Daughter's first job....
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| Mon, 07-23-2007 - 1:15pm |
So I finally got my daughter to take a summer job. She's working for 3 weeks this summer as a sort of "gopher/misc duties" person at the office where I work. She and another student are working together and they seem to be getting along. Only thing is to get them used to working on a certain schedule, keeping to their timelines, office etiquette etc.
So a few times today I had to remind her/them to keep their music down (LOL), keep their chatting to a minimum, work quickly and neatly etc. Its been a funny first few hours but I think its a great thing. Its keeping her busy, out of trouble, she's making money, getting some work experience etc. We even opened her first personal bank account too for which she will be getting a debit card soon.
She says the work is boring (no kidding) and I just tell her that at least now she can be motivated to stay in school and get an education in something she truly LIKES to do so she can avoid the boring clerical stuff!!!

My ds17 just got himself a summer job too - teaching drums to a friend of his!
When I was 16 I worked full time for the summer in a box factory. My job was assembling partitions that go in the boxes (like dividers for Christmas ornaments, but they come in all sizes). I just couldn't believe that people had to do this for the rest of their lives. I thought office work was a big step up.
I wish I could get my DD a temp job in my office but it's too small.
Those awful summer jobs can be great motivators for kids to stay in school to get something better! Mine was a job in a canning factory during pea harvest.
I need an expert who can spot a thistlehead.
When can you start?
We have a number of thistleheads who should have been spotted earlier.. :-)
UPDATE ... well my dd is finishing off her first week at the office. She has a break next week and then is back in for two more weeks.
The experience has been a revelation for both of us I admit. For her she has understood she definitely does not want a job where she sits in front of a computer all day (ie boring clerical stuff). She likes the times that the work was more active involving walking around more etc. She's learned alot about office technology and the routines of a work day etc.
Interesting thing for me has been how much these kids come in KNOWING. This generation is definitely way more tech savvy. I don't have to explain "copy/paste". I don't have to explain where the USB port on the PC is. They know how to use all the hardware. Seems trivial but our adult work generation is mixed in this knowledge to say the least.
Both students (my dd and a collegues similar aged son) have an interesting work ethic and dynamic. I attended a seminar in employing this generation that says they like to work together, in teams, with friends. And having them work together has definitely been beneficial. They challenge each other, divide up the work, supervise each other and train each other in lacking skills. Cute as heck too!
Most of all I am really proud of these kids. How quickly they learn, how much they retain, how comfortable they are around adults, how confidently they communicate. And from what I know of other students I think this is fairly common.
Ramona Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!