Jobs vs. GPA: Why Working During School Prepares Teens for College and Life
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime when we’re obsessing over GPAs, college admissions, and extracurriculars: Good old-fashioned work.
Not resume-padding internships or over-orchestrated leadership camps.
I’m talking about actual jobs: Scooping ice cream, running the register at Target, dog-walking, dishwashing, bussing tables, stocking shelves.
Because here’s the deal:
When teens and college students work during school, they don’t just earn a paycheck.
They earn experience. They build confidence.
And, surprise! They actually do better in school, too.
The Research Says So (And So Do Employers)
Don’t just take my word for it.
Study after study shows that students who work part-time during the school year (think 10-15 hours a week) are more engaged, better at managing their time, and often outperform their non-working peers academically.
Why?
Because working while balancing school teaches discipline, responsibility, and how to prioritize real-world tasks, fast.
But there’s something else even more important at play:
They’re learning the soft skills employers are desperate for.
We’re talking about:
Showing up on time
Communicating clearly
Solving problems
Taking initiative
Handling stress
Dealing with customers and coworkers (even the cranky ones)
These are the foundational skills that make or break a new hire; and right now, employers are practically begging for them.
Soft Skills Are the New Hard Skills
According to recent surveys from top employers across industries, one of the biggest complaints about new college grads is that they’re not “job-ready.”
Translation?
They might have the degree, but they lack the day-to-day people skills, communication abilities, and real-world confidence to function independently in a fast-paced work environment.
This isn’t a character flaw.
It’s a development gap.
We’ve spent so much time telling students to focus on academics and extracurriculars that we’ve accidentally pushed aside one of the most valuable developmental opportunities: part-time work.
But Wait—What If My Kid Is Already on a Team?
Let’s pump the brakes real quick.
If your teen or college student is on a high-level competitive team, especially a collegiate sports team, that is their job.
Seriously.
Student-athletes put in hours of training, travel, meetings, conditioning, and recovery.
They’re learning the same exact soft skills in a different environment:
Time management
Handling pressure
Taking feedback
Performing under stress
Being part of a team
Showing up even when it’s hard
So no, I’m not here to tell you to send your D1 athlete to clock in at the movie theater on weekends.
But for most students? A job can be an incredible part of their personal and professional growth.
What Kind of Jobs Are Best?
Let’s not overthink it.
The best part-time jobs for teens and college students are the ones that fit into their lives and help them stretch just enough to grow.
Some ideas:
Retail or food service (hello, customer service boot camp!)
Babysitting or tutoring
Campus jobs (library, admissions office, campus rec)
Freelance gigs or side hustles (if they’re self-motivated)
Internships (if they’re paid and offer real responsibility)
Bonus points if the job relates to a career they’re considering but honestly, any job where they’re learning how to deal with people, manage time, and solve problems is valuable.
What If They’re “Too Busy”?
This one’s tricky.
Today’s teens are juggling a lot: classes, sports, clubs, APs, test prep. It’s easy to feel like adding a job would be too much.
But here’s the thing:
When done right, working doesn’t add stress. It builds capacity.
The key is helping your teen find the right balance, usually no more than 10-15 hours a week during the school year.
Start small.
A weekend shift.
A few hours after school.
A summer job to test the waters.
Let them try. Let them fail. Let them get yelled at by a rude customer and learn how to deal with it. That’s where growth lives.
Let’s Zoom Out for a Second
The goal isn’t just for your teen to have a job.
The goal is for them to develop into a confident, capable, resourceful young adult who knows how to function in the real world.
Part-time jobs build that.
It’s not about earning gas money or building a bulletproof college application.
It’s about building grit, initiative, and interpersonal skills they can carry into any future. Whether that’s a four-year university, a trade school, a start-up, or something totally different.
How We Help
We know that parents want to set their teens up for success, but most of us didn’t grow up with the pressure cooker environment teens are in now. It’s hard to know when to push, when to step back, and how to talk about career readiness without sounding like a broken record.
That’s why we partner with both parents and teens to take the mystery (and stress) out of it.
Bottom line?
Soft skills aren’t soft…they’re essential.
And your teen doesn’t need a corporate internship to build them.
Sometimes all it takes is a name tag, a timecard, and a few shifts behind the counter.
Let’s help them build a life they’re ready for, not just a résumé.
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