How to find a summer job for teens in Philly
Looking for a summer job? To make the search a bit easier, here are some resources that can help.
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Summer is coming, and you’re looking for a job.
If you’re between the ages of 12 and 24, there are youth-based employment opportunities available funded by the city, and some employers are offering bonuses to try to help fill positions.
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We also have a full all-year job guide, but if it’s summer employment for teens you’re looking for, here’s a breakdown of how to find a summer job in Philly.
Pay: $16 per hour, 35 hours per week (June through August). Any applicant who applies before May 15, can get a $500 end-of-summer bonus.
Parks & Recreation hire lifeguards each year to supervise the pools around the city. You must be 16 years or older to work as a lifeguard with the city. To become a lifeguard, you must complete a lifeguard screening test and receive certification.
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To become a lifeguard:
Attend a free lifeguard screening test to start the application process. There are three locations where you can complete your screening test and you need to reserve a time slot online. Bring a bathing suit and towel. If you do not pass, you can take the test again.
Northeast: Abraham Lincoln High School — 3201 Ryan Ave., Mondays through Fridays from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Reserve a time slot at the Northeast location.
Center City: Friends Select School — 17th & Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Reserve a time slot at the Center City location.
North Philly: St. Joseph’s Preparatory School — 1733 W. Girard Ave., Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Reserve a time slot at the North Philly location.
After you pass your screening test, your lifeguard instructor will enroll you in a certification course. If you are 16-24, certification and recertification are free; if you are 25 or older, it costs $110 to be certified and $65 to be recertified. Once you complete the course, you will take an exam. If you pass, you will be a certified American Red Cross Lifeguard. Certification is valid nationwide for two years.
After you have applied, passed the screening test, and become certified, you will attend an employee processing appointment and complete a drug test and pre-employment paperwork. If you are 24 and under, fees associated with pre-employment background checks will be waived.
If you progress through this stage, you will be contacted to start working by the local pool supervisor at the pool you want to work at. If you’re unsure what pool you want to work at, they’ll assign you one. Clearance for employment can take from three to six weeks.
To apply: 🌐 phila.gov/lifeguard 📞 215-683-3663 ✉️ lifeguard@phila.gov (email preferred)
Pay: Ages 14-18: $11 per hour, 20 hours per week (July through August). Ages 19-24: $13 per hour, 35 hours per week (July through August).
Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) provides Philly’s Parks & Rec with youth employees to help staff and assist at various sites across the city. This includes community recreation centers, playgrounds, and PlayStreets. Since PYN operates the city’s summer workforce initiative, applicants for this program apply through WorkReady.
To work for Parks & Rec:
Contact your local recreation center, playground or Parks & Rec facility. Use this online tool to find a location.
If the supervisor wants to hire you, they’ll give you a URL link and referral code to apply online.
After applying, WorkReady will review your application. If eligible for the job, a supervisor will send you an email for you to upload pre-employment documents and complete additional paperwork.
You’ll have to provide a photo ID, Social Security card, work permit or application for work permit (ages 14-17). If you’re male and over 18 years old, you’ll need to provide your Selective Service number or printout.
You’ll work with Parks & Rec to complete criminal and child abuse background checks, and in some cases, an FBI fingerprint process.
If you pass, you’ll be notified that you’re hired and will attend orientation.
To apply: 🌐 phila.gov/programs/parks-rec-summer-youth-employment-program 📞 215-683-3683 📍1515 Arch St., 10th floor ✉️ WorkReady@Phila.gov
Pay: Up to $1,300 for the summer
If you’re between 12 and 24 years old, WorkReady can help you find a summer job. The program operates from July through August and provides you with at least three days of in-person work per week and pays up to $1,300 a summer. WorkReady partners with 80 city agencies, nonprofits, and businesses to employ over 7,500 young people to work. According to WorkReady, an application does not guarantee a job as they receive double the applications than they have available jobs each year. This year, there are 8,000 available slots.
There are two key steps to applying for WorkReady. You need to create or sign in to your online WorkReady application account, which according to WorkReady, will be the hardest part. You also need the referral code for the specific job you want to apply for (not providing a referral code limits your chances of getting an opportunity).
To get a WorkReady job:
Look through the list of WorkReady jobs and get the referral code for one that interests you at locator.workready.org. Some jobs will require you to reach out to the job provider beforehand to get a code directly from them.
Create a new account or sign in to an existing WorkReady application account. If you worked for WorkReady in 2022, you should already have an account but double check your email or contact WorkReady on social media (@pyninc) or via their hotline at 267-502-3900 to have your password reset.
After signing in to your online account, complete an applicant profile and apply for the job you want. Make sure to provide a referral code found on locator.workready.org in your application.
After applying, WorkReady will review your application. If eligible for the job, a supervisor will send you an email for you to upload pre-employment documents and complete additional paperwork.
You’ll have to provide a photo ID, Social Security card, work permit or application for work permit (ages 14-17). If you’re male and over 18 years old, you’ll need to provide your Selective Service number or printout.
You’ll complete criminal and child abuse background checks, and in some cases, an FBI fingerprint process.
If you pass, you’ll be notified that you’re hired and will attend orientation.
To apply: 🌐 workready.org/summer 📞 267-502-3900 ✉️ WorkReadyHelp@pyninc.org
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Play Streets Captain jobs
Pay: $11 per hour
Play Captains is a summer program that helps teens work to support communities, operated by Fab Youth Philly. If you’re between 15 and 19 years old, you can get hired as a Play Captain — similar to camp counselors — from July through August to oversee sections of the city that are blocked off to traffic and designated as Play Streets for local youth. In Philadelphia, there are more than 300 Play Streets. As a Play Captain, you will help lead programming and activities for kids on a designated street. Follow Play Streets on Instagram for updates at @phillyplaycaptains.
To become a Play Captain:
Complete the Play Captain online interest form by May 15.
Fab Youth Philly will review your form, and if eligible, send you an email inviting you to bring in the necessary documents in order for you to work and get paid.
The process should take two weeks.
To apply: 🌐 fabyouthphilly.org/play-captains 📞 215-703-7125 📍3509 Spring Garden St. ✉️ info@fabyouthphilly.com
Organizations that can help
PYN is a nonprofit organization that provides services for Philly youth and operates the city’s youth workforce initiative WorkReady to provide employment opportunities. PYN can help you find a summer job, build a resume, and learn workforce development skills.
🌐 pyninc.org, 📞 267-502-3800, 📍400 Market St., Suite 200
Philadelphia Works is a nonprofit organization from the city’s Workforce Development Board. They can help you find a job, get career training, and connect you to workforce programs all year round. Find the list of programs at philaworks.org/youth-and-young-adults.
To apply: 🌐 philaworks.org 📞 833-750-5627
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The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.