<p>takitallin, great success story about your son! </p>
<p>I do agree that somethings need to be learned by applying and working jobs. They need the first hand experience.</p>
<p>A college kid that is at home without figuring out a way to earn some money is going to have a hard time navigating the real world. There are jobs out there. They may not be the internships they want, but there are jobs. It requires a persistent attitude and the desire to really make some money. I have a daughter who has never been without a job for one day. She has quit jobs because of better paying menial jobs but she always has a job. There are kids who would rather sit at home and make excuses. I have seen my daughter send e-mails to people that she worked for as a baby sitter letting them know that they can recommend her to sit for any of their friends or neighbors. This of course has led to constant sitting jobs at a pretty decent pay rate for a college student. She could work all day and than sit for children at night. She has always had at least two jobs at any given time. The jobs are there it is just a matter of how much the kid wants to earn their own money. </p>
<p>If college kids are not working some type of job things are going to be hard for them post graduation from college. In my town there are several kids with no job post graduation…they are the same kids who never had any desire to work when they were in highschool. It really is about attitude.</p>
<p>I don’t understand not looking for work at all for the summer.</p>
<p>I do understand not being able to find any. I’m still working at the same place (different location though) that I got hired at four years ago before I started college. I moved up into a different position that pays more since then, and this past year I was able to support myself completely (other than a $500 charge that my parents paid for losing a scholarship for having too many credits, but that’s a different story). Now, after graduation, I’m still working at the same job, living on my own, and trying to figure out what’s next. What I’m thankful for is that I’m able to live on my own while I apply for professional work and study for grad school exams, something that wouldn’t have been possible if my parents didn’t make me get a job four years ago. My advice to everyone is get a summer job because it may be paying your bills after graduation since professional work is even harder to come by. I applied to 15-20 places one summer after a couple years of experience and was hired nowhere, so I do feel for those not being able to find anything.</p>
<p>*I just don’t get these moms who hire kids, taking them out of the work force, then decide not to use them when they make different arrangements, which then basically takes the kid out of the summer work force as all other possible jobs are now taken. *</p>
<p>Gosh…these girls need to have contracts written up with these people (with the explanation that they are taking themselves out of the work force). Then you’ll see who is really serious or not.</p>
<p>What’s even more awkward is that this last family is friends of ours.</p>
<p>Yikes! Well, you’re probably nicer than I am. I would probably have made a comment of some sort by now…lol “yeah, Susie doesn’t have much to do this summer since all the summer jobs had been taken by the time she learned that you decided not to use her babysitting services. She was really counting on using her summer earnings for XXXXXXXXXX”</p>
<p>We paid for everything for our daughter during high school, but told her this spring that she’s responsible for pocket money for anything that is not billed by her university or relates to books and we noted that any scholarships she receives go to pay tuition, not into her savings accounts. She wants to join a few clubs and the equestrian team (The latter of which is not cheap!), so after a bit of protesting, she found herself an afterschool babysitting job in the spring that has continued into the summer for 20-25 hours/week. She has Fridays off, which is great and she’s making nice money. I do wonder what she will do next summer, although she is a lifeguard and can fall back on that.</p>
<p>“…look at their kids and say, “enjoy your freedom while you can”.” - I think there is some of that when the kids are in hs, but not much regarding summer jobs. There are many parents moaning about their unemployed college kids around us, and very few Help Wanted signs. </p>
<p>“We also hear a lot of counselors say that the jobs in high school and college should be to get good grades; that is all well and good, but I don’t think the two are exclusive.” - It depends on the rigor of the coursework, the interests of the student, and the family finances (some kids have no choice but to look for job or babysitting). </p>
<p>My son could only have handled his intense IB courses if he had given up ECs. And music is what made that kid tick. I really do think job experience would have been great for him, but for our situation I’d make the same choices again.</p>
<p>We didn’t make the kids get jobs in HS. Summers were their time to recharge – for one of my kids, that meant doing research. For my other kid, it was doing weight training for his sport and doing community service at an archaeology camp and various catering events. It was enough to keep him happily occupied, but still gave him time to chill. Like Colorado_Mom, my younger S was in IB. He desperately needed down time in the summer. </p>
