I was all set to start a new thread, then I found this one already started.

This week my son will finish his freshman year at college and return to live with us for the summer. He doesn't have a summer job lined up. I think he'll probably apply at some neighborhood businesses that have "now hiring" signs in the window. It's probably too late for him to get the ideal summer job this year, but it started me thinking: What IS the ideal summer job for a college student? Did you ever have one?

I'm thinking, not of jobs that pay the maximum amount of money, but that provide great experiences or teach valuable lessons about oneself, or the world of work, or the world in general. Maybe something that would help give some focus to his life plans. I missed out on that myself. I had a job that paid well in cash, but poorly in life experience.

What was your experience like? Can you recommend it?