and regular, but other times not. You’re at the beck and call of whoever you happen to work for. According to Britton, you have “to find your own jobs” since you are often employed through social connections and simply knowing other people.
• Difficult clients: Especially disobedient kids can make what should have been an easy job a nightmarish one. As stated by Britton, even the parents can be a hassle if they “don’t understand your methods of babysitting.”

PROS:

• Personal improvement: Often jobs have hidden benefits besides the pay; they help you acquire life skills and grow as a person. “I have learned to stick up for myself. My work ethic has improved significantly. [This job] has taught me to always be kind to others,” Livvie Berger ‘19 said about her work at Rose’s. Lina Theodorsdottir ‘19 said that she learned teamwork and efficiency during her time at Beacon Hill. “All of the employees work together to get things done faster. Because it is often fast paced I developed the skill set to multitask easily and think quickly.”
• Flexibility: These jobs usually need to be more adaptable to accommodate academic and athletics obligations. “I could easily balance school and work,” Theodorsdottir said.
• Forge strong relationships: Sometimes these jobs give you the opportunity to serve regular customers and therefore get to know them. “What I especially loved was the relationships I developed with the residents. They were so kind and funny and I really enjoyed spending time with them,” Theodorsdottir said. You also bond with your coworkers and, according to Nolan Gardner ‘19, “work with friends” you know from school or elsewhere.
• Food: After preparing the food for the paying clients, you’re able to eat some of it yourself! For free!

CONS:

• Difficult clients: On the flip side, when people are hungry and want a meal, some are demanding and not very gracious. “Some customers do really know how to push your buttons!” Berger said.
• Dirty: “It can be a pretty messy job when washing the dishes and cleaning up the dirty spots in the dishwashing area,” Gardner said about his job at Big Bob’s.

PROS:

• Flexibility: This job can just a summer gig or all-year round depending on your preference. “Working as a sub at the high school, I can take a shift when I need to. Working at Cascade, I can also get a good number of days off as well as work as much as I need,” Hunter Converse ‘20 said.
• Working outside: This job is special because it doesn’t necessarily keep you cooped up inside a building. “I get to work outside during the summer and I get to interact with people at the pool,” Daisy Brown ‘19 said.

CONS:

• Monotony: Compared with other jobs, this job can be relatively inactive and repetitive. “Sometimes it’s boring to sit in the stands on slow days,” Brown said. According to Converse, “doing the same thing over and over” becomes tedious.
• Overwork: Lengthy shifts are an unfortunate part of this job. “On busy days you have to work for a long time without a lot of break time,” Brown said.
• Difficult clients: “Dealing with patrons can be a pain, but it’s part of the job,” Converse said.