With summer in full swing, your teen may be ready to jump into the workforce! The summers are always an easy way for teens to dip their toes into the adult life of work, setting up a good work ethic and saving towards the future. It may feel a little overwhelming having your teen growing up so rapidly, but having them secure a job over the summer is a great way for them to gain skills and knowledge without a full schedule of schoolwork and sports.
Starting Out
It will make securing and continuing the job easier for your teen if they try to snag an open position in something that interests them. Are they big into movies and aspire to be a movie director or actor? Then your local movie theater would be a great starting point. It’s a great place to meet other movie buffs and be immersed in all the big movie screens. If your teen is big into sports, a few chain sports stores can be great avenues for them, especially in the customer service realm. They can help customers find the right gear and get some guidance on what they need before buying! And if your teen is a little more of a bookworm, then bookstores or your library may have openings for library duties. They can shelve books and prepare books on hold for customers, as well as help customers in bookstores find just the right read for the beach!
Temper Expectations
Of course, even if your teen secures a job in something that interests them, it is still a job and can become humdrum pretty quick. They may want to help customers on the floor, but are stuck behind the register or stocking shelves. It’s always a good idea to talk with your teen about how the job is going and to help keep them grounded if they start to feel frustrated. Every job, especially when they are starting out, can become a little boring or frustrating over time.
Remind them that putting in the work and helping even when it’s not their most favorite part of the job will show how committed they are, and that can lead to future opportunities. Your teen working at the movie theater may only be working at the concession stand that first summer, but if they continue working into the school year or go back next summer, they may be to work their way up to running the movies!
Katie Kyzivat