How to Explain Job Etiquette to a Teen

Teaching teens anything takes some diligence, and preparing them for something new and out of their realm of experience can be downright hard. But explaining professional behavior and etiquette to a teen may be the most important thing you can do to help your teen succeed in their new job.

Instructions

1. Understand the job your teen has been hired for. Explaining the need for a suit and tie if your teen is expected to wear a uniform is a sure way to lose their interest and distance them from your advice.

2. Explain to your teen what to expect when they're at work. Remind them that customers are paying for their service and that as paying customers, they have expectations that need to be met. Ask your teen to think of a time when he or she went to pay for something and was treated poorly. This makes it easier for them to relate to the customer.

3. Discuss things body language, phrasing and how to best to interact in the professional world. Smiling even if you don't want to is the expected behavior for a work environment, especially when dealing with customers.

4. Talk about how the definition of "offensive" can vary from person to person. While on the job, it's the teen's responsibility to behave in such a way that would not offend any reasonable person.

5. Insist that your teen be showered and well groomed prior to leaving for work. Teens often think this is a step that can be skipped and need to be instructed differently. Their person needs to be as clean as their language when on the job.