How to Help Your Teen Land Their First Summer Job

1. Create a Resume

Creating a professional resume is the first step to finding summer employment, and it’s an important skill for teens to learn early. There are sample resumes available online, but at the very least, your teen should include contact information, education, and work experience. Since they’ve not held a steady job before, you may have to get creative. Include volunteer work, babysitting, and lawn care — anything to prove to a potential employer that your teen is dependable and hardworking. Also, include references for two or three adults who know your child well.

2. Include Their High School Transcript with the Resume

Simply attaching a transcript to a resume will help your teen stand out from the others. So keep this academic document up-to-date, and let your teen use it present a more detailed picture to a prospective employer.

3. Start Networking

Your teens should make it known that they are hunting for summer work, and they should put their feelers out at church, around the neighborhood, and anywhere else you can think of. You can and should help them with this, but don’t make it your project.

4. Hit the Pavement to Look for a Summer Job

Your teen should approach local business owners in person, if possible, and you should not take charge of the process. Potential employers want to know that your teen is capable of handling things on their own. Encourage them to follow up by sending an email thanking someone for speaking with them or sending along any additional information that might have been requested. Revisiting in person in 2-3 days to follow up on a job possibility is always a good idea.

5. Make a Great First Impression

A neat appearance and good manners go a long way toward impressing a potential employer. Remind your teen to speak clearly and make eye contact when communicating.

Once they have an income, even from a temporary or part-time job, help them learn how to handle their money. Consider a personal finance course that will earn them a high school credit and even prepare them to pass the Personal Finance DSST exam for college credit. That’s three birds with one stone!

Remember, employers are looking for motivated employees who take initiative, learn quickly, and show up on time with a positive attitude. Your teen’s first job may be the hardest one to land, but it will set the stage for a lifetime of meaningful work.