Believe it or not, summer break is right around the corner. Many teens already have a very simple plan: sleep in, hang out with friends, and stay up late. If you have a teen who wants to do more this summer, these three fun activities can boost their skills—and their future paycheck!
Learn a foreign language
We live in a global society. Whether they want to work in sales, machinery, medicine, or anything in between, someone in the industry is going to be translating between people who speak different languages. That someone is going to make quite a bit of money!
While the exact numbers on the bump in pay you could get from speaking a foreign language are murky, experts estimate an hourly bump of between 5% and 20%! If your teens’ career plan ever falls through, they’ll have those skills to fall back on, which makes them a viable candidate across a wider spectrum of new job opportunities.If you don’t know where to start, sites like Duolingo and Open Culture are excellent starting points. There are also dozens of YouTube tutorials on syntax, grammar, and expression in other languages, too. The only wrong answer is not starting at all!
Master a piece of software
Whatever job your teen holds in the future, it will almost certainly involve a computer. Learning to use a common piece of software can give them a serious leg up when it comes time to job-hunt.
Look for programs with clear business applications. The Microsoft Office suite, especially programs like Excel and Access, are great first steps. If cost is an issue, consider experimenting with Googles Docs, Sheets, and Forms. These are free and cloud-based, so teens can keep playing with them on their smartphone when you hit the road.
Skill with programs like Abode and Microsoft are consistently in demand amongst employers. These versatile programs can be adapted to a variety of interests. For example, while learning to design social media posts, your teen could also be learning to track the statistics of their favorite baseball players, monitor the prices of hot clothing brands, or catalog their music library. The important thing is to start experimenting and they’ll soon discover the capabilities and limitations of these popular pieces of software.
Polish your writing skills
For many positions, the ability to communicate ideas clearly is of vital importance.
Like any other skill, they’ll get better at this the more they practice it. The only way to become a better writer is to write!
This summer, consider enrolling your teen in a writing workshop or creative writing class through Cabrillo College Extension Summer Camps for Kids. They offer summer programs tailored for teens, guiding essay writing, storytelling, and professionalism.
Your teen could also try their hand at blogging, whether they want to talk about the NFL draft, new albums, fashion, or video games. Platforms such as Blogger and WordPress are free to try and might connect them with other people who share their interests.
Writing skills are likely to help your teen in their future job searches, but they’ll also be useful for the rest of their school career. Papers and essay tests will be a breeze, and cover letters and college application essays will help them stand out from the crowd. Just write, edit, and write some more!
Now that they’ve spent their summer building valuable skills, it’s time to make the most of their hard-earned money by opening an account at Bay Federal Credit Union. A checking and savings account can teach them to manage their earnings, save for their future, and develop smart financial habits. Visit us online or stop by a branch to take the first step!
Bay Federal Credit Union proudly serves families in Santa Cruz County and along the Central Coast, offering savings and checking solutions that grow with your child. With just five dollars, you can open an account with no monthly fees and easy-to-use mobile banking, making it simple to teach financial wellness habits. Visit a local branch today to learn more about how we can help set your child on a path to a bright financial future.
This column is sponsored by Bay Federal Credit Union
