Every teenager knows the joy of having some extra cash in their pocket. Whether it's for shopping, going out with friends, or saving up for something special, having a part-time job can make a world of difference.
Besides the obvious financial gain, these jobs offer a valuable opportunity for personal growth and development. Teens learn important life skills such as time management, responsibility, and how to work in a team.
These experiences can greatly enhance their future prospects, whether it's for higher education or entering the workforce. Part-time jobs also help teenagers build their confidence and gain a sense of independence.
But finding the best job that offers both decent pay and flexibility can be a daunting task.
Factors to Consider for Jobs for Teens
Finding the best job for teens involves considering several factors. Many companies are aware that their positions are best suited for teens, so they ensure to cater to the needs of students and young people, but you still need to ensure that the position fits your schedule and ability.
Make Sure It’s Legal!
If you’re looking for employment at a well-established place like a grocery store, clothes store, restaurant, or other larger business, you can likely rest easy knowing that all the legalities are in place.
But sometimes businesses will knowingly or unknowingly break labour laws and take advantage of their employees. If it’s accidental, you can let them know about the rule breakage. If they don’t fix it, leave.
If it’s on purpose, definitely leave. Bad employers will count on the naivete of younger workers to perpetuate bad working practices.
Make sure the job follows the laws set out by the government.
Skill and Flexibility
Assess the level of flexibility required. Some jobs may have fixed schedules, while others allow for more flexibility in terms of working hours. It's essential to find a job that aligns with the teen's availability and other commitments, like school and extracurricular activities.
Some teens and young adults are more suited to certain jobs, just like anybody would be.
If you’re more outgoing, you can look for customer-facing jobs. If you’re more reserved, look for something to do with bookkeeping or admin.
The job must be suitable to your skills, schedule, and personality.
Rate of Pay
While it's nice to earn a high wage, it's equally important to consider the job's demand and the level of skill required. Most entry-level jobs pay rather low because they are just that: entry-level.
If you have a special skill or are adept at a certain thing, you can find a better pay rate in that vein of work.
You can also seek out positions that allow for tips, like barista or waitstaff, and try to get extra tips on top of your hourly wage.
Keep in mind that there is no minimum wage for people under 16 years of age in New Zealand. As soon as you turn 16, your employer must pay you according to the wage laws.
| Type of minimum wage | Per hour | 8 hour day | 40 hour week | 80 hour fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $22.70 | $181.60 | $908 | $1,816 |
| Starting-out / Training | $18.16 | $145.28 | $726.40 | $1,452.80 |
Convenience
This may seem self-explanatory, but make sure your job is convenient to get to!
Ensure that you have a reliable way to get to and from your job before you start, and have a backup plan just in case.
It also shouldn’t take ages to commute; you also need time to revise and do other things!
Jobs for Students with Limited Experience
We all start somewhere!
For students with limited experience, there are still plenty of job options available. Many industries and companies are well-suited for first-time job-havers, so you don’t need to feel nervous about not having no prior work on your resume.
Retail Sales Associate
One such job is working as a retail sales associate. Many stores, especially those in the fashion and grocery industries, hire students with minimal experience. This job provides opportunities to learn about customer service, sales techniques, and inventory management.
Hospitality Industry
Restaurant servers or hosts, baristas, or kitchen staff are all great entry-level positions. Restaurants often hire students as they offer flexible shifts and on-the-job training. This job allows students to develop their communication skills and learn about the food service industry.
Working as hotel front-desk staff is another entry-level position that offers opportunities to learn real-world skills.
Baby/Pet Sitting
Many teens start their entry into the workforce by simply providing services in their own neighbourhoods. Pet sitting, dog walking, and babysitting are all excellent choices for first jobs.
Cleaning and Maintenance
One surefire way to find a job is to solve a problem people face. One problem that will never go away is: that things get dirty.
Whether it’s a car exterior or interior, an unruly lawn, a dirty garbage bin, or a messy garage, there is a mess somewhere that someone doesn’t want to clean up.
