MARCH 24, 2016
the LEAD Sheet A L A B O U R M A R K E T N E W S L E T T E R F O R G R E AT E R VICTORIA EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CENTRES
CONTENTS BUSINESS WORKS YOUTH
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DEFICIT: GOOD OR BAD?
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HELPING
TEENS
By Kate Wiley
G
ASK A CASE MANAGER
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et a job! It’s a command we lob at teenagers with some regularity, particularly when the sofa cushions are starting to fray from overuse. Your teen may be equally eager to start earning money and gain the freedom that comes with it. But with no experience writing a resume or networking, she may need a little help. Before the job searching gets underway, you’ll want to sit down together to set some parameters. Youth may legally work in British Columbia from the age of 15 without the consent of a guardian. But while your teen is still in school, there are certain factors that a parent will want to consider:
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1. How many hours can your child devote to a job and still keep up with school assignments? Most employment counsellors
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recommend no more than 4 hours a day on school days and no more than 20 hours in a week when school is in session.
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2. What kind of work suits your child? While serving up Blizzards at Dairy Queen may seem like a breeze to your teen, you’ll want to have an honest conversation about the realities of work in a fast-food joint, including the less savoury tasks like cleaning the washrooms. Food service and retail are sectors which tend to have the most parttime work fit for a teen, but don’t overlook rec centres and tourist attractions. Consider offices too, where basic admin tasks can be filled by entry-level, part-time workers. 3. How will your child get to and from work? If your child is not yet driving, will he be able to walk or bike to work? Public transportation is great, but be sure to evalu(Continued on page 4)