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What difference in jobs should I get before college compared to after?

I am in 7th grade and looking for fun/interesting jobs that pay good.

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Subject: Career question for you

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James Constantine’s Answer

Hello Christian!

Differences in Jobs Before College Compared to After

1. Types of Jobs Available

Before college, students often seek part-time jobs or internships that require minimal experience and are flexible with hours. Common jobs for middle school students include:

Babysitting: This job allows for flexible hours and can be quite rewarding. It helps develop responsibility and interpersonal skills.
Pet Sitting/Dog Walking: Similar to babysitting, this job is flexible and can be done in the neighborhood, allowing you to earn money while spending time with animals.
Retail or Food Service: Some local businesses may hire younger teens for roles like cashiering or food preparation, providing valuable customer service experience.
Tutoring: If you excel in a particular subject, tutoring younger students can be both fulfilling and profitable.

After college, job opportunities typically require more specialized skills or education. Graduates often pursue careers aligned with their degree fields. Examples include:

Internships in Your Field of Study: These positions provide practical experience and networking opportunities that are crucial for career development.
Entry-Level Positions: Graduates may start in roles such as marketing assistant, software developer, or research analyst depending on their major.
Professional Roles: With a degree, individuals can apply for jobs that require specific qualifications, such as teaching positions, engineering roles, or healthcare jobs.

2. Skill Development

Jobs before college focus on developing soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management. These experiences help build a foundation for future employment. For example:

Working as a babysitter enhances your ability to communicate effectively with children and parents.
Retail jobs teach customer service skills and how to handle transactions.

In contrast, jobs after college emphasize technical skills related to your field of study. For instance:

An engineering graduate might work on design projects using specialized software.
A business major could analyze market trends using data analytics tools.

3. Pay Scale

Jobs available before college typically offer lower pay due to the entry-level nature of the work and the limited experience required. For instance:

Babysitters might earn between $10-$20 per hour depending on location and responsibilities.
Retail positions often pay minimum wage or slightly above it.

After college, salaries generally increase significantly due to higher qualifications and responsibilities associated with professional roles. For example:

Entry-level positions for graduates can range from $40,000 to $60,000 annually depending on the industry.

4. Networking Opportunities

Before college, job experiences may not provide extensive networking opportunities since many roles are informal or part-time. However, they do allow you to meet people in your community.

After college, internships and entry-level jobs become critical for building professional networks that can lead to future job opportunities. Engaging with colleagues at these positions can help establish connections within your chosen field.

5. Job Flexibility

Jobs before college tend to offer more flexibility regarding hours since they cater to students’ schedules. This allows you to balance work with school commitments effectively.

Post-college jobs usually have more structured hours but may offer benefits like health insurance and retirement plans that are not available in pre-college jobs.

In summary, the main differences between jobs before college compared to after revolve around the type of work available (part-time vs professional), skill development focus (soft skills vs technical skills), pay scale (lower vs higher salaries), networking potential (limited vs extensive), and flexibility (more flexible vs structured).

Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The BLS provides comprehensive data on employment trends across various age groups including youth employment statistics which inform about types of jobs suitable for different age levels.

2. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
NACE offers insights into career readiness competencies expected from graduates entering the workforce along with salary data by major which helps understand post-college job expectations.

3. American Psychological Association (APA)
The APA discusses developmental psychology aspects related to adolescence which includes information about skill development through early job experiences impacting future career paths.

Probability the answer is correct: 95%

God Bless!
JC.
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