5 great summer jobs for older adults

JOB HUNTING TIPS: Look for job fairs sponsored by the theme parks in your region and visit their websites. For example, Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va., has a list of openings such as

first-aid helper, games attendant and theater usher. You can also search web sites such as JobMonkey and CoolWorks. 3. PET CONCIERGE THE NITTY-GRITTY: Pet owners are heading off on vacation

— and they need you. If it's a canine client, you'll do walking and maybe ball tossing, so fitness is a requirement. Some dog owners look for people to stay at their homes or take

the pooch into their own homes. Cats and smaller charges usually require a daily visit for feeding and litter cleanup. PAY RANGE: The charge for a single visit to a pet ranges from $10 to

$22. A daily half-hour walk typically runs $20. Expertise with administering medications pays a bonus. QUALIFICATIONS: While there are no required certifications, a love of animals and

experience with pets is essential. That said, if you're interested in getting certified, you can. The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) offers an at-home

certification course online. If you're going to turn this into a regular business, you may want personal liability insurance and possibly business insurance and bonding coverage, too.

Associations such as the NAPPS, Pet Sitters International and Pet Sitters Associates offer access to plans. JOB HUNTING TIPS: Pitch yourself on your neighborhood listserv or on TaskRabbit.

Local pet shops may allow you to post a notice in their store. Play your cards right, and work may expand. For Ilene Wellner, it's grown into her own pet care service called Dog Gone

Walking in Wynnewood, Penn., a Philadelphia suburb. She's got a team of 10 to 13 dog walkers overseeing 30 to 50 dogs a day. Her employees include chefs, musicians, writers, nurses and

plain old animal lovers and pet owners. You can also consider signing up with a national franchise operator like Fetch! Pet Care. Or look for local pet-sitting services in your neighborhood

newspaper. 4. RESORT TOWN WORKER THE NITTY-GRITTY: Resorts from the Puget Sound to the Jersey Shore fill all shapes and sizes of jobs as they ramp up for the summer months. You might find

work ranging from ranch hand to concierge, massage therapist to front desk agent, parking valet to room cleaner. Be mindful of the physical demands of some service jobs. PAY RANGE: Anywhere

from $7 to $15, generally, plus tips or discounts and other perks. QUALIFICATIONS: Experience and licenses are requisite for particular jobs (such as yoga instructor or boat mechanic). But

skills needed for entry-level positions (such as retail sales or slicing and packing pounds of fudge) can be picked up swiftly. JOB HUNTING TIP: If at first you don't succeed, try, try

again. These businesses typically have higher-than-average turnover, according to the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. An employer that did not hire you initially might

need more workers a few weeks later. Search where others do not. Behind-the-scenes jobs often are not as sought after by teen job seekers. Offer to work evening shifts.