Why Summer Jobs For Teens Are A Great Idea
Summer vacation! Three months of freedom from homework and tests? Sign. Me. Up. But while you’re putting on your shades and heading for the sand, it’s a good idea to think about ways to use your summer productively. Sure, there are many activities you can do during the break, but summer jobs for teens come with a whole host of benefits that can make them worthwhile and fun!
A little work with the play will make your summer more rewarding!
Explore Your Passions
A summer job is a great way to get your feet wet in an area that interests you. Like politics? Volunteer with your representative! Love sports? Teach a youth team! Obsessed with Facebook? Do social media outreach for a company! Alternatively, summer jobs can help you decide what you aren’t interested in, since real world experience can sometimes reveal the less-glamorous side of all kinds of professions.
Even if it’s the middle of summer, its never too late to look for work opportunities and expand your horizons. If you’re ready to volunteer, there are a host of people who’d love your help. Working and doing something new can provide a fun and engaging learning experience to help you prepare for the future. You might even make a few bucks while you’re at it!
Build Your Resume
In the real world, you don’t have to raise your hand to ask to use the restroom! This is just one of the ways that professional environments are different from classroom settings. A summer job can help you learn to navigate the professional world, a vital skill in and of itself.
Work experience can help you to get acquainted with professional etiquette and communication, and can also afford you some practice with real-world responsibility. Learn to be responsible for getting to work on time, clocking in your hours, and managing your assignments.
Summer jobs can also be a great way get experience interacting with different kinds of people: odds are, not everyone thinks exactly like you do. As an added bonus, colleges also like to see experience outside of school!
Build Your Network
We know, starting your first job as a teen can be intimidating. Luckily, most jobs will have someone to show you the ropes and coworkers who can mentor you. Summer jobs are wonderful ways to make friends and meet like-minded people, especially if you’re working in an field that you’re passionate about.
With a summer job, you can work and also socialize with your peers, sharpen your teamwork skills, and learn more about the work you’re interested in from those that have been around a bit longer!
More connections with others in your interest area also means more opportunities for you down the road: according to this study, about 40% of new hires come from employee referrals. Of course this number will vary by profession, but WHO you know in the work world can be just as important as WHAT you know. Take advantage of your summer, make connections and get your foot in the door!
If you want a break from school after 9 months and are looking for an engaging challenge, a summer job may be the perfect solution for you. Explore your interests, network with colleagues, and get an introduction to the professional world doing whatever YOU want to do! So, what are you waiting for?
What are your thoughts on summer jobs? Reply to this post and tell us about it!