Ten Reasons for Your Homeschool Teen to Get a Summer Job

What summer jobs did you do when you were a teen? I really enjoyed working over the summer when I was young and tried several different jobs. I worked at a car dealership as a lot attendant parking and washing cars, for a friend’s dad’s construction company as a laborer, and independently as a bagpipe player playing for weddings, funerals and other events.

Summer is a fantastic time for homeschool teens to gain valuable experience by getting a summer job. Beyond just earning some spending money, a summer job offers a wealth of benefits that align with the goals of Christian homeschool families. Here are ten reasons why your teen should consider working this summer:

Live out God’s Design: God is a worker (remember creation?) and He created us in His image. That means we are workers too. God placed man in the garden to cultivate and keep it. Have a job is great way for your teen to live out their design and purpose as a worker made in God’s image.
Cure for boredom: Does your teen spend time moping around saying they are bored? A little summer boredom is natural and apparently has some brain benefits. But a summer job is a great, productive cure for boredom.
Develop a Strong Work Ethic: Most homeschool parents are already training their kids to work diligently, complete tasks, and take responsibility in their schoolwork. A job is an important arena to reinforce these skills. Jobs teach teens the importance of showing up on time, completing tasks diligently, respecting a boss, working on a team, and taking responsibility for their work. These are invaluable life skills that will serve them well in their schoolwork and in any future career.
Learn Financial Management: Earning their own money provides a practical lesson in budgeting, saving, and responsible spending. They’ll learn the value of a dollar and how to make wise financial choices. There is something about practicing these things with money you actually earned (versus an allowance or gifted money) that really drives home the link between work and money management.
Gain Real-World Experience: Did you know what career you wanted when you were a teen? Many people don’t or wind up doing something different. I wanted to be an FBI Agent but as you can see that never happened! Summer jobs expose teens to different industries, workplaces, and professional interactions. This experience can be incredibly helpful in discerning skills, interests, dislikes, and possible future career paths.
Cultivate New Skills: Whether it’s customer service, teamwork, problem-solving, or mastering new software, a summer job often requires teens to learn and apply new skills, boosting their capabilities and confidence. Your teem might discover something they enjoy or grow in confidence as they navigate real-world work relationships.
Build a Resume: This is not the top benefit but even a summer job can be a valuable addition to a resume. Do future employers care that your teens knows how to mow lawns or flip burgers? Probably not but they will see that they demonstrate initiative, are responsible, and are willing to work. This can be a great starting point for future applications for college, scholarships, or other jobs.
Enhance Social Skills: But what about socialization?? Ha ha, I couldn’t resist! But seriously, working alongside others, interacting with customers, working under a non-parental authority, and managing conflict helps teens develop crucial social and communication skills that extend beyond their normal family, church, and homeschool community.
Discover Their Gifts and Talents: A summer job can provide opportunities for teens to identify areas where they naturally excel or discover new interests they hadn’t considered before, helping them understand their unique wiring. They can also discover things they don’t like or areas of weakness that they can improve, which is equally important.
Serve Others: All work involves serving and meeting the needs of others. Whether it’s serving customers food or other products they need or want, helping with the administration or a business or non-profit, building a home someone will enjoy, or keeping swimmers safe at the pool, helping teens connect their work to Christ’s call to love and serve others will not only give them satisfaction but help them see their work as an extension of their Christian life.

So why not encourage your homeschool teen to explore the possibilities this summer. A job isn’t just about the paycheck; it’s an investment in their character, skills, and future.

For more great advice check out: What Should My Teen Consider When Applying for a Summer Job?