Summer is weeks away, but with “Iron Man” opening at movie theaters today, the summer movie season is underway. Get ready for laughs, chills, thrills, butter stains on your favorite jean shorts – and most likely – disappointment.

For every great summer movie, there’s a complete bust. For every “Spider-Man,” there’s a “Pearl Harbor.” (Let’s be honest, in terms of Michael Bay movies, “Transformers” was more historically accurate than “Pearl Harbor.”)

And with the high price of movie tickets these days, which can cost as much as $12 in some metropolitan areas, you can’t afford to roll the dice on a flick about talking cartoon chimps in outer space. (Yes, that movie really comes out this summer.) Think about it: With minimum wage now at $5.85 an hour, you could be working your summer job 90 minutes to over two hours to pay for a seat watching primates drink tang in zero gravity.

So be careful when choosing your summer popcorn flicks. Don’t be lured in by fancy fast food promotions or other movie hype. Back in 1987, it’s not like the families who poured into “Harry and the Hendersons” thought it would be awful. It just was.

[One last thing, if you ever utter the phrase, “Two tickets for ‘Made of Honor,’” never read this blog again. We kid, we kid! We’re not movie snobs. Heck, we’ve already got advance tickets purchased for “Space Chimps.”]

• Need money for summer movies? Start your job search for summer jobs and teen jobs now.

The gang from “Beverly Hills 90210” chilled at The Peach Pit when the going got tough. The ladies from “The Hills” crash at mommy and daddy’s million dollar vacation pads when money can’t buy happiness. And when President Bush gets bummed over his approval rating, he can golf, fish and play the Risk board game deep in the heart of his Crawford, Texas ranch.

Everyone needs somewhere to hang out and relax. To reflect and move forward. And now America’s hourly workers and job seekers have Off the Clock. Think of it as yoga for your paycheck. Sure, the beanbag chairs and the old school “Donkey Kong” arcade game haven’t arrived yet, but please make yourself comfortable.

Within the walls of Off the Clock – SnagAJob.com’s new community/hangout for hourly workers and job seekers – you’ll find a ton of resources for both your working life, as well as the hours before and after you punch the clock: Connect to our MySpace profile and accelerate your job search. Get personal finance tips, hourly job news and plenty of punch lines in SnagABlog.com, our job search advice blog. And even send us your job stories, read others and win prizes in our new Share & Win! section.

Have fun. Tell your friends. And be sure to check back often. Off the Clock is a work in progress and we’ll be adding cool new features in the near future. We welcome your ideas; if you have any, please send them here.

• Check out Off the Clock now.

Here’s a funny summer job story:
Imagine you’re a star baseball player for the New York Mets. You get paid big bucks to play a game. First of all, how awesome is that?

Recently your fans got to vote on a song to pump up the players during the 8th inning via the team’s website. Choices included Bon Jovi’s hard rockin’ monster track, “Livin’ on a Prayer.” But somehow, ‘80s anti-rock icon Rick Astley and his terribly addicting “Never Gonna Give You Up” was selected. Yes, it was a joke and part of a running Internet gag known as “Rick Rolling.” And it really happened.

Now just imagine: You’re down by one run in a home game during the World Series. And just when you need a juiced crowd to pump up your adrenaline, you hear a crooning pop rock fossil who dances around in all denim being blown through the loudspeakers. How do you not giggle, lose focus and drop a routine pop fly when you hear Celine Dion-meets-Vanilla Ice?

Now that’s a great summer job story for a ball player. But we’re sure you’ve got better. And we want to read them.

Send us your summer job stories now! (Or simply comment below) And be sure to search for summer jobs, too.

Sun tanning in the backyard while dad mows and mom mulches not working out for you? Still building sand castles in Muffy’s litter box? Is gargling salt water the closest you’re getting to the ocean?

Maybe you should think about getting away this summer. We know it’s easier said than done. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure you still get a paycheck.

With SnagAJob.com’s Destination: Summer jobs, you can find a solid job within walking distance of the beach or the ski slopes. In other words, you’re combining your job and your vacation in one convenient package. And you don’t even have to pitch a tent in the mall food court.

Search for Destination: Summer Jobs now – and don’t forget to shop for a new bathing suit.

• Get expert advice for your summer job search.

Many of you pony up cash each month to pay for car insurance, and some of you also stroke a check for homeowner’s insurance. (OK, a few of you daring individuals roll the dice and stress out every time you run a yellow light or leave the iron on.)

From hotel reservations to famous body parts (we’re looking at you, J. Lo), you can insure almost anything these days for a price. And now you can insure your job and paycheck with “I Got Fired!” insurance.

SlackerState, a new company headquartered in Rochester, NY, has developed a novel concept: You get fired because you screwed up – which is different from getting laid off and collecting unemployment – and you still get paid!

Sometimes you forget to call in sick. Other times you can’t refrain from turning a rude customer’s large Mountain Dew into a “hat” for them. And occasionally you show up on the job somehow forgetting to wear pants. That’s what “I Got Fired!” insurance is for – for when you get canned, the fridge is empty and the bills are still due. And all those other mistakes, foul-ups and indiscretions we can’t think of here.

