My daughter
just turned 16, and the first thing she wants this summer is get a job! I
didn’t have the heart to tell her according to the Bureau of Labor statistics,
the teenage unemployment rate is 21.7 percent, up from last year's 15.8 percent
-- the highest rate in nearly 20 years.
She loves to
earn money and has been working odd jobs since she was 12. Now wants a real
job, as she states, 'to meet new people and experience what it’s like.' So I
sat with her, and we went over several ways she can set herself apart from the
rest of the applicants vying for the same position.
First, I was
extremely honest and explained that the job market will be tough, but not
impossible, and she will have to show the employer beyond a reasonable doubt
that she is right for the job. I asked her simple questions like, "Why
should they hire you?" and "What do you offer that others
don’t?" We talked a lot about defining her strong points. If your child
can answer these questions positively and confidently, then they will have a
greater chance of landing the job. Explain to your child they must create value
for the employer -- they must be an asset and not a liability.
Many
employers' biggest complaint with young workers today is their lack of work
ethic. It is important that we explain to our children that slacking off while
on the job will get them fired.
Next I
asked, “What are you good at, what do you enjoy and where do you see yourself
working?” My daughter is health conscious and explained to me that fast food
probably would not be her favorite environment, but gyms and healthy
restaurants would. It’s important that we help our children look for a job in
an environment they enjoy.
I also asked
her what she sees herself doing in the future. She loves being healthy and is
interested in sports nutrition, sports medicine, and psychology, which open a
different area of internship positions. These can give her insight to the job
or profession she might want to pursue.
Encourage
your children to look in an area that is interesting and something they enjoy.
Their first job can be a stepping-stone into their future career. Testing out
what you think you might want to do can save your kids many years of wasted
time. My daughter thought she wanted to be a soccer trainer, a coach or a
director of a club, but after two years of training youth soccer when she was 13-15 year old, she realized it was not for her. There is nothing better than on the job training in an environment you might be
interested in, and it can open doors down the road.
Children do not have to decide what they want to do just yet, but doing what you love and earning an income is a wonderful way to start.
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