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Should I have a job at 16-18?


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I don't think I will have time to work next year as I have quite a lot of other commitments and things to think about and then I also need to do well in school and junior year I heard is the most intense.

 

Senior year, I should have more time but still, I am going to be in a few AP's and I have to take the SAT's and apply for colleges. The first semester of senior year will be hectic. The second semester of senior year should cool down, I anticipate. I think I may start working that time, but I don't know - too far in the future.

 

My parents are financially supporting me in college and even graduate school they say, which I think is quite a gift. However, I would like to save up for a used ~$5,000 reliable car by the time I leave for college. That is something I am going to try to pay for on my own since my parents are doing me such a great service (I don't know what I would do without it).

 

I do plan on working paying jobs/internships next summer's though (this summer I am doing volunteer work). And I am starting to learn how to drive next summer.

 

Anyway, a lot of people on this other forum were telling me to "get a job" over and over again. Is it really that necessary for me to be working right now? I would like your people's opinions on this.

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My parents would not let me get a job in HS. They wanted me to focus on my studies. If it's not an economic necessity you don't have to.

 

 

However my parents required me to volunteer so that I developed a sense of responsibility & a better understanding of how fortunate I was. These types of activities also look good on a college application & can provide great networking foundations for your future.

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Yeah, I think that's how they feel. They want me to do well in school and I see where they are coming from. I think a job be detrimental to my performance in school.

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My parents didn't let me work during high school either. I *wanted* to get a job at the McDonalds down the street, but they were firmly against it.

 

Even when I went to university and I was already working full time even before going, my mom wanted me to quit my job and focus on my studies. That didn't happen though. I was working in my field and didn't want to give it up.

 

So I'll echo the previous advice. If it's not an economic necessity, don't do it.

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Let me add, working during the summer is a good thing, even if it just mowing the neighbor's lawn.

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I started working when I was 13. I don't think it affected my school performance, and I generally did well at school. But it means that you will have less time to socialise and relax. On the other hand, if you don't have to work, then just do what you think is best for yourself!

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Going to school is what you need to concentrate on. You are being responsible and doing what is best for your future. You are young beleive me after school you will constantly work. if you feel you want and have time for a job its up to you to work if you want for a car. Talk to your parents and see what they think they could have an idea. good luck and good job keep working hard on your education

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You should get a little part-time job that is fun. It's too late I guess for the summer season because they probably fill those early spring, but lifeguard, amusement parks, like that. Or do lawns and you can do that just a little, charge $30 for mowing/weedeat and save up for that car. Don't get a big time consuming job because your studies come first. If you do lawns, you can do a few in one day if you can stir up the business and make good money. Go around to your neighbors because they're close by and you don't have a way to haul the mower. Also, there are LOTS of people who need odd jobs. If there are any single ladies in your neighborhood, the older the better, if you know them at all, go tell them if they need any odd jobs you can do, you'll work cheap. Cleaning out garages, organizing a closet, changing lightbulbs, cleaning out gutters, moving stuff. I need someone for that all the time and can't find anyone! The last guy I had was a med student and I guess he's probably a doctor by now. If you're reliable and good and organized, people will tell their friends.

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MidwestUSA

I started working at 15. That money was the only 'spending' money I had (for clothing and outings). Of course my parents fed me and put a roof over my head. I simply skipped participating in sports (no great loss there). I still graduated fifth in my class and earned a full scholarship.

 

If it doesn't affect your studies, working is a good intro to 'adult life', even if it's fast food. It also led to me being able to easily get part time jobs while in college, because I had retail experience.

 

 

I would say it's highly dependent on your ability to juggle responsibilities. If your parents are strictly against it, I'd abide by their wishes.

Edited by MidwestUSA
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I I would like to save up for a used ~$5,000 reliable car by the time I leave for college.

 

That's what you have in mind

 

I started working at 15. That money was the only 'spending' money I had (for clothing and outings).

 

and this is what usually ends up happening lol

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I think you should absolutely get a job. There should be no reason why you can't handle school and a part-time job. Jobs are also a great way to develop your social skills and to learn responsibility and work ethic.

 

I started working at 13. It was a very glamorous job; I cleaned locker rooms at a gym. Once I turned fifteen, I worked fast food all through high school for minimum wage. I also played a sport each season and graduated fifth in my class.

 

Working will expand your horizons and may even give you something to write about in your college application essays. It's also very nice to actually have a job to put on your resume (and discuss during job interviews) once you are in college and looking for summer internships.

Edited by clia
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I think you should absolutely get a job. There should be no reason why you can't handle school and a part-time job. Jobs are also a great way to develop your social skills and to learn responsibility and work ethic.

 

I started working at 13. It was a very glamorous job; I cleaned locker rooms at a gym. Once I turned fifteen, I worked fast food all through high school for minimum wage. I also played a sport each season and graduated fifth in my class.

 

Working will expand your horizons and may even give you something to write about in your college application essays. It's also very nice to actually have a job to put on your resume (and discuss during job interviews) once you are in college and looking for summer internships.

 

How many hours did you work per week through high school? And how much did you sleep every day? :confused:

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thefooloftheyear

I started working early as well....

 

School, at any level will NOT teach you how to survive in this world, so you may as well put yourself out there and learn what it really takes...

 

I am not saying work 40 hrs and forget about your studies, but if you manage to work in different environments and at different levels, you will be light years ahead of the other noobs that wont even know how to conduct themselves in an interview or any other work related stuff in the real world....School wont give you this..you gotta get out there and take your lumps and triumphs..

