Homeschooled Students and Work Experience
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When your child gets to be a teenager, sending them out to experience the workforce can help them get some valuable job experience before college or the fulltime workforce, and also reduce some of your expenses around the house. As many college students graduate with little or no work history, getting in some practice now will help your child learn the value of money as well as put them ahead of many of their future graduates. Many employers are wary of hiring people with no work experience and your child can smile with confidence about having taken the initiative to attain some. Work experience is also a chance to help your child learn about basic economics.
Laws vary as for how many hours your teenager can work in a normal paid position, but internships can also be paid and these laws differ. To really understand your local child labor laws, look up your department or ministry of labor and employment. The guidelines shouldn’t be hard to find. With this in mind it is time to start researching.
There are two ways to help your child gain work experience. One option is to assist them in just “getting a job” flipping the proverbial burger. Another alternative to consider is to focus on jobs that may support them gaining necessary work experience that will help your child standout for college and future employers. Option one (regular employment) is easy. Look for local businesses in your town, coffee shops, fast food outlets, retail stores, etc. See if they are hiring, and what ages they consider. There are a realm of possibilities including shopping cart collector, barista, and cashier. Also, in some cases, during the summer, landscaping companies or even city landscaping agencies will hire teenagers that are a variety of ages.
These jobs teach your child discipline, responsibility and, with a bit of supervision from Mum or Dad, how to manage their own money. Employers like to know that their potential employees are willing to put time and effort into their business, so a good reference from early employers such as these, can be a foot in the door for future careers.
Option two takes a little bit more work, but can certainly be worth the effort. It requires research, direction and focus. To get a good internship you have to know what potential industry your child wants to get into and then find a company that is willing to take on a highschool aged and homeschooling intern. This extra effort required can sometimes be offset with the fact that your homeschooled child has increased flexibility with the times that they are available. Homeschoolers have been able to internships in government and corporate America with a little bit of work. If your child is a bit indecisive (as most children are) about a potential industry or career, look into shadowing someone for a day. You can go about it the same way teachers do — just call and ask!
Work experience is an important part of your child’s education and growth, and should not be overlooked just because your child is homeschooled. And, being homeschooled, you may find that your options are even wider due to increased flexibility in scheduling, and the ability to use lessons learned as part of your child’s educational plan.
Melissa Murdoch has a passion for life span development and education, and believes wholeheartedly that a healthy society begins at home. For further information on how to get started in homeschooling, please visit YourHomeshoolCommunity.com.
