With summer coming on Outer Banks businesses are gearing up for their peak season and with that gearing up comes a huge need for summer help-which is one reason why students have been flocking to the Outer Banks for years. The other reasons include the sun, the surf and the life style, but that's a story of another day.
To help those employment bound students find a job, this is our “Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates help a student get a job” blog, with some specific recommendations and some suggestions.
Recommended employers:
Kitty Hawk Kites
Probably the largest employer on the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk Kites has stores from Ocracoke to Corolla. They also have an extensive recreational division that includes hang gliding, parasailing, paragliding, kayaking, surfing, kiteboarding.
Not the best paying job around, but you'll have a great time. Company policy encourages all employees to participate in their recreational activities . . . for free.
Lots of retail opportunities and quite a number of college students became proficient enough in hang gliding to become an instructor.
More information is available at www.kittyhawk.com/employment/.
Cloud 9
Located in Nags Head Cloud 9 is a jewelry store, bead store, fine art-eclectic is probably the way to describe it. It's a fairly small store, so owner Ginny Flowers does not hire a lot of summer help.
However, the store has been around 28 years and over that time Ginny has hired quite a number of students and from that pool of students the list of very successful people is amazing-business owners, managers, graphic designers-the list just goes on and on.
Clearly she's doing something right, with the added bonus that Ginny is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Call Ginny Flowers at (252) 441-2992.
General Suggestions
If you're hoping to make a lot of money, your best bet is work in a bar or restaurant . . . just know what you're getting into. For experienced personnel, especially wait staff, the knowledge is already there-it's hard work, fast paced and demanding.
If that's the route, though, the largest restauranteur on the Outer Banks is Mike Kelly who owns the Kelly Group: Pamlico Jack's in Nags Head, Mako Mike's in Kill Devil Hills, and the original Kelly's Outer Banks Tavern. There are quite a number of other well-run restaurants as well.
The chain grocery stores-Harris Teeter and Food Lion, have huge summer staffing needs. The pay isn't going to be the best, but it's a job.
