It is Friday night and you want to go out with your friends, but after a quick look in your empty wallet you figure that going out to Cheesecake Factory and then shopping might be a bit too costly for you.

Some students find taking part time jobs help fill their pockets for the finer things teenagers crave.

“I want a part time job because recently I bought a gaming system, and if you download games online they cost a lot of money. So if I get paid above minimum wage I think I’ll get stuff for my X-box because I’m tired of saving up my Christmas and birthday money, and I want to have a job that will keep me with constant income for this,” says Mathew Jones, a sophomore.

Others have different motivations in seeking work.

“Working a part time jobs gives you experience, opportunity for ODA students to meet people they wouldn’t really meet [other kinds of people],” says ODA sophomore Ian Martin.

Jobs bring money and the experience for students, but holding down a job sometimes comes at the expense of undone school work. Ironically, others find that having a job can cost money itself.

Tyler Barlow, an ODA sophomore, who often works as a babysitter, explains why it can be hard to earn decent money as a babysitter, despite what some see as a high hourly rate.

“No, I do not think babysitters get paid that much. Babysitters have to watch these kids that are usually demons, and they have to watch them, and feed them, and put them to sleep. Children are picky eaters, and they never want to go to bed, so it is a hard job, especially when it isn’t your child. The actual pricing is horrible because babysitters are expected to buy things for the child, so they have to take out personal money to buy those things.”

“It is hard to get a part time job because I have to do sports, and I have to study. It is also hard when you can’t drive, but the biggest problem is definitely finding the time to do it all,” says an ODA sophomore Hayley Wahl.

Some students think that their time is worth more than minimum wage, and they look for other jobs. Some find a little searching can yield more than an entry-level, mainstream job.

“My sister did a program last year when she would go every Friday and Saturday to this tennis program, and got $50 every time. I kinda wish I got that job because she got paid so much for pretty much doing nothing,” says Mathew Jones, an ODA sophomore.

I, Misha, work for a small local company, Annalida’s Gourmet Foods, and make tomato-based sauces. I mix the ingredients and bottle the mixture, then package it. At the end of the week, I go to the Sarasota Farmer’s Market to cook food in our kiosk.

Interested in sampling the work world yourself? There are often jobs and openings available if you look hard enough. Keeping an eye out for Help Wanted signs is an obvious way to start looking, but also try networking with friends and family to identify possible openings.

You can also look online. Consider exploring the local Craigslist listings to see what people are advertising. As always, be cautious when using any online solicitations. It’s best to let your parents know what you’re up to so they can offer additional perspective.

Another idea is exploring resource listing sites like Chegg. Though Chegg primarily is in the textbook business, they are also interested in expanding their resources to help students find jobs and internships. If you enter you zip code, Chegg will aggregate local listings into a pretty impressive collection of local opportunities.

When you get to the website, click on the Internships tab, and click Internships & Jobs. Then type your zip code in the box to the left and browse the list for career opportunities in your area.

Good luck and remember that there can be a lot to gain from broadening your experiences.