This is a contributed post by Kirt Manecke, author of Smile & Succeed: A Crash Course in Face-to-Face Communication.

When you’re a teen who’s not yet a member of the working world, the thought of a job and a regular paycheck can be very enticing. Often, our teens are eager to jump right into that first job – not realizing this will be one of their first endeavors completely independent from their parents, and they are about to step into a new world of responsibility.

Before your teen starts filling out those summer job applications, there are a few skills they need to master. Getting them off on the right foot early will not only help them land a job now but will set the stage for success in the future. Yes, you might hear grumbles of I already know but they definitely don’t already know. Despite their over-confidence in something they’ve never done before, there are a few skills they should practice before applying for a job anywhere.

Related: Why Teens Don’t Have Time for Part-Time Jobs Anymore

Fives Skills Teens Should Master Before Their First Job

1. Confident Introductions

This may sound obvious but our teens aren’t often asked to walk up to people they don’t know and begin a conversation. Start with role-playing at home. Ask them to walk up to you, make eye contact, smile, and ask if you are hiring. Offer multiple different scenarios – person gives them an application, front desk says to come back later, and manager offers to interview them on the spot.

Once your teen is prepared for several different scenarios, they will be able to handle whatever comes their way more confidently. Practice a confident handshake, maintaining eye contact and MANNERS. Please and thank you goes a long way when a potential employer is checking to see how your teen will interact with their customers.

2. When to Put the Phone Away

It’s no secret that our kids are glued to their phones. We watch it happen at home – one moment of silence, and they have the phone out, mindlessly scrolling. Let them know that this will not be happening at their job. In fact, the best place for their phone is probably in a jacket pocket turned off or on vibrate, or somewhere they are not tempted to take it from and scroll at every idle moment.

Just like any habit, it will take them a bit to break it but they do need to stay off their phones when heading into a prospective employer as well as when they’re the new kid on the job.

You may like to read: 10 Sure Fire Tricks That Will Make Your Teen Stop Checking Their Phone

3. Clear Communication

Most of us have been on the receiving end of the mumbling and grunts in exchange for a full sentence but this type of communication won’t fly when trying to land a job. This is another great area to role play.

Pretend you are the hiring manager and ask questions like, “What experience do you have?” and “What is your availability?” Let your teen practice giving answers that are longer than a one-word sentence while also maintaining eye contact.

Related: 8 Tips to Help Your Teen Communicate More Effectively in Today’s Digital World

4. Learning How to Self-Advocate

This is an area that kids, and sometimes parents, are not prepared for when that first job comes around. Once our kids enter the work world we have much less control over their environment. There is no principal to call or teacher to email if things seem unfair. Your teen will need to be prepared for this, and know what to do when real world situations happen. Asking about your first paycheck or letting someone know when they don’t understand something is the sole responsibility of your teen once they are working.

5. Problem Solving (Without Mom and Dad!)

This is a big one, and many teens have never done this before. Stuck in traffic and going to be late? Scheduled on a day that they have an athletic event? Your teen will need to know the correct communication channels, be able to inform their manager of schedule conflicts, and course correct without the help of mom and dad. I guarantee their new boss does not want a call from a parent about their upcoming baseball season schedule!

First Jobs Are a Great Way to Learn Life Skills

Looking to encourage your teen to get a part-time job? Check out Part Time Jobs for Teens To Help Them Learn To Adult

With preparation and lots of information, your teen’s journey into the job world can be a positive one for both of you. They might have enough money to pay for their constant need for snacks and you might get a great peek at what an amazing adult your child is going to become one day soon.

Parts adapted from “Smile & Succeed for Teens: Must-Know People Skills for Today’s Wired World” and the “Parent’s Guide for Smile & Succeed for Teens” by Kirt Manecke.

Raising Teens and Tweens is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. These posts can help:

Why Teens Don’t Have Time for Part-Time Jobs Anymore

10 Awesome and Rewarding Trade Jobs For Teens to Consider

Ten Important Teen Life Skills They Need To Master In Order To Thrive In Adulthood

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