Part-Time Jobs for Students

Shopping, going to the movies, going out to eat -- it all costs money. Around junior year, many students start looking for ways to make their own money in order to gain some independence. While this might seem like a welcome development for many parents, there are a few things to keep in mind if your child is considering a part-time job.

Teen employment should be an opportunity for personal enrichment, experience and growth. However, the first priority should always be school. Students shouldn’t sacrifice their long-term academic success for a part-time job. That’s why it’s important to take a look at your child, their schedule and their job possibilities before they start work.

There are laws about the minimum working age. There are also rules about working hours, wages and the types of jobs young workers can do. In some places, young workers need working permits.

The rules differ from state to state. It's best to check out what restrictions apply to your child.

Having a job is a big commitment. You don’t want your child to put their grades at risk. A good first step is taking a look at your child’s schedule.

"Some students find that weekend work best suits a school schedule, while others find that their studies require most of their spare time and, as a result, they will have to work less," says Eric Cline. He is a project associate for the National Youth Employment Coalition in Washington.

Sit down with your child and take a look at their weekly schedule, including extracurricular activities and homework. When you’re considering a part-time job, don’t forget to calculate the time it will take them to get ready for their job and to get there and back.

Discuss their academic year. You and your child should come to an understanding about their scholastic needs early on. Once you have established some ground rules, your child might want to review them with their employer.

"It is helpful to find a job with flexible hours. This way, the students can take on more or less hours as the demands of the courses change," says Julie Delany. She works at a youth employment center.

"Employers who are known to hire students are usually empathetic to the changing needs of someone in school."

If you and your child do decide that a job is right for them, how do they find one? The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 50 percent of working teens have retail jobs. That includes working in restaurants, grocery markets and other stores. That statistic is a very good indicator of where students should be looking for employment.

"Maybe the most effective way of accessing part-time jobs would be to start with the Hidden Job Market (HJM)," says Crowley. "For those of you unfamiliar with the HJM, this means jobs that are out there, but not advertised. These jobs can be found in many ways."

Many jobs are gained through networking — talking to people you know. These could include relatives, teachers and friends. Other places to hunt for job openings are in the local paper, at the school's counseling office, in community job centers and online.

Students can face challenges convincing employers to hire them. A little soul-searching before applying can help students target their search.

"Almost everyone has some sort of work experience: taking care of siblings, volunteering in the church or community, doing chores, etcetera. Young people should sit down and take stock of their skills, experiences and abilities before getting ready to fill out applications, craft resumes, or interview for jobs," says Cline.

"Young people should make up for their lack of experience by accenting their professionalism," he adds. "Bringing a resume when applying for a job can put a youth head and shoulders above their peers. Appropriate attire and business vocabulary are also helpful."

Once a teen is working, you can help them set goals and know what they want to get out of their job. Even if they complain about the job being dull, it is an important first step. You can help them make sense of the working world.

"Every job requires you to act in a professional and courteous manner and exercise a positive and respectful work ethic," says Greg Kristalovich. He is the coordinator of a youth job program. "Your first job can also help you define the types of work you enjoy and those that you dislike."

Tragically, each year in the U.S. some 210,000 teens are injured at work -- 70,000 seriously enough to require hospital emergency room treatment. Every year, around 70 die because of a workplace accident.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that these figures, along with mass media accounts of the strong job market available for teens, indicate that workplace fatalities and injuries to teen workers are a serious and growing problem.

Teen workers are obviously the least experienced segment of the labor market. They are also the most mobile, changing jobs more often than older workers. For new workers, the risk of injury is much greater than for their more experienced co-workers.

What can you do to protect your child on the job?

Teens, with the help of their parents, can play an important role in workplace safety. They can start by assessing the safety risks they may encounter at their job: for example lack of appropriate supervision or co-workers encouraging unsafe work practices. The employee has their own responsibility, too, to not seek too much independence before they've acquired all the knowledge and skills necessary for the job, as do the workers' parents, employers or educators, to recognize hazardous or prohibited work tasks.

No matter where they work, it is important for teens to play a proactive role in assuring their own safety on the job. They must have the maturity to assess unsafe working conditions and know when they are being placed in risky situations. Parents need to objectively assess whether their teens have reached this maturity level before they start working.