Getting a job is something many teens look forward to, but for those under sixteen, options can feel limited. But not all hope is lost, as there are still many ways younger students can gain experience before landing an official job. Early work experience helps build responsibility, independence, and important life skills that will be useful for when they get an actual job. Not to mention, simply browsing options, volunteering for events, schools, or businesses, and seeing what you like before applying for a job is a very good idea. So if you want a job but are under the legal age, there are still plenty of ways to get started.
A popular way teens start gaining experience is through small retail opportunities, like helping at local shops or family-run businesses.
Izabella “Izzy” Davis, a freshman at Mid-Pacific, started gaining experience by working in retail for her mom’s baby clothing business. For the last few years, she has helped her mom around once a month to set up shop at Kahala. Davis earns $15 an hour, typically working about seven hours each time, which means she can make between $100 and $150 in a single market. Through this experience, she has gained valuable skills.
“I get to be able to talk to a lot of different people and practice my social skills.” Davis has also improved her customer service skills and money management. While the job has many benefits, it also has its downfalls,” Davis said. “[While it is] really fun and you get to bring your friends, you also have to work for quite a few hours if you want to make a substantial amount.” But don’t let that deter you from getting a similar job to Davis.
If retail doesn’t quite seem to be the right fit for you, another great and well-liked option is babysitting and working with kids. Paige Peterson is a freshman at Mid-Pacific who has worked and volunteered with kids at several places over the years. She started babysitting when she was around 12 years old.
“My mom did it when she was a teenager, and she thought it would be a good idea for me to make some extra money because I wasn't old enough to do anything else,” Peterson said.
Peterson earns about $15 an hour for younger children and $10 for older, making around $125 per six-hour session. Peterson notes that babysitting has helped her to build her social skills, confidence, and independence. Her mom also encourages responsibility by having her save half of what she earns for college, helping her to practice money management.
In addition to babysitting, Peterson is also a teen mentor through Girl Scouts. In her case, looking at what her friends were already doing helped her to get ideas on what other options were out there.
“Originally, I decided to do that because I have a friend who was a teen mentor and I wanted to spend more time with her.”
While she doesn’t earn any money from this position, she said it gives her valuable skills. For example, she had to go through basic aid training and CPR, as well as build teamwork and leadership abilities.
“I know how to shoot a bow, and how to start a campfire, and I know what to do when somebody needs medical assistance.”
So despite there not being any monetary rewards, volunteering is still a good opportunity to take advantage of to help you build life experience.
For teens who are a bit older, internships offer a more professional way to build your skillset, as experienced by Maliha Zainab’s work with both banking and government. Currently a junior at Mid-Pacific, she held her first internship at Central Pacific Bank at the beginning of this year and is currently working as an intern in Senator Stanley Chang’s office. In her current role, she works with social media and also attends hearings. Although this position is also unpaid, Zainab says it helps her to explore different job fields and develop skills like professionalism, civic engagement, and communication.
Her earlier banking internship also helped her build customer service, speaking skills, and financial expertise. Zainab noted that internships are valuable because they provide real-world experience that can help guide future career paths, and it looks really good on a resume.
“I wanted to look into different types of fields. I did that one for the financial sector and I did this one to know a little bit about law, and then after this one, I found another internship that has to do with healthcare, so then I know what I'm getting into [later on].”
Overall, there are many ways for teens to gain experience before an official job, whether through retail, babysitting, or internships. These opportunities help build valuable and lifelong aptitudes like social skills and money management, while still exploring personal interests.
These interviewees also shared some final insights and advice for those who are still unsure about where to start: First, don’t be afraid to ask around for small jobs here and there- whether they are for money or experience, you’re bound to find something. Second, look at things you’re already involved in and reach out. Finally, with the right attitude and a bit of effort, gaining experience at a young age can open many doors to countless opportunities.
