Business relationships are one thing Jonathan Lane has learned at his summer job at a Springfield tanning salon. When clients come in, and he sees them regularly, he learns names and other things that help him meet their tanning requirements and build a relationship that is a building block in all businesses.
"Everybody knows each other. It makes a relaxed atmosphere," Jonathan said.
After a while, customers get to know him on first-name basis.
"That happens a lot," he said.
Donald Cameron works at Austin Grille in Springfield, a job he got when he was in high school and has held for the summers and holidays he's home from Virginia Tech, where he's starting his senior year this coming fall. Cameron's learned that a good attitude and friendly demeanor helped him survive through three managers at the restaurant.
"If you don't have a good attitude, you're not doing half your job," Cameron said.
AS THE SUMMER unfolds and students scramble for jobs, some look for skills they can carry into careers, while others want to make some money, encounter little stress and keep their parents happy they have a job.
Kaelin Burns and Jessica Clemens like the artsy items they sell in Wit's End in Springfield. The colorful atmosphere, contemporary music on the sound system and lack of an established uniform are attractive elements of their job. They keep tabs on other teens as well, maintaining a social life while working. Kaelin graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary last month, and Jessica graduated from Robinson.
"I started here last summer. People who come in here are very interesting," Kaelin said.
Jessica had to wear a uniform at a previous restaurant job.
"I hated that," she said.
Getting a summer job was easier said than done for most of the teens, though, and high-school teenagers competed with college students. Getting out in the job market early was a good idea, said Jonathan, who just graduated from Lee High School. He got his job in April.
"I pretty much blew all my money over spring break," Jonathan said. "It was the busy season, so they needed me."
Diana Hamlett hasn't been that lucky so far. She's using her computer as much as possible for her job search.
"I've sent out a lot of resumes online. A lot of places had signs, but now they've taken them down." Diana said.
Farah Ofogh, a Burke resident, had a business building Web pages she ran out of her home, but she soon found out that wasn't for her. She has a part-time job with Sprint for now.
"I burned myself out," Ofogh said. "Working at home [was a negative]. I don't want to work at home."
Todd Mader owns The Bike Lane in Burke with wife Anne. The students' schedule works out with bicycling.
"When they're available, it's perfect, because that's when I have the most business," Mader said.
FAIRFAX COUNTY Park Authority hired 254 summer employees and an additional 300 people to work at Rec Pac, an activity camp-like program for children this summer. Their minimum age requirement is 14 for most jobs. The lifeguard positions start at $7.58 an hour, and the park assistants get $6.26.
"Some of our programs, we require them to be 18," said Judy Pederson, park spokesperson.
"I think the kids have a blast, and we know that because they come back," Pederson said.
Park officials keep an eye on late August because some of the college students go back early, or others just quit so they can have some vacation time before school.
"Our biggest challenge is keeping our lifeguards when the season ends. They get a bonus for sticking through the last weekend," Pederson said.