This document provides resources for students and job seekers to explore career options and find summer employment in Illinois. It lists websites that offer career assessment tools, regional wage and occupation information, summer job and internship postings, tips for job searching, and information on self-employment and volunteer opportunities. Contact information is provided for state workforce agencies that can provide additional assistance.

1. Trying to decide on a career? The Illinois Career State of Illinois
have fun
Resource Network offers a variety of career Department of Employment Security
exploration products for elementary, middle and
high school students. It’s a valuable tool for
anyone making career decisions.
Summer Job
earn Central 2011
money
learn skills
You’ll find information on regional wages, job
search hints, self-assessment tools, course
planners and a portfolio to store your results.
make Visit the
Illinois Career Resource Network:
friends www.ILWorkInfo.com/icrn
For assistance with employment and training issues, contact your local
Illinois workNet Center. Call 1-888-367-4382 to find the location nearest
you.
State of Illinois
try on Department of Employment Security
careers
IDES is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and
federal nondiscrimination laws in the administration of its programs.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals
with disabilities. Contact the office manager of the IDES office nearest
you or the IDES Equal Opportunity Officer at (312) 793-9290 or TTY:
for fit! (888) 340-1007.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security is not endorsing any
site and is not responsible for its content. It is the nature of the Internet
that sites can change, become outdated or disappear. Please contact
us at des.icrn@illinois.gov if you would like to update a link.
Illinois Department
of Employment Security
www.ides.state.il.us

2. Summer Job Where can I find a job?
Central 2011 Self-employment and volunteering
Career internship and summer job listings with application Ideas for starting your own business over the summer:
With a summer job you’ll get to know people and try out hints and videos: http://www.entrepreneur.com/tsu
a career while earning money. Apply as soon as http://www.aplus-summerjobs.com
possible because the best summer jobs go fast! AmeriCorps connects people of all ages for volunteer
The teen version of SnagAJob has hints, tips, and job service projects:
Summer hiring job fairs can begin as early as March. listings by city: http://www.americorps.gov/about/role_impact/state_
With high unemployment among adults, it’s going to be http://www.gotajob.com/ profiles_detail.asp?tbl_profiles_state=IL
a tight job market for teens this year, too, so consider Job listings and tips for researching potential employers:
internships, volunteering or starting your own business http://www.summerjobs.com
as ways to gain experience.
Links to sites with listings of summer adventure and
How do I know where to look?
international jobs:
Use the Career Information System (CIS) at http://www.backdoorjobs.com
www.ILWorkInfo.com/icrn to learn about how your A step-by-step guide for finding a summer or part-time
Seasonal job listings plus blogs, message boards and “A job:
interests may fit with occupations and how to apply for Day in the Life” profiles: http://www.quintcareers.com/finding_summer_jobs.html
work. Set up My CIS Portfolio and you can even create http://www.coolworks.com
a quick resume. Use Job Search and Keep That Job for Two overviews on finding summer work or creating your
Want to work at a summer camp? Start here for thousands own business:
hints and tips. Check the Article Directory in CIS under of listings: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/summerjobs/a/
Additional Resources for items such as “Want More http://www.mysummercamps.com summerjob.htm
from Your Summer Job?” Go to Suggested Links for http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/justforstudents/a/
Find camp job openings and job fairs: teenjobs.htm
SJC 2011 and you can click on these summer job links http://www.acacamps.org/jobs
without having to type them. Great links and resources for teen job hunters:
Job listings and job search tips: http://www.skokielibrary.info/s_teens/tn_jobs/index.asp
http://www.teens4hire.org
Use normal caution before giving your contact “Teen, Seasonal and Kinda Cool Opportunities” links from
information and be sure to try free resources first. Video interview with author of Teen Dream Jobs: the Riley Guide
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7711412 http://www.rileyguide.com/teen.html#summer
Summer Jobs USA (for low-income youth) Best (and worst) summer jobs:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/summerjobs/ http://www.fastweb.com/college-jobs-internships/articles/
Are there summer jobs in 951-the-best-and-worst-summer-jobs
government agencies? Quick article for younger teens:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/03/
summerjob.html What should my parents
Check out Hire the Future and other youth programs: know about summer jobs?
http://www.ides.state.il.us/employment/hire_the_future.asp Green jobs for teens:
http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/
Contact your local Illinois workNet center for summer job tips-for-teens-landing-that-green-collar-job A parents’ guide to teens’ summer work with lots of good
programs in your area: information:
http://www.illinoisworknet.com/vos_portal/residents/en/Home http://life.familyeducation.com/teen/summer-jobs/
34467.html
City of Chicago Job Resources for Youth: What are some helpful resources?
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/fss/supp_info/job_ Tips for teaching teens about saving and money
resources_foryouth.html management:
http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/moneymanagement/
Chicago’s summer jobs program for ages 14-21: Illinois’ rules for wages, hours and permits for teen workers: a/teens_money.htm
(Note: June 3, 2011 is the deadline to apply for summer http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/forms/pdfs/clpam.pdf
positions; others are year-round.) Deciding if teens should work to help out with family
http://www.youthreadychicago.org Great site for safety on your summer job: finances (scroll down on site):
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/youth/summerjobs
h/s http://web.extension.illinois.edu/toughtimes/deciding_if_
Summer jobs and internships with government agencies: teens_should_work.cfm
_s _w
http://www.studentjobs.gov Marketing Your Jobs Skill has hints for re
rketi J Skills hint or resumes, interviews,
es, view
and job search:
d arch: Where are some fun camps for parents to go to while kids
W re ar me f amp or par g o whi ds
Internships with the State of Illinois: http://www.ides.state.il.us/uidocs/bis/
://ww ides.s e.il.us/ docs/ / are working?
a work
http://www.illinois.gov/working/working_internship.cfm Marketing%20Your%20Job%20Skills%20English.pdf
keti 20Y %20Jo 20S s%20E ish. http://www.grownupcamps.com
h /ww rownu mps m
m