Are you looking for LGBT friendly jobs for teens? Are you worried about finding something that is inclusive and well-paid? Are you struggling to find something that looks like a good fit for your interests and skills? The job hunt can be a struggle, and even more so when you’re a queer teenager just starting out in the world. Well, we’re here to help. Here is all the information you’ll need to find LGBT jobs for teens.
Do Your Research
Before you start looking into specific LGBT jobs, you’ll need to look into what the options are for companies in your area. Many organizations keep lists of companies with LGBTQ+ friendly policies and cultures, so that’s a great place to start.
If there aren’t a lot of options in your region, you can look into queer crowdsourcing groups on Facebook and other social media platforms that often put out the word for LGBTQ+ friendly companies and businesses. They even put out specific jobs you’ll be able to apply for!
Get into The Media
Want to get the news out? There are tons of different ways you can use media as a job, or even start your own website or platform!
Of course, first you’ll need to know what your options in the field are. Here are some different media jobs you can do as a teenager:
- Work as a blogger
- Write for a lifestyle magazine or website, such as Autostraddle
- Cover breaking news
- Photography
- Videography
- Social media coverage for a news outlet, like LGBTQ Nation or Them
These are just a few ideas for working in the media as a teenager. Do whatever feels best for you, and consider your strengths, weaknesses, and interests when choosing what you want to go for. If you don’t like to write, you might want to stick with a multimedia field, like photos or videos, rather than something that would entail a lot of writing.
And, check out average price points for the type of media you plan to join. For example, writing for an online magazine could get an LGBTQ youth between $20 to $60 per article (based on word count) or around $15 per hour.
You can also sign up for freelance organizations like Upwork.com, that let you set your own rates while you search for work.
Be an Influencer
On a related note, are you a social media mogul? Monetizing your platform is a great way to get started in an LGBTQ+ friendly career. Look into sponsors, or companies and businesses that want their products promoted on your platform. But, you should make sure you have enough followers to be appealing first!
There are so, so many resources out there so that you can increase your following to make monetization viable, so make sure that you do your research and plan ahead. Once you’re in contact with different companies and on your way, the world will be your oyster. Average top influencers can make $30,000 to $100,000, and even more for bigger influencers!
Just make sure that you’re following the platform’s rules for “sponcon” (sponsored content). If your new influencer lifestyle is going well, you could even branch out and start a youtube channel or, if you’re into video games, a Twitch streaming channel. The average full-time Twitch streamer can make 3000 to 5000 dollars a week. And, if those ventures are successful, you may be able to expand into other emerging platforms.
Working in Events
Events are a major part of LGBTQ+ culture. So, why not find a job as an event organizer or event promoter? Working in events is one of the higher-paid LGBTQ+ specific jobs, so if that’s more your speed you should probably start out looking for a promoter or organizer job.
Being an event promoter involves, you guessed it, promoting various events. You may be doing that in person, or online. It can be mass promotion or individual promotion. Event promotion usually starts at around $10 to $16 dollars an hour, but that can rise quickly if you prove to be good at your job!
LGBT Jobs in Youth and Peer Counselling
Rates for these types of services can vary dramatically, so it’ll be important to do your research. What makes this area appealing is that you’ll be able to start giving back to your community immediately. Meaning, it be highly-paid when it comes to satisfaction.
There are many different organizations that you may be able to work with, some of which may be LGBTQ+ focused and some of which are generally focused on the well being of young people.
Organizations like VIP Kid will let you tutor other kids online, for between $14 and $22 an hour. You could also join organizations like Clarity.fm, which let you get paid by the minute for your advice!
Or, if you want something specifically LGBTQ+ focused, make sure to look into The Trevor Project.
Organizations such as Kids Help Phone overlap with LGBTQ+ issues, but that’s not necessarily their sole focus. Look into different groups to find one that suits what you’re looking for for your career!
Get Into Education
One great way to work in the LGBTQ community is to get into education and advocacy. That way, you can give back to the community while learning more!
Linking up with an advocacy organization, or another related non-profit, can be a great way to get in the door for a number of other careers, plus you can help give back to the community. Here are a few organizations you might want to reach out to:
- GLAAD
- The Okra Project
- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
- The Trevor Project
- Immigration Equality
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- The Lavender Rights Project
- The Sylvia Rivera Law Project
These are only a few of the many, many organizations that are out there for you. There are tons of others out there available for you. You may also want to look at local organizations, particularly if you live in a rural or less populated area. The smaller the organization, the more impact you’ll have!
These organizations may not pay well at first and you may have to start off as a volunteer, but as you rise through the ranks they can become more lucrative. You can look up the average starting pay for each organization for more information, as these numbers will vary by organization and location.
Share Your Opinion
If you’re looking to affect change on a smaller scale while making more money, you can also try signing up for focus groups to share your opinion. You can make between $100 to $300 each time that you participate!
For those near the Washington, D.C. area like me, you can check out Shugoll Research.
Otherwise, you can use this list of nationwide focus groups to find ones in your area. That site list hundreds of focus groups in which you can participate, many of which can be done online.
There Are More LGBT Jobs for Teens Every Day
If you haven’t found anything that appeals to you on this list, don’t give up. The market and demand for LGBT jobs for teens grow and change every day, so just keep looking and stay on the hunt.
Are you looking for more information on LGBTQ, health or financial topics? Explore the blog or reach out here.
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