How to help your teenagers land their first part-time job

Getting a part-time job is a rite of passage for many teenagers.

The great thing is that not only will it teach them about money but it will help them develop other skills - such as strong communication, problem solving, time management and team work - that will stand them in good stead in the future.

Find out about any minimum age requirements in your state.

In Victoria, for example, people must be 15 or older to start working unless it is in the family business or entertainment industry. If they're younger than 15 but older than 13, they may work with parental permission but the employer will need a child employment permit.

If they aren't old enough to get a formal job there are plenty of other ways they can make money, such as doing chores around the house for a fee or babysitting, gardening or dog walking for friends or neighbours.

Teenagers will need a tax file number to start working.

They can apply online at ato.gov.au, provide proof of identity documents and attend an interview at Australia Post.

If they are under 16 and you are applying on their behalf, you may also need to provide proof of ID or your own TFN. You can find more information on the ATO website.

Some of the things for you and your teenager to think about before looking for a work are when they can do it, how it will fit in with any other commitments and how they will get there and back.

You should help them put together a resume - which, of course, may be tricky as they have not worked before.

Include their contact details, any volunteer work they have done and list their strengths and what interests them. It's also a good idea to include references from family friends or teachers.

They can apply online for big employers such as food and retail chains or walk around and ask at local shops if there are any vacancies.

Try to prepare them for an interview with mock questions.

It is common for employers to hold recruitment sessions, asking a number of applicants to attend one event where they are assessed when they talk about themselves, play team games and are interviewed within the group.

If they get the job make sure they ask about pay rates and how many hours they are likely to work.

If you want to find out more about their pay rates and entitlements, check fairwork.gov.au.

For more tips on how to get your kids on the right financial path, grab the July issue of Money, out now

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