It’s has come to that time and age when your teen has the desire to join the work force. Or maybe you’d like to teach them more responsibility by getting a part-time job to help prepare them for the real world. Getting a new and first job may be nerve wrecking for your teen, but also exciting. Having your support and guidance will help.
Here are some tips in how you can help your teen achieve their first job:
- Find their interest. Have a conversation with your teen and get a better understanding of what they are looking for in a job. Help your teen to make a list of the things they enjoy, don’t enjoy, their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you both to identify what type of work will be best and most enjoyable for your teen. This will also teach your teen to be more self-aware of the person they are becoming.
- Job search. Once their job interest has been decided, support your teen in the job search process, being that it’s their first job. Help them to look online, in the newspaper, asking friends and colleagues, or walking around the mall to see where they are hiring as those might be unadvertised opportunities. If a friend or colleague has put in a word for you and your teen, educate you teen explaining to him or her that they are reflecting those who recommend them so that they can put in their best effort and be respectful.
- Out of the Box Thinking. If your teen is unsuccessful in getting a job, help them to create other ways they can get a job through self-employment or becoming an entrepreneur. Maybe they are good in baby-sitting, yard work, house cleaning, cleaning/detailing cars, grocery shopping or walking a pet. Start small and help your teen to advertise their work in the neighborhood. Figure out pricing by calling businesses to see what they charge. Also be sure to educate your child on taxes and getting a license for starting their own business.
- Job Applications and Resumes. Your teen may already have learned in school on how to fill out a job application and creating a resume. However, offer them to help create and edit their resume if they need to. Read over their application to make sure that they have filled out the form properly.
- Practice Interviewing. Go online and look up questions that are common to ask in interviews. Help them prepare answers to the questions and then role pay. Practicing will help create confidence in your teen to have a successful interview. Throw in questions that your teen is unaware of to help them to think and develop answers on the spot.
- Don’t Micromanage. The goal in the job search for your teen is to help guide them through the process, to learn and grow; not doing everything for them. Remember that it is your teen’s job search and not your own. Let them know that you are there for support and that they can ask for your help, but to encourage them to do this independently, as employers look for those who can do work on their own. Catch yourself and make sure you aren’t micromanaging your teen through the job search.
- Thank You and Follow-Ups. Encourage your teen to send out a thank you, even if they didn’t get the position. This will help to show that they are respectful and appreciative. Encourage them to also follow-up with the jobs they already interviewed for, to show interest and also to know whether or not they should apply for another job.
- Job safety. You might not like the job your teen wants or got hired for. However, the main thing is that they are safe with whatever employment they end up choosing. It’s important that your teen feel safe in their work environment and you know that they are safe as well.
Seeing your teen being molded into an adult can be a scary and exciting experience, especially helping them to get their first job. Every teen is different. The job process could be fairly smooth for one and chaotic for another. As the parent, utilize these tips and make sure to adjust to your teen so that their experience with the job search will be one they will learn and grow from.
