TOP 5 BENEFITS OF A SUMMER JOB— BESIDES PAY

from June 2023, Job Journal

Employee Spot Light

BY:TARASTRUYK

"Why do you want the job?" Anyone who's made it through an interview for an uneventful part-time job has squirmed through this infamous interview question. For most people, the first thing that springs to mind is "I need money," but many quickly learn that that answer will likely not land them the job.

No matter how boring or backbreaking your part-time job may be, the benefits go beyond your wallet. Don't believe it? Here we take a look at some of the perks you can enjoy. You may be surprised to learn that you will reap the rewards long after your paycheck is spent.

Key Takeaways

Getting a summer job can boost many skills and habits beneficial to a career. Securing a summer job may boost a teen's confidence, as it can give them an opportunity to feel success through the application, training, and working process.

Skills that working a summer job may help build include time management skills and an ability to build a network.

For teens who already have an idea of the future career they may want to pursue, applying for summer jobs that relate to that field can help build familiarity with and contacts in that sector.

An expanded social and professional network can provide new learning experiences and open the door to new opportunities.

Confidence

According to the author Jeylan T. Mortimer, high school students who work, even as much as part-time, are better off in many ways than students who sit out of the workforce longer, and one of the key areas where working students excel in is confidence.

Time Management

After all, confidence, by definition, means an ability to rely on yourself. To build confidence, you must put yourself into unfamiliar territory and learn how to survive and thrive there. And no matter how simple your summer job may seem, rest assured there will be confidenceboosting challenges to overcome, whether it's learning a new skill, surviving a stressful work environment, or learning to deal with a hard-driving boss or a nasty coworker.

Hanging around the house all summer may be a great way to relax, but it won't help your time-management skills. Working will, though, and this skill will help you both in college and as an adult. Just look at the self-help department of any bookstore; the number of books on time management is a sign that you don't want to enter adulthood without acquiring this skill.

Time management means deciding what should be accomplished in a day and learning how to juggle those things to make it happen. This means prioritizing, planning, and deciding how much you can realistically accomplish. The best way to develop this skill is through practice; if you have loads of free time, you'll likely not have to flex your time-management muscles.

While a part-time job at a burger joint may not give you a ton of relevant experience for your resume, it will give you the experience to document. Historically, teenage unemployment rates increase in June and decline in August, which may be attributed to planned vacations. However, the summer months away from school provide an opportunity to secure employment and gain working experience. When it's time to apply for other jobs, you don't want to be the one with an empty resume. And if parttime jobs are scarce or if you can't land one, you can still work on padding your resume by volunteering.

Getting to Know You

Not sure about your future career? Don't worry; most change their minds many times before settling on their long-term career. Getting out into the workforce as a barista at your local coffee shop may not help you see what it will be like as a doctor, but you will find out whether you like to work with people and whether you can work quickly and efficiently under pressure. You also might discover new things about yourself. For instance, you may find that you like working with numbers. Reading about the skills you will need to get a future job is not the same as testing your mettle in the real world. If you're wondering what skills you have, working a couple of part-time summer jobs should help you zero in on your likes and dislikes, evaluate your strengths, and resolve your weaknesses.

Broaden Your Circle

Chances are, your social circle is comprised of people in your age group. However, in a job, you are likely to work with a diverse group of people, from all backgrounds and of all ages. Not only can you learn from the varying perspectives and experiences of others, but you can also forge friendships, learn about new opportunities, acquire desirable skills, and increase your visibility. (To read full article...[https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0610/top5-benefits-of-a-summer-job---besides-pay.aspx