Blog #219: Don’t Wait Until Graduation to Secure a Part Time Job
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Apr 8, 2022
- 2 min read
In my previous blog, I promised you all that I would be covering the end of the school year and the challenges that come with it. For this installment, I want to cover something that myself and my family had to learn the hard way after I graduated in 2007: getting a part time job while still in high school and not waiting until after you graduated.
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For those of you who don’t know or have forgotten, part of the rough transition I had going from high school to real world life is that I waited too long to secure a part time job. Having a part time job while still in school is critical to anyone, neurodiverse or neurotypical, if they want to start earning and saving money for their ultimate goal in life.
Not too long ago, my day job had a new hire who was 19 years old and neurodiverse…from the moment I met him, he clearly was someone who had a lot to learn as this was further confirmed when this was his first job and it showed. He played by his own rules rather than the rules of the business and as a result, he didn’t last very long. Now, you are probably wondering why I am bringing this up.
Well, getting a part time job while still in school teaches you not just experience, but also discipline that you need in order to survive in real life. Unfortunately, a lot of neurodiverse families wait too long until after high school because of the child’s mental health and not wanting to overload the child’s plate.
The strategy I would recommend is to start small like volunteering at the town library, for example and then once the child turns 16 years old, then he or she should start looking for paid part time work. It doesn’t have to be every day of the week, but 2 to 3 days a week at best (evenings or weekends is typically average.
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Had the neurodiverse hire my company brought onboard for a short time had previous job experience, then maybe he would have lasted longer had he learned the discipline he needed to hold onto his position from other part time jobs.
And it doesn’t have to be in person jobs now in the post COVID pandemic world. With remote job opportunities, neurodiverse individuals can obtain part time work from home and also hold onto their academic life as well. But again, it’s up to the family to decide whether or not they want their neurodiverse or disabled child to start working.
Starting while still in high school can provide more cushion for when the time comes to transition and it’s something that most special education families should embrace for the benefit of their child.
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Catch you all later!!
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