As BASH’s students gradually get closer and closer to adulthood, many of them actively consider employment. Whether it be needing extra cash, or something to put on a resume, a job has a lot of potential benefits for high school students. While this may lead many students into considering employment, it is just as essential to consider the drawbacks of employment, especially with managing school, extracurriculars, and and relationships.
Applying for Jobs
If any student’s under the age of 18 is looking for a job, they must get their working papers in order to apply. Working papers are for students age 14-17 who want to be employed. Working papers given out by the district once the proper requirements are met. A student must get their parent to sign this form, and then submit that to the main office in person, or scanned via email. Proof of age is required. The acceptable proofs of age are birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport, or a driver’s license. A student only needs to show/scan one of these to get the papers. This process usually takes around a week to complete. If you’re looking for more information on getting working papers, see Boyertown Area School Districts website here.
Where to Apply
There are many places to apply that aren’t far from BASH. When doing this, it’s important to consider requirements, which can include age, pay, hours, and the type of work you will be doing.
Frederick Living is a great place for BASH students to apply to, especially if they have no working experience. To work at Frederick living as a BASH student you must be at least 16 years old and pass pre employment screening. No previous experience is needed. According to their website pay starts at $13 dollars an hour. Benefits include paid time off (for full/part time) and extra pay for working weekends. An application to Frederick Living can be found here.
Walmart in Bechtelsville, which is very close to BASH, is also hiring cashiers. Pay starts at $15 dollars an hour, according to their application. Their website says that “You play a major role in how our customers feel when they leave the store. You might be the first, last, and sometimes only associate a customer interacts with. That’s why it’s so important to smile, greet, and thank every customer. You are an ambassador of Walmart.” Adrianna Lock, a BASH senior who used to work at Walmart, said that “The work was pretty easy and not super hard. Most of the co-workers were chill and the pay was really good. I enjoyed my time working there.”
If you’re looking for a job that’s walkable from BASH, look no further than Boyertown’s Rita’s. Pay starts at $9 dollars plus tips according to current/previous employees. Their website says that “Being a member of the Rita’s Treat Team at a franchised shop provides you with the opportunity to develop valuable job skills, such as: communication, team building, and Guest service. Every person connected to Rita’s from the Franchisee to the newest Treat Team Member plays a key role in the success of the Rita’s Brand.” An application to Boyertown’s Rita’s can be found here. One of the benefits of Rita’s is the ability to become a closer, someone who closes down the store after work, and earn a pay increase as you work there for longer. Emma Webster, a Rita’s employee for over a year, said that “It’s a really chill work environment. I love all my co-workers and managers. I’d definitely recommend BASH students apply here if they’re looking for a chill flexible job.”
Managing Work, Life and School
Managing school, life, and work can be a challenge, especially for high school students who don’t have much previous experience with these things. Emily Mack, a Junior at BASH, spoke to how employment affected her time while attending BASH. “A job has helped me with time management and self responsibility,” she says. “I have to go to work, and I have to do my homework.” Emily also mentioned that “While it can be a struggle to find a work/life balance initially, it got better with time as I adjusted to my new schedule.”
Emily Mack also spoke about the hiring/training process for her job, which she’s had for over a year, “I usually enjoy my work, I enjoy getting to be around different people. Training was okay, it took me a while to learn everything but it was good and my coworkers were always there to help me.” For the hiring process, she said that it was all online and that they called her back within two days of applying.
Emily’s advice goes well with what Harvard Business School says on the topic. They recommend managing time well, saying “Complete assignments before they’re due instead of waiting until the last minute. This is particularly important if you work full time. The last thing you want is to stress about deadlines after work.”
For a more in depth list from the Harvard Business School on how to balance work and school, click here.
While jobs can be a great and rewarding experience, it is essential to keep on top of school, time, and personal life. With this knowledge, we hope that students will be much more prepared when entering the workforce.
