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I don't know how they did it, but my parents instilled a really good work ethic in me - I got my first job when I was 12, without my parents pushing me to do it. If they hadn't, I'm sure this list would have come in handy.
12 Most Positive Ways to Help Your Teen Find a Job
My oldest is a high school graduate (by the time) with two years of work experience. Not just summer experience, he worked throughout his junior and senior years of high school while maintaining a 3.0 g.p.a, playing sports, and participating in clubs.
As a father, seeing him grow in character was just as important as his high school diploma. Our children become more resilient if we allow discipline to prepare them for life after high school including college.
Teens should work. They will find time for video games or hanging out with their friends. When teens turn 16, they are job seekers, as defined by their parents, and when possible the fathers.
These are my suggestions in creating teen job seekers:
1. Employ them early
Give your three and four year old a job, pay them, and watch them work. Notice and remember his or her enthusiasm and zeal. Think about how you can build on their willingness. Oh yeah, did I say pay them?
2. Teach them how to work
If you don’t work with them and teach them, he or she may never work. The younger the easier, the older the harder —then you’re on your own.
3. Don’t make them fill out 100 applications
Instead, dress them up and take them around to small businesses to talk to adults. If they do not like adults during the teen years, they will with pay.
4. Coach your children in their relationships with adults
Yes, they need coaching and monitoring by YOU the parent. Everything un-taught will appear ugly, so prepare them now. Networking 101 starts with conversations, shaking hands, eye contact, and the parent starring as the loving weirdo. Take a bow. You’re welcome.
5. Explain to them what you do
Show them how you do it and make sure they can explain your career to peers and teachers with clarity. Even if you’re unemployed, provide examples of your work and your career.
6. Be honest about your career struggles
You will connect with them in positively profound ways. I did this with my oldest son. At 18, he has more working experience than his under 30 cousins with two years at the same job.
7. Make it clear that at 16, they are job seekers
No matter what your economic status, your teen should work at minimum during the summer. They can buy their own school clothes and treat the family to lunch or dinner. The pride he or she displays is priceless. I promise.
8. Show them your accomplishments
Awards, prizes, accommodations, or certificates send a subtle message what you expect of them. If they are not proud of you, your work has just begun.
9. Inspire them
Chastising, hazing, stalking, or harassing doesn’t work. Trust them to the seeds of knowledge and experience to grow over time.
10. Anticipate resistance
It is not a cakewalk for many teens as peers claim to lead the glamorous life on Facebook. Have them think about the job they want, and a target company. Is it that bad to work at The Gap because he or she loves clothes?
11. Allow working peers to influence them
There is nothing wrong with them wanting to work where peers already work, unless it is illegal or the friend is a bad influence.
12. Reveal to them that money is not the only incentive
Restrain your inner Warren Buffett and make experience attractive. Don’t be surprised that relationships sprout from working with people from different cultures, genders, and ages. She may be cute, sure he is charming, but work will cultivate character.
My son works out his budget, understands his financial obligations and responsibilities, and values time. Most of his friends still think money grows on trees and aggravate their parents to pay for everything. My son has imperfections and immaturity like many young adults, but he can experience making a few adult decisions as he treats for family dinner on payday.
Is it tough to get your teen to work? I think teens should work. Do you? Please share, I would love to hear.
Featured image courtesy of orphanjones licensed via Creative Commons.
Mark Anthony Dyson
http://thevoiceofjobseekers.com
Mark Anthony Dyson is the founder of the blog TheVoiceOfJobSeekers.com and the Chief Evangelist and Career Consultant for Competitive Resumes.
22 comments
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@yb2012 Hello, Yannis. Whose brainchild was #kloutenlargement?! cc: @rocktique @bethmcshane
@yb2012 There are commercials that air very late at night, offering enhancements, but not for Klout!
@terrinakamura And there are individuals late at night who offer Klout enhancement (for a fee) on FB :)
RT @dudeman718: RT @AngieMc6: RT @terrinakamura: 12 positive ways to help your teen find a job: http://t.co/6UkWbuRA
RT @AngieMc6: RT @terrinakamura: 12 positive ways to help your teen find a job: http://t.co/6UkWbuRA
RT @narcynakamura: RT @terrinakamura: 12 positive ways to help your teen find a job: http://t.co/lyChrZmh
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Enjoyed the list, Mark. We always told our girls their "grades were their job". That worked well when it came to the academics. However, even though they are frugal by nature, they take for granted what they have. For example, both of them drive cars w/Daddy footing the bill for one car payment and insurance/tags/gas for both.
The oldest then decided she wanted to work while in college. She worked about 25-30 hours/week while going to school full-time...and loved it.
And by the time they are filling out college apps, or looking at internships, they need a LinkedIn profile with all of their other jobs/clubs/GPA accomplishments listed!
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@dbvickery Yeah. My son might have sacrificed some of the grades for working, but not much. It is the sense of responsibility that matters. We underestimate our children's abilities more than we do our own.
@markanthonydyson I agree, Mark...funny that I just read and shared an article about just how spoiled we've made our kids.
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I think teens should learn how to work. I personally love Dave Ramsey's programs-he has ones for kids as well.
@newdaynewlesson Thanks for your comment. I feel stronger about parents teaching them as toddlers. With our sons, it is the only way they know.
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Teaching our kids about work ethic at an early age is their foundation to building a successful career later.
Next 12most list " Teach them what to do with their paychecks"
Cheers!
@WineEveryday , Hehe. Parents should establish the ground rules before the 1st day of hire.
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Hey Anne, you're from Chicago? I live in Chicago too! Well, OK your story is exactly what it should produce. Responsibility, self-reliance, and a bigger picture. My son had an work incident that happened on Wednesday, and my wife and I asked do we need to be involved. His response was I'm 18 now, not a little boy anymore." That response is worth the invested time and effort.
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@markanthonydyson I lived outside of Chicago when I was young, moved to California, and then came back for high school. It's a great place. Sounds like your son is definitely on the right track!
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Mark, this is a great list! My parents encouraged me to get a job right when I was old enough to legally be employed in Illinois (mid-way through my sophomore year in high school). I worked in the pro shop of a private golf course. It was made clear to me that my paychecks would be socked away for saving (spending money for college!), and I could spend my tip money however I pleased. I remember wishing I could spend *all* of the money, but then again, I was an immature 16-year-old who was kind of annoyed to be working when almost all of my friends were still getting generous allowances from their parents. Looking back, I'm so glad my parents were firm with their plans to teach me about saving. I worked at that job for almost four years (finally quit when my family moved away from the area when I was in college), and I have several thousand dollars saved up from the job that will eventually become my after-college savings fund. I still employ some of the same techniques (splitting up paychecks to go toward savings and THEN my wallet) in my full-time job now.
And that's just the money side of things! I was working in food and beverage -- basically I was the girl behind the small food bar in the pro shop. I learned that I really never wanted to work in food service again. I learned how to deal with a less-than-ideal boss. I learned how to deal with so many different kinds of customers, from cheerful, chatty old ladies to rushed and grumpy old men. I learned how to wash dishes at lightning speed. I also learned how to make a pretty mean Chicago dog, and I still keep in touch with many of my co-workers from my time spent there. I also learned how to budget my time, and get good grades with a job and a heaping pile of extra-curricular activities, which helped me so much in my transition into college. It was a wonderful experience and truly laid the foundation for me, for college and beyond. And now that I've written this novel...I think I'll stop! :) Thanks again.
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