Does your kid want a summer job? Here’s their guide to finding SLO County work
Summer has arrived in San Luis Obispo County, and while young people across the county are flocking to the beaches and enjoying the perfect weather, it’s much harder to enjoy the season without some money coming in.
San Luis Obispo County has no shortage of summer jobs up for grabs, but teenagers looking for work for the first time don’t always know exactly what entering the workforce demands.
That’s where The Tribune’s summer jobs guide comes in.
From available jobs to the rules and regulations that control how much a young person can work to what to expect from an initial job interview, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s what young people looking to make some money this summer need to know about getting a summer job in San Luis Obispo County.
How much can teenagers work during the summer?
Prior to filing any job application, there are a few things a young person needs to have sorted out first.
During the school year, most children are restricted from working full-time, with those aged 12 and 13 prohibited from working at all when school is in session and 14- and 15-year-olds restricted to 18 hours per week.
However, during summer vacation, children between the ages of 12 and 15 can work up to 40 hours per week under California law.
They can only work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., however, with the exception of June 1 through Labor Day, when they can work until 9 p.m.
Children aged 16 and 17, meanwhile can work up to 48 hours in a week, with hours falling between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., or 12:30 a.m. on any evening preceding a non-schoolday.
For most types of work with the exception of odd jobs, minors must have a work permit issued by their school district’s superintendent, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations.
How much can a teen be paid?
Typically, most jobs must pay minors the state minimum wage of $16.50 an hour, with the exception of young people being trained in a new job.
New trainees must make no less than 85% of minimum wage during their first 160 hours of employment in jobs where they have no previous experience, according to the Department of Industrial Relations.
Where to apply for summer jobs
While the world of job applications can be intimidating for anyone — let alone a kid — almost all jobs start out in the same place.
In 2025, most employers from mom-and-pop shops to chains will post full and part-time job listings on job search platforms such as Indeed, LinkedIn or Glassdoor.
Many job search platforms have specific filters for teenage employment opportunities, which will filter out most of the higher experience, full-time positions that wouldn’t fit a teenager’s summer schedule.
Going directly to local employers’ websites can also be useful; for example, the Downtown SLO nonprofit will occasionally post positions for events and the weekly Farmers’ Market directly on its website, though as of June 23, no positions were currently open.
However, depending on the size of the business, not all listings will be posted online, meaning sometimes the best way to find work from local employers is to hit the pavement and see who’s hiring in person.
How to apply for a first-time job
Going into a job interview, an applicant will usually need to submit a resume and cover letter to an employer.
While the modern temptation is to use artificial intelligence to generate a resume and cover letter, first-time job applicants might be better using an online template or similar guide where you input your personal information and work experience by hand.
Though artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, it’s prone to exaggerating or excluding details that must be accurate and true for an employer to take your application seriously, especially in cases where the applicant does not have much experience to draw from.
Indeed’s GenAI tools page says to use AI tools for drafts or improvements, but to beware of errors or inconsistencies.
A resume should include your name, phone number and email, along with a summary of previous work experience and qualifications.
As an underage, first-time job applicant, this isn’t always easy, as there aren’t many qualifications to list. Instead, it can be helpful to include any awards, honors or extracurricular activities from school in a first-time job application.
Even you have no professional history to speak of, listing your educational experience can never hurt, along with a summary of existing skills and abilities, which can help an employer evaluate your fit for a job.
While the cover letter can often be a daunting component of any job application, it’s a smaller task than you might think.
According to the nonprofit University Lab Partners, a cover letter should be a one-page statement at around three to four paragraphs in length covering your qualifications for a job.
University Lab Partners further advises that your letter should cover your previous or similarly job-related experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying to, along with an explanation of your strengths of a candidate and why you want the job.
Less experienced writers can turn to a teacher, friend or artificial intelligence to help check for any errors or issues with the letter.
In addition to a resume and cover letter, it can be useful to have a teacher, religious leader or person of authority write a letter of recommendation, which should also be around one page in length and should cover your strengths as a candidate and person.
All of that information — resume, cover letter and letter of recommendation — should be submitted along with the job’s individual application during the application process, though it can also be useful to print them out and deliver them to a potential employer at the start of a job interview.
The interview itself can often be intimidating, but remember: Employers need employees as much as employees need employment.
Dress nicely in a clean, workplace-appropriate outfit, look the interviewer in the eye and be honest in your answers and a job will surely go your way sooner than later.
