Some teenagers expect to walk out of school into a job, so being thrown into a job hunt can be quite a shock, especially if they get rejected. As a parent, it is important to pass on your knowledge, but your teen might feel emotional and wounded, so you have to do with tact – avoid confrontation and arguments, and instead work on being supportive.
Talk to your teen about what area they would like to work in. What are their aims? It’s important that you know this, so you can help as much as possible.
Look at your childs resume. Offer to read it over, and just outline a few changes if they are needed – ensure it sells your child in the best light.
Encourage your child to get some experience. With so many job hunters, those without any history are at a disadvantage, so look for part-time or voluntary positions which will help your child to build skills and experience. Ensure you include this on the resume, even if the work is somewhere unrelated.
Use your own network. If you can get your child work or an internship, try to pull some strings. Remember, however, that you are choosing to do this – your child will already feel pressured to thrive when they find work, so you don’t need to remind them.
Hold a monthly meeting to discuss what’s happened that week, and what the plan for the next week is. This is the time to talk about job hunting – try to keep it out of the conversation the rest of the time.
Finally, once your child has a job, take them out to celebrate, and find some stylish and well-fitting office wear to make a good first impression.
