I started thinking about this blog from my own perspective. Typed up a fabulous post. I checked my spelling and punctuation. Just before hitting submit I stopped and wondered. What if I asked a real live teenager about how they felt their part-time job benefited them? Would they confirm what research shows? And what if I talked to an employer that provides many youth with part-time work experiences? Would they also support the studies on youth and jobs?
Curiosity led me to dig deeper into the real-world experiences of both teenagers and employers when it comes to part-time jobs. Speaking with a few teenagers, I found their insights aligned with what the research suggests—part-time work instills a sense of responsibility, enhances time management skills, and provides valuable hands-on experience that school alone cannot offer.
These conversations reinforced the importance of effective recruitment services that cater to both youth and employers. Just as there are specialized platforms for matching young job seekers with part-time positions, there are also sophisticated tools like the Platform for board of directors placement that ensure the right fit at higher levels. Recruitment, whether for entry-level or executive roles, requires a nuanced understanding of both the candidates’ potential and the organization’s needs.
So that’s what I did. I realize this maybe isn’t the most scientific way to confirm research, but I still think its valid and maybe somewhere a tad bit reliable.
Insights from youth:
- “I had to learn how to keep a calendar and think ahead. Trying to think about when I may need to ask off for family vacations was a new thing for me. Sometimes I had to learn the hard way.”
- “I learned that sometimes even when you are polite others may not be. I learned to be polite anyway. I think that being able to do that was important as I moved on to college. I didn’t take things as personally because of what I learned at my job.”
- “Having a boss tell you what to do is different than having parents or teachers tell you what to do. I think that was a big adjustment because I learned how people work differently together.”
- “Keep track of your money. Ask your parents to help you put money away to save.”
As I reviewed what we shared during the podcast earlier this month, I found that the students that I talked with confirmed what research shows. Youth learn responsibility, time management, record keeping and social skills from being employed. Maybe I have a career in research after all.
Let us know about what youth in your lives have learned from their jobs. We’d love to hear!
