With summer now in full bloom, perhaps it’s too late for me to talk about the value of young people getting summer jobs.
But applying for, getting, and keeping a job is a learning experience that isn’t limited to just summer employment.
When I’m asked to interview younger job candidates, let’s say those in high school, I’ll first ask whether they have any previous job experience, either part-time or maybe a student internship of some kind.
If I get a blank stare, I’ll ask about their volunteer work.
If I get another blank stare, I’ll ask how they’ve been spending their summer vacation.
If I get “just takin’ it easy,” they get a very unimpressed stare back from me.
Because if they’ve come to ask me for career advice, that’s the wrong answer.
Right now, this employee job market could not be better for ambitious high-school students to apply for, and get hired for, after-school jobs.
The work typically involves only entry-level skills, above minimum wage, no prior experience needed, and most only part-time.
Why do I believe so strongly in the value of after-school jobs?
Because of my mother.
If my brother and I weren’t doing anything productive…
From hard-working Italian stock, she believed that if my brother and I weren’t doing anything productive, like just messin’ around, we should be earning money.
For us, it started with mowing our neighbors’ lawns in summer and shoveling snow in winter.
Mom believed that we should earn our own money, then save it. She instilled in each of us the value and pride of having a net worth, as in a savings .
Several times in my young adult life, I relied on my savings to pay for what I considered emergencies, thus allowing me the freedom to not have to ask my parents to help out.
Our father even got us involved in investing in stocks to see the capitalist system at work. The pride of having a net worth and investing are lessons that have stayed with me to this day.
On the topic of what young people can learn about life by having an after-school job, I was very impressed with the advice recently offered by New York Times opinion columnist Pamela Paul, as follows:
· Being a good student doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a good employee, unless you are.
· Being fired or quitting a job is not the end of the world. You may find yourself in the wrong workplace at the wrong time. Whether the job didn’t meet your standards or you didn’t meet theirs, knowing when to stay or move on is a valuable life lesson.
· Bosses can behave badly. But they’re still the boss. Learning how to navigate a less-than-exemplary boss, while wanting or needing to keep the job is another life lesson.
· Getting to your job on time, day after day, ready to work, is different than merely being on time for school. “I didn’t feel like studying today” is way different than “I didn’t feel like going to work.” One gets you fired, and quickly.
· Your boss may be easy to get along with, but how about your co-workers? For the first time in your life, you’re working with those who are older and younger than you, plus likely a diverse workforce with varied pay scales.
· You’ll likely be working in a job with lots of with the public. That’s always the best customer training. Don’t hide from it.
As parents, let’s be also aware that younger kids have to be driven to and from their jobs and your schedule will be equally affected. Uniforms may need to be washed and ironed regularly.
But that’s another learning experience, that of the child having to do the work to be prepared for work.
As an employer of thousands of young people over the years, part-time and full-time, it’s always clear to me which young applicant has held a job of some kind, and which ones held a silver spoon.
If part of our parental duties is preparing our kids for the workplace, you can do no better than insisting that your children get an after-school job.
Blair is co-founder of Manpower Staffing.
