The first job is always a very important rite of passage for teenagers and allows them to prepare to face their future as adults. At this time in their lives, teens find themselves on that fine line between wanting to be treated like adults, while still needing your guidance. It is not enough to teach the value of money to awaken their adolescence and get them out of the house. There is a better and more positive way that could help them at this critical time.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Motivating the Teenager
Step 1. Try to get him excited about having a job
Before you motivate or encourage him to get a job, you should get him excited about the idea. Most teens will keep asking questions until they are satisfied with the answer.
Typically, it is not the adolescent who is "lazy" or always opposed to what is advised, but rather needs a personal connection to motivation, a reason why he should do this or that or why he is asked to do it
Step 2. Think of some ideas to motivate him
For teens, some compelling reasons to get a job might be:
- The possibility of having an important work experience.
- The possibility of improving one's interpersonal skills.
- The opportunity to acquire new skills, such as managing your time and much more.
- The freedom to spend money, linked to responsibility and the ability to plan one's expenses.
Step 3. Try to understand any doubts and concerns you may have
The teenager, who has never shown interest in the job, may have other kinds of problems and not just be lazy.
- Teens who play sports or try to excel at school may not have time for underpaid, part-time work and would not want their priorities to be affected. Over-busy children are often overwhelmed with their schedules and may not want to add anything else to their schedules.
- Another reason could be low self-esteem. Teenagers don't want to look for work because they already feel rejected. In these cases, preparation is very important because rejection could cause the boy to fall into deep depression and despair.
Step 4. Help the teenager cope with fear
Most kids are afraid because they are going through a new trial. As a parent, it is very important for him to learn to distinguish normal fear and anxiety from laziness and to proceed accordingly.
Part 2 of 3: Helping the Teenager Find a Job
Step 1. Learn about your state's child labor regulation
If the teen is under the age of majority (18 in most states) help him inquire about child labor regulations to get an idea of how many hours he can work per day, at what times and other legal information about the salary, holidays and much more.
- This way you can find out about the times he has to do and he can prepare for the interviews.
- You will also need to know if they need a work permit before starting work.
Step 2. Help him find out who is hiring
While most job postings can be found on the internet, for others you will need to ask the owner. Ask the teen if he wants to be accompanied, he will probably make you wait in the car or he will want to do it himself.
Set goals for him and make sure he achieves them. Asking him to submit five job requests a day won't be that much
Step 3. Let him fill out the applications himself
Now comes the hard part. The boy will have to fill in the form himself. Answer his questions and clarify them but don't watch him fill them out and don't volunteer to fill them out for him. This way you will undermine the whole process.
- Remember that you are not the one looking for a job. Let him do it himself and just give him some information on how to fill it out.
- If he does not remember the tax code by heart, for example, you can tell him where you keep it and let him look for it himself.
Step 4. Help him fix his resume
Most teens have not had much experience other than school, but this is not relevant. The important thing is to explain to him how to make a curriculum vitae and keep it up to date.
If you haven't, use a preset resume to make the process easier. Most writing programs have a resume facsimile available
Step 5. Discuss the possibility of rejection with the teenager
Before the guy turns in all job applications, discuss the possibility of being rejected. Remind him that no one gets a job on the first try and that he may be turned down for several jobs he is applying for. Eventually, however, he will get an interview.
Step 6. Offer to help him prepare for the interview
When the guy is going to have an interview, you will need to help him prepare the basics for a job interview. Give him some tips on how to dress but don't overdo it. Offer to give him examples of interviews to understand what to expect and how he will feel.
- Ask him questions that he may need to answer during the interview and have him answer as he likes. Fake the interview, discuss it. Did he express himself well? What do you think should have been better?
- While you may be tempted to correct anything that seems wrong to you, wait for him to answer the question before giving him advice. Part of the process is learning to make mistakes with elegance and dignity. The teenager will never learn if you keep popping on him and correcting everything.
Step 7. Be encouraging but realistic about its possibilities
It is very important to be optimistic about your chances of getting a job, but in moderation. Be realistic, don't let him lose hope and be too strict.
- The teenager needs to know the reality of what he is facing: adults who can work longer hours in the same work environment, teens with better handwriting, presence or better interview skills.
- Remind him that he can improve in most of these things, that he cannot change the competition in the workplace, but that he will just have to give his best.
Step 8. Don't punish the boy if he can't find work
Remind him of the goals he has set for himself and what he is working for, but denying him pocket money or cutting off his food will not help.
- Furthermore, it could make him think that your love is conditioned to his successes and failures in this difficult and critical time and this could have a strong impact on his self-esteem, causing him to desist from his goal.
- Your job as a parent is to raise a healthy, happy and complete boy to make him an adult with all the joy and positivity.
Part 3 of 3: Coping with Reluctant Teenagers
Step 1. Set some ground rules for difficult teens
Some of them will be able to resist all your efforts and will do so by rolling their eyes, turning their backs on you, even disrespectfully.
- The most important thing is to remind him that although he is almost an adult, he still lives in your home and that he must follow the established rules and contribute to the family.
- Talk to him and set deadlines. Keep a firm but loving approach, let him understand that you will no longer tolerate certain behaviors and that he will have to follow a work plan.
Step 2. Give the teen time to come up with a work plan
For example: "I will have to send 5 applications within this week and by the end of next week I will send two more". Don't criticize his plans unless he's even trying.
Step 3. Make him understand the consequences
At this point, the studies made on the subject give way to facts. If you can't instill a sense of pride and responsibility in the guy, hit him where it hurts.
- For example, you might say, "If you don't complete your goals, then I won't top it up for the next month." If it is provided by your operator, you could also deactivate the SIM card, without incurring penalties due to non-renewal.
- If the teen has to use your phone to go to social sites or for school, they should pay attention to what you are trying to tell them.
Step 4. Keep him busy at home
If you make him lounge around on the couch whenever he's home, then you're sending him mixed signals.
- Give him extra chores and tell him that if he has to live in that house without working then he will have to help.
- Sometimes, a week of housework is more than enough to spur the teenager and get him out of the house.
