New app built by parents helps teenagers find their first part-time jobs

Surprisingly, most teenagers in the modern era are earnest to break into the workforce and start making some pocket money. It's an important stepping stone that helps build a sense of responsibility and adulthood, but as many parents know, a high school schedule can be tedious to work with, alongside standard labor laws for minors, often make finding part-time jobs a struggle.

That’s where TeenJobFind comes in. Janet Shah of Palo Alto, California created the app that helps teens find and perform odd jobs like yard work and babysitting. Shah hopes the app will help teens recognize the importance of work and find jobs that fit into their busy schedules.

Why Are Jobs Important for Teens?

The Employment Policies Institute released a study showing clear evidence that “part-time work as a high school senior translates to future career benefits that include higher hourly wages, increased annual earnings, and less time spent out of work.”

Shah agrees with those findings. She feels that when teens hold down jobs, they’re building a strong foundation for their future — and that idea came from her own children. As her three kids got older, she noticed their wish lists were getting bigger, too. They wanted a new iPad or Lululemon pants instead of a candy bar.

“I told my daughter that she would have to find a way to earn money for her expensive yoga pants,” Shah says. “After several babysitting jobs, she came to me exasperated. [She complained,] ‘It took me eight hours to earn enough money for those pants!’” 

That, of course, was the exact lesson Shah had been trying to teach. “I wanted my kids, and those of her generation, to learn these valuable life lessons — work ethic, responsibility, financial independence.” 

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