Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 07:52     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What are some "appropriate" ways for a teenager to get work experience and earn some money?

Please provide a response with the age and sex for which each role is "appropriate."

For example, working in a restaurant is appropriate for a girl who is 18, or for a boy of any age, but not for a girl who is 17.
Babysitting is appropriate for girls of any age, but not for boys at any age.


My 17 yo DD has worked in the same restaurant since she was 15.5. Why is it not appropriate? She often ends up making $22-24/hour due to tips. She hosts and food runs.



It’s inappropriate because what if someone asks her for her phone number?
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 07:51     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:We have 17-year old as a hostess and have had 16- year old boy as a food runner.
Nothing wrong with working in restaurant. I have seen men asking for number, but that was in a bar, not in family restaurant where most people eat, not drink.


Thats horrible! That poor girl
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 23:43     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:We have 17-year old as a hostess and have had 16- year old boy as a food runner.
Nothing wrong with working in restaurant. I have seen men asking for number, but that was in a bar, not in family restaurant where most people eat, not drink.


Wtf is your 17-year old doing at a bar?
(sounds like lazy parenting covered up with excuses)
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 10:55     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:What are some "appropriate" ways for a teenager to get work experience and earn some money?

Please provide a response with the age and sex for which each role is "appropriate."

For example, working in a restaurant is appropriate for a girl who is 18, or for a boy of any age, but not for a girl who is 17.
Babysitting is appropriate for girls of any age, but not for boys at any age.


My 17 yo DD has worked in the same restaurant since she was 15.5. Why is it not appropriate? She often ends up making $22-24/hour due to tips. She hosts and food runs.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 09:23     Subject: Re:s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody should work in a restaurant if you don't want them doing drugs and drinking after close.

Jobs that are appropriate

lifeguard
golf course
summer camp
yard work
grocery store check out




That’s ridiculous. My teen worked at Outback and was fine. He knew some of the kitchen staff had ankle bracelets because he told me. He’s close most nights he worked (I sat in the parking lot waiting to pick him up). All of the closers walked out together and were allowed to leave before the kitchen staff.


Sure, your son never blazed with the kitchen staff during a shift.


They were understaffed. They were lucky to be able to eat a meal let alone get high.


Sure mom
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 09:14     Subject: Re:s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody should work in a restaurant if you don't want them doing drugs and drinking after close.

Jobs that are appropriate

lifeguard
golf course
summer camp
yard work
grocery store check out




That’s ridiculous. My teen worked at Outback and was fine. He knew some of the kitchen staff had ankle bracelets because he told me. He’s close most nights he worked (I sat in the parking lot waiting to pick him up). All of the closers walked out together and were allowed to leave before the kitchen staff.


Sure, your son never blazed with the kitchen staff during a shift.


They were understaffed. They were lucky to be able to eat a meal let alone get high.


Right?? My restaurant colleagues def partied after work but no way in hell was anyone drinking or smoking during the shift. They'd get something thrown at them if they stank like smoke, or weren't moving at roadrunner speed.


I think this is the issue. Many teens start smoking, etc after being exposed to it at restaurants. If your kid wants a job in the food industry, steer them towards Chik fil A and Mod Pizza and away from Wild Wings and Lazy Dog.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 08:03     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
I’d never let my kids wait tables, no way. Nothing door to door and no delivery.
Before college, it’s fine to lifeguard, Starbucks barista, work at tourist venue gift shop, babysit, yard work.
Once in college, jobs should reflect career interest- nursing home or research or interning somewhere to shadow a professional. For extra money, work for university.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 08:02     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
As a16 year old girl i was a barista and it went well
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:59     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:None.

I don't hire under 18. Too much work to train them for very little because they are too restricted on hours and what they can legally do. I only hire 18 if they've graduated HS. Otherwise you just play the game of "I can't work Monday, Wednesday, or Friday through the week but I can work Tuesday & Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons. I can never work Sundays. My mom won't let me miss church. I also need to take off 2 weeks in July for camp and then the last 2 weeks of August because marching band practice starts. But other than that, I'm totally free!"


Nailed it. Still, some younger teens can make great employees, so I always give them a chance. I've had a few amazing ones over the years. But most, yeah, what you said.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:57     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Teens I know do the following jobs:

lifeguard/swim instructor/junior coach (15+)
tutor (starting junior year of HS)
pet-sitter/dog walker (any age)
camp counselor
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 06:19     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:None.

I don't hire under 18. Too much work to train them for very little because they are too restricted on hours and what they can legally do. I only hire 18 if they've graduated HS. Otherwise you just play the game of "I can't work Monday, Wednesday, or Friday through the week but I can work Tuesday & Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons. I can never work Sundays. My mom won't let me miss church. I also need to take off 2 weeks in July for camp and then the last 2 weeks of August because marching band practice starts. But other than that, I'm totally free!"


This is spot on. I'm thankful my kid was still able to find a job (day camp) that let her work only the few weeks she is free. She'll return next year though and work more.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 05:56     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
We have 17-year old as a hostess and have had 16- year old boy as a food runner.
Nothing wrong with working in restaurant. I have seen men asking for number, but that was in a bar, not in family restaurant where most people eat, not drink.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 02:12     Subject: Re:s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Dd had first job in food service at 16, DS at 15. They did the worst stuff first - dishwasher, prep cook type stuff and moved up to line cook. Food service can be a tough world but both had good experiences in restaurants and food trucks.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 18:54     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
Anonymous wrote:My favorite and most fun job ever was a waitress at Pizza Hut when I was 17. Pizza Hut was all the rage then and it was a lot of work and a lot of fun.


The old school Pizza Huts with the arcade tables and juke boxes were a blast in the 1980s-2000s! Huge hangout for teens and college age kids, and even adults.

Parking lots were full in those days, cruising the drag in hopped up cars and trucks.

Now they are all "to go only" and kids are stuck at home with no DL or car and on their phones with no social life at all.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 17:34     Subject: s/o What are "appropriate" jobs for older teens
My favorite and most fun job ever was a waitress at Pizza Hut when I was 17. Pizza Hut was all the rage then and it was a lot of work and a lot of fun.