The last two years of formal schooling can be a difficult time for a lot of students. They are caught between the adult world which they are eager to join, the constrictions of school life which they sometimes resent, and the pressures of Years 11 and 12 school work. It can also be a very busy time with social life, school responsibilities and sometimes extra-curricula responsibilities absorbing their time. Many parents wonder where, within this whirlwind, a part-time job could fit without distracting from studies.

Yet the experience of being in paid work often gives students a sense of adult responsibility and an awakening to the real world of work. Through a part-time job they develop employability skills such as customer service, teamwork and time management as well as the obvious advantage of learning the value of a dollar earned through work.

Students looking for a job often well to starting locally and applying personally to the employer. Most national businesses that employ young people do so through their website, but again it doesn’t hurt to ask to speak to the manager of the local store. Retail and food stores are a good starting point, but be sure that you and your child are comfortable with the number of hours that need to be worked and the time of day they are required.

Another consideration is future work opportunities. Some part-time jobs can lead to traineeships and fulltime work in the future, while others enable the student to experience an industry that they are considering after Year 12.