Finding a great summer job is a quest that challenges teenagers and their parents. Many teens don't know how or where to start, and parents don't know how much they should help.

Molly Delano has some advice. Author of "Summer Jobs and Opportunities for Teenagers: A Planning Guide," she has worked many summer jobs, from babysitting to picking strawberries to scooping ice cream.

Though these jobs may seem trivial, they are important. Delano says some summer experiences taught her what she didn't want to do as a career; others taught her life skills, such as how to take responsibility and deal with different types of people.

Local teens also believe summer jobs are important. Y-Press recently talked with a group from the Center for Leadership Development, a nonprofit organization offering career exploration and personal development programs for minority youth.

Delano suggests teens choose jobs that interest them to ensure they stick with them.

Samantha Steen, a Park Tudor graduate who will attend Purdue University in the fall, is a research assistant at the Center for Nursing Research at IUPUI.

"They pay nice, and it's a great opportunity to network with other people," she said.

Keisha Mitchell, a senior at North Central High School, is spending part of her summer volunteering at a nursing home, and she's waiting to hear about a job at a cafeteria. She's also looking into being a candy striper at a hospital.

"I want to be an obstetrician/gynecologist when I get older," she said. "Being in a hospital atmosphere and being around doctors would help me."

Volunteering also can be val uable. "I think teens who volunteer probably have just as much, if not more, useful experience than teenagers who haven't volunteered," Delano said.

CoraLyn Lowe, a senior at Arlington High School, is spending her summer volunteering.

"I'm going to be training other students my age to work with freshmen and middle-school students to help them get on the path to the best high school education," she said. "And I'll be working with children in choirs and bands. I want to work with children when I get older."

But some teens looking for a paycheck have come up empty. Taquetta Johnson, a Broad Ripple High School senior, tried but failed to find a job in retail.

"I love clothes, and I design a lot of my clothes, so I try to do something that I enjoy," she said.

Brent Lyle, a graduate of Tech High School who will attend Ball State University, had several job possibilities in the spring, but none panned out. Though he's interested in psychology and graphic design, he's serving food for a caterer this summer. "Always have a backup," he advises.

Everyone, including Delano, emphasized looking for work early. "The biggest mistake teens make is heading out in mid-June to find a job," she said.

While Samantha found a job early, she says many of her friends have had trouble. "No one seems to want to hire younger employees," she said.

Another tip from Delano -- and the leadership center -- is that teens should make a good first impression: Be on time, well-dressed and well-prepared.

"The main thing that employers are looking for is someone who has an enthusiastic personality, someone who's willing to work really hard," she said.

"From personal experience, I can say that how you present yourself to the prospective employer is very important," said Brent.

Resilience is important, especially in a tight market. "Keep looking and never give up," Samantha said. "There are many great opportunities that people pass up just because it doesn't fit that 'perfect' summer job mold."

The benefit of working at a summer job depends upon the job seekers' motivation. Many, like Taquetta, do it for money.

"I think it's important for someone in high school on a summer break to get a job, especially if you plan on going to college, because I think it's important to try to save up money," she said.

Others learn life skills. "It gives you leadership skills, it gives you people skills, and it gives you communication skills," said Keisha.

Still others do it for the work experience. "My job is volunteer work, but it's still a job, and I know it's going to be fun. And that's really what I was looking for," CoraLyn said.

Where to start looking? Delano encourages teens "to talk with their parents, older siblings, and other people in the neighborhood who have some work experience and ask them what kinds of job they can think of."

Guidance counselors also can help, as can Web sites such as www.summerjobs.com, www.coolworks.com and www.internjobs.com.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Elizabeth Newkirk, 14; Shannon Neumeyer, 16.

REPORTER: Meera Patel, 12.

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