Note: Teens can build leadership skills if they get a job and start their careers early.
Fifteen-year-olds who work while they’re still in high school can start building their resumes early. They can also reap other rewards. For example, they can develop job skills, learn how to build rapport with colleagues and acquire customer service skills. Federal laws prohibit 15-year-olds from working more than three hours when school is in session. The most teens can work when school is out is eight hours a day. State laws regarding the types of jobs 15-year-olds can work and the hours they’re allowed to work may vary from federal laws.
Retail
Fifteen-year-olds could get a job and work in retail. Examples of retail businesses are clothing stores, restaurants and grocery stores. While working for these employers, federal laws permit the teens to perform functions like operating cash registers, stocking goods on shelves, cleaning kitchen and/or store surfaces, answering customer questions and cleaning floors. However, 15-year-olds cannot load or unload supplies onto or off of trucks. They also cannot bake, cook over open flames or operate power driven equipment. State laws around retail and other types of jobs 15-year-olds can work may vary.
Blogger
It almost goes without saying that teens could get a job, a self-made job, and start earning money after they create and market the type of blog that demands the attention of their peers. Generally, all that’s needed is a reliable computer, the passion to connect with others and a keen eye for what’s trending in areas the teen is most interested in. It’s relatively easy to set up a blog, from a technical aspect. Tools like Word Press and Bravenet are fairly intuitive and easy to follow in regards to actually building a blog site. After the site is built, teens have to develop the right content, writing that engages thousands, perhaps millions, of readers. If their blogs take off, advertisers could come calling, asking to place ads on their site. Teens who establish the right pay ad rates could earn hundreds of dollars a month off their blog.
Lifeguard
Swimming pools and amusement parks are places where a 15-year-old can get a job. For example, 15-year-olds can work as lifeguards at amusement park water rides, sell merchandise at amusement park stores and collect tickets so customers can get on rides. According to the United States Department of Labor, if the teens are trained and certified by the American Red Cross in aquatics they can work as lifeguards at water parks and local swimming pools. After they turn 16, they can work as lifeguards at beaches. It takes 24 to 31 hours to complete American Red Cross certification courses. Topics covered during the courses include surveillance skills, victim assistance, preventing injuries, first aid and rescue skills.
Newspaper Company
Local newspaper companies are places where 15-year-olds may be able to land their first paying job. After getting hired by a newspaper company, the teens can deliver newspapers to area residents. They can also complete other tasks such as collecting monies due on newspaper deliver services from customers and stocking newspapers to be delivered to customers onto the backs of their bicycles or in their parents’ cars.
Entertainment Industry
If 15-year-olds have a passion for working as actors or actresses, they can get started in
those careers by working for television stations, major motion picture studios or live theater production companies. For example, they can do television or movie voice overs or they can fill major or minor acting roles, starring in films and/or television series.
To get started in television, major motion pictures, live theater, teens generally must get a talent agent. They can do this several ways, including by submitting videos of them performing and/or winning a talent contest. After securing a talent agent, teens generally are sent on casting calls to audition for acting and voice over rolls in front of people like casting directors.
At some auditions, teens may compete for roles that dozens or more other teens are also applying for. Furthermore, to sharpen their acting skills, 15-year-olds may also have to receive training at places like acting schools and film academies before they get a job in the entertainment industry.
Parent’s Business
Parents who own their own business can hire their 15-year-old children to work for them. While working for their parents, teens can perform a variety of job functions. For example, if their parents own a florist shop, teens can take customer orders and help prepare floral arrangements.
Other types of family businesses teens can work at for their parents include pet stores, catering companies, insurance companies and photography studios. However, federal laws prohibit them from working dangerous jobs like mining or manufacturing. Skills teens can gain from working at these and other family businesses include administrative or typing skills, customer service and time management skills. As with each of the jobs, state laws may vary from federal laws.
Sources:
http://youthrules.dol.gov/know-the-limits/14-15.htm (United States Department of Labor: Youth Rules)
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/Newspaper.htm (United States Department of Labor: Youth and Labor)
http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/program-highlights/lifeguarding (American Red Cross: Lifeguarding)
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/27/nyregion/the-business-of-young-talent.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm (New York Times: The Business of Young Talent)