 

TFY

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16-18? IMO, yes, it's a good introduction to the rest of your life.

 

I found getting up at 4:30am and folding and delivering newspapers at age 10, then going to school did two things. Taught me how to get up early and manage sleep and combine work and school and, two, the value of the money it brought in. Added to that my dad matched every dollar I saved so I was a pretty flush dude by the time I was prep-cooking at a restaurant at age 16. All that and going to private school with its attendant focus on studying *and* religion.

 

If you want a job you'll never forget, try picking boysenberries or figs (I did both, as 'child labor'. Computer jobs will seem very lucrative after that. Good luck!

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You gain a lot of valuable life experience from your first few years with a job. You learn independence and financial responsibility, as well as the value of a dollar and how to be a good worker.

 

 

 

This is.information you can gain before your peers, before your competition attempts to hit the main workforce, and can give you an economic , intellectual, and experience based advantage in life as a whole.

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pink_sugar

I got a job at 16 and a half and it was very demanding and inflexible (sometimes they scheduled me during school hours!) I enjoyed the extra money and as I got closer to 18, it really came in handy because my husband and I met at work and went out a lot. The downside is that statistics show that for a certain amount of hours worked, your grades will slip a bit. Also, it will take you close to a year to save for a $5,000 car on part time minimum wage. I'm 25 and still share one vehicle with my husband. ..I've gone to school and held several jobs just fine without a car. Also if you plan on paying your own insurance and maintenance etc, most of your paycheck will go towards that. I personally vote for waiting on getting a car until you finish college and have a great paying job so car expenses don't take all your money.

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How many hours did you work per week through high school? And how much did you sleep every day? :confused:

 

I think around 20 hours a week. I'd typically work on Saturdays and/or Sundays, and then a couple days during the week. If I recall, weekday shifts were usually 4-8 or 5-9. My parents didn't like me working the closing shift on school nights, which typically finished up at around midnight or so (so 4 or 5 until midnight), but occasionally I did it if they really needed me. So, I might do a closing shift on Friday and/or Saturday nights. The opening shift started at 7 a.m., so I might do that on Saturday or Sunday. I might work 7-3 or 4 on those days. Or just go in for the lunch or dinner shift. It was pretty flexible, and they worked around my practice schedule for sports. The only days that were kind of rough for sleep were when I had to work a closing shift followed by an opening shift on the weekends, or on the rare occasion that I closed on a school night.

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haribogumsnickers

If you can manage school and work to save up for the car then by all means job hunt it up. Work weekends only. And if you don't have enough saved before first fall sem, buy yourself a bike-cycle. There's always public transportation too. Keeping it frugal and hood.

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I don't think I will have time to work next year as I have quite a lot of other commitments and things to think about and then I also need to do well in school and junior year I heard is the most intense.

 

Senior year, I should have more time but still, I am going to be in a few AP's and I have to take the SAT's and apply for colleges. The first semester of senior year will be hectic. The second semester of senior year should cool down, I anticipate. I think I may start working that time, but I don't know - too far in the future.

 

My parents are financially supporting me in college and even graduate school they say, which I think is quite a gift. However, I would like to save up for a used ~$5,000 reliable car by the time I leave for college. That is something I am going to try to pay for on my own since my parents are doing me such a great service (I don't know what I would do without it).

 

I do plan on working paying jobs/internships next summer's though (this summer I am doing volunteer work). And I am starting to learn how to drive next summer.

 

Anyway, a lot of people on this other forum were telling me to "get a job" over and over again. Is it really that necessary for me to be working right now? I would like your people's opinions on this.

 

I did all of that with a job a well. Some of it was a paid internship when I was in school and one internship was a paid academic one. So I count that as a "job".

 

But at 16 I started lifeguarding and then was a skateguard in the winter at an outdoor skating rink. The lifeguard gave me the ability to work at hotel pools while in school so I was basically paid to study. It was fantastic and something I kept doing to varying degrees even after graduating college.

 

I think working helps develop fantastic skill sets. I started managing others at 17 which was a great experience. I couldn't imagine not having worked.

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hasaquestion
I don't think I will have time to work next year as I have quite a lot of other commitments and things to think about and then I also need to do well in school and junior year I heard is the most intense.

 

Senior year, I should have more time but still, I am going to be in a few AP's and I have to take the SAT's and apply for colleges. The first semester of senior year will be hectic. The second semester of senior year should cool down, I anticipate. I think I may start working that time, but I don't know - too far in the future.

 

My parents are financially supporting me in college and even graduate school they say, which I think is quite a gift. However, I would like to save up for a used ~$5,000 reliable car by the time I leave for college. That is something I am going to try to pay for on my own since my parents are doing me such a great service (I don't know what I would do without it).

 

I do plan on working paying jobs/internships next summer's though (this summer I am doing volunteer work). And I am starting to learn how to drive next summer.

 

Anyway, a lot of people on this other forum were telling me to "get a job" over and over again. Is it really that necessary for me to be working right now? I would like your people's opinions on this.

 

You have GREAT parents. Seriously.

 

Anyway, since it sounds like you don't need the money too bad, don't work for the sake of working. Apply for paid internships that have professional development value. IIRC you said you have a 3.7x GPA. That should get your foot in the door for an experience that both pays AND looks good on your resume.

 

For example, if you're interested in lab work, and the choice is a lab gig at a reputable organization that is unpaid versus delivering pizzas, I'd argue the unpaid gig has more intrinsic value to you.

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