There are many transition points in a young person’s life, one of the main being the move from high school to the working world.
Everyone is individual in how they cope and do this (both teen and parent). How a person transitions has as much to do with personality than just going through a check list. (Though having a list of important tasks is helpful)
Whether your young adult is moving straight into the workforce, or going on to further studies, I hope their journey is exciting and full of opportunities!
For those yet to decide on a path, don’t stress about finding your niche straight away. If you know for a certainty what you want to do, that’s great, but it’s ok to go out and gain general life experience before deciding as well.
Our third and last teen finished school in 2020, so we know exactly what you’re going through. The choice of topics to cover were quite broad, but I hope the below offers food for thought, help, or a starting point for your own further research.
Getting a Resume Together
Also known as a CV (Curriculum Vitae) – chances are they’ve already started, especially if they’ve had casual work from their time in school.
There are plenty of on-line templates for a quick start, I’ve included links below for you to look at. And you’ll probably find, depending on the version of Microsoft Office you have, there will be Resume templates there as well.
There may not be a lot of work experience to talk about, but as someone new to the employment world, there is still important information that would be advantageous to include.
These days, there is no requirement to include personal address or date of birth, but do include a phone contact and email address.
Take the time to create a hard-copy portfolio to take to interviews as well. It can include a print out of the Resume, copies of school reports, Certificates, and references from Teachers or current employers. Ensure to keep originals of all documents in a safe place at home.
Staples to include – (and don’t forget to include the time period/year)
- Education – The school/s attended; Subjects taken during final years;
- Certificates Attained and Awards – Apart from the graduation certificate, some feel a little awkward including certificates or recognition of achievement, but they shouldn’t. If they’ve received acknowledgement for hard work, they should own it! And employers will want to see it. Be it Sport, Art, Humanities, Student Leadership, Drama, put it in. Straight up, it shows a diversity in interests and strengths. And don’t forget to include any community recognition through school projects.
- Work Experience – Pretty straight forward. Again, no matter what it is/was, include it. And it doesn’t have to be paid work. Volunteer work is highly regarded. Do give a brief synopsis of tasks performed. If the school had work experience placements, include these as well.
You’ll find different templates have different headings. It’s up to you what you wish to use. I strongly recommend doing research on what is current or trending now for Resume inclusions.
Here’s a few sites that may help, but there are heaps out there, and most offer free templates.
Note: These sites are not personally endorsed by me. Do be careful about providing personal information on the internet.
Skill Enhancement
This will come as a downer to many young people, but study and learning doesn’t end at Year 12, ha ha! It is lifelong.
Self-improvement should be permanently on the agenda. Not only from a personal growth perspective, but to remain competitive for future roles or careers.
This can be achieved in a variety of ways. Whether through courses at study institutions; taking on extra duties at a current job; short on-line courses; or work experience. All will broaden the knowledge foundation.
Back to the personal growth – hobbies are included. If there’s something they’ve longed to try or learn, e.g. an instrument, but were too busy with senior year study, now’s the time. Well, it’s always the time, you’re never too old!
Again, here are some suggested links for those considering extra courses that I hope you’ll find helpful. Though I’ve only included a couple of Australian and UK sites, a lot (including these) will offer options for international students.
- Department of Education, Skills and Employment (Australia)
- RMIT Short Courses (Australia) – What caught my attention with this one, was the no ATAR required! Students can also qualify for Government fee assistance.
- Reed.co.uk – School Leaver Courses. Here you’ll also find helpful CV Templates, Interview Tips and how to prepare, as well as Career Guides (how to become…), and other useful topics.
- WCG.ac.uk – Includes information on further education, apprenticeships, and courses for leisure.
Getting a Driver’s Licence
Depending on where you live and age restrictions on driving, you’ve probably already achieved this or are well on the way.
Having a driver’s licence and vehicle opens up a new world. Not only allowing them to venture off on their own, visiting friends, shopping, getting to and from necessities, but also gives an advantage to those who may need to travel for study or work. Some jobs require a driver’s licence.
For those yet to begin, take heart. Yes, it can be a little frightening, especially if it’s a parent doing the teaching, ha ha! My point here – if you have a young person who is a bit nervous about venturing onto the road, consider professional lessons to begin with rather than parent taught.
The professional teacher will be all over it, after all, it’s their job, and will know exactly how to encourage and introduce the new driver to the road. On a further note, the vehicles they use are safer, with brake pedals on the passenger side to significantly reduce the likelihood of anything bad happening.
