With high youth unemployment rates and tough competition for entry-level positions, it can be hard for teens to secure their first job. As a parent, you naturally want to help—but how much help is too much?
From acting as a sounding board for job ideas to role-playing possible interview questions, there are plenty of ways that you can guide and support your teen. The key at every step is to empower them to take the lead in their own job search.
Don’t be a helicopter parent
It may be tempting to take the reins during your teen’s job search, especially if they’re struggling with a lack of confidence or motivation. But getting too involved can backfire. Employers will see it as a sign that your teen lacks independence.
Here are some tips to help you strike the right balance:
- Don’t do the work for them. Resist the urge to write their resumé entirely, submit applications, or call employers on their behalf.
- Don’t attend interviews. Employers expect to meet with the candidate, not their parent. Even if your teen is nervous or you give them a ride to the interview, let them go in alone.
- Be a coach, not a manager. Ask questions and offer suggestions rather than telling them what to do.
- Don’t over-coach or over-rehearse. When your teen is writing a resumé or preparing for an interview, your feedback can be valuable. But application documents and interview answers should show your teen’s voice, not yours.
Helicoptering doesn’t just hurt your teen’s chances of getting hired. It also takes away a chance to build important life skills, like problem-solving and decision-making. Landing the job may be the goal, but the process of getting there matters just as much.
Now let’s look at some things you can do to guide your teen along the way.
Brainstorm job options
Teens just setting out in the job market often have a hard time identifying what they have to offer—and what their job options are. Here are some ways to help them come up with a list of jobs that might be a good fit:
- Identify interests, skills, and strengths. Does your teen enjoy working with people, being outdoors, or using technology? Discuss how their hobbies, volunteer experiences, or school activities translate into transferable skills.
- Explore opportunities to grow. Encourage your teen to explore roles that help them develop new skills and use their existing strengths. For example, a teen who is mature and organized but needs to build assertiveness might consider a job as a camp counsellor where they can practise giving instructions and leading activities.
- Assess workload and schedule. Help your teen decide how much work they can take on around school and extracurricular activities. Don’t forget to factor in travel time. For most teens, up to 10 hours a week during the school year is about right.
- Consider legal requirements. Become familiar with Alberta’s youth employment laws, which regulate working hours and roles based on age.
Some tried and true gateway jobs for teens include:
- Food service. Jobs at fast food restaurants and cafés are usually plentiful and easy to land.
- Grocery and retail. Many stores hire teens for part-time roles, and in-store discounts are a common perk.
- Events and seasonal work. Summer camps, festivals, greenhouses, and landscaping companies offer many temporary jobs.
- Casual jobs. Babysitting, dog walking, lawnmowing, gardening, and snow shovelling are classic options. Entrepreneurial teens might even use and build their digital skills through activities such as tutoring or selling products online.
Help craft a strong resumé
Here’s what employers will expect to see on a resumé for a teen with limited work experience:
- Personal details. Include their date of birth, school and grade level, phone number, and email address. If your teen doesn’t have a professional-sounding email address, they should set one up.
- Skills and strengths. Highlight abilities such as communication, teamwork, or problem solving. Use keywords from the job posting.
- Include volunteer work and extracurricular activities.
- Include academic awards, sports accomplishments, and other milestones.
- Clearly outline when they can work, including any limitations on number or scheduling of hours.
- List 2 or 3 teachers, coaches, mentors, or other adults who know them well and can speak to their character.
Tip: Advise your teen to clean up their social media profiles before they start submitting applications. Many employers review candidates’ online presence before hiring.
Coach your teen through the job search
Some aspects of the job search and application processes have probably changed since you got your first job.
The modern job search is largely digital. Most advertised jobs are posted online, and applications are often submitted through company websites. Dropping off a printed resumé is no longer the norm. If a company’s website says to apply online, don’t suggest that your teen go in person.
Many job opportunities are not posted online. Teach your teen that networking is important at any stage of one’s career. Encourage them to ask about job opportunities at places where they have volunteered or where they like to spend time, like the local library or coffee shop. Their friends can also be a great source of leads on job openings—as well as honest feedback about what it’s like to work for a particular employer.
Use your own network to connect your teen with other adults who can offer advice, act as a referee, or help them get some experience.
For seasonal work, timing is key. Encourage teens to plan their search around hiring peaks and apply early—well before the holidays for retail positions and in the spring for summer positions.
Help prepare for the interview
A job interview can be stressful for anyone, especially the first time. It’s up to your teen to ace the interview, but you can take steps to help them prepare and practise:
- Encourage your teen to do some research. Looking up basic information about the employer shows that they’re interested and prepared.
- Do a mock interview. Role-play typical interview questions like “Why do you want to work here?” and “What are your strengths?” Help them think of examples and ways to strengthen their answers.
- Help them think up a few questions. Remind them that it’s OK to ask about anything the interviewer hasn’t covered—for example, how many shifts they can expect or what the next steps will be.
- Prepare as needed for a remote interview. If the interview is over the phone or online, make sure your teen is familiar with the platform beforehand and has a private place to take the call.
- Help them dress appropriately. Business or formal attire is not required, but they shouldn’t go too casual, even for a video call.
- Review interview etiquette. Remind them to be on time, turn their phone ringer and notifications off, and make eye contact.
Encourage them to follow up the day after the meeting by sending a thank-you email to the interviewer.
Provide perspective
The most important part of your role in your teen’s job search is to help keep everything in perspective. That includes listening to their fears, managing expectations, and supporting them as they cope with rejection.
Encourage them to see the process as an opportunity to learn skills, develop independence, and build relationships. At the same time, remind them not to put too much pressure on themselves. The first job is a milestone, but it’s not going to make or break their career—it’s just the first step on a lifelong journey.