Living near a beach not only comes with magnificent views but also the ease of getting summer jobs. Tourists come yearly to enjoy the six Brunswick County beaches: Ocean Isle, Oak Island, Sunset Beach, Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach and Holden Beach, which means busy restaurants, crowded piers and lots of ways to make money this summer.
“Employers are always looking for high school and college students to do the work,” said Oyster Rock employee Harrison Doherty. “Especially during the hot summer days, they’re always looking for the young people to go around and do the hard work.”
As a beach community, the tourist population skyrockets during the summer. With loads of people crowding the area, job applications are being filled out left and right. Due to teens not having to worry about school and the desire for money, the majority of workers seen around the beaches are teens.
“Way too many tourists cause an influx in money,” said sophomore Sam Sellers. “There’s a lot of business all year round.”
Popular summer jobs consist of scooping ice cream, bussing tables for fancy seafood restaurants and long, hot days of landscaping. However, there is one job that more teens seem to chase: scooping slush, Sunset Slush specifically.
“They’re always looking for college or like high school workers, so it makes it easier to get more money and hire more people,” said Sunset Slush employee Autumn Wyatt. “It doesn’t feel like work to me because I really just get to hang out with all my friends, while getting paid.”
While most high school and college students work on islands, many students also work on the mainland. With all the tourists and new homeowners comes opportunities for employment in construction and landscaping.
“I work at Sea Watch Construction,” said sophomore Bryce Thompson. “During the summer, there’s lots of housing needs and construction, so it allows the business to make a lot more profit than in the off season.”
On the other hand, some people believe that working during the summer gives them less time to hang out with friends and family or relax. It can be very difficult to find somewhere to work when teens all over the area are free for three months.
“I think there is a lot of competition,” said Sellers. “It sucks. It’s a lot less hours and it’s just wasting my time to do other stuff with friends”
Summer jobs not only allow for financial stability but promote opportunities for personal growth and maturing throughout the teen years. Many employees create new bonds and friendships throughout their time working and create new memories and experiences that will last unto following jobs.
