Page 7 - My FlipBook

Pros and Cons of a Part-Time Job

While earning money is an important part of working at a part-
time job, there are other advantages. Part-time jobs can teach
teens valuable lessons that will help them throughout their
working lives. The skills gained through work can include man-
aging time and money, working with others as a team, dealing
with customers and employers, and setting priorities. Part-time
jobs also help establish a record of good work habits, which
is important when seeking full-time employment later. Looking
back on his raceway job, Bliss says, “I think I learned more . . .
about economics and personal fi nance at that job than I did in
any classes I had.” 5
Of course, if you’re working, you need to fi nd a proper bal-
ance between school and work. Both are serious commitments
that require dedication, energy, and above all, time. “It’s all
about balance,” notes Scott Dobroski of the online job search
site Glassdoor. “If [a teen’s] grades are slipping, then that does
take priority over work.” Evaluate your current commitments
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to school (including homework and extracurricular activities), as
well as family and leisure-time interests, to determine if a part-
time job will fi t into your schedule. It may be wise to limit the
number of working hours to fi fteen per week or fewer to make
sure your job and other commitments can work together.
Another consideration is the possibility of making too much
money. This may seem illogical, but earning too much can actual-
ly hurt a high school student’s eligibility for fi nancial assistance for
college. Need-based loans for higher education are determined
by household income, including money earned by the student.
The more a family makes, the less loan money will be available.
For the 2018–2019 school year, for example, a student could
earn $6,570 without affecting fi nancial aid. Making more than that
would lower the amount of aid available.
Working a part-time or summer job can help you discover
what career areas you might want to pursue as an adult. Finding
a job that fi ts with your interests and personality may be diffi cult

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