5 Ways to Help Your Child Get a Job

As a parent, there’s no one more invested in your child’s future than you. Helping him start a smart job search is a huge milestone in the often long process of becoming an independent and self sufficient adult. And you don’t have to spend money to help. There are several FREE things you can do to help start the job search process out on a positive note. Here are 5 ways you can help your child get a job.

#1: Help Set Reasonable Expectations
Help your child understand that he’s probably not going to get the first job he applies to. It may seem obvious to you, but reinforcing that a job search is a PROCESS is one of the best things you can do. Having reasonable expectations will help him quickly bounce back from inevitable rejection and have a more positive attitude over all. Your support will be appreciated, even if it’s not outwardly expressed.

#2: Review Her Resume
Take a look at your child’s resume and make sure it’s got a clear focus and that it’s free from errors in spelling, grammar, and formatting. If the basic elements of her resume don’t make sense to you, chances are they won’t make sense to potential employers. Even if your child has a degree in Finance and you’re terrible at math, try to get her to talk through the information on her resume and make sure she’s comfortable talking about herself. This is not easy to do without practice.

#3: Help Her Network
Think about people you know and how your existing friends, colleagues, and even neighbors might know someone who is hiring. We always re-tell a great story about how one of our clients ended up getting her first full time accounting job because her mother’s dentist knew of an opening in his wife’s company. Networking can happen ANYWHERE—whether it’s at a doctor’s appointment, at a party, or in a casual conversation with a friend.

#4: Help Him Prepare for Interviews
If your child will let you, help him with some general interview preparation. Asking easy practice questions like, “So tell me about yourself” or “What interests you about this position” is a great way to help him start thinking about how he’s going to answer real questions in the interview. Let him practice his handshake on you too. Whatever you do, DON’T encourage your child to “wing it.” There is no substitute or short-cut for preparation.

#5: Get Someone Else to Help
Know when your child won’t take your advice. Chances are if she’s between the age of 14 and 24, she’s in this category. If you know she won’t listen to your suggestions, get someone else to give them to her. Ask a friend, a relative she’s close to, or a teacher to give her some advice.

Regardless of whether you have a recent college graduate looking for a career position or a high school student looking for a part-time job, these tips will apply. Be supportive and show an interest in their job search, but don’t try to control every aspect. Your child will be on the way to a job offer in no time!