I've been helping teenagers pull together CVs recently and am struck by how important it is for them to have some kind of life experience: babysitting, gardening, monitoring the bouncy castle at a summer party etc are all things that develop practical skills and self-confidence and so give them something to put on a CV.
As parents we need to make sure our teenagers DO something in the long summer break and, could be trickier this part, as adults we need to give other people's children a chance - to garden, babysit, paint sheds etc. It doesn't have to be for (much) money but does need to involve an element of timeliness, appropriate clothing and responsibility. Lots of things like DoE and Scouts already provide these opportunities and many kids do do things, but lots don't and, IMO, they should ...