Summer is drawing near and you may have teenagers in the house debating how they will spend their time away from school. Enjoying time with friends and family and the freedom of less school-work is important, but this is also a great opportunity to sharpen other skills and prepare for adulthood with a summer job.
Perks of Teen Jobs
There are many benefits of summer jobs for teens including:
- Time Management
- Financial Independence
- Communication Skills
- Work Ethic
- Self-Confidence
- Career Exploration
Balancing Priorities
When you treen is looking for a summer job, they may want to consider the following:
- It is a good fit? Look for a job that aligns with their interest and skills.
- Is it flexibile? A summer job should be flexibile enough to accomodate a teen's schedule, espeically if they plan to take summer classes or other extracurricular activities
- Does it leave time for fun with the family? Summer vacation is common among families, and this is something your teen needs to take into account when seeking employment.
How to Find a Summer Job
- Social Networks & Job Boards - Online job boards post seasonal summer opportunities, internships and volunteer positions. Their are often community pages on social media where teens can look for job advertisements or network themselves and skills to seek employment.
- Seasonal Businesses - There are many seasonal local businesses, park organizations and other organizations that may need summer help. Some retail ideas inculde lawn & garden, retail, ice cream shops, lifegaurds, tutoring and babysitting.
- Networking - Take advantage of your circle including friends, neighbors, and relatives. Word-of-mouth reccomendations and referrals can make finding a summer job much easier!
Volunteering & Other Opportunities
It may be difficult for your teen to land a summer gig due to opportunities, age restrictions, and other factors. It's important to encourage other avenues. Encourage volunteering, entrepreneurship, freelance projects or classes to learn job skills.
Information provided by: HealthyChildren Magazine