They’ve polished their CV and practised their interview answers. It’s a huge leap, moving from the classroom to the workplace. But while your teenager might have the qualifications on paper, the real challenge often lies in the unwritten rules of the job. The culture, the expectations, the way people behave – it can all feel like a foreign language. For parents and carers, this is where your guidance becomes invaluable. Whether it’s for a weekend job or the first step in a career, your support can help them find their feet and truly shine.
Getting to Grips with the Basics
The world of work operates differently from school. It just does. Punctuality is a great example. At school, being on time might be the goal. At work, it’s the absolute baseline; being ready to start when your shift begins is what really matters. Then there’s the dress code. Talk to them about what’s appropriate, even in a so-called ‘casual’ office. There’s a world of difference between relaxed workwear and what they’d wear lounging at home. Communication, too, needs a different approach. Guide them on how to write a professional email, when to use instant messaging, and the importance of a polite tone with absolutely everyone, from the CEO to the cleaner.
Fitting into the Team
School projects are often about individual grades. Work isn’t like that. In almost every job, success is a team game. It’s so important to explain this. Being a good team player isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. It means being someone your colleagues can count on. It means offering a hand when someone is struggling, without being asked. And it means celebrating the team’s wins, not just your own personal achievements. Learning to collaborate and share the credit for a job well done is a skill that will benefit them for their entire working life.
Handling Setbacks and Learning to Adapt
The world of work isn’t always smooth sailing. There will be difficult days and tricky feedback. This is where resilience comes in. Many young people, and especially those who have been fostered with agencies like Foster Care Associates Scotland, often have a powerful, inbuilt resilience. They have learned to adapt to new people and unfamiliar situations. This is a real strength, a superpower even. As their carer, your role is to help them see this strength and apply it. They might need your help to build trust with a new manager or to feel secure in a team. Your consistent support provides them with a safe space to talk through any anxieties, helping them turn their life experience into a professional asset.
Encouraging a Proactive Attitude
No one expects the new person to know it all. They really don’t. But they do expect them to want to learn. Encourage your teen to be curious and proactive. This goes beyond just ticking off tasks on a to-do list. It’s about watching how the seasoned professionals do things and asking good questions when they don’t understand something. Crucially, this also means trying to figure out a solution before they ask for help. It shows they’re a problem-solver, not just a problem-bringer. Suggesting they ask for feedback now and then is also a brilliant idea, as it shows a real maturity and a desire to improve.
Ultimately, your job here is to be their coach and their safe harbour. You can’t go to work with them. But you can give them the tools to make sense of it all. By talking through these ideas, you’re doing more than just preparing them for their first day. With your support, they won’t just be starting a job; they’ll be building the confidence to launch a career.
