INDIANAPOLIS -
Each summer, thousands of kids search for that summer job to earn extra cash. But what if it's their first job? Experts say there are many things parents and teens should consider before taking the big step of entering the workforce.
Brian Shelley, who just started his new job at the Jordan YMCA in January, was 16-years-old when he got his first job.
He worked as a YMCA camp counselor. Brian remembers the things he had to first consider before taking on a job as a high school student. "My schedule, getting homework done. I was also a cross country runner, so I also had to factor in what my season would be like for that as well," said Brian.
A lot to juggle for a teenager.
In Indiana, you must be 14-years-old and have a work permit to get a job. Teenagers must get their work permit from their high school, and have it signed by their employer. The employer must also inform the school of the job the teen will be doing, and how many hours they will be working. By law, teens in Indiana can only work three hours a day during the school week, and can't work past 7:00 p.m. on a school night.
Even if students can manage the load of school and work, Pam Staver, who's worked with teens for 15 years says, parents need to consider their teen's maturity level. "If they are good with working with chores or good and responsible handling things in the home, that's something they may want to consider before allowing them to get a job," said Pam.
Jobs for teens vary. From retail to the food industry, to working with kids like Brian has done. A recent study by moneysmart.com found teens can work about 10-12 hours a week during the school year before grades suffer.
There are several red flags parents can look for that could mean a teen is struggling to hold down a job. "If their grades start to drop," Pam said. "If they are having difficulty managing their time. If they are not getting enough rest, not wanting to get up in the morning because they have too much going on. Too many hours they are working particularly in the summer."
According to the experts, summer is the best time for teens to get that first job so they can see if they can handle it without the workload of school.
And those early jobs are also the perfect time for teens to see, just like Brian did, if that first job, can turn into a career.
Right now, a lot of jobs are starting to hire for summer, like the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis.
