It's the second most wonderful time of the year. Summer is here and school is out. But it can't be all vacations and barbecues.
It's time to get to work!
If you've got kids in high school, or even home from college, you may
be thinking: how do I make my son or daughter get off the couch and go
get a summer job?
Summer employment, besides subsidizing your child's own expenses, can
teach him or her about work ethic, social skills, discipline, financial
management, and generally help prepare the way for a long and happy
career in "the real world."
Below are some pointers to help you get the ball rolling:
1. Set the expectations. The first thing you need to
consider is the rationale. Is it generically good for your teen to have
a job? Why, yes. But it's important to establish your priorities for
why this is important. Make sure your teen understands that this is not
optional, or they may be inclined to put off the job-seeking until it's
too late. Set specific targets (3 applications a day, or a hard deadline
after which you can go with a sure thing, even if it's not the first
choice).
2. Start the search early. It's already June, so
it's time to move. Chances are with your teen's school schedule,
starting now will leave only 2-2½ months to work, which is about as
short a span as anyone wants to hire for.
3. Apply gentle pressure. If there's any
foot-dragging going on, some of it may be genuine nervousness; this
stuff is still new and unfamiliar, after all. Talk about it on a daily
basis, but try not to nag.
4. Help put together a resume. In all likelihood
your teen's resume is thin. Think outside the box and include academic
achievements, community service, and extracurricular activities. Show
them how best to emphasize the desired aspects of each activity.
5. Use your own network. Don't feel bad about asking
around with your own contacts. Part of what you aim to achieve may be
some self-sufficiency on your youngster's part, but it may be more
important just to get something started, and as you've surely learned as
an adult, who you know counts as much as anything. Nepotism is
underrated: being on familiar terms with your child's boss can be
reassuring, and it may actually make your child a better worker if they
know your reputation's tied up in it a little.
6. Look online. Monster.com and Craigslist are two of the most popular job-search sites for adults, but you'll have to filter results (
and be particularly cautious with the latter)
to make sure the environment is suitable for a minor to work in. Never
give your personal information such as your social security number
online to people on Craigslists especially. You need to be very careful
there. Be sure they are legitimate.
7. Meet the employer. If your child's working for a
stranger, don't let it stay that way. Make sure that some time
(preferably before the start date, but certainly during the first week),
you find an excuse to stop by and shake hands with the boss.
8. Consider volunteering. If money is not the
primary goal for you or your teen, volunteer work can be a great way to
keep busy, build a resume, and help the world. It's a tough job market
out there, too, and it may be a good year not to sweat the whole
summer-job thing too much. Plus, community service opportunities are
naturally more likely to be flexible with granting time off for summer
trips!
This guest post comes courtesy of
Susan Wells.
Susan is a freelance blogger who enjoys writing about automotive and
health news, technology, lifestyle and personal finance. She often
researches and writes about automobile, property and health insurance,
providing consumers with access to a trustworthy
insurance quote guide and unbiased advice on purchasing. Susan welcomes comments.
Join me on
Facebook and follow me on
Twitter for more information and educational articles on parenting today's teenagers.
