It is not uncommon for some to get their first job during their high school years. For many, working as a teenager allows them to escape their reality by focusing all of their energy on work while others use jobs to help them earn enough money for things they want, need and for college savings.
Let me tell you about one story. A friend of mine started their first job when they were still 17. They worked as a tutor for young. They were not necessarily interested in teaching, but were capable of doing it and took the job. At the time their family was financially burdened and they wanted to help. At first they for 3 hours a day, and it was obvious that they were quite frustrated. Not only did they not know what to do, but they also were unsure if the students would retain them as their tutor. They needed the money so they endured. After the fact, they took time to share their story with me. I will try to related to you some of the lessons they learned while working as a teenager.
The things I learned on a first job:
Patience. One of the most valuable things that working in high school teaches is patience. They needed to make sure that every child learned something from them. In the line of work they chose (as a tutor), they needed to constantly communicate with co-workers, employers and clients. These stakeholders needed to where they are coming from and what their needs were in order to ensure a smooth working. When they got to the real world, possessing this knowledge is a very powerful asset.
Honesty. When you try to work with lies and half-truths they fail you most of the time. You need to understand that when working, being honest many not be the easiest thing to do. They learned the hard way, but being honest and truthful in the work place will bring fewer complications and lead you to a happier overall outcome.
Appearance. For many employers employing high school students, appearance is important. There are many times that their employer on their first job rejected a lot of other applicants because of tattoos or colored hair, or other features viewed as being unprofessional.
Their fist boss related “When you get a real job, not this kind, you will need to mind your appearance. It is important for us employers because it shows how seriously you want the job.” So even if you are just working in high school jobs, it is still important to mind your appearance.
These are just a few of the lessons that were related to me. Working in high school can be a great experience, but remember that it may not always be easy, but should always be valuable!
