Following my junior year in high school, I was looking to add to my extracurriculars since I knew my summer vacation would mainly involve going out with friends, spending time with family, and honing in on my tennis skills. As my parents didn’t want me working during the school year—they saw it as a distraction from my studies—I took it upon myself to apply to jobs to get some "real-world" experience. Personally, I believe that every young person should get a job while they’re in high school so they can understand the stresses and rewards from their toil. 

When I was growing up, I’d only heard of W-4 and I-9 forms from my friends’ older siblings who worked at retail or coffee shop jobs. I always thought to myself, “I’ll get there eventually.” Well, eventually came at the young age of 17 when I started work as an Advocate and Fundraiser for the international charity, World Vision. I was fortunate enough to have my parents patiently point me in the right direction as I completed these two employment forms. The purpose of an IRS W-4 form is so that the federal government can know which taxes apply to you when you get paid by your employer. Additionally, an I-9 form verifies your eligibility to work in the United States. It’s very important to thoroughly read these forms and be honest in tallying up which statements apply to you so that you can be taxed correctly. Not doing so could lead to some nasty surprises come tax filing day, and that’s a whole ordeal you want to avoid.

Now that I had a somewhat steady income (I was working part-time), my parents handed me the responsibility of covering the car expenses. I was already “supporting” myself when it came to going out to meals with friends since I regularly earned money from babysitting, so paying for gas and car washes became an additional expense that I would need to cover. As I was getting paid about $330 bi-weekly, I put aside $30 for gas each week, and set $50 as my bi-weekly budget for going out to meals with friends. At the end of the summer, I used the rest of my money for getting lunch off campus as well as holiday presents for family and friends. While I didn’t have any bills to pay, I found that having a budget helped with my spending habits because I was always conscious of how much I allotted myself to spend. On a similar note, be wary of the convenience of direct deposit. Just because you know you can afford to buy something because it’s payday doesn’t mean you should.

Working during the summer made me realize how important it was to prioritize my time between work, family, and friends. While I was working, I did have to make some unfortunate sacrifices. For example, I had to miss my grandfather’s 80th birthday party because none of my coworkers were able to cover my shift. When I wasn’t working, I discovered how much I previously took my free time for granted. Like the old saying goes, “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”

You’ll always hear adults talk about how important it is to make connections with the people you meet and work with, and I couldn’t agree more. The connections I’ve made—both academically and through working—have helped me get a government internship (I was hired on the spot!), great recommendations for college, and lifelong friendships. The more people you develop professional relationships with, the more opportunities you’ll have when the time comes to get a job or maybe make a career change.

My two ¢ents:

• Getting your first job is a strenuous process, and you can’t sell yourself short during the interview process. Do your research, and highlight your strongest assets that you think the company is looking for. 
• Be ready to adapt to new situations, and strengthen your soft skills so you can prove yourself as valuable in the workplace. Your first boss and close colleagues will be your references for future jobs, so you want to be sure that you make a good first impression.

Up for discussion:

• What was your first job?
• What did you learn in that role?
• What was the interview process like?
• Did you learn to budget your first few paychecks in a way that made you mentally and financially happy?
• What advice would you give to someone who’s applying to their first job?

…

If you liked this article, be sure to check out this NGPF lesson: How Do I Get My First Job? Additionally, we have an NGPF activity: Compare Tax Forms in which students apply their knowledge to the foundational tax forms they will need to know as they enter the job market. 

picture credit: https://video.gq.com/series/my-first-job

About the Author

Danielle Bautista

Danielle is a native of Southern California and a recent graduate from the University of Maine, where she braved the frigid winters—a feat in and of itself—and earned her Bachelor's degree in International Affairs. She has a passion for working with non-profit organizations and serving populations in underprivileged communities. When Danielle isn't writing NGPF blog posts, spearheading various outreach projects, or managing contests and flash surveys, you can find her doing some sort of outdoor activity, learning a new hobby, or cracking what she thinks are witty puns!