Professional Etiquette
This is quite a broad topic, so here are just a few points at the forefront of how to make and keep a professional image intact.
The Visual –
In a nutshell; be mindful of work dress codes, and personal grooming.
What this means will be determined by place of employment of course. But basics should always apply. Don’t show up in sweats and runners unless you actually work in a gym.
Ensure they have some basic workplace staples that would fit in anywhere.
Some office environments will allow jeans. If so, make sure they’re not walking out the door in the same pair they wore camping, or inappropriately tight or ripped. Jeans can look great coordinated with a nice shirt or blouse, and appropriate footwear.
Personal grooming is just that – freshly showered, clean hair, makeup (if desired). Don’t rock up to a food industry job with grease in the fingernails from working on the car over the weekend (Ew). You get the idea.
The Verbal –
This includes face to face interactions and phone manner. Not to be confused with how people interact over social media. (May cover that in another post!)
Speaking professionally doesn’t mean using big words. It’s about being respectful, kind, and positive in dealings with colleagues and the public. And how to treat and speak to people across all age groups.
As this article from Flex Jobs – Workplace Generational Communication Gaps states –
“For possibly the first time in history, as many as five different generations are working side by side.”
I found it an interesting read, and could certainly relate to a lot of it.
Depending on where they work, dealing with the public will definitely prove a lesson in personal development. For example – the fast-food and customer service industries are notorious. It disgusts me to hear the way some people speak to, and treat, teenagers serving them. Simply because they think they can. There’s no excuse for it. It’s a customer’s right to highlight any deficiencies in a product or service, absolutely, but abuse and rudeness is never ok.
I’ll get off my high-horse now, because I could go on for a while.
I sincerely hope negative or abusive interactions are few and far between for your young person, but unfortunately, statistics show it will happen at some point. The best we can do is to help them prepare, and be there for support.
Here’s an article from Mind Tools regarding – Dealing with Rude Customers.
Office Politics –
Though I say ‘Office’, it’s pertinent for any work environment. This could be a post all its own, seriously. But I’ll make it short and sweet. To the new worker –
- Don’t get involved in office gossip.
I’m a firm believer in sitting back and watching office dynamics play out, before deciding on who to trust or befriend. People who gossip have no boundaries; they will also gossip about their ‘friends’. Remember that.
- Know your boundaries, and set your own.
Be careful what you share with colleagues, and know what not to. There may be times where work colleagues will also become social friends, which is great, but it can also blur the lines; especially in today’s world of social media. Genuinely close work friends are few between. Choose wisely.
- Be aware of bullying and harassment.
Familiarise yourself with office policy on bullying and harassment. And understand the difference between receiving critical feedback on job performance, and being targeted. Most importantly, do not ever tolerate or be part of unacceptable behaviour such as intimidation, humiliation, or sexual misconduct.
My advice – familiarise yourself with the Fair Work website.
General Points for a Good Impression –
- Be on time
Anyone can have the occasional mishap that results in arriving late to work. But this should never be a habit.
- Acknowledge others
A ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Have a good night’ when arriving or leaving work goes a long way. If entering someone else’s work space, say a general ‘Hi Everyone’ to the room.
- Never talk money
Unless it’s with Human Resources about your personal salary. It’s no one’s business what you get paid. That’s between you and the boss, and HR.
- Keep personal phone put away
Don’t be checking or posting social media during work time. Enough said.
- Be a good listener
Don’t be the one doodling in the middle of a meeting instead of paying attention. And when given a task to do, listen to what’s required and ask questions if need be.
Expenses and Budgeting
Those who have had jobs during school will already be familiar with, or understand just how quickly money can disappear. Learning how to budget is key to financial stability and survival.
If they’re going to continue living at home a while, it’s your choice as to whether you charge a certain amount of rent for food and utilities. This helps them to appreciate the costs of general living, and what to expect when they do move out, as well as about separating and allocating portions of their pay for bills, savings, and recreational spending.
Most will have their own Bank Accounts by now, but if not, make this one of the first things to do. As well as applying for a Tax File number (if in Australia), if they haven’t already.
Ensure they understand how to check their payslips for correct payments and tax deductions.
I found this article from The Balance about ‘How to Teach Your Teen About Budgeting’ which you might find helpful.
Wherever you’re at in your transition, I hope it’s going well. And while acknowledging it can be quite daunting, it’s also exciting! All the best!
