Beyond Babysitting...

Beyond Babysitting: Career Development for Teenage Girls

12 Keys to Your Future

1. 1.Stay in School
   Sticking it out can sometimes be tough, but don't give up.  Get the help you need from teachers, counselors, and advisors.  Your future will be very limited if you don't finish high school -- and you should plan for college too.
   
   

2. 2.Meet with Your School Counselor
   He or she is a good resource for figuring out where you want to go in life.  Guidance counselors can give you valuable information about college and university programs, trade and technical schools, scholarships, internships, potential mentors, and leads on part-time jobs.  They can also help you plan which classes to take and which extracurricular activities will boost your chances of getting into the college or trade school of your choice.
   
   

3. 3.Open Your Mind
   Try new things.  Experience life. Explore as much as you can. Discover your talents. Learn a new skill. Volunteer. Be curious and set your sights high.
   
   

4. 4.Read, Read, Read
   Books open up a world of knowledge.  Read biographies of people you admire, and autobiographies of people you find inspiring.  Read books on topics that interest you, even if they don't seem to have a direct connection with your future.  You may be surprised.  Read magazines and newspapers. Keep up with late-breaking news and information.
   
   

5. 5.Surf the Web
   The Internet is an electronic universe loaded with a wealth of information that didn't exist when your parents were thinking about careers.  It's a fast and fun way to learn about any topic you can think of.
   
   

6. 6.Get Real-World Experience
   The only way to find out for sure what you like or what you're good at is to get out in the world adn try things.  Join a club, participate in school government, volunteer, try out for a sports team.  You'll develop confidence, improver your interpersonal skills, and have plenty of things to list on your college applications and resumes when the time comes.
   
   

7. 7.Volunteer
   Offer your time and services to those who need them.  Volunteering is good for the spirit, it gives you a chance to make a contribution to your community, and it looks good on college and job applications.  Volunteering is also a great way to explore potential careers.
   
   

8. 8.Find a Mentor
   A mentor is someone who can offer you guidance in some or all facets of your life.  A mentor is someone who can teach you, provide emotional support, help you with moral dilemmas, help you meet challenges and tackle obstacles, give advice, guide you with personal decisions, and impart wisdom.  A mentor can be a teacher, a relative, a spiritual leader, a friend of your parents, a senior citizen, an older student, a coach, a neighbor, or anyone who has time to offer you direction and encouragement.  For more information, visit the National Mentoring Partnership's web site at www.mentoring.org
   
   

9. 9.Network
   Networking is all about talking to people who can point you in the right direction on your career path.  It's an incredibly valuable skill.  Put the word out to anyone you can think of -- relatives, friends, classmates, teachers, neighbors -- that you're interested in learning about a particular topic. They may know someone who knows someone, and before you know it, you've started your own network of connections.
   
   

10. 10.Find an Internship
    An internship gives you hands-on experience in a real work environment.  It gives you contact with people who can become mentors, references or future employers.  Some internships offer a small salary called a stipend; most don't.  Your guidance counselor can help you find something in an area that interests you. 
    
    

11. 11.Become an Apprentice
    An apprentice is very similar to an internship.  The main difference is that apprentices usually get paid to learn a trade or craft while working side by side with a master craftsperson, technician, or supervisor.  Especially if you don't intend to go through four years of college, this type of experience can give you a head start into a better paying career.
    
    

12. 12.Get a Part-Time Job
    If you're not old enough to do this officially, you can do it unofficially by walking dogs, mowing lawns and yes, babysitting.  Work afterschool, on weekends, during breaks.  You'll gain valuable work experience.
    

** Life Lists for Teens by Pamela Espeland.  c.2003, Free Spirit Publishing ** www.freespirit.com

Summer Jobs To AVOID

It sucks, but there are people out there who think teenagers are inexperienced and make perfect targets for scams.  Other people are looking for cheap labor and don't mind hiring teenagers to do dangerous jobs.  Avoid the folowing pitfalls for a safe and profitable summer:

1. •Beware of job ads that say you can work at home and make lots of money.  Lots of times these businesses are cons to get you to buy expensive start-up supplies.  Call your local Better Business Bureau before signing up to do anything like this.  Rule of thumb:  If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
   

2. •Before you respond to job listings, have your parents look them over with you.  If one seems suspicious, bring a parent with you when you go to apply.  That way you can both determine whether or not the job seems safe.
   

3. •Don't pay money to get job listings.  Employment agencies that want to charge you to look at their listings usually cannot be trusted.  Most jobs can be found for free.
   

4. •Look out for dangerous workplaces.  Even if you have accepted a job, it's always okay to refuse to do work that seems dangerous.  Some types of work environments that are historically dangerous for teens include 1) delivery and other driving jobs, 2) working alone in a cash-based business and late-night work, 3) traveling youth crews selling candy, magazines, and other consumer goods, and 4) construction and working at high heights.
   

(NM State Employees Credit Uhion, CUSucceed, Teens Financial Network)

Downloads:

Dressing for Interview Success
Tips for Job Applications
Practice Resumes
Interviewing Guidelines
A Note of Thanks