If you’re up for it, you can provide these services in your own neighbourhood or city.
Freelance
These days, many people are able to earn by freelancing their skills.
You can make t-shirt designs or digital/print-on-demand products, make music with free or cheap music software, or sell your crafts.
Lots of people also find success with selling clothes and other items online, especially flipped furniture or curated collections.
Have a knack for social media or digital organisation? Try being a social media manager, content creator for a business, or virtual assistant!
Tutoring
Whether it’s students your age or younger, you can become a tutor who works with people in your school or local area. If you’re particularly good at something, you might even be able to teach people older than yourself!
With online tutoring platforms, you are not limited to your local area. Tutor online with a service like Superprof, set your own schedule and rates, and teach right from home!
First Jobs for Skill Development
Apart from earning money, part-time jobs can also offer valuable skill development opportunities. These types of jobs might require a more intensive screening process, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility for students to snag these kinds of positions.
Such jobs are ones that require a little more skill, like an administrative assistant or sales representative.
With jobs like these, you want to be able to learn skills like teamwork, time management, organisation, communication, leadership, and problem-solving.
Check out these positions that require a little more skill:
- Camp counsellor/activities leader
- Administrative assistant
- Sales representative
- Line cook
- Factory work
- Data entry
Most Popular Student Jobs - Pay Rates
According to Payscale.com, these are the average pay rates for positions that students frequently have, which are typically lower than the average salaries paid in New Zealand.
| Position | Rate (NZ$/hr) |
|---|---|
| Retail | 22.96 |
| Cashier | 19.99 |
| Barista | 20.53 |
| Babysitter | 13.01 |
| Pet Store Clerk | 21.93 |
| Tutor | 27.22 |
| Admin Assist | 23.47 |
| Freelance Graphic Design | 39.66 |
| Hotel Desk Clerk | 16.48 |
| Waitstaff | 20.14 |
| Lifeguard | 20.97 |
| Customer Service Rep | 22.71 |
| Virtual Assist | 25.7 |
| Packaging Machine Operator | 21.99 |
When it comes to the freelancing gigs you can set up for yourself online, your success may vary. Some people have thriving YouTube channels or other social media empires while attending school. Others make digital goods or tangible goods and sell them on places like Etsy or eBay.
If you have an idea for a fun project that might also make you some cash, give it a shot! Who knows, you might just build a business of your own!
Where to Find Jobs for Teens
Finding a job can be a daunting task, especially in a competitive market.
Online Job Boards
The older generations might insist that the best way to secure employment is by walking into a store and talking to the manager. These days, the manager might be more annoyed than impressed.
Instead, try looking at job search sites like:
- Indeed
- TradeMe.co
- TeenJobs.co
- Seek.co
- NZ.Jora.com
- SJS.co.nz
- Careers.govt.nz
Online Freelancing
For jobs like freelance writer, graphic designer, social media manager, voice actor, drawing commissions, and more, try listing your services or searching ISO (in search of) requests.
Make sure you carefully read the terms and conditions of these sites, especially if you’re younger than 16, as many of them have strict rules about minors using the sites.
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- Freelancer
- SolidGigs
- Ezy Peazy
- MyTask
- YouTeam
- FlexJobs
- Superprof
What Else?
One old-fashioned trick that still works is networking. Ask your friends, family, teachers, people you meet in town, or the internet for leads. Do they have a problem you can solve? Do they know someone who could use your help? Does anyone have any influence in the hiring process for a local business?
You can also utilise local postings for job openings, people ISO help, and post your own offerings as well. That’s what community bulletin boards and online boards are for!
You Can Do It!
Part-time jobs for teens and students are not only a means to earn money but also an opportunity for personal growth and skill development. Whether it's a high-paying job for university students or a job for students with limited experience, there are options available that offer the perfect mix of pay and flexibility.
Utilizing resources such as online job portals, community centres, and networking can further increase their chances of finding the perfect job. So, why wait?
Start exploring the best jobs for teens and students today and pave the way to financial independence and personal growth!
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