By: EMILY ZEIGFINGER ’26
Finding a way to make consistent, dependable money was one of the best decisions I have made as a high school student. My first job was at a prominent country club in town, where I have been working for about a year and a half. A few months ago, I decided to take on a second job working at Mathnasium, so I’ve been learning to balance both together along with the homework and assessments of school.
For any students who are looking to store up some cash, it’s important to find a job that fits you. In my experience, the easiest way to scout for jobs is through Indeed, which is a job recruitment website. After making a profile on Indeed, you can customize what types of jobs you are looking for and sign up for email alerts from companies.
Applying for many of the jobs offered on Indeed takes seconds—I’ve probably applied to 40 or 50 jobs on Indeed alone with the push of a button. Not all jobs will ask you for a resume, but it can be helpful to make applicants stand out. If a company likes you, they may reach out on Indeed or through email. For summer jobs, you may want to start looking for jobs in April or early May. For jobs without a set season or time of start, apply whenever you can and say that you are available to start as soon as possible.
Additionally, it’s important consider your priorities with a job, which looks different for each person. Does pay or enjoyment matter more to you? What hours will you work with school? Who can drive you to your job, and how long is the commute? Will you have a good group of coworkers? If you don’t have answers to these questions, that’s okay! Experience will help determine what type of job works for you.
If there is a specific job you have been dreaming of and Indeed hasn’t listed that they are hiring, the best way to get hired is by reaching out personally. Either call the company directly to ask if they are hiring or visit them in person to ask (this is how I got both of my current jobs). Make sure to wear something professional and don’t be scared to negotiate with employers!
Sometimes jobs give us experiences we didn’t expect to love. It sometimes feels crazy to tell people I plan to be a writer while I’m working as a math tutor. But Mathnasium has been so amazing because I get to work with so many students. Coming from someone who used to go to Mathnasium for help in school, it is fun to be on the other side of the desk and pass on what I learned so many years ago.
Mathnasium also reminds me to be self-confident, because many kids I work with struggle more with their self-doubt than actual concepts we are learning. While teaching math in a way that makes sense to these students is important, it is equally important to show students that they are just as smart as anyone else because they keep trying and eventually master skills they will need for math in the future. Seeing others not give up makes me feel proud of my own work in math class!
Regardless of what job you choose, if you are looking for one, I hope I can encourage you to put yourself out there and find something that combines your skills, passions, and capabilities together. Sometimes our choices are not what we expected, but a job is truly a chance to try something new, because you will learn something important no matter where you work!
THE BEAR FACTS 