Pick a job that suits you
By Brenna Morgan
Many high school students will be faced with their first working experience some time during their high-school career.
According to the Washington Post, about 25 percent of 14-year-olds have a job during the school year. This percentage increases to 38 percent for 15-year-olds. By the time students reach their senior year, 73 percent work for at least part of the academic year.
Choosing a first job can be difficult. Among the factors to consider are the starting pay, whether you want to work around food, the stress level that you can maintain, flexibility around school hours and the amount of responsibility you can handle.
Here's my scale, based on interviews with people who toil at these jobs: Ratings 1-5 (1 is low, 3 is average, and 5 is high)
Sandwich maker
Pay: 3
Grease factor: 2
Stress: 2
Flexibility: 4
Responsibility: 2
Ice cream server
Pay: 3
Grease factor: 1, but beware the gooey mess
Stress: 1
Flexibility: 4
Responsibility: 1
Grocery bagger
Pay: 3
Grease factor: 1
Stress: 3
Flexibility: 3
Responsibility: 4
Hostess
Pay: 4
Grease factor: 1
Stress: 3
Flexibility: 3
Responsibility: 3
Bus-person
Pay: 5
Grease factor: 2
Stress: 3
Flexibility: 3
Responsibility: 3
Clothing seller
Pay: 4
Grease factor: 1
Stress: 4
Flexibility: 2
Responsibility: 3
Lifeguard
Pay: 5
Grease factor: 1
Stress: 5
Flexibility: 3
Responsibility: 5
Burger flipper
Pay: 3
Grease factor: 5
Stress: 1
Flexibility: 3
Responsibility: 1