<p>During college, S1 has had no trouble getting programming gigs each summer. S2 has worked at a catering place for three summers, but he needs more hours. Happily, an internship opportunity just opened up. Not in his field, but it’s FT and pays decently. It will help fund expenses for study abroad or an unpaid internship in his field next summer.</p>
<p>Both have worked on campus during the school year. </p>
<p>Kids need to learn that jobs don’t just fall into their laps. S2 applied to one internship for this summer. Thought it had his name written all over it (which it did), but he didn’t get it. He now knows he needs to send out lots of resumes next year to improve his chances of landing something he wants vs., whatever he can find.</p>
<p>takeitallin – congrats to your S! There are many paths to success, and in a field like construction, you can bet that his years of hands-on experiences gives him greater credibility in the field.</p>
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<p>Definitely the case. People just don’t realize this… they think they can walk into something whenever they want. Last year I applied for over 40 internships. It was my last application that finally landed me one…</p>
<p>We own a family business and although it goes year round, summer is our busy season. Every year we try to hire high school and college kids for simple jobs anybody could do. It is amazing the attitudes these kids come in with. Sure they are looking for jobs, but they want it to work around their schedule, pay well and not involve anything they don’t want to do. Maybe that’s why everybody says jobs are so hard to find for kids. Sure they are if they put on the application that they are available only after noon so they can sleep in, want to be paid $15 an hour for a job that requires no skills and look down on everybody else who works there. They feel free not to come in if they got a better offer, spend most of the day texting and don’t care if you fire them because they don’t really want to work anyway. They’re just doing it because mom made them.</p>
<p>You can’t expect kids to learn a work ethic starting after college graduation. You can’t expect them to know how to look for jobs, interview, behave on a job and fill out forms if they haven’t done it. You can’t expect them to be able to handle living on a starting salary just out of college when they are used to living at mom’s house, driving her car with the insurance paid and having spending money given to them. These kids have no clue how much it takes to live to the standard their parents have provided. They don’t know how to pay bills, what compounding interest is, how much insurance will cost them and expect that they can buy really nice clothes, eat out everyday and still pay rent. </p>
<p>These parents are not doing their kids any favors by raising them to be clueless. Sure there will be exceptions to the rule and some will handle their finances just fine and learn it all on their own. But not the ones I’ve seen. A 20 yr old should not be SHOCKED to discover that taxes are taken out of a paycheck.</p>
<p>S found it impossible to get a “regular” job here in the summer, despite putting in a number of applications. Part of the problem is that his school is on the quarter system, so that by the time he came home all the jobs were taken. He launched a campaign–starting before he came home–to get language tutoring work, and ended up with only one student. Finally, he signed up with a bunch of temp agencies, and did succeed in getting a few weeks of work.</p>
<p>At school he works as a language “drill instructor,” which he enjoys, pays well, and doesn’t have many hours. We don’t give him any spending money, so it is up to him if he needs to make more. His FA covers his fraternity costs.</p>
<p>There is much to be said for learning to use office equipment before graduating from college…I can’t tell you how many times in my career the folks in my office (including me) have rolled their eyes over a 22 year old who doesn’t know how to use the copier.</p>
<p>I started out temping after I finished college – it led me to my career path and gave me some useful office skills and understanding of Real World Life. I worked 20 hrs/week throughout college, but never in an office environment. There is a difference between working in the dining hall/driving a campus bus/being an RA and working in a professional environment!</p>
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<p>I have to ask almost everytime I go to copy or fax something. These aren’t things I do all that often and in our various offices the machines are all different.</p>
<p>I agree that not knowing how to use a copy machine is probably not going to derail your career. But not knowing how to pay bills and live on what you make is going to have a serious impact on your life after college graduation. These kids are under the illusion that they will be making good money when they graduate and will be able to continue living in big houses, driving newer cards, eating out frequently and buying designer clothes. All because mom and dad thought they’d have plenty of time to learn about money later.</p>
<p>teriwitt…One year my daughter was hired as a babysitter for three times a week and one night. I had suggested that she ask the family for 4 weeks pay in advance so that she was guaranteed to be paid at least half of the summer. She asked and they paid her in advance but don’t you know that they had travel plans for the month of August and told her they would not need her. They had told her it was a summer job…people can be really inconsiderate of highschool and young college kids.</p>
