Best Flexible Summer Jobs for students

By Clarissa Joshua
August 10, 2022

Tutoring
Babysitting
Paper rounds
Dog walking
Errands and delivery jobs
Shop jobs
Online jobs

Students may want a flexible summer job to save money, keep themselves busy, learn a new skill, or just have fun. There are plenty of employment opportunities for your teen to pick up over the summer months, so what makes online tutoring the best option?

We will compare online tutoring with a handful of other jobs, including babysitting, paper rounds, dog walking, errands & delivery, retail, and other online jobs so that you can make your own mind up! All of the jobs ahead have flexible hours and an easy application process, so students will be busy in no time. Let’s explore options in more detail. 👇

woman on sun lounger next to her child doing summer tutoring online

Online Tutoring

Tutoring is a great flexible summer job for students– in fact, we think it's the best! Tutoring is an excellent option because it pays very well – the national average hourly rate for tutors is £15.16 – and it will ensure that students’ brains stay active rather than slipping down the summer slide over those long months away from school. 👨‍🏫

Online tutors enjoy many brilliant benefits, including flexible hours and the ability to work from home or anywhere with an internet connection. Supporting someone else’s learning is hugely rewarding, and students will develop invaluable communication, time-management and problem-solving skills. If you have strong A-Level results, tutoring is well worth considering.

At GoStudent, we accept applicants generally starting from university students, preferably ones who have completed their 2nd or 3rd year, in both subjects they have studied before, or in their specialised university subject. It is important our tutors know their subject very well and have built a solid foundation, so they can teach our students on a 1:1 basis. Our tutors can set their own hours so they can still enjoy time with their friends. On top of competitive pay, we also offer tons of professional development opportunities via our tutor academy and a community of other tutors to meet and engage with. 🙌

Online tutoring will look great on your CV too. Picking up brilliant transferable skills like creativity, experimentation, diary management, experience using online teaching platforms, and demonstrable patience and empathy will impress future employers and enhance your career opportunities. 💪

Students can search for tutoring jobs on local job boards, online listings, or through word of mouth. Some tutoring companies require tutors to hold a DBS Check or AccessNI (criminal records check). There are specific qualification requirements to become a tutor in the UK.

Check out our video from GoStudent tutor Sophia talking about her day including tutoring with GoStudent.

Babysitting

Babysitting is one of the most popular jobs for teens in the UK because it’s so flexible and your teen can start working from the age of 13. It’s not too demanding and will usually involve watching some kids’ movies and putting them to bed. Most parents will have already got bathtime and dinner out of the way to make it as simple as possible for the babysitter.

In the UK, there are no legal requirements to have a qualification for babysitting. However, there is something known as the Level 1 and Level 2 Babysitting Certification that is available. In reality, your child will most likely be able to find parents in your local area who are in need of a night out and they can build references from there. Babysitting is a great job to consider once you've received your GCSE results.

Babysitting pays quite well considering the amount of work involved and how flexible it is. The national average is £8.38 but your teen can expect to make more in some cities like London and less in other areas but it does vary. Make sure your teen negotiates a rate they’re happy with at the start.

Paper rounds

A paper round is a great summer job for younger teens because they can start when they’re 12 years old. However, this position isn’t covered by statutory minimum wage law so pay can be low (£3-4 per hour).

It’s a nice and easy job though, and it just requires your teen to have a bicycle and some safety gear so they can get the job done quickly and safely. Good navigation skills are also a bonus here or they should at least know the area well.

Dog walking

If your teen loves animals, then dog walking is a great summer job to consider. Being outside with some lovable creatures won’t even feel like work. Looking after someone else’s beloved pooch is a big responsibility though and it’s best to limit the number of dogs they walk at the same time and avoid large crowded areas that may overstimulate dogs.

Dog walkers earn an average of £17 per hour and you can get started virtually immediately. While there are no regulations on becoming a dog walker, dog walking insurance is a good idea as it covers public liability. To find clients, your teen can print some flyers and business cards and hand these around the neighbourhood parks and put them in letterboxes where they know dogs live. 🐕

Errands and delivery jobs

There are so many options when it comes to errands and delivery jobs that make these a great option for teen summer jobs. From delivering groceries for seniors to being a cycle courier, it will get your teen out and about while making some money. They are usually flexible because your teen can set their hours so if they need a week off during summer they can still take it.

Depending on the job, your teen will need to own a bike (and pannier bags) or a car/van, and hold a clean driver’s license if it’s a driving position. A criminal record check is sometimes required too. As an example of average pay rates in the UK, your teen can expect to earn the following:

Grocery delivery drivers: £13.89 per hour
Delivery drivers: £11.50 per hour
Cycle couriers: £7.35 per hour

Shop jobs

Shop jobs are good summer jobs for teens because they can start from the age of 13 in some roles (e.g. shelf stacking). For most other roles they need to be 14 but shop jobs offer flexible hours, especially in supermarkets or stores that stay open longer hours. There are certain restricted products that you must be 18 years or older to sell like tobacco.

Usually, the best place to find shop jobs is online, although smaller, local shops may advertise in-store or your teen could approach the owners to see if there’s a vacancy. There are no qualifications required and training will be provided on the job. Most shop hand jobs pay the minimum legal wage.

Online Jobs

Online jobs are great summer jobs for teens because there is no travelling involved which saves time and money, plus they often pay very well. Some of the different online jobs your teen could consider are online tutoring, proofreading, and data entry. 💻

Online tutoring

Online tutoring is great for any teenager who is 18 and above. The average hourly rate is £15.16 although this does vary by topic, skill level, and experience. Look for a reputable company like GoStudent that will provide training and support to their new tutors.

Proofreading

Proofreading is another great option for online work if your teen has a natural gift for spelling and grammar. The average rate in the UK is £12.56 per hour. If your teen speaks a foreign language they can make even more by finding translating work.

Data entry

The average rate for data entry in the UK is £9.50 per hour. It’s a great entry-level position and will give your teen solid experience to put on their CV. They can work autonomously and it’s usually relatively stress-free making it a great summer job.

As you can see, there are plenty of great options for your teen when it comes to summer jobs in the UK. From online tutoring to keep their mind active to a paper round for exercise while exploring the neighbourhood, it’s a matter of putting themselves out there. Which job interests them will depend on their motivating factor whether it’s money, stimulation, or getting out of the house to keep busy.

The great thing is that with online jobs, your location matters less than your ability. If you are looking to get some proper work experience while waiting for your Leaving Cert results, these are worth looking into.

Why is online tutoring the best?

There are plenty of great options for your teen regarding summer job options in the UK. Which job interests them most will depend on their motivating factors, whether money, stimulation or getting out of the house to keep busy.

Having explored a variety of employment options that may be available to you over the summer, let’s recap what makes online tutoring the best of the lot! 🏆