3 ms·

It used to be good, but my guess is a modern kid, particularly a middle class one, doesn't get as much out of it. Minimum wage has stagnated, but also people th

It used to be good, but my guess is a modern kid, particularly a middle class one, doesn't get as much out of it. Minimum wage has stagnated, but also people these days have their eyes on internships that will secure a career. There's simply no point in pursuing burger-flipping if you can't find a way to hang around a law firm or a hedge fund, and those firms won't care at all that you worked hard in a menial job. When I was a kid there was never a time when I could pay for everything. The first time that happened was an internship I got during college, and then my first job right after.

SoftTalker 4y ago
Nobody pays minimum wage anymore, at least not if you want to hire anyone. $12/hr is the absolute lowest I've heard of in the past year or two. Employers do value experience at menial jobs, at least for their own entry level positions. Any work experience is better than none.
- dragonwriter 4y ago
  $12/hr is at or under the minimum wage in 19 of 54 US jurisdictions (50 states + DC, VI, PR, CNMI), so depending on where you are, that’s…not that significant.
  - SoftTalker 4y ago
    Where I live minimum wage is the federal minimum of $7.25/hr. Major chain fast-food jobs are starting at about $14/hr here, so nearly double.
horns4lyfe 4y ago
What high school kids are interning at hedge funds? Jobs like life guarding, painting, tradesman’s gopher, fast food, etc are still great jobs for kids to learn a work ethic and make some cash. Trying to kick start a career in high school is beyond silly for most kids.
- lordnacho 4y ago
  We had high schoolers in a fund I worked at. Helps that her dad knew the boss. No real use of course, but she could put it on her CV.
  - horns4lyfe 4y ago
    That’s clearly far outside the norm though. Normal high school kids aren’t aspiring to (or would even be allowed to) be interns at places like that outside of really unique situations.
    - lordnacho 4y ago
      Yes and thus the collapse in teen employment. No point in working if you don't find that unicorn internship. Flipping burgers is just not worth it, you may as well do exam practice or just have free time.

SoftTalker 4y ago

Nobody pays minimum wage anymore, at least not if you want to hire anyone. $12/hr is the absolute lowest I've heard of in the past year or two. Employers do value experience at menial jobs, at least for their own entry level positions. Any work experience is better than none.

dragonwriter 4y ago
$12/hr is at or under the minimum wage in 19 of 54 US jurisdictions (50 states + DC, VI, PR, CNMI), so depending on where you are, that’s…not that significant.
- SoftTalker 4y ago
  Where I live minimum wage is the federal minimum of $7.25/hr. Major chain fast-food jobs are starting at about $14/hr here, so nearly double.

horns4lyfe 4y ago

What high school kids are interning at hedge funds? Jobs like life guarding, painting, tradesman’s gopher, fast food, etc are still great jobs for kids to learn a work ethic and make some cash. Trying to kick start a career in high school is beyond silly for most kids.

lordnacho 4y ago
We had high schoolers in a fund I worked at. Helps that her dad knew the boss. No real use of course, but she could put it on her CV.
- horns4lyfe 4y ago
  That’s clearly far outside the norm though. Normal high school kids aren’t aspiring to (or would even be allowed to) be interns at places like that outside of really unique situations.
  - lordnacho 4y ago
    Yes and thus the collapse in teen employment. No point in working if you don't find that unicorn internship. Flipping burgