Is Working Part-Time for You?: Working while you're in school has its pros and cons. It's smart to weigh all your options - Special Feature

Career World, Jan, 2002 by Melissa M. Ezarik

Meredith got a job at a local doughnut shop to earn spending money of her own. Little did she realize that serving coffee and doughnuts would help her get started on her career.

One of the 16-year-old's frequent customers was a police officer in her Stratford, Connecticut, town. Once, after exchanging their usual greetings, she mentioned that she had taken her SATs that morning. "Then he asked me what I might want to do for a career," Meredith says. "I said, 'Forensics.' He perked up and said, 'I'm a detective, and I do a lot of work in the forensics area'" The detective mentioned an internship program at the police station and encouraged her to apply.

Meredith spent the summer at a job that didn't pay but was worth so much more. "His job didn't really seem like a job," she says. From taking photos of crime scenes to dusting evidence for fingerprints, he did something different every day. And so did she.

Whether it's a career boost, extra cash, savings for a car, or even just pride in a job well done, the benefits of working are understood by many teens--even those under age 16. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 57 percent of 14-year olds and 64 percent of 15-year-olds work (most at informal jobs, such as baby-sitting or lawn maintenance). In July 2001, 43 percent of teens ages 16 to 19 had formal jobs. But these teens also know of the drawbacks. From scheduling conflicts to lost sleep, having a job can be a bummer. Read on to find out if working part-time will work for you.

Why Work?

A trip to the mall, lunch out, a movie (with popcorn, of course), the latest electronic game or gadget, gas for the car...they're all part of life, and the costs add up quickly. Not surprisingly, a study by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine found that the desire to earn spending money is the number one reason teens hit the pavement in search of work

The chance to save money--whether it's for a car, college, or holiday gifts--is another benefit. And because you'll need to budget your earnings (by knowing what your expenses are and how much you've got left over for fun and savings), you learn money management skills that are a necessity once you're on your own.

The responsibilities of having to stick to a work schedule--even on days when you're not in the mood--and accomplish what your supervisor expects of you help shape what's known as work ethic. This means trying your hardest to do well, even if the boss isn't watching. "The true reward is in knowing that you are contributing your best to the company," says Martina Castro, teen content editor at JuniorJobs.com, a Web site that helps teens in the northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. areas to find employment and prepare for a career.

Martina, who is a sophomore at Amherst College in Massachusetts, compares success on the job to success in school. In school, you're rewarded with good grades when you work hard and try your best. "In the workplace it is a much more serious game because your job is potentially on the line," Martina says. "You are graded on how you perform and how valuable your effort is to your company."

Working teens agree that it can be difficult to carve out time for studying and homework. However, working a moderate number of hours may actually contribute to school success. Research by Dr. Paul LePore, a sociology professor at the University of Washington, suggests that teens who work between one and 15 hours a week do better in school than those who work more than that--and better than those who don't work at all.

Why Not?

On the flip side of the working equation is the stress that comes from juggling all your commitments. Joe, a 17-year-old junior in St. Charles, Missouri, quit his summer job as a busboy in a restaurant because he would have no chance to de-stress if he worked during the school year. "I love having free

time to just sit around and relax and goof around," he says.

For Jennifer, a 17-year-old senior in Yuma, Arizona, volleyball in the fall, marching band in the fall and winter, and tennis in the spring make having a job impossible. She does wish she could get a summer job, but without her own car, she can't get to work. "Where I live it's extremely hot... and I thought walking would not be a good idea" she explains.

No doubt, working can mean less time for yourself. Sleep and exercise are two must-haves that tend to be sacrificed when time is tight. For example, Meredith remembers working more than a few Sunday nights at the doughnut shop when she should have been at home finishing an essay due Monday. "I had to work 'til 10, so sometimes I would be up really late."

Working 20 or more hours per week can also hurt other aspects of your life, according to the National Research Council study. It equated working a lot to lower grades, too little family time, and higher alcohol use (possibly because of older coworkers). The U.S. Department of Labor has found that teens who work excess hours are more likely to drop out of school and have poor employment success later in life. On average, 15- to 17-year-olds work 17 hours a week during the school year and 23 hours in the summer.