Working as a Teen- The Unobstructed Truth

Having a job as a teenager is a controversial subject involving teens themselves, their parents, and even employers. There are multiple benefits and consequences that must be considered by all parties involved before deciding if the teen should be employed. Working full time throughout the summer months is a common tradition among teens, but continuing to work part-time hours during the academic year while attending classes six to eight hours per day, is becoming a more popular practice. More high school students are seeking employment due to the rewards that come with it, the most common being the pay cheque at the end of every week. Even though finding employment as a young person may seem simple, it involves a process, which includes creating a resume, ensuring that they are dedicated to their future workplace, and reaching out to possible employers, the step that is the most intimidating for young people.

Youth that are employed have the upper hand when compared to their unemployed peers. The workplace offers many unique opportunities, that provide learning experiences that can not be taught in a classroom. For example, when in the workplace, teenagers can be faced with conflict such as an unsatisfied customer. When placed in this situation, they gain experience in professionally dealing with conflict, and it gives them the opportunity to resolve the situation themselves. If they can not resolve the conflict, there are co-workers or managers in the establishment that can assist the employee in resolving the issue. Employment also improves fundamental life skills in youth,such as responsibility and dependability. These skills are demonstrated to employers when teenagers show up for their shift on time, when they complete all of the tasks that are assigned to them by someone of a higher ranking, and giving a reasonable amount of notice to their employer when they cannot make it to a scheduled shift or they need time off. “Youth themselves think that employment helps them to develop a wide range of beneficial attributes, such as the capacity to take responsibility, develop time-management skills, overcome shyness with adults, and handle money. Furthermore, at least while they are in the work setting, employment makes them feel more like an adult.” stated Jaelyn T. Mortimer (Ph.D.,Professor).(1) These skills are key to success in the world of employment, and when developed early in life, employed youth will have a future advantage over their peers that were unemployed throughout their teenage years.

While having a job as a teen may be considered beneficial by some, others may say that the costs out number the rewards. Being employed will limit their social life and force them to work on their time management skills. Caitrin Blake from Concordia University states “Going from school to extracurricular activities and then to a job means having to do homework late at night, or, in some cases, working ahead during the weekends in order to ensure everything is complete for the coming week. It’s possible for students to overcommit themselves out of a desire to make more money or because they are not yet adept at time management.” Having a job requires dedication in order to excel at their occupation and to keep their employer satisfied, and if a teen has a job during the school year, they will have to manage their time between work, school, and friends, which can be extremely difficult. If a teen struggles to manage their time, one of these aspects will suffer. Typically, their grades will fall because they put most of their attention towards making money, and socializing with friends. Although it may not seem drastic to the teen when their grades begin to drop, it can severely affect them in the future when it comes to post secondary education and eventually finding a career or occupation.

Responsibility is an important quality for teenagers to have both inside and outside of their workplace. If a teen is already responsible at home and at school,they will excel in the workforce. If they are not already, then having a job will ensure they develop responsibility. This is accomplished by employers assigning them tasks, and ensuring they are completed. Also, it is demonstrated by the employees by ensuring they show up to their shift on time.

Some teens feel compelled to find employment even if they know that they are not ready to be dedicated to a job. This is often caused by pressure from parents that want their teens to get out into the workforce to become more independent. The problem with this is that if the teen is not ready to get a job and they are forced into it, they may end up with a job they despise. This can lead to problems very quickly, some of which include not showing up for scheduled shifts and not performing the required duties at work, which could very likely result in the termination of their job. This would make the parents angry at the teen, and their child would be back where they started; unemployed.

(1) Mortimer JT. Working and Growing up in America. Cambridge: Harvard University Press; 2003. Accessed 16 April 2017.