Well, I'm doing Uni now, in a career-oriented program that hopefully means that I won't have to take a non-professional job ever again.
But when I was in high school and undergrad, I did a bunch of different things. One summer I hired myself out in the neighbourhood (about a ten-block radius) for house and yard stuff that needed doing - I actually got a lot of takers, especially for lawns, gardens, and minor painting and construction jobs. I spent a summer doing department store sales, then one doing warehouse work (sweet job - sucky hours, but good pay, and you essentially get paid for working out). Then I got a couple of short-term office jobs doing clerical work and dealing with inquiries.
High school? You pretty much have to take what you can get - everybody has to serve their time; think of it as a character-building experience. Although, you may get what you want by being focused and persistent and most of all, lucky and/or well-connected.
To reiterate what some people here have alluded to, really go after the jobs you think you'd like. Don't be shy about calling up places you'd like to work, and make sure you follow up. One call or one application is not generally enough to distinguish you from other applicants, especially at your stage of working life, or mine, for that matter. You want to demonstrate your ambition, commitment, and interest. If a place decides to hire somebody, chances are they're more likely to hire someone who drops by or calls again every so often, rather than someone who is a faceless resume (to them).
[ 09-23-2004, 04:45 AM: Message edited by: Aerich ]