Kristine
Working a part-time job during high school is so commonplace that nearly 25% of students will be employed before they earn their high school diplomas. Teens might start working to exercise their growing independence, earn some extra spending money, or explore possible career paths.
Generally speaking, parents tend to view teenage employment as a positive thing. One of the common arguments is that a high schooler who goes straight from class to work will have less time to get into trouble. While this might be technically true, it’s not a good (or convincing) reason to pressure your teen into applying for jobs.
Instead of implying that your high schooler can’t be trusted with free time, try highlighting the key benefits of entering the workforce early.
Pros of Working During High School
The most tangible benefit of working is, of course, earning a paycheck. When teens begin to recognize how long they need to work to earn their money, they’ll naturally start building financial management skills. With some guidance from parents or teachers, they can learn how to create a budget, spend responsibly, and avoid debt.
Another benefit of working in high school includes the opportunity to strengthen “soft skills,” such as emotional intelligence, time management, and people skills. Soft skills are highly valued in all career fields, and most entry-level positions for high school students will help them develop significantly in this area. For instance, working as a cashier or server requires social intelligence, communication skills, problem-solving capabilities, and multitasking skills.
Lastly, a high school job can be a great foundation for a student who isn’t sure what they’d like to do after they graduate. Working as a student can give your teen insights about:
- What kind of tasks they enjoy.
- Managing interpersonal conflicts in the workplace.
- Developing professional skills, like creating resumes and going to interviews.
- Fields that align with their strengths and passions.
- Potential career paths to pursue.
Factors to Consider
For some teenagers, having a job during high school is perfectly manageable. They’ll experience the positive aspects of employment without sacrificing their sleep, social life, or grades. However, if your teen is already involved in several extracurricular activities or volunteer work, adding a job to a crammed schedule can be detrimental to their grades and mental health.
A teen’s main “job” should be studying and attending school. If a part-time job starts to impact a student’s academic progress or forces them to miss out on important moments (prom, homecoming games, etc.), parents should be supportive if their teen decides to quit. Remember, people will spend most of their lives working, even if they don’t get a job until after college. Let teenagers make memories with their friends instead of pressuring them to put work first.
