Helping Your Teen Find a Summer Job

Written by Joy Emery

Should I or shouldn’t I get involved? That may be the question for parents of teenagers as teens begin to seek summer employment. You know that you might be able to pull a few strings at work to get your child a part-time summer job, but should you?

The real question might be, "What do you want your child to gain from her summer experience?" If you want her to get an extra $150.00 spending money each week, then how she gets the job might not be a big deal. On the hand, if you want her to gain some life experience that will help her in the future, you might consider giving advice and then watching her in action.

When parenting teenagers, you are transitioning in your role as the parent. Whereas in the preschool and elementary years you shelter your child from the elements of life, in the teen years you allow her to experience the elements of life while you are still within close range. The difference is that the teen must be given permission to be independent, but you must still remain close to guide the teen as she ventures out without you. You are still there to give Christian counsel and to suggest to her how to get a summer job, but you allow her to experience the independence of getting the job on her own.

You can help your teen begin the search for employment by casually bringing up the subject. As you dialogue, ask her what types of things she might be interested in doing. Help her think about things she enjoys or characteristics she has that make her well suited for specific types of jobs. As you discuss possible options, make sure you guide her away from options that would not be healthy for her as an impressionable young teen (restaurants that may serve alcohol or other establishments that might breed trouble).

Put the ball in your teen’s court. Suggest she get information or applications from several possible employers. You might also give a little incentive. Let her know that you expect her to pay her own way to youth camp and to provide her own summer spending money.

Make yourself available to help or give advice as needed, but don’t nag her about getting a job. It may be stressful enough for her to think about filling out an application and interviewing. Tell her that you will be glad to hold mock interviews with her. Instruct her to be up front about her summer schedule during the interview. If she is going to youth camp or plans to go with the family on vacation, help her tactfully ask if doing those things would be a problem if she were hired.

It is okay for you to help behind the scenes if you really need to. If she shows interest and enthusiasm in finding a job yet has difficulty, you might ask around to see if any of your friends know of any job opportunities for teens. Then as you hear of opportunities, give your teen the contact information.

Celebrate with her when she lands her first job. Remember to pray for her as she learns about work relationships and establishes a Christian work ethic and example in her workplace.

So, do you get involved? There is no doubt that you will always be involved in your child’s life. Pray and ask God to help you know when to jump in and when to jump back out as your teen begins to experience the workplace firsthand.

Joy Emery is a wife, a mother of three, a conference leader, and a career and workplace writer for HomeLife magazine. She and her family live in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

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