Teenagers are at a difficult point in their life. They need to start learning how to be autonomous. One of the first steps of that is getting their first job. Here are some ways that you can help your teen when they apply for the first time.
Help Them Fill Out Applications
Applications are tedious on the best of days. Being there with your teen will ensure that they keep the motivation to finish the application – and to make sure they fill it out correctly. There can be lots of small details that your teen doesn’t know. Your address, sure. But what about their social security number? What about tax information? It’s best to have a parent by their side to guide them through the process. Even with simpler applications that a teen can do themselves, it is helpful to have parental moral support.
Teach Them to Write a Resume
Resume writing is a critical life skill teens will need for a variety of purposes. There will never really be a time in their life when it isn’t useful to know how to write a resume. You never know what could happen, no matter how stable the job is. And especially in the coming college years, basic resume-writing skills will be supremely helpful. Alone, teens might make a resume far too long, or they might include superfluous information. Help them learn how to write a simple, direct, eye-catching, and effective resume. Make sure to include academics, community work, and volunteer hours since they won’t have any job experience they can put down.
Practice the Interview
For a lot of teens, the most intimidating part of the application process is the interview. This is the point when it moves beyond paper and into the realm of social interaction. And social interaction can be a significant challenge for many teenagers! Help them practice in a faux interview. Ask them the kinds of questions they are likely to be asked. Help them remember to make eye contact and smile. Gentle confidence is the best thing you cultivate in your teens in preparation for the real interview.
At some point – they just have to bite the bullet and do it. The quickest way to become acclimated to the job market and the working environment is to simply be involved in it. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t help your teen ease into it.
Check out this article on how to expand your children’s horizons!
