Ahhhhhh the feeling you get when your parents tell you its time to get a job. "You've got to be kidding me!" "No way!" "I don't want too!" It probably happens to most teens at some time or another. Your getting older and therefore your responsibilities become larger. The world of workforce is a scary thing. Its the fear of the unknown and the idea that you will have a boss and have to be responsible. Then the task becomes where your going to apply, having to interview and actually get the job.
For me, deciding where to work wasn't a big problem. I had been swimming for years and knew the aquatics director at the YMCA. It was the spring of my eighth grade year and I knew I would want to be working there once I turned fourteen (that was before the law basically required workers to be 16). I shadowed swimming lesson instructors so I would be framiliar with how that process works. Then the first weekend of my summer (and my birthday) I took and completed the lifeguard class. After that I was hired and officially had my first job!
Making minimum wage isn't the greatest but its really nice to feel like you have some extra spending money. My parents require me to pay 15 dollars a month for a portion of the cell phone bill and since I have turned 16 I pay for insurance on my car. Besides that I don't spend a lot of money, I like the idea of saving it. In my opinion I think every teenager should have a job and have to pay for something. This creates great experience for when you have to make money somehow and then pay your bills.
There are some pretty cool part time jobs out there. I have had friends that have had difficulties finding jobs but I think you just have to look in the right places. When you go to restaurants, stores or businesses just ask if they are applying and take an application! You don't HAVE to take the job, but then you have options. I know of lots of lifeguards who make sooooo much money and have a great tan by the end of the summer. I know people who are hosts at restaurants, referee for soccer games, make pizza at Happy Joes, and sell concessions at the movie theatre. There is something fun for everyone!
The downside of teen part time jobs come when your working too much. How many hours a week are too much? How late is too late to be out on a school night working? I know that before I was sixteen I wasn't allowed to work past 7 p.m. Now on Fridays and Saturdays that seems ridiculous but during the week its not. I have friends who are working till 10 or 11 at night on a school night! This is when you have to tell yourself that school comes first and your job shouldn't take priority.
Overall, I think teen part time jobs are great. The experience is totally valuable for your future plus its a great way to meet new people and have managers that can write you reccomendations later on. I just think that as a teenager you also need to focus on school and being involved in other activities as well! If you don't have a job----get hunting!
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