My daughter, a junior in high school, has a fantastic part-time job as a food runner blocks away from our house. They work with the students to ensure they get the time off they need for school activities and family functions. Many of her friends work there as well. She earns $10 an hour, but after tips are counted, it’s closer to $20. This all sounds great, but she wants to quit. I support her 100%.
Learning Skills
My daughter is taking a class in which she learns the skills preparing for the certified nursing assistant exam. She has almost completed the course, and has her exam scheduled for May 13th. If she passes, she wants to get a job as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at an assisted living center near our home with an hourly wage of around $15.
Short Term vs Long Term Success
Even though my daughter would earn less per hour as a certified nursing assistant, I support her doing so, keeping the following points in mind:
- She’s at the ceiling of her income level as a food runner. She has very little opportunity to earn more other than to work more hours. As a CNA, she has the ability for raises based on experience.
- She wants to go into the medical field, eventually becoming a midwife. Working as a CNA will provide invaluable experience in her chosen career field, making it easier to be accepted into college, a nursing program, and in tine a better and higher paying job.
- She likes her job as a food runner, but she doesn’t love it. She loved her clinical experience as a nursing assistant. One has to do something to earn money, it might as well be something you love.
- Don’t quit one job until you have another. She can’t just assume she’s going to get a job, and quit her current position as a food runner. I advised her to apply for CNA jobs, but she cannot quit her current job until she has been offered a new one.
- Leave gracefully. Never burn bridges when you leave a job. One never knows when they might need a good reference, or return to a previous job field.
Most of the time a job with a higher income is the best choice. But sometimes you have to look at the potential of the job, as well as your life goals. A short term reduction in income could be the best long term decision.
How about you, EOD Nation, have you ever taken a temporary reduction in income for a better long term outcome?
Sounds like a smart young person with a great plan! Having raised three millennials to successful adulthood having jobs in their teens was a good part of their becoming responsible adults. Sounds like you’ve got this on your hip!