How to Tell If Your Teenager is Ready for a Job

As a parent, how do you determine whether or not your teenager is ready to get a job? My soon to be 15 year old is already talking about getting a job next summer and perhaps throughout her junior school year. The reality of how much things cost is finally starting to kick in for her. But in our household, grades come first, and I am afraid a job would hurt her grades and ultimately her chance to go to college. As a teacher and parent, I have devised a checklist to determine if your teenager is ready for a job.

1) First and foremost, take a look at their grades. If they are struggling or if their grades have dropped, it wouldn't be a good idea for your child to get a job. If your teenager is already having problems keeping up with school work ,the added responsibility of working will only increase the problem

2) For me, it is extremely important to see that my teenager can handle the punctuality that a job requires. Is she repeatedly late for classes at school, do I have a problem getting her to be ready for important appointments, and is she always procrastinating interfering with her being able to be on time. As adults, we all know the importance of being prompt to work.

3) Health. If your teenager has bouts with health problems, work may not be a good idea right now. If your child repeatedly misses classes or often complains about feeling sick, they may not be able to be dependable for a job. If they are constantly getting sick, an employer will not keep them for long.

4) Respect of authority figures. As we all know, one of the most important things on a job is being respectful of those in charge we may not like our bosses or even agree with them, but it is imperative that we respect them in order to keep our jobs. If your teenager constantly has an attitude with adults, you probably need to work on the respect factor being they try to get a job.

5) Stress. Teenagers are notorious for packing too much into their lives. If your teen gets easily stressed and takes things too seriously, a job may not be the best option for them. Also, many teens are over booked with homework, clubs, lessons, and other extra curricular activities. A job may need to wait until later.

Because my daughter is at an advanced high school, we have decided that a job during the school year is out of the question. She wants to take a senior class trip with her Latin club to Rome, and with impending Senior costs, a summer job will probably be on the horizon. If your child really needs extra money for events, trips, and school costs, remember it is the parents' responsibility to provide. Either the parent needs to budget more wisely, get a second job, or explain to the teen that their demands are financially out of the question at the moment. Either way, open communication is important with your teenager.