5 Reasons Why Your Teen Should Get a Summer Job

By Ishank Katyal

Getting a summer job is a rite of passage for a lot of teens. It’s the stage of life that can bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. Working is important for your teen, as it gives them real-world experiences that they won’t find in the classroom. Beyond some financial independence, there are other benefits for teens when it comes to working. Here are 5 reasons why your teen should get a summer job.

1. Work Ethic

Summer jobs help teenagers explore their work habits, goals, and motivation. Apart from that, they also allow them to learn about proper time management and deal with consequences as they move towards adulthood.

2. Responsibility

Teens are mostly used to being directed by their parents and teachers, but working alongside their boss and colleagues is different. Summer jobs expose teens to new duties and challenges, which will make them learn the value of income and help them grow into responsible adults.

3. Getting to know themselves

Most teens are indecisive about their future careers, but if your teen starts a job outside of their interest, this could serve as an opportunity for them to learn some brand new skills and become more committed to their goals. 

4. Self-Esteem

Building self-esteem is the most important part of growth. According to American scholar, Jeylan T. Mortimer’s 2005 research paper, high school students who work part-time or full-time jobs have more confidence than those who don’t. These jobs force teens to step out of their comfort zones and test their capabilities to help them to boost their self-esteem. 

5. Financial Literacy

Having a summer job and earning money can be a golden opportunity to learn personal finance basics. It helps teens learn the value of money and how to distinguish between needs and wants. You can find more advice on how to teach your teen financial literacy here.

Tips to Help with the Job Search

Job searching can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience for your teen. That is why it’s important for you to guide them to find a suitable summer job by understanding their goals (like saving up for their own car or buying the newest iPhone model). Having such goals will help them focus on their struggle or even know their areas of interest, strengths, and weaknesses. 

You can help your teen prepare for the interview by giving them some tips and helping them master their job applications by doing mock interviews with them. You can also search together for what your teens would like to do using a website like this. Apart from that, you can assist them in crafting the perfect questions for potential employers and give them critical tips about workplace etiquette.

If your teen is applying for a summer job, just let them understand that they have nothing to lose and a lot to gain; and other than summer jobs, they can also work as a volunteer, which is a great way to earn experience and also help them with college applications or future jobs.