10 jobs for 14-year-olds that will look excellent on a college application

While jobs for 14-year-olds were probably not high on the list of things for teens to do a decade ago, things have changed.

Having a job could be what decides whether you get into your dream college or university or not.

This is because admissions teams are looking for certain traits to convince them that you’ll be able to do wake up, do your homework, be punctual and many more tasks all on your own at uni.

Your college essay (or personal statement for those from the UK and Commonwealth countries) is where you’ll need to demonstrate that.

“Now that doesn’t mean you all should run out and make your kid get a part-time job just so they can write a college admission essay. Right?” said Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of “How to Raise an Adult” and the former dean of freshmen at Stanford University

“The point is the skills the child gets, the experiences they have, the humility they develop, the competency, the world view they develop by working a job where a boss is not mom or dad really can lead to incredible growth and perspective. And that can make a good essay.”

Preparing to write this essay (and what feels like thousands of application forms) for university today can be the most exciting time in your life — or the most stressful.

With so many after-school activities and exams, and still coming short against seemingly superhuman teenagers who are doing 10,000 more things than you, you need all the extra boost you can get to add to your application.

A job over the holidays or a week’s internship at your father’s law firm is likely not to cut it — as millions of teens worldwide, the very same competing for that same spot at your dream colleges, are doing the same.

Jobs for 14-year-olds and other teens are being snapped up

“Gen Z is bringing back the part-time job,” writes The Washington Post in January 2024.

The article reports that at least 250,000 more teenagers are now working compared to before the pandemic. 37% of 16- to 19-year-olds had a job or were looking for one last year, the highest annual rate since 2009, according to Labour Department data.

Not to be left behind, the younger side of Gen Z is stepping up too.

Taking up jobs as a 14-year-old not only gets you paid and makes your college essay stand out but also offers many other benefits too:

1. You can practise how to manage time
2. You become more responsible for your actions
3. You know more about a certain career
4. You can meet new people and friends who can give you a leg up in the future
5. You can earn your own money and work up your savings

As Amy Carney, a mother of six and the author of “Parent on Purpose,” said:

Teenagers “become stronger through the uncomfortable and inconvenient experiences that come with working at a local restaurant, grocery store or other service industry jobs.”

Things to note before you get a job as a 14-year old

As of July 2024, the average hourly pay for a US teen working part-time was US$17.07.

But pay aside, it’s also important to note that different counties have varying legal working ages, even if it’s for a part-time job.

In Canada, this even differs by province—British Columbia allows 14-year-olds to perform “light work,” such as cleaning, dishwashing, and stocking shelves, while in Nova Scotia, 14-year-olds can generally work like adults, but no dangerous work is permitted, and no work in mining, manufacturing, construction, forestry, garages and automobile service stations, hotels, pool rooms, billiard rooms, bowling alleys, or theatres is permitted.

In Australia, you can work part-time starting from the age of 13 in a restaurant or shop, delivering newspapers and advertising material and trolley collection. You can only work between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. but the work must not take place during the hours you are required to attend school. Before you can obtain part-time employment, the employer must have written consent from your parents.

Ultimately, it’s important to check the national and state laws to ensure you’re not doing anything illegal.

And while finding a job that pays well is a great benefit to have, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re choosing something that you can learn something from and that is relevant to your college essay.

The top 12 jobs for 14-year-olds

Summer camps are a great way to earn money and have fun with children. Source: Rami al Sayed/AFP

1. Camp counsellor

Being a camp counsellor is a good opportunity for you to sharpen a number of skills, including;

• Leadership: You need to make decisions and adapt to any situation that may arise. Counsellors will need to think on their feet and be able to take charge.
• Good communication: While at camp, a counsellor will need to speak and convey messages to many people, including children, parents, trainers, or medical staff, if called for.
• Learn diversity: You get to know, understand and empathise with people of all ages, abilities and races.

Actor Denzel Washington worked as a counsellor at the Boys and Girls Club and really enjoyed it.