All you have to do is pitch in a few bucks from each paycheck, and you’ll get a comfy cash cushion to rest your unemployed head on each night after a long day of job hunting, napping, eating Cheetos and playing video games. And by the way, tell mom she doesn’t need to clear out the basement (again). Sound too good to be true…

[Happy April Fool’s Day. There is no such thing as "I Got Fired!" insurance. That would be ridiculous. In fact, the best way to insure your job is by following SnagAJob.com's free expert job tips. And if you do happen to get fired, we'll help you get back on the horse - check out our resume tips and part-time jobs today.]

Back in the day, you could land a job as an ice cream truck driver by writing your name and number on your still chill popsicle stick and handing it to Skippy. That was the application. Heck, you didn’t even need a license. (OK, that’s a lie.)

But times have changed, and according to a recent SnagAJob.com survey, nearly half (49%) of traditional hourly hiring standbys, including retailers and restaurants, say they don’t plan on adding summer workers this year. Yikes!

Employers blame the crumby economy and their belief that teen workers aren’t bringing their ‘A’ game to the workplace. In other words, they’re calling you slackers. Now it’s time to prove them wrong. (Cue the motivational “Rocky” theme song…)

So if you haven’t hit the pavement (or the Internet) and started your summer job search, now is the time. A whopping 76 percent of the 1,000 hiring managers who were interviewed expect to fill their seasonal jobs by May. So you can’t wait until after you’ve cleaned out your locker to start handing in applications.

• Read more tips for finding summer jobs.

“Serendipity” basically means “lucky accident.” Basically – and as Alanis Morissette can tell you – it’s the opposite of bitter irony.

Today SnagABlog.com and its visitors are experiencing serendipity because of the bizarre timing of three great things:

• One: This post marks our 100th blog entry.
• Two: It’s St. Patrick’s Day – which gives Al Gore another reason to wear something green.
• Three: And we just refreshed SnagAJob.com to make your job search even faster and easier.

How’s that for a Monday morning tri-fecta?

We’ll tell you all about our website enhancements right here. And be sure to take our improved job search engine for a spin – it’s already time to start scouting out summer jobs.

Because of the popularity of everything from camera phones to photo sharing websites, everyone thinks they’re professional photographers these days – even if every photo they take is as blurry as those faked UFO sighting pics. As a photo tech, it’s your job to help convince customers they’re truly talented, even if they need a little help (Taking the lens cap off is a good start).

Think you need to be a dark room hermit to do the job? Think again. You’ll get all the training you need to succeed on the job. And you’ll learn everything from how to process different films and digital photos to what types of tips to give amateur photographers so they produce better quality photos. This doesn’t mean that an interest in taking pictures and previous photo developing experience won’t help, especially if your photography knowledge is limited solely to shaking Polaroid pictures.

Read more about photo tech jobs and summer jobs.

Yes, we did.

We know, we know. You just bought your first ice scraper of the season last week and your weird neighbors still have their holiday lights wrapped around their chimney.

But it’s not too early to start thinking about summer jobs…especially when you add up the costs of your Spring Break trip, whether you’re heading to Panama City Beach to catch some rays or Branson, Missouri to catch a Dolly Parton impersonator.

Here are a few tips to beat the competition for the choicest summer gigs:

• Get yourself connected: Just like electronica music fossils Stereo MC’s once proclaimed, now is the time to touch base with former bosses, employed friends, and dad’s buddy who owns that restaurant. Networking isn’t just for stuffy dudes in suits anymore.
• Find out the local “release dates:” Find out when the local high schools and colleges close up for the summer, which will be easy if you’re a student at one of them. Despite our warnings, people will wait to start their summer job search until the last possible minute. You don’t want to be a vulture picking over the leftovers.
• Buy suntan lotion: A brief public service announcement: It’s always a good idea to have some SPF 30 on hand. Even if you’re not working outside, it will give you one less errand to run once your shift ends and it’s time to hook up with your crew. Plus, no boss likes an employee with third-degree burns.

Start your summer job search now.

People move. They get different phone numbers. They land new jobs. And they copy the hairstyles of the “Desperate Housewives” actresses.

Three of these four changes should find themselves into a résumé refresh.

Whether you plan on carrying a stack of résumés during your summer job search or you’re submitting an online profile through a website like SnagAJob.com, here are a few timely tips to make sure you don’t commit a major résumé boo-boo:

1. Spelling kounts: Don’t trust your computer’s spell checker to determine if you mistakenly used “their” instead of “there.” Read it over. Read it again. And give it to someone with a good eye for detail. After all, you don’t want potential employers reading about your volunteer work in a “soap kitchen.” That’s just weird.
2. Be PG: This may go without saying… However, we still come across the occasional job seeker whose email address lacks the necessary tact and professionalism. It’s kind of like wearing a tuxedo T-shirt to your best bud’s wedding. Remember: You can be unique and creative without making Snoop Dogg blush.
3. Update, update, update: Ensure your contact info. is accurate, add new employment and skills, and include any applicable outside interests and hobbies. (You probably want to omit your passion for “Guitar Hero.”)

• Read more job search tips and expert advice here.
• Find summer jobs now.