How to Help Your Teen Find a Part-time or Summer Job

My kids often ask me what the world was like when I was a teenager. I was a teen in the 80’s, so I suppose that not only dates me a bit, (leave my hairstyle alone!) but shows you the time period in which I grew up.  While my friends and I didn’t enjoy the advanced technology age that my kids do, we still shared many of the same commonalties—forming great friendships, loving our independence, and landing our first part-time jobs. 

I now have four teenagers, so as summer 2016 unfolds, the majority of them do have part-time jobs, but one does not. This sparked the conversation of when should our kids be looking to find a summer job or whether it’s really necessary.

Why Should a Teen Get a Job?

There are so many reasons why a teen should get a job as soon as they are legally able to, which in most states is the age of 15 with working papers, or age 16 without. It teaches them independence, responsibility, and how to manage their own finances. I’ve found that getting a job while young prepares kids for the future. Work experience will look good on their college applications, as well as future job applications. It also helps fill up a few good hours of the 10 weeks they have free during the summer months. So, what opportunities are there for your young teen and how can they take advantage of securing their first job?  

See Also:  Getting a Part-Time Job for High School Students

Today, Mighty Mommy shares tips for young teens looking for a summer or part-time job:

Tip #1:  What Opportunities Are Available for Teens?

There are so many different jobs your teens can do. Some examples are:

Babysitting: They can sign up for a babysitting course and get their certification to babysit.

Lifeguard: Again they can become certified to work as a lifeguard at a local community pool or at the beach.

Dog Walker: Does your teen like pets? Many people work all day and need a person that can take their dog out for a walk each afternoon. Two of my “non-teen” kids do this in our neighborhood and are in high-demand!

Lawn Mowing: This is a great way for a teenager to make money, and my kids have also used these same neighbors and customers to do snow shoveling in the winter!

Cashier/Stocker: Stock shelves, help customers find merchandise, and ring them up at checkout. Many of today’s kids don’t even know how to count back change (which I think is a small crime!) because the electronic registers do everything for them, so that makes being a cashier even easier.

Fast Food: My first “real” job after babysitting was working in a fast-food pizza joint. I have the best memories from working at this place. I worked for two great managers, and within a year, I was promoted to an assistant manager, which taught me a whole new set of responsibilities. Also I earned lots more money to put away for college and my first car.

Zoo/Aquarium Assistant: If you’ve got a zoo nearby, you’ve got job opportunities. Zoos hire teens for seasonal jobs ranging from “landscape attendant” to “young docents.” You probably won’t have access to the elephant’s living area, but then again, someone needs to clean up after them!

Movie Theater Worker: Take tickets, serve popcorn, clean popcorn off the floor, and become very familiar with all the summer hits. 

Camp Counselor: Sing camp songs, teach crafts, and become a kid’s hero for the summer. These positions tend to be popular, so if you missed the application period for this summer, put it on your to-do list for next year. 

Tip # 2: Create a Resume

Most teen job openings do not require a resume—and most other teens looking for work won’t even have a resume. However, why not stand out from the crowd and have professional looking resume to present to prospective employers? Many jobs, including part-time and entry-level jobs for teens, can be found online, so your teen’s resume can easily be uploaded along with the job application.  For help, see How to Write Your First Resume.

Tip #3:  Practice Beforehand

Regardless of whether this is your teen’s first attempt at job hunting or perhaps just an effort to add a few more hours through an extra position, one of the keys to success for the potential applicant is being able to clearly express why they are the best candidate for the job. Teens might be competing with college students or even retired folks, so it’s helpful to role play with your teen and practice a few reasons why they would make a great choice for this job. One of the most often asked questions is: Why do you feel you are qualified for this  position? Teens should let the employer know how positive and reliable they are, always willing to help out, and that they’re not afraid to pitch in and help others who are on your work team. When asked about experience—even though your teen may have never worked a job other than babysitting or raking leaves—include those skills as well as things like being able to use certain computer programs like Word and Excel.  If your child is outgoing and good with people, this is a big plus for anyone looking for a job dealing with customer service. Perhaps your child is a stickler for being on time—punctual teen employees are a welcome addition to the workforce.  

I also encouraged my kids to practice completing a sample job application so that they would know exactly what to expect, especially if they’re filling these out alone, and without any parental guidance.

And another thing I can’t stress enough is encouraging your teen to be polite, practice good eye contact, and remember those magic words! 

And another thing I can’t stress enough is encouraging your teen to be polite, practice good eye contact, and remember those magic words! You never know when the manager might be there and want to interview you on the spot, so dressing appropriately even to drop off an application is always smart.

Tip #4: Where to Look For a Job

There are several ways your teen can look for a job. There’s the old-fashioned help-wanted ads in your local newspaper, as well as your paper’s website. School guidance counselors are also a nice resource. There are also many employers that put “help wanted” signs in their front windows, too. In addition there are websites such as snagajob.com and monster.com, where you simply need to enter your city and state and then search for positions.  Even word of mouth can be a successful means for landing a job. If you or your spouse or your kid’s friends have any ideas or might know someone looking to hire for the summer, just ask!

Tip #5:  Follow-Up and Thank-You Notes

Once your teen has applied for a job, encourage him/her to follow up on the status of their application. I think sending a thank-you note after each job interview is also a nice way to leave a good impression on a prospective employer.  And when your teen does land his/her first job, be prepared to celebrate, and then you can start him/her on the exciting road to learning to manage their finances. QDT’s own Laura Adams, Money Girl, highly recommends the Family Mint financial tool for families.  Also see:  How to Teach Your Kids About Money

Do you have any advice to share on teens getting their first job?  Share your thoughts in the Comments section at quickanddirtytips.com/mighty-mommy, post your ideas on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page, or email me at mommy@quickanddirtytips.com.

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