Many teens become stressed over following or choosing their career path by the time that they graduate high school. While it would be nice to have everything in place, it is not necessary. The main goal of a summer job is to get experience. Now is not the time for tunnel vision or else you may fall into these traps and limit your opportunities and potential.
Trap #1: A summer or part-time job must be within your career path.
Many teens choose to follow their career dreams through summer or part-time jobs. However, whether you are sure or unsure about your career goals, take the opportunity to try for a job that interests you. Now is the time in your life that you can take risks or try jobs just for the fun of it. So if you want to work as a clown, pet sitter or kids’ baseball umpire, now is the time to do it. Besides, many of these jobs will have transferable skills to put on your résumé for the future.
Trap #2 Choosing a career path is simple.
Actually, choosing a career is an involved process and you should give it the time it deserves. Career planning is a multi-step path that involves learning enough about yourself and the occupations which you are considering in order to make an informed decision. Talk to your friends, parents, parents’ friends, friends’ parents and guidance counselor. Oh, and plan to change your career throughout your lifetime as industries, technologies and your interests change. So don’t put pressure on yourself to know it all now or to find a summer job on that path.
