School is out, and every day is full of freedom to do whatever you want. Well, not exactly. You need money to go out with your friends, or a car to get a ride out. But cars cost money, gas costs money, food costs money and every little thing costs money. So what is your solution? A summer job. Summer jobs are very common among teens, especially 16 to 17-year-olds. Summer jobs allow for many “people skills,” good work habits, etc. that will help teenagers in their futures.

While during the school year part-time jobs are common for teens, they can also be stressful. They add to the workload that students already have at school, and can take up a lot of time. But, this is not always the same in the summer because with much more free time, students are able to balance a job along with their social life and any other work they may have. Not to mention, there are many positives to having a job as a teenager. Some of these include the number of skills that employees learn from each particular job. Workers also learn responsibility, good work habits, time management and organizational skills. Having a job is mostly a universal experience for teens, and many teens focus on the money aspect of a job. Whether they earn money to support their family, support car insurance and upkeep or just earn money for things to buy, teens learn the value of money and what it means to them. Especially with rising prices, largely gas, having a job is truly a necessity for teens wanting to go out and have a good time with activities that cost money. 

Everyone wants money, so why not earn it. Learning the value of hard work and money is extremely important for developing teens. Learning the value of money allows for good choices to be made, helps achieve goals and teaches that saving money is pertinent when looking toward the future. Paying for college is a major incentive for teens to get jobs, and the skills that are learned in the job can teach interview skills as well as teamwork. 

Adolescence and high school is a time for teens to explore life and figure out what they may want to do in the future, being part of the workforce and seeing the world for what it is financially is a good way to start. Customer service and working with difficult people or uncooperative co-workers teaches teens how to work through difficult situations. 

While a part-time job as a teenager may be out of some people’s comfort zones, it is a very effective and important experience. Working on balancing scheduling and still taking time for friends and “being a kid” is a great way to learn time management. But, making money and being able to use it for your own benefit is also an upside. Whether it is babysitting, working in a retail store, as a fast-food server or as a grocery store employee, all teen jobs teach the importance of hard work.