Kids Are Our Future

If your kid is ready to test water, it is better to get the tips and resources to make sure he or she finds a job, which fits his or her needs. And remind him or her safety is the first priority.

Basically we suggest three stages to prepare kids for working readiness.

1. Working at Home
Doing chores or helping parents in a home-based business.

2. Working for experience
Internships and volunteer positions can offer something money can not buy, which is valuable work experience.

3. Working for a paycheck
Some businesses are looking for help; teenagers can start with simple ones.

Working at Home

Parents may compensate your kid for doing regular chores, such as setting dinner table for the family each night, washing dishes etc. It is better to be very clear on what work the kid should do just because he or she is a part of the family, what work if he or she does, he or she will get his or her allowance.

If parents have a home-based business, may ask the kid help on some works he or she can do. For example, to ask kids to do some research on internet.

Internships

Developing career goals is an important step in any student’s life, and an internship will help to further those goals they are developed. Internship is one of the best ways to help kids gain working experience as well.

Internship usually demands much more knowledge, effort, and commitment than do traditional summer jobs or part-time jobs, that is why kids benefit from it more. Internships experiences strengthen kids’ resumes and improve the chance to find a job in the future. In addition, internships provide the intern with a real-life application of the principles he or she is learning in school, kids can get a preview of what their career goals are leading toward. Before they have committed themselves to a specific field, interns can evaluate their career goals by learning what types of things they will be doing in that field.

Although some internships do not pay at all, the experience and wealth of knowledge collected during the few months are extremely valuable. Whether kids are offered a great-paying internship or one that does not pay at all, internships are good choices, since they will help kids’ life long career.

Earning a paycheck

Earning a paycheck is a good way to teach a kid the value of money. When he or she has to work for it, he or she becomes less apt to take the money for granted. A $30 game has more meaning when a kid realizes that he or she has had to work four hours to pay for it.

One of the biggest benefits the kid can have from working is the chance to earn his or her own money. This money can be used to gain a measure of independence. Again, to guide the kid to manage his or her money wisely is very important for his or her long-term life. For example, the money made by working can be used to support his or her social life, going to college.

Teens are able to hold most jobs; examples are as helpers at the following locations:
Libraries, Offices, Grocery Stores, Retail Stores, Restaurants, Movie Theaters, and Gas Stations.

For students to look for internships are great ways to help them develop the professional talents needed in their future careers. An internship also supplements academic classes and, in some cases, earns college credit for college students. Internships are invaluable learning experiences for teens and almost a necessity for any college graduate. Employers are demanding that college grads have real world experience, and internships are one of the best ways for students to get that experience.

Begin Looking Early

In U.S.A, it is better to be aware that certain internships have early deadlines, recruit and hire as early as November. If plan to look for a specific type of internship, start early. College students can check with their college’s Career Services Office for assistance and to find out which internships recruit early.

Here we suggest seven-step process to help a student landing an internship, which are knowing ones’ self, identifying career interest, determining internship goals, preparing job search skills, finding internship sources, following up, and confirming before starting.

1. Knowing Ones’ Self

Use a list of all his or her likes, strengths and weaknesses. By knowing and facing his or her weaknesses, the student will be better prepared to deal with the challenges he or she might face.

2. Identifying Career Interest

Before doing something, it is important for the students to know what they want to do. For example, if a college student is majoring in computer engineering, but not sure whether he or she wants to go into hardware designing or software developing, he or she should consider getting internships in both areas to help on deciding which is best for him or her.

3. Determining Internship Goal

An internship is a great way to help students define their career goals. Try to answer the following questions to determine an internship goal.

Why an internship?

There are different reasons for obtaining an internship, including testing the waters in a variety of career fields, gaining real-life experience, learning new skills, gaining networking connections, adding work experience to ones’ resume, and as an entry point leads to a full-time position with the employer after graduate.

What industry?

For example, for computer engineering, there are many options, such as e-commence, internet, consumer products.

What type of organization?

Organizations come in with different sizes, ownership, corporate culture, etc.

Where?

If the internship is during the regular semester, it is obviously the closer to the school, the better. During the summer months, it has more flexibility. To find an internship near home can save on expenses, and enjoy more family time, or in a location where future targeting company is, or just to experience a new place.

Consider both paid and non-paid internships?

It would be great if all internships paid, but in reality a large number do not. So, need to decide whether can afford to not get paid during the internship.

Want college credit for the internship?

Many colleges offer at least some college credit for internships. The advantage is besides earning the credits, there is usually an internship program with an established list of employers, which is already available. The disadvantage is that there may be more restrictions on the type and amount of work based on the program guidelines.

Match long-term goals?

Make sure that the time to spend on searching for the internship and the time spent working in the temporary job will also benefit the student in the long run.

4. Prepare Job Search Skills

As internships just like many jobs become more and more competitive, it becomes even more important to have a strong set of job-search skills; it will definitely help on other job searching in the future as well.

