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Get to Work!

Helping Your Teen Find
a Summer Job

By Felicia Hodges

Although you may have done a fine job of raising your little one into an upstanding member of society, chances are you may still need to help prepare him a bit for dealing with a supervisor or head-on with Joe Consumer.

"Parents should sit down with their child and remind them that they will be working with other people," Sanders says. "A job is a lot of responsibility. Push the responsibility because it is no joke."

He suggests that parents try to ready their kids for what a boss will expect. "Employers look for kids that are very punctual and cordial," he says."Also, they like people who can adjust to change. If they are used to working inside, they may be asked to work outside or take out the trash."

Sanders says it also helps to advise the child that people respond to how they are treated. "You get what you give," he says. "Once that child puts on the uniform, they represent the organization. They become a reflection of the company, so that's what people see."

Parents should also make every attempt to find out as much about their child's potential employer as possible.

"If parents ever have questions, we suggest [they] go with the child on an initial interview," Sanders says. "Talk to the employer and find out what your child will actually be doing."

And remember that if you or your child ever discover anything inappropriate happening on the job, don't hesitate to talk to a supervisor.