Starting your first job is like stepping into uncharted territory. You may be unsure of how to behave or what’s expected of you. Here are tips for teen job etiquette. These tips will help you gain favor as you take this giant step forward.
Teen job etiquette begins with accountability and punctuality. Arrive on time and be ready to work. By accepting this job, you have made a commitment to work at set times for a certain number of hours. Your responsibility is to keep your end of the bargain.
Even one day late may result in dismissal.
Your working attire is important in how supervisors, coworkers, and customers view you.
When in doubt, refer to your employee handbook or ask your supervisor.
As tempting as it is to check your smartphone while at work, don’t do it. Either mute it or turn it off, then leave it tucked in a drawer or personal bag until you’re on a break or ready to go home. Your employer is paying you to work and may reprimand you for wasting time. Smartphones and MP3 players are distracting and take employees off task.
Remember, someone is paying you to do a job, not to socialize with friends.
Teens are social creatures, so you may feel the urge to talk about your problems with co-workers. Conflicts happen but the workplace is not the place to rant and rave about personal troubles. If a conflict arises at work, deal with it privately and calmly.
You do not have to like everyone with whom you work; rather you need to work efficiently together.
You may interact with customers in some capacity on your job. Keep these customer-service tips in mind when you do:
Any new job provides opportunities to learn new skills. You may feel intimated at first, but don’t let that scare you. Most of us feel nervous when we face an unknown.
View this as a chance to learn employability skills for your future success:
Focus on additional skills you can learn
It’s okay to make mistakes. We all do when learning something new. The key is to remain positive and graciously accept input from others. Your pride may be bruised, but if you choose to learn from it, you are actually sharpening your brain power!
You will leave your summer or part-time job at some point. You may pursue higher education or a job with more responsibilities. Avoid burning bridges with these tips:
If you get fired, that employer may still serve as a positive reference if you handle it well.
You may experience stress with your new job responsibilities. Warning signs that you might have too much on your schedule include:
Try alleviating the pressure by implementing a work/life balance. Talk with your parents about your concerns. Refer to your employee handbook for dealing with schedule conflicts.
Rawhide equips troubled youth with tools for success in their adult lives. Our work experience program is one way we prepare them for the future. Dedicated trainers and staff supervise students in a variety of ranch jobs. Funds from our amazing donors are vital to teaching our guys these lifelong abilities. You, too, can help at-risk youth cultivate job skills and workplace etiquette through a donation to Rawhide!