Reno, Nevada has a great choice of summer jobs. The highest pays are probably in tip-based jobs, especially in customer service departments in Reno hotel casinos. As a 22-year-old Polish student I came here for a special program, just to work as a cocktail waitress for the summer, and I found many benefits of the job: great tips, flexible schedule, lots of friendly people working with me. I never felt like I was under the pressure, even though I was working for casinos with good reputation. Eventually I met my future husband and decided to stay here. I’d never find out about this opportunity if not for an article of a girl, that had a summer job in Reno. Now I’d like more students, but not only, to see the opportunities they have in Reno’s summer job market.
Casinos
There’s plenty of opportunities for a summer job in the casino. The best paid ones are cocktail waitressing, restaurant waitering and being a slot attendant. Most of the time you don’t need a lot of experience for any of those jobs, especially if you want to be a slot attendant. Some casinos, such as Peppermill, Atlantis, Harrah’s Reno and the Nugget require previous experience for positions such as cocktail waitress or fine restaurant waiter. As a cocktail waitress or a restaurant waiter/waitress you need to be able to lift and carry a 25-pound tray on your chest. You need to be a minimum 21 years of age to apply for the cocktail waitresss or slot attendant position. Harrah’s Reno is the only casino to my knowledge that hires male cocktail servers as well.
Slot attendant pays out jackpots, gives change to players and assists them with any problem they might have with a slot machine. Friendly service, good communication skills are a must have in all mentioned jobs.
For any of those positions yoy can apply either part time of full time. You can fill out application on websites such as www.peppermillreno.com/employment, www.atlantiscasino.com/reno/site/employment.asp, www.grandsierraresort.com/about_us/employment_opportunities/ or www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/careers-home.html. You can also call the 1-800 number of the casino you’d like to work for and ask Human Resources to schedule an interview. The reason casinos always look for slot, beverage and food service help before the summer is a bigger tourist traffic, as summer is when Reno’s most popular events, such as Hot August Nights and Street Vibrations, take place.
As a cocktail waitress you make just the state minimum of 5.30/hour, however most of the money you make from tips. Depending on the day and your shift you can make anything between $50 to $250 for 8 hours of work.
Schedules may be flexible if you are on call or part time. Once you’re full time, you will have one of the following shifts: Day, Swing or Graveyard. Day takes place in the normal business hours (8 AM to 4 PM or 9 AM to 5 PM). Swing is an evening shift (4 PM to Midnight or 5 PM to 1 AM). Graveyard seems the hardest as it take place at night (Midnight to 8 AM or 1 AM to 9 AM).
Wild Island Family Adventure Park
Wild Island is Reno and Sparks biggest water park. They open on May 17th and close in the end of August. This year they actually have job fairs on March 30th, April 1st, 3rd and 5th to find the right crew to work during summer. They offer different kinds of position and lack of experience is not a problem.
Operations is the biggest department when it comes to the number of openings. If you’ve ever thought of becoming a lifeguard, you can do it now. You’ll have to go through intensive training with the employer and you need to be at least 15 years old, but if you really love water, it’s probably the best match for you.
The applicant for a first aid position should have at least basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, given by the state of Nevada. The job that doesn’t require any experience is in Operational Services. There’s lots of assignments here, as your duties will include cleaning, taking tickets, renting tubes and checking bags.
The water park also has jobs requiring you to work indoors. One of them are positions at Coconut Bowl (bowling center). Here you have to be at least 16 years of age. Openings include positions such as cashier, party host/hostess and bowling mechanic.
Water Dogs is both, a snack bar and a bar. They need cocktail waitresses, bartenders, cooks and cashiers. To work as a cocktail waitress or a bartender you need to be 21 years old. Experience is preferred, but not required.
Golf Course, Arcade and Raceway requires applicants to be at least 16 years old. Golf Course offers positions such as cashier, snack bar attendant and party host/hostess. Attendants working for the arcade will be responsible for counting tickets and repairing video and redemption games. Attendants at the raceway assist with renting Go-Karts and do some light maintenance of them.
Pay is not specified. Your wage is higher when you have experience. Hourly pay differs ranging from $6.33 to $12 or higher when comes to certified workers, such as first aid. Employees working in the bar, where tips are very common, have the lowest wage of $6.33, since they make additional money in tips.
The hours of operations through most of the summer are 11 am to 7 pm. Wild Island operates on most of the days from May 17th to August 31st, however it is always weather permitting, and their schedule can change.
Truckee River
Since summer is the best time for rafting and kayaking, the business also need more workers for the season. Water sports stores located especially downtown Reno (right next to Truckee River) look for associates, who will help them with assisting customers in sales and kayak/raft/tube renting. Hourly wage will be usually between $8-$12, depending on the store. Experience is not required, unless you’d like to become a river guide and help the unexperienced customers discover attractions of Truckee while kayaking or rafting.
Located not exactly in Reno, but in near by Tahoe City are companies renting rafts on Truckee River. The float begins in Tahoe City and ends in River Ranch Bar, Restaurant & Hotel. Often they will hire Work&Travel; students, as foreign young people always look for adventure, not necessarily the best pay, when looking for a summer job. The wage is not high – averages between $8-$10. There are different positions available. Cashiers will assist with sales and tickets, while the raft assistants will make sure every person got a lifejacket. They’ll also push the customer’s raft on the water, as well as assist with getting out from it.
Where shoud I work?
The best paid summer jobs are definitely the ones based on tips (bartender, waiter/waitress, cocktail server, bus person). It doesn’t matter where you work – more than likely you will average $120 a shift.
When looking for a summer job sometimes money is not the most important. That is exactly why so many young people (but not only) prefer just to have a good time, swim, kayak and get a great tan, instead of making lots of money, by serving drinks or food. Simply decide what your goal’s this summer and see which job will suit you the best here in Reno.
