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Should I find the job before go to college and chose my major?
I am 16 years old and I want to find my favorite job also I can early to know how to choose the college major.
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Darya’s Answer
Hi, Junyi! Getting a part-time job, especially for a teenager, will help a lot in the future. It is not necessary to get a job in the profession that you have chosen for your future. It may be a work as a service staff in fast food restaurants, but a teenager will get a lot of useful experience there. There are arguments both for and against a teenager getting a job, especially when employment happens DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. Jobs can teach teenagers life-long work skills such as how to fill out an application, how to interview well, how to work responsibly and get along with co-workers and superiors, and can help develop excellent customer service skills. However, extra responsibilities can put stress on academics and cause strain on important relationships and take away from family time. Weighing the following options should be done with open conversation and thoughtful consideration of the pros and cons.
PROS:
-Jobs can help teens feel more confident and independent.
-Jobs help teens develop a sense of responsibility.
-Some studies show that students who work 10 to 15 hours a week during the school year earn higher grades than students who do not work at all.
-Jobs help teens learn to manage their money.
-Jobs can help teens explore potential career paths.
CONS:
-Studies show that teens who work more than 15 hours a week receive lower grades than students who work less or do not work at all.
-Teens who work may find it difficult to keep up extracurricular activities and friendships.
-Some studies show that teens who work are more likely to use illegal drugs or alcohol.
-Many overworked teens sleep and exercise less, and spend less time with their families.
IS THE TEENAGER READY FOR WORK?
To help you decide if a teenager is ready for responsible work, ask yourself the following questions:
-Will I get out of bed in the morning without being prodded?
-Am I making the right choice?
-Will I be able to take responsibility for mistakes?
-Will I be able to get along with other teenagers and adults?
-Can I handle the criticism?
If you find yourself answering “no” to many of these questions, think about the possible outcome of adding work to your schedule.
You can also try yourself in permanent VOLUNTEER WORK. Volunteering is a great way to see how you will handle responsibilities at work without requiring the same long-term commitment.
If you think you are ready for the job, then you should think about why you want to get this job and what you expect from things like:
-Evaluations
-Extracurricular activities
-Friends and family
-Income (how much to save and how much to spend)
Ultimately, whether you find a job first or choose your major will depend on what feels right for you. Both paths have their benefits, and the important part is to remain open to experiences and learning. Good luck! With love, Darya
PROS:
-Jobs can help teens feel more confident and independent.
-Jobs help teens develop a sense of responsibility.
-Some studies show that students who work 10 to 15 hours a week during the school year earn higher grades than students who do not work at all.
-Jobs help teens learn to manage their money.
-Jobs can help teens explore potential career paths.
CONS:
-Studies show that teens who work more than 15 hours a week receive lower grades than students who work less or do not work at all.
-Teens who work may find it difficult to keep up extracurricular activities and friendships.
-Some studies show that teens who work are more likely to use illegal drugs or alcohol.
-Many overworked teens sleep and exercise less, and spend less time with their families.
IS THE TEENAGER READY FOR WORK?
To help you decide if a teenager is ready for responsible work, ask yourself the following questions:
-Will I get out of bed in the morning without being prodded?
-Am I making the right choice?
-Will I be able to take responsibility for mistakes?
-Will I be able to get along with other teenagers and adults?
-Can I handle the criticism?
If you find yourself answering “no” to many of these questions, think about the possible outcome of adding work to your schedule.
You can also try yourself in permanent VOLUNTEER WORK. Volunteering is a great way to see how you will handle responsibilities at work without requiring the same long-term commitment.
If you think you are ready for the job, then you should think about why you want to get this job and what you expect from things like:
-Evaluations
-Extracurricular activities
-Friends and family
-Income (how much to save and how much to spend)
Ultimately, whether you find a job first or choose your major will depend on what feels right for you. Both paths have their benefits, and the important part is to remain open to experiences and learning. Good luck! With love, Darya
Updated
Tony’s Answer
Hi Junyi,
Getting a job will no doubt be beneficial in many things, from giving you income, work experience and personal growth and learning, but in my opinion it is unlikely you will find the "best" job without an assessment or formal evaluation of your strengths and abilities, interests, and personality. You are young and haven't had a chance yet to find out many of these things yet but you are very wise to ask. I grew up in Germany and they like many other countries young people there at your age all go through such an assessment which gives them an indication of what type of work they might best be suitable for. Your high school guidance counselor can provide you with such career assessments to help direct you if see if a vocational or trade type work/education is a better choice for you then college or university. In the US, most HS graduates go to college which then becomes where they then figure out the career best suited for them, but it's frequently a very expensive way to do it. I worked at a career testing center while in graduate school and was always impressed by parents who paid for career testing for their son or daughter who wasn't sure. Just know that if your HS doesn't provide such testing there are private services available for you and I think it's definitely worth it and give you a head start either way should you end up choosing a college or university. You could always work while just taking part-time classes Best of luck.
Getting a job will no doubt be beneficial in many things, from giving you income, work experience and personal growth and learning, but in my opinion it is unlikely you will find the "best" job without an assessment or formal evaluation of your strengths and abilities, interests, and personality. You are young and haven't had a chance yet to find out many of these things yet but you are very wise to ask. I grew up in Germany and they like many other countries young people there at your age all go through such an assessment which gives them an indication of what type of work they might best be suitable for. Your high school guidance counselor can provide you with such career assessments to help direct you if see if a vocational or trade type work/education is a better choice for you then college or university. In the US, most HS graduates go to college which then becomes where they then figure out the career best suited for them, but it's frequently a very expensive way to do it. I worked at a career testing center while in graduate school and was always impressed by parents who paid for career testing for their son or daughter who wasn't sure. Just know that if your HS doesn't provide such testing there are private services available for you and I think it's definitely worth it and give you a head start either way should you end up choosing a college or university. You could always work while just taking part-time classes Best of luck.