Blog

Having a job in high school is important. It may be called "Occupational Education" in some state educational requirements. In public high schools, it's frequently taught at vocational or technical high schools. For homeschool parents, it may be the easiest class you will ever teach. Let's take a look at the benefits of jobs for high school teens!

Six Reasons Why a Job in High School Is Important 

1. Provides activity for the activity list
2. Adds to the high school transcript (learn more)
3. Demonstrates work ethic to employers and colleges
   
4. Prepares for adulthood working world
5. Starts a great resume
6. Teaches the value of money
   

Teaching Occupational Education in Five Easy Steps

While jobs for high school teens may be a requirement in some locations (like Washington State), it's equally important for all teens of all abilities, even if not required. I'm convinced it's the easiest class to cover in in high school. Here are five easy steps to teaching a class based on employment:

1. Wait until your child becomes motivated by money.
2. Your child will seek (or be forced to seek) a job.
3. Count hours on the job.
4. When your child accumulates 150 hours, call it a credit.
5. Retroactively write a course description.

All done! Piece of cake. From a simple baby-sitting or lawn mowing gig to working as a professional employee in an office or job site, teenagers learn a lot when they have a job. Be sure to emphasize these important life skills in the homeschool records. 

At some technical high schools, high school credit is given to a variety of work experiences. Add work to the transcript as a class, perhaps calling it "Occupational Education." Create a course description when you have added a class to the transcript to improve college scholarships. Add employment to the high school resume to improve job applications. Add the work experience to the activity list to demonstrate the student is hard-working and engaged in the community. What will your child learn when they have a job?

Skills Learned Through Jobs for High School Teens

1. Bank account creation
2. Bank deposits and withdrawals
3. Budgeting
4. Career readiness
5. Consumer awareness
6. Entrepreneurship
7. Handling credit and debit cards
8. Handling money
9. Insurance
10. Managing debt
11. Paying taxes
12. Saving money

Communication Skills

1. Client relations
2. Email
3. Keyboarding
4. Mailing
5. Taking messages
6. Telephone skills

Organizational Skills

1. Accuracy
2. Attention to detail
3. Customer service skills
4. Directing visitors
5. Multitasking
6. Office administration procedures

Technology Skills

1. Administrative writing
2. Call for needed repairs
3. Computer
4. Email and internet
5. General office skills
6. Google Docs, Drive, Forms, Sheets
7. Keyboarding
8. Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint
9. Spreadsheets
10. Video conferencing

Time Management

1. Analysis
2. Attention to detail
3. Calendar and timeliness
4. Problem-solving
5. Professionalism

Teamwork

1. Coordinate office activities
2. Discretion
3. Flexibility
4. Friendliness
5. Interpersonal communication
6. Judgment
7. Meetings
8. Organization skills
9. Patience
10. Positive attitude
11. Professional attire
12. Professionalism
13. Reliability
14. Teamwork
15. Time management
16. Work behavior

How to Write a Course Description for a Job in High School

 Homeschool parents should create a course description for jobs in high school. The beginning of a course description might look like this:

Elective: Occupational Education

Description: This is a self-directed course. The student will work to pursue their area of interest, seeking work and volunteer opportunities in that area. Within the area of interest, the student will demonstrate initiative, responsibility, reliability, and enthusiasm in the workplace. The student will demonstrate basic computer and word processing skills. Written work available on request.

Skills and Opportunities include: (fill in your student's information here)

When creating the list of skills, consider everything learned on the job. Look over this list of skills above, and collect the words that apply to your student. Combine the appropriate words into a paragraph, or create a list of skills learned in class.

What great jobs for high school teens have you seen for homeschool students? Please share!