Getting a “real” job is an important step for your teen. Working helps your child gain real life experience, earn extra spending money, and relate to others outside their home and school. The problem is finding a good first time job for a teen and balancing that job with school.
Network with People You Know
There are many employers out there that are more than willing to give your teen a chance at a job. A good employer will understand that your teen’s first commitment is to school and that he still needs time for a social life. If you know someone that owns a business, this might be a perfect opportunity for your teen. For example, a doctor’s office may need help with occasional filing or copying in the office. This is a great job for a teen that is interested in the medical field. You may have a friend or neighbor that runs a daycare business. For teens that love children, this could also provide a perfect opportunity.
Where Else to Look for a Job
If you do not know someone that can help employ your teen, then typical jobs for teens include fast food, supermarkets, and movie theaters. These jobs may not have the highest pay, but they will still teach your teen a lot about the workforce. Other jobs that teens may consider are jobs that they can run on their own, such as babysitting, dog walking or pet sitting, cleaning, yard work, or even running errands. When your teen goes to look for employment, it is important that he finds a job that interests him. This will make the whole experience better for everyone.
Prepared to Work
Part of a teen finding a job is making sure that he is ready to work. He must be committed to his job. He should also have reliable transportation if he is not already driving. He should also be old enough to do the work required of the position. Most places will not hire a teen until he is at least 16, and some prefer teens that are at least 18. Of course, your teen must also have the maturity to handle work and school at the same time.
Balancing Work and School
Balancing work and school is often hard for teens, especially when they first start working, but it can be done in most cases. To this end, you may want to keep closer track of your teen's grades in school to be sure that a job is not hurting his education. One suggestion when it comes to working while attending school is to only allow your child to work on the weekends or during the school holidays or during the summer. You can also ask your teen to only work a certain amount of hour per week such as 10-15 hours, and never after a certain time in the evening, such as 10:00 p.m. If your teen does get hired and you have concerns about the amount of hours or late evenings, or even the safety of your teen’s job, do not hesitate to contact your teen’s employer to discuss your concerns with them.
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