If you’re a parent of a teenager, you’re probably aware of how quickly your time, patience and energy are zapped. Yet, it’s a different kind of energy drain than when the kids were toddlers. And teens also can be expensive with all of their wants and needs. But before you throw your hands in the air proclaiming you’re going to disown them, remember this: Teenagers can get a job to start earning their own money.
As teenagers grow older, they’re also old enough—and quite capable—to get a job and take on more responsibility. This is great news for parents, especially if your teen is driving. Costs for a car, insurance and gas add up quickly! Plus, working a part-time job offers your teens many other benefits that will help them as they transition into adulthood.
- Responsibility. Most teens like to think they’re responsible. However, in order to learn to be responsible, they have to walk through some experiences, and a high school job is exactly what they need. When they begin to work outside the home, they become accountable for a variety of new things, such as work attendance and punctuality, job responsibilities and performance, and customer satisfaction. Though their initial incentive is a paycheck, over time your teens will see how satisfying it is to do great work!
- New skills. When high schoolers work, they gain many new skills, such as good time management and organization. They learn important communication skills and how to work with a variety of people. Having a job also helps them develop an employment history they can eventually take into the adult working world.
- Interpersonal skills. Working with others at an early age also enhances a teen’s interpersonal skills and prepares her for her future career. While working, he’ll interact with people of varying ages and backgrounds. This will build his tolerance and self-confidence in working with others. Teens will also learn to work with a manager and how to conform to rules they may not like.
- Sense of self-reliance. Once your teens begin making money, they’ll have financial options (other than going to their parents). When teens earn their own money, they gain more appreciation of its value and the fact that it must be earned. A paycheck helps teens begin to more carefully weigh their decisions to spend money responsibly. The nitty gritty of money management is an important lesson, and being in control of their own purchases helps them learn how to budget and plan out their finances.
- Self-esteem boost. When teens work, they feel empowered. A part-time job gifts them a sense of accomplishment and personal achievement. It also helps them slowly break free from the parent-guarded environment and helps pave their way into adulthood.
- Insight. A good part-time job can give your teens valuable insight into what they may want to do after high school. They may discover they love working with groups of people, or perhaps they’ll learn they’d rather work on their own. They may even find out they’d like to own their own business someday.
- Life skills. Working can instill confidence and independence in your teens who may have struggled before. If they work with customers, they can learn how to handle difficult situations and improve their communication skills.
- Less boredom. Let’s face it. Teens enjoy socializing with friends, and sometimes that can lead to behaviors that can get them into trouble. A job to head to right after school keeps them busy.
- Motivation. When teens are close to graduating from high school, they can see what type of employment opportunities are realistically available to them upon graduation. If your teen realizes the jobs out there aren’t what he had hoped, he may decide to go ahead and pursue a college degree or technical training. Holding a job while in high school gives him knowledge that can help motivate him to apply for more challenging and better paying jobs down the road.
Though having a part-time job can be beneficial to teens, not every high school student is ready to join the work force. In fact, having a job while in high school is not for everyone. As a parent, you’ll first need to determine whether your child has the time. Research has shown that teens who work more than 20 hours a week have a lower grade point average than those who work 10 hours or less a week. Make sure your student has the time for a job, along with the proper amount of time for schoolwork, studying and any after-school activities. If you find yourself on the fence, simply encourage your teen to start with a summer job. Working during the summer won’t interfere with school, and it can keep your teen busy during the warm weather months.
In areas where it’s difficult for a teen to find a job (especially in areas where adults are competing for the part-time positions), you can encourage your teens to consider volunteer jobs instead. This is a great way to gain valuable experience working with others. They’ll gain new skills and learn to manage their time just the same. Teens can seek out volunteer opportunities at local shelters, animal rescues, nonprofits or community service programs.
If your teen starts a part-time job, remember that working is a new experience. Be supportive during this transition and understanding any time they complain about a rough day at work. Give them a shoulder to lean on and check in with them often.
10 popular jobs for teens:
- Barista at a coffee shop
- Retail sales associate
- Waitress/waiter, busser or host/hostess at a restaurant
- Ice cream scooper at an ice cream shop/smoothie shop
- Grocery store stocker, bagger or online shopper
- Movie theater cashier/usher
- Skating rink attendant
- Babysitter
- Food delivery driver
- Lifeguard
Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein currently has one teen working part time and one teen planning to start a part-time job over the summer.