Having a part-time job is something that almost all high school students will experience. Whether to save up for college or just to have some spending money, part time jobs can be useful in many ways.

“The most important thing about having a part time job is gaining experience,” said Career Development Coordinator Sarah Joyner. “A lot of students don’t want to work in a particular industry because that’s not what they want to do when they graduate college, but what they don’t realize is that there’s a lot of soft skills you can gain.”

The biggest issue students have with part time jobs is finding one that suits their schedule and personality. With all the different fields of work, its important to find which one will work best for you. You have to make sure you are still leaving time for school work, sports, or any other obligations you may have, while still leaving yourself free time.

For athletes, a seasonal job may be the best option to fit their schedule. Junior, Parker Chestnutt, works during the winter at a Christmas Tree Farm.

“This job is convenient because it’s not during baseball season,” said Chestnutt. “You make a lot of money doing it and it’s fun. I would suggest this job to anyone whose season isn’t during the winter.”

Junior, Kate Meikle, works with children at a daycare at the YMCA. If you enjoy working with children and are willing to take on that kind of responsibility, then a daycare would be a good place for you.

“In my opinion, it’s more fun to work with kids than to work with adults,” said Meikle. “It’s fun making kids’ days and teaching them things, but it’s a big responsibility. Another person’s child’s safety is in your hands and you become a liability. You could get into trouble if you’re not always paying attention.”

Another important thing to keep in mind is to make sure you’re not overworking yourself. Since this will just be a part-time job, you should only work a minimum amount of hours.

“You have to make sure your employer isn’t taking advantage of you and making you work late hours,” said Joyner. “I don’t think anybody should work more than 30 hours per week, including weekends, but it depends on the students and what they’re capable of.”

Even though having a job is important, school is more important. If your schoolwork starts to get affected, then you need to ask yourself if having a job is the best thing for you.

“Sometimes I have to stay up really late and put in more effort to get things done,” said Meikle. “I haven’t let it affect my grades, it just takes more work.”

Paid internships are also a possibility at this age. You’re getting all the experience you would get at a regular internship, but you get paid while doing it. If you’re looking for an internship, you have to first know what field you want to start a career in. These are very helpful when finding an actual job in that specific field after college.

Senior, Carter Owens, has just recently started his paid internship for KBR Engineering in Morrisville.

“The experience I gain here will benefit me in the future,” said Owens. “If I want to be an engineer, I will need to be familiar with the daily routine and processes involved with the job. I hope to be able to expand my knowledge in process management, experimental design, and workplace experience. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).”

Whether you have a part-time job or an internship, you will be gaining important experience that can be used all throughout life.

“A part time job may not be what you’re planning on doing for your future,” said Joyner. “You never really know what a part time job can turn into.”