We recommend parents and students to spend some time learn some skills such as

• Cover letter writing
• Resume tips
• Interviewing tips

In addition, there are many good resources for students to Job-Hunting on the Internet.

5. Finding Internship Sources

There are many sources available for finding an internship, while it requires some research and planning to find the right internship opportunities.

College’s Career Services or Internship Programs

It is important to check out the online resources of college’s Career Services or Internship Programs, and visit the office as soon as possible after the student plans to apply an internship. Career services offices have a list of internship programs, important application dates, and other sources of internship information. Some offices even have a special internship coordinator who can guide the student to internships targeted.

MonsterTrak is the top college oriented job listing database. Check with the school’s Career Services office to see if it is partnered with MonsterTrak, if so, obtain a password.

College Department

Major-specific internship programs are frequently maintained by the department office, and one or more faculty members may specifically handle internships.

Online Resources

Start with the websites for searching internships. Using the keyword search component of the major online jobs databases and searching for “intern” or “internship” is a way to generate internship leads.

Networking Sources

Just as with job-hunting, networking may be one of the best sources for internships as well. Contact family, friends, faculty, alumni, college advisors, and career counselors in the Career Services Office at the school. Be sure to send a thank you note expressing appreciation to them for sharing their time and expertise.

Internship and Career Fairs

Most colleges offer at least one career fair during the academic year, and often one focuses specifically on internships. Even if just looking for an internship in a different geographic location, it is better to go to the fairs and network with the recruiters. Check with the Career Services Office at the college to identify career and or internship fairs occurring during winter break. Top employers attend career fairs to recruit, screen, and hire talented interns and employees. Be prepared to give a 60 second introduction that describes the student’s skills, interests, experience, and motivation to the employer.

Alumni Office

Many colleges now ask alumni to sponsor current college students as interns and these alums are a great source for internships as well as a networking source for future jobs. This information may either be found in the career services office or the alumni office.

Company Websites

If the student already identified a specific set of companies where he or she would like to intern, he or she can consider going straight to the source by visiting the career section of each company’s Website.

Books and Periodicals

There are some great print sources of internships. An example is annual directories of internships, which the student can find in College Internship Books section. The other print source is trade magazines and newspapers published for some major or career field. These can be found at college library.

Cold Contact

If no lead at all to a specific geographic location, where the student wants to target for the internship, consider to try the cold calling method. This process involves identifying a list of companies and writing them asking for an internship. Consider contacting that region’s chamber of commerce for a list of member companies or just use a phone book for that area.

6. Follow Up

Be sure to follow up with employers whenever possible to arrange an in-person or telephone interview. Just as with job-hunting, follow-up with each company is very important process. Do not need to call the companies every day, but be persistent. It is better to follow up with a phone call and with a thank-you letter after interview as well.

7. Confirm Before Start an Internship

Discuss the details and the logistics with the internship sponsor before start, in order to get a positive experience from the internship.

Confirm with the company if there is a salary, a stipend or no compensation.

For academic credit, the internship will need to be approved for credit by the student’s college and may need a faculty sponsor. The internship sponsor must also agree to supervise and evaluate the internship experience. In many cases, there are school deadlines for applying for credit, so check soon with the appropriate department.

Have a clear idea of what is expected from the student and what the student expect from the employer before start the internship.

Most teens view summer as a time for relaxation and vacation; however, some think summer is a best season to take challenge, to learn more, to experience more. Summer jobs for teens should be safe, social, and valuable. Here are some popular Summer Jobs that let teens gain work experience for the future.

Tutoring
If the teen enjoys working with kids and excels at school subjects such as math, English, science, computer software, foreign languages, he or she can establish a money-making tutoring service. Tutoring younger children on school subjects, foreign language or computer software are great ways to help others while strengthening his or her own knowledge. This opportunity will improve the teen’s teaching skills, self-confidence and responsibility.

Internship
Some teenagers have figured out which field they want to pursue. If the teen wants to gain experience for his or her professional future, an internship is the best way. Although many internships are unpaid, the job experience can lead to future employment. By an internship, the teen will learn professional knowledge, improve self-confidence, and gain real-world experience.

Starting a Business
Starting a business for the summer is a great way for a teen to learn running a business and earn some extra cash at same time. Some ideas include car washing, house painting, and pet care. Entrepreneurship is a great opportunity for teens to improve their time-management and organization skills, reliability, confidence and responsibility.

Landscaping
Landscaping and lawn care are booming businesses during the summer. It is a challenging job because it entails manual labor and long hours. If the teen loves designing, outdoors and nature, this job is right for him or her. He and she will enhance his or her creativity and benefit from the physical activity while learning about hard working, time management and responsibility.

Food Services
If the teen loves interacting with people, restaurant employment might be right for him or her. He or she can choose to work as a cashier, server, food runner, dish washer, and prep cook etc. Food industry jobs can help teens develop people skills, time-management skills, self-esteem and responsibility.