The first job.
Although very exciting to obtain, they almost always are tied to or connected with some bad and embarrassing stories.
Strict managers, and mass amounts of confusion, first jobs can be one of the most daunting parts of teenagehood.
However embarrassing, first jobs are also a prominent necessity for many high schoolers.
Whether they need the money to help support their families, or they need a little extra cash to benefit themselves, jobs have become one of the most sought-after things around North Idaho.
Many teenagers find themselves landing their first jobs at Super One, Silverwood, or fast food restaurants.
Although these businesses have seemingly endless opportunities for teenagers to work, lately there seems to have been a decline in job openings for inexperienced teens.
Specifically, those in school.
School takes up the same amount of time for every student within it, allowing only a couple hours after school to be spent working.
Many jobs see this as a downside, because they do not need more kids to work the same hours.
This leads many businesses to prefer homeschooled students or online school students.
These teens are able to work earlier mornings as well as later nights as compared to those enrolled in an in-person school.
Another issue with finding a first job is experience.
With so many people applying for the same jobs, it seems impossible to beat out the twenty year olds with multiple jobs and years of experience.
“It’s impossible, especially as a 14 year old, to get a job that 20 year olds with years of experience are also applying for,” Heidi Halgren said.
This can lead a lot of students to turn to jobs which underpay and overwork them.
Late night shifts can force the student to fall behind on school work.
Weekend shifts can force the student to feel left out of many of those famous “high school experiences” which people call the best times of their lives.
Worst of all, is summer break.
Excited to make a little extra cash, a teen may say they’re available all the time to work.
Now they’re stuck doing eight hour shifts everyday, turning their summer break into a complete work time.
Similarly, spring and winter breaks are also a common time for employers to over-schedule teen workers leaving them only a couple days of a true break.
“As teenagers, working excessively can be difficult especially when employers don’t see you as teenagers and work you into the ground. And then bouncing back from working so hard to school is difficult to do,” Bailey Elliott said.
Not all jobs are bad, and many can give teens a hefty amount of life experience, as well as business and professional experience.
Regardless, it does not make it any easier to get up at six in the morning on a Saturday to keep a minimum wage job.
