As the parent of a teenager, there are a lot of things you’ve got to teach them before they leave home and start living on their own as adults. One of the things that you can help them learn at this age is how to get a job and successfully keep that job.
So if your teen is ready to start working, here are three tips for helping your teen find their first job.
Play More Of A Supportive Role
For many parents, it can be hard to take a back seat and allow your teen to figure things out themselves and make a few mistakes. But when it comes to getting a job and doing well at that job, your teen really needs to do a lot of the legwork and heavy lifting on their own.
What you can do to help, however, is play a supportive role in their job search. What this means is that you give your teen emotional support and advice as they apply for jobs rather than applying for jobs for them or being too involved in the interview process. So since you won’t be there when your teen is actually working their job, you should get them used to doing work on their own.
Find Jobs That Fit Their Interest And Skills
Once your teen is ready to start applying for jobs, finding the right jobs for them to apply for can be a bit of a challenge. Because your teen likely has a finite amount of time when they’re available to work and minimal life skills that make them employable, finding a good job may not be easy.
To help open your teen’s mind about the kind of jobs they can apply for, you should talk with your teen about what they’re interested in and what skills they may already have. With this in mind, your teen might find that volunteering somewhere or apprenticing may be more beneficial to them. So if your teen wants to work in an industrial warehouse as an adult, finding a job that gives them experience with this type of work as a teen could be a great find.
Prep Them For Their Interviews
After applying for a job that they may want and getting invited in for an interview for the position, your teen will likely need some of your help preparing for this interview, as this is likely a brand new experience for them.
As part of your interview preparation, you should help your teen get comfortable talking to adults and sharing their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, for the day of your teen’s interview, encourage them to look professional to set themselves apart from others who may be applying for that same job.
If you have a teen who will be looking for their first job soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help them make their first foray into the workforce.