<p>Well, I’m a rising senior who has never had a job. This year, I applied to a variety of places too late and I didn’t get any calls back. I was worried about it, but my dad’s philosophy is that having a job is better than nothing, but (1.) schoolwork is more important and (2.) productivity is the real reason to have a job in HS, not money. He said there’d be time to mop floors for 10 hours a week later on if that’s what I wanted. It didn’t make me feel any better, but I saw he had a point. </p>
<p>For example, I qualified for state in running last year and I plan on doing so again. I’m sure my dad would rather have me go to state in sport than be working at McDonald’s (Yes, I applied there, to the overnight shift, at three different ones) during the season if the hours weren’t compatible. My grandpa was the opposite. He made sure my dad got a job in HS, and my dad feels like it didn’t really make a huge difference in the long run.</p>
<p>Teen jobs are at an all time low. The Mexicans have taken many of the cheap labor jobs and the economy is bad. I believe it’s around 75-80% unemployment among teens over the summer right now, and that’s not counting those who work some 10 or less hours per week.</p>
<p>Next year, I’ll apply more widely and earlier. My parent’s don’t have to worry about me living with them at age 30. I told my parents I’d be the first kid to sign up for ROTC if things aren’t working out in 4 years. That’s presents them with a whole new set of worries but you do what you gotta do…</p>
<p>I also believe that a teen’s primarily job should be school/sports/interests/social life – and a paying job being dead last on his/her list of things to do. </p>
<p>That said, I told my son (heading to college this fall) that starting in January of next year he won’t be getting any spending money. After his first semester in college, after which I hope he’d have transitioned to the work level, I expect him to get a part-time campus job. There will be no spending money for him next summer because I know that part-time jobs are possible where we live. They’re not glamorous or pay more than minimum wage, but they’re possible & I expect son to have one.</p>
<p>My DS just completed his freshman year. Came back home in early May and filled out many, many paper and online applications for jobs. By the last week in May, he got a call from a supermarket to be a cashier doing 34 hours per week. The next week both Walgreens and Kohls called but only offered 15 to 20 hrs. So he is staying with the supermarket in order to make as much pocket money for sophomore year. Last summer, he was unlucky until about 4 weeks before leaving for college. At that time he got a job at a movie theater and was still able to make a little money.</p>
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<p>And then when the older folks don’t know how to bring an email back from the trash, or even respond to an email, or how to convert a word document from an older version… </p>
<p>I’ve had internships where I had difficulties with the copier (copied 150 copies of the back of a paper that said ‘no smoking’), but I’ve also taught them SO much about computers. They were in a jam and had to make a quick business card. All of the associates tried to make them, but couldn’t figure out the right file to download or how to make them look presentable. I wasn’t assigned to it, but I overheard, created a template and business cards, showed the associated and head executive and they were amazed. They made me print copies of that. And then update it for every associate in the office.</p>
<p>-x-</p>
<p>Although, I do think that most teenager are morons.</p>
<p>I too am amazed by how lazy people are. I don’t know if it’s the parents or what… I know the job market is not that great… I stared working when I was 14… bought my own car at 16… have always paid my own bills… worked ever summer when not at college… one summer my job wasn’t giving me enough hours so i picked up a second job on top of that… sometimes you have to check unusual places… retirement homes… nursing homes… my company hires tons of summer help every year just to do easy things like help sort mail, type up simple letters and mail stuff to customers. We’re in the process of hiring a zillion temps from july till december. I guarantee you we’re going to get a ton of recent college grads who haven’t been able to find a job yet. If they do a good job hopefully they will be offered a full time position after that six month period. If not offered a full tme position at least they will have something to add to their resume.</p>
<p>I did not ask my D to work after her HS graduation - she had worked the summer before and had work study lined up for her school year. After her first year, I sent her to summer classes at our local CC to pick up Gen ED credits in areas of relative weakness (such as foreign lang) to keep her GPA up. This school year, she worked on campus during the year and now has a job at her school. Given her frugal tendencies, her earning should be enough for the year but she will also have her on campus job again.</p>
<p>My rising HS senior has worked as a camp counselor at a sleepaway camp for 3 years, the last two paid. This upcoming year, he wants to tutor for $. My rising HS soph is doing his first paid summer at the camp. He wanted to work this past school year, but he is LD and I wanted him to work on his schooling.</p>
<p>We’re not rich but fortunately I don’t have to take their earnings, as my parents did mine.</p>