What You Need to Know Before Starting a Casual Job After High School

After years of hard work, you’ve finally graduated high school. It’s the first time you’ve felt genuine freedom in a long time and you’re ready to savour it, but when you look around, you realise that your friends and former classmates are all getting summer jobs.

Getting a job during the break between high school and university is a popular option among students, allowing them to save up some money before school starts all over again. If you’re interested in working during the summer break, there are some things you should be aware of before you start a new job.

Know exactly when you’re available.

The summer break is a busy period for most retailers, which means that stores require their employees to be flexible and available for the majority of the break. If you know that you have a long trip planned soon after you start working, make sure that the employer is aware prior to you commencing the job, or choose to start working after you return from your trip.

Know what your pay rate should be.

As students are young and easily exploited, make sure you know exactly what the legal pay rate should be for your age. Most retailers follow the law in this regard, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you do think that you’re being paid less than you should, you may consider getting another job, but do keep in mind that you’re young and will only be getting a percentage of the adult wage.

Read through workplace agreements and know your rights.

Equip yourself with knowledge about the maximum number of hours per week you’re legally allowed to work, as well as the amount and length of time your breaks should be. This way, you can ensure that you’re being treated fairly in the workplace and not overworking yourself. Understanding the law means that you’ll be able to protect yourself should anything happen.

Like any other setting, bullying and discrimination can also occur in the workplace. Before starting your job, know who’s in charge of dealing with workplace bullying and don’t be afraid to report someone if you feel uneasy. All employees have the right of freedom from discrimination, whether it be your age, gender, race or religion.

Don’t give out all of your personal information.

It is both a safety and privacy issue with regards to giving out personal information such as date of birth, address, bank details etc. These details only need to be given once you have accepted an offer of employment and ready to start working.

Have everything that you need ready.

Have your identification, e.g. driver’s license, ready and apply for a tax file number (or equivalent) early so that you have all the information required for starting a job. Doing this early will reduce stress and improve the overall experience, allowing you to go into your new job with a more positive attitude.