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Helping Your Teen Prepare For Their First Job

If your teen is ready to enter the working world, then this article is for you. 

A part-time job can be a great way for kids to learn valuable life skills, earn some extra cash, and gain independence – even though it can be a bittersweet moment for us parents, right?

From helping them write a killer resume to practising for interviews, you can guide them every step of the way so they can embrace this exciting chapter with confidence. 

Let’s dive in.

Where To Begin

So, your teen’s ready to dive into the world of work? Awesome! But first, you need to help them figure out what they’re looking for.

  • What’s the goal? Are they just looking for extra cash or do they want to gain some serious work experience? Maybe they’re even trying to figure out what career path they want to take.
  • What’s the dream job? What kind of job would your teen actually enjoy? Do they love animals? Maybe volunteering at a local animal shelter or shadowing a vet could be a great start.
  • Where to look? Local stores, cafes, gyms, or community centres can be good places to start. Online job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed are also great for finding part-time or seasonal work. Also, never underestimate the power of word of mouth – ask family and friends if they know of any open positions.
  • Resume building. Help your teen create a one-page CV. Include basic information such as their name, age, education level, contact details, and any previous work experience with references. And remember, they should tailor each application to highlight their best skills for that specific job.
  • Ready, set, interview! Practise common interview questions, such as “Tell me about yourself” or “Why do you want his job?”. Role-playing can help your kid feel more confident, build on this by tailoring the questions specifically to the job your child is applying for.
  • Follow up. Encourage teens to check their phones and emails regularly (which shouldn’t be a problem, right?) to ensure they don’t miss any correspondence with future employers.
  • Patience. Let your kid know that they might not land the perfect job straight away, but, with a little effort, they’ll find something that suits their interests and schedule.

Best jobs for teens

AgeJob/DutiesNo-go jobsRestrictions
13-14Children can start working part-time in certain roles such as: 
Delivering newspapers 
Babysitting
Dog walking/pet sitting
Agricultural/horticulture
Shop work (e.g. packing shelves, hair salons)
Office work
Car washing
Cafe work
Domestic work in hotels
Working in a cinema, theatre, or club
Alcohol or tobacco-related work
Commercial kitchens
Work involving adult material/activities
Telephone sales
Milk deliveries
Fuel deliveries
Collect or sort refuse
Work in any slaughterhouse or butchery
Work permit issued by Local Authority.
Cannot work more than two hours on a school day within restricted hours of 7 am – 7 pm.
Employment cannot interfere with school hours.
Must have a 1-hour break after 4+ hours
Saturdays = maximum 5 hours
Sundays = maximum 2 hours
School holidays = maximum of 5 hours/day not exceeding 25 hours/week
15-16Children can start working part-time in certain roles, such as: 
Delivering newspapers 
Babysitting
Dog walking/pet sitting
Agricultural/horticulture
Shop work (e.g. packing shelves, hair salons)
Office work
Car washing
Cafe work
Domestic work in hotels
Note: Children can work full-time once they reach the minimum school leaving age, which is typically the last Friday in June of the school year when they turn 16. 
Working in a cinema, theatre, or club
Alcohol or tobacco-related work
Commercial kitchens
Work involving adult material/activities
Telephone sales
Milk deliveries
Fuel deliveries
Collect or sort refuse
Work in any slaughterhouse or butchery
Work permit issued by Local Authority
.You may need to pay PAYE for kids 16+.
Cannot work 2+ hours on a school day within restricted hours of 7 am – 7 pm.
Employment cannot interfere with school hours.
Must have a 1-hour break after 4+ hours
Saturdays = maximum 8 hours
Sundays = maximum 2 hours
School holidays = maximum of 8 hours/day, not exceeding 35 hours/week

Here are a few first-time job ideas for teenagers:

  • Babysitting – responsible for watching younger children after school, over weekends, or during school holidays. 
  • Weekend shop work – help smaller shops/grocers repack shelves and clean up.
  • Salon work – duties include sweeping up, making hot drinks, and washing hair.
  • Cafe work – cleaning tables, seating patrons, and handing out menus.
  • Event work – setting up for functions, conferences, concerts, or weddings.
  • Dog walker – responsible for walking pets on certain days of the week; may include pet sitting when owners are away.
  • Lifeguard – seasonal or part-time that requires a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ).
  • Tutoring – helping younger children with homework and exam preparation; can be done in-person or remotely.

UK Employment Law For Teens

It’s good for parents to get an idea of where their kids can and cannot work in the UK and familiarise themselves with working hours and restrictions

Luckily, we’ve done the research for you:

Note: School-going kids are not entitled to minimum wage as they don’t pay National Insurance (NI) and don’t need to be included on the employers’ payroll.

The Balancing Act Of Juggling Work And School

It’s fantastic that your teen wants to earn some extra cash, but let’s make sure they don’t overdo it. Too much work can really mess with their schoolwork, [mental health], and social life. Remember, they’re still kids, and they need time to relax and have fun too!

Here are a few suggestions:

  • Set limits: Help your teen set realistic work hours that won’t interfere with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
  • Academics first: Remind them that school comes first. Work should complement their studies, not overshadow them.
  • Listen to their body: Encourage them to pay attention to signs of stress and burnout, such as fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating. Let them know it’s okay to rest and suggest they work fewer hours if they aren’t coping with schoolwork.
  • Time management: Encourage your teens to manage their time effectively, such as time blocking slots for studying, working, and seeing mates. Tools like Google Calendar, Evernote, and Remember The Milk are great apps to use.

Expert advice

Experts from Understood say that grades start taking a toll when teens work more than 15 hours per week. 

They suggest teens should start with a steady, predictable work schedule to get into the swing of managing schoolwork and employment commitments. Maybe they can start working on a weekend, to begin with, then add more hours as they get used to it.

Skills Teens Will Learn From Their First Job

A first job can be a real game changer for teens. They’ll learn a bunch of valuable skills that will stick with them for life, from communication and time management to problem-solving and managing their money like a boss.

  • Communication: Whether it’s chatting with customers, asking their boss for help, or working as a team, they’ll learn how to express themselves clearly and effectively.
  • Responsibility: Showing up on time, completing tasks, and taking ownership of their work are all essential life skills that teach independence and reliability. 
  • Adaptability: Unexpected challenges at work help teens develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They learn to assess situations and put solutions into place.
  • Teamwork: Working alongside coworkers to achieve common goals teaches them the importance of collaboration, mutual respect, and cooperation.
  • Money management: Earning their own money introduces teens to budgeting and saving early on. They begin to appreciate the value of money and how to manage their finances.

The Conversation Continues

It’s a pretty big deal when our teens start work, as it shows they are maturing into responsible young adults. Use this time to help your kid manage their time and money properly and let them embrace this exciting new chapter with confidence. And remember, it’s okay for them to bump their heads along the way – it’s all part of the adventure of growing up…

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Please share your experiences or tips on how your teens balanced their first job with other responsibilities in the comments below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

We’d love to hear what you think…

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