Most employers don't waste time on references given the legal liabilities, references are only required as a tradition, to prove you know how to play the game,

Most employers don't waste time on references given the legal liabilities, references are only required as a tradition, to prove you know how to play the game, so I think they're safe... with the sole exception of the camp counselor. Given contact with kids, I'd like to at least imagine they would try to background check. Even then they probably don't and rely on 3rd party professionals. You have to be realistic about these kind of things. If, under better economic conditions, adults would never work these jobs and it would all be "teens first job" then they're not going to be geared up to check references or prior employers and they're not going to care if you leave your previous employer section blank. You don't need a stellar resume to meet the minimum requirements to flip burgers and if you show up with a stellar resume it proves you don't know how to play the game and they will politely tell you you're overqualified, until you learn to play the game.