The saying “money makes the world go round” is becoming ever so true with every passing day. Things cost more and more as the years go by, and as high schoolers, we usually don’t have a way to pay for things without our parents. However, thanks to New Jersey State law, you can work at the age of 14. That is something that I do. I work in a restaurant that is located in a senior living facility as a waiter.

Just because you can, does that mean you should get a job? I interviewed my manager for an answer to this question, along with other questions.

——

Q: What do managers look for when hiring someone who is in High School?

A: “Someone who seems like they’re going to be reliable. Someone who seems like they’re gonna show up when they’re supposed to show up, and that they show that they’re gonna take their job seriously.” 

Q: Would you advise High Schoolers to get a job if it’s possible for them?

A: “It helped me. I started my first job when I was 15. And at the time I hated it with a passion, because I felt like it wasn’t fair. I had to go to school Monday through Friday, and then have to work on Saturday and Sunday. It sucks in the meantime, and as long as you’re still remembering to take time to enjoy being a teenager, I think it’s a really good learning experience. I think it helps you learn responsibility quicker. It just kind of gets you in that mindset that you know, hey to succeed as an adult, I need a job, a job gives me money, how am I gonna make this work?”

Q: How did having a job as a teenager help you in the adult world, post-high school?

A: “It helped me so, obviously, getting a job means that my parents wouldn’t be paying for the things that they would normally be paying for, you have a job now. It really taught me that if the phone bill is due, that’s gonna be $60, so I can’t go to the mall and blow $100 on some new pants. It definitely helped me learn responsibility earlier, and that’s why I think I was ok with being own my own once I turned 18 because I learned that early.”

Q: What would you say to someone who isn’t sure if they should get a job?

A: “At least try. At least try it out, even if it’s part time. A job is a job. A job is babysitting for your neighbors, a job is walking the dog for someone. So even if it’s something that’s not a hardcore commit, like what you’re doing (part-time worker at a senior living facility), it’s still a job, it’s still a learning experience. 

Q: What was one job you wanted when you were younger, but never got?

A: “I wanted to be a rockette because I used to do dance class, but then I found out I was too short.” 

Q: What jobs do you think would be good for a High Schooler?

A: I think this job (senior living food-service) is a good job. It’s serving, but it’s not like over the board, serving at an Applebee’s or something like that. I think that even going to your local library and seeing if they need volunteers or employees to help restock the shelves or catalogue books could be good. That was something I looked into before settling to the restaurant business. Really anything that you can do, enjoy doing and teaches you responsibility.

Q: What was the first thing you bought with your first paycheck?

A: I’m 90% sure it was concert tickets. I’m fairly sure it was [unintelligible] tickets.”

—————-

So after that interview, I hope this has cleared some questions about teenage working. In my opinion, working is a good idea for high schoolers. It really does teach you responsibility and finance with paychecks. 

The first thing I bought with my first paycheck was an Applebee’s dinner with my Mom, by the way. A job has helped me mature, grow responsibility, learn investment, and so much more. No matter what job you do, it’ll help you learn responsibility. 

Overall, if you get an opportunity to get a job, take it.