“You learn to compete, you learn to be a gracious winner or loser, you learn how to get along with your peers and how to follow instructions, but all under the guise of having fun,” he said.

If Wolverine himself could get through tutoring younger kids, so can you. Source: AFP

2. Tutor

Being a tutor helps you show off two things in your college essay: you have good grades and you can communicate information clearly and concisely.

It’s a bonus if you tutor in the same subject you plan to apply for at college or university.

Before he became the greatest showman, Hugh Jackman actually had a stint tutoring freshmen only a few years younger in English and drama. Imagine telling someone that you were tutored by Wolverine himself — crazy, huh.

3. Retail worker

Everyone should work in retail at least once in their lives.

Not only does it introduce you to the realities of consumer behaviour, it can also give you a stronger appreciation for the time you have off. Needless to say, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for your retail workers who are working on holidays, evenings or other non-ideal hours when you cross their paths in the future.

And, of course, there are the varied skills you’ll pick up during your shifts.

Whether you’re working at a grocer or a clothing store, you’re sure to add skills like customer service, financial management, and communication skills onto your college application essay by the end of it.

Be nice to your Subway worker — you never know if they might be one of Hollywood’s next biggest actors. Source: AFP

4. Kitchen hand or waiter

Working in a kitchen or restaurant is a high-pressure environment. You may be on your feet for hours, work late hours, and constantly have hot pots and pans around you.

But you also gain heaps – patience, multitasking, customer service, communication, and time management.

Barbie and Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie was a sandwich artist at Subway, so really, anything is possible if you think about it.

5. Office assistant

Replying to emails, filing, and data entry are basic skills you’d pick up in an office. This position will teach time management and skills specific to a field of interest.

For instance, if you are interested in fashion, becoming an assistant to a designer may increase your chances of getting into a fashion school. You’ll also have a chance to get an inside glimpse of the industry and see if you’re really willing to commit.

Interested in going to business school? Apply for a job with a start-up, small or big.

6. Web developer

If you know how to code, then this could be a great job to venture into. After all, you’re already building apps and websites for free — so why not get paid for it? And if you’re not, there’s no time better than now to get into it.

Plus, any kind of software you create or build can also go into your portfolio to keep — and show off to admissions officers.

If you’re based in the US and are a girl aged 13 to 18, check out “Kode with Klossy,” a free, two-week summer coding camp by former Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss that teaches the basics of programming languages including HTML, Ruby, JavaScript, CSS, and Swift.

And if you’re based elsewhere, there are tons of online offerings too, like Apple’s Everyone Can Code initiative, Khan Academy, Coursera, and more.

There are many jobs for 14-year-olds to try out, including getting involved in the sporting scene. Source: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

7. Assistant coaching

Jobs for 14-year-olds don’t need to be only indoors. Everyone loves sports, so why not try working in a role that will allow you to enjoy the outdoors as well?

Being an assistant coach shows your ability to not only play the sport well but also teach and motivate athletes. Plus, you’ll get to be active instead of just sitting at a desk or running menial tasks all the time, so that’s a win in our book.

8. Tech support

As a tech-savvy kid, there might be no better job than simply offering help as tech support to the elderly in need of it.

While it likely isn’t going to be a glamorous role at Microsoft or Apple — you’ll probably be hired by a care centre for the role — it’s a great way to get your foot into the information technology or computer science field.

The people skills you’ll pick up in the role will go for miles here. And you might even get a nice letter of recommendation if you do your job well — perfect to slide in alongside your college applications.

9. Freelance writing

No matter the career you end up in, some form of communication skill is required.

Whether you’re doing hardcore mathematical equations that take humanity to Mars or you’re simply writing the next viral social media post, getting ahead in the writing game is always a bonus.

Plus, this is a fairly flexible job that’ll help you build a portfolio, potentially form industry connections, or simply build your presence as a writer. Not bad at all, if we do say so ourselves.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on August 1, 2024.