Teenagers are expensive to keep. They have bottomless pits to fill and limbs that never seem to stop growing to clothe. They want to go out with their friends, eat junk food, and keep up with popular culture. And as much as we love our teenagers, they can be a bit of a financial drain. 

Being a part of a family means there is only so much money to go around and this is usually what motivates teenagers to start looking for work.

MONEY – The Value Of The Dollar

We started teaching our kids about money when they were cute little primary schoolers in cuddly sky-blue polar fleece jumpers. We paid them the equivalent of their age for simple jobs done at home. They would decide how much money would be put into three jars, one for saving, one for giving, and one for spending. We hoped that they would learn about money management and generosity, and for the most part, it has worked out pretty well.

When teenagers start working they come to an understanding very quickly that any purchases they make equate to hours worked. They will also find food in the pantry that they could never find when they were spending your money on takeaways.

Having a part-time job will also teach your young person about taxes, budgeting, managing money and patience to save for pricey purchases. And the best part about working will be payday when they experience the rush of knowing they have ownership over their hard-earned cash.

If your teenager is making sounds about getting a job a good question to consider is are they responsible and reliable and do you both have time in your schedule?

RESPONSIBILITY – People Are Relying On You

Once your teenager signs up for a job it is their responsibility to go to work, even on the days that they just don’t feel like it. Your teen needs to know that their absence or turning up late can impact the business. Having to be responsible may also push your teen out of their comfort zone. They will have to arrange time off or swap shifts for holidays or appointments and call in sick when necessary. This responsibility is great for building their confidence and equipping them with new life skills as they transition to adulthood. It is a privilege to have a job and, if they have a great boss, that is something they shouldn’t take for granted.

A part-time job provides loads of real-life learning opportunities, some of which can’t be learnt in a classroom.

LEARNING – Valuable Insight For Future Career Choices

Your teen will learn fairly quickly what they like and do not like about their job. This can give them valuable insight into what career path they might want to follow once they finish school. Working will help them discover the type of work they like, customer-facing, hospitality, retail, physical work, or that they are entrepreneurial with a dream of being their own boss. 

There is a treasure trove of skills to acquire on the job, communication, confidence, independence, time-management, problem-solving, teamwork and decision-making. Learning what they are good at and what interests them will build self-esteem and noticing what they need to work on will improve their life skills and work ethic.

It’s quite normal for your teen to feel nervous about applying for their first part-time job, they might not have the confidence, or know where to start. We can give them a hand with creating a C.V. If they haven’t had much experience, think of practical skills, what they are good at, their hobbies, responsibilities and achievements at school as well as any voluntary work they may have done.

And then, if possible find some local businesses that interest your teen as a place of work and have them drop off their C.V. This may feel daunting, but the anxiety will soon be replaced with excitement after taking that first step toward financial freedom. 

Our younger teens might want to start by asking neighbours and family if they have any available work babysitting (14 years and over), mowing lawns, gardening, cleaning or looking after their pets while they are on holiday. And if you are self-employed, maybe they could start in the family business doing odd jobs.

Starting a new job means that your teen will be dealing with situations, tasks, and people that they are not accustomed to. Reassure them that there is no expectation to know everything right away and that with time they will gain experience and confidence. Earning their own money and making choices about how to spend it will boost your teen’s self-worth, and who knows, you might just be on the receiving end of their generosity.