Should Your Teen Get a Summer Job?

Podcast Transcription

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Hi everyone, welcome to PFCU’s Money Talk Podcast, I’m your host, Maddy.

Summer is here and you may have teenagers in the house debating how they will spend their time away from school. Enjoying time with friends and family and the freedom of less school-work is important, but this is also a great opportunity to sharpen other skills and prepare for adulthood with a summer job.   

There are many benefits of summer jobs for teens including time management skills, financial independence, communication skills, work ethic, self-confidence and career exploration. Which at that age, is so important to really figure out maybe what they want to do with their future career.

When your teen is looking for a summer job, they may want to consider a few things.

Number one, is it a good fit? Not only look for a job that aligns with their skillset but also with their interests. If your teen is someone who absolutely hates working outside, getting a job as a summer landscaper, may not be the best fit.

The next thing to consider is if it’s flexible. A summer job should be flexible enough to accommodate a teen's schedule, especially if they plan to take summer classes or do other extracurricular activities. A lot of sports have summer camps and practices, it’s good for your teen to have more than one hobby or interest, so it’s important to find that balance and flexibility.

And the last thing to consider is if it leaves time for fun with the family. Summer vacation is common among families, and this is something your teen needs to consider when seeking employment. Working has a lot of benefits as I mentioned before but family and friend time can also be really important. This is time that they and you will never get back. Enjoy that time while you can.

So, where can your teen start the job search?

Number one, social networks and job boards. Online job boards post seasonal summer opportunities, internships and volunteer positions. Volunteering is another great way to spend that summer time. This can look great on scholarship and job applications too. There are community pages on social media where teens can look for job advertisements or network themselves to seek employment. A lot of times it’s about who you know.

And that leads me into my next point, is to network. Take advantage of your circle including friends, neighbors, relatives. Word-of-mouth recommendations and referrals can make finding a summer job much easier! 

And last is seasonal businesses. There are many seasonal local businesses, park organizations and other organizations that may need summer help. Some of these seasonal jobs could include lawn & garden, retail, ice cream shops, being a lifeguard, tutoring and babysitting. I see so many families looking for summer care for their kids on social media so this could be a great avenue for a summer job.

And the last thing I want to talk about is volunteering and other opportunities. It might be difficult for your teen to land a summer gig due to opportunities, age restrictions, and other factors. It's important to encourage other avenues such as volunteering, entrepreneurship, freelance projects or classes to learn job skills. There are so many opportunities out there for teens in addition to a summer job. They can still gain those new skills, new connections, experience and get so much more out of those other opportunities so keep that in mind.

Have a fantastic summer and see you next time!

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