Summer jobs for teens are going to be so, so hard to find.

The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas this week said that it might be the worst summer for job gains since the 1950s.

Last summer was bad, too.

And you see it. There are plenty of earnest teens who can't find something. And who won't be spending much as a result. Teen retailers know this.

Some suggestions for increasing your teen's odds of finding a job:

-Think beyond the mall. There are jobs outside the confines of what teens would buy in distributing, warehousing and other behind-the-scenes players.

-Don't go where all your friends already went and got turned down. This seems to make sense. But not necessarily to teenagers.

-Don't let it be. Don't wait for the phone to ring. Give the potential employer a few days to evaluate your application, and then check back. Do this in person, not by email.

-If all else fails, Challenger suggest finding some rewarding volunteer work for the summer. At least your teenager will get some community service hours which are needed for Florida Brtght Futures scholarships to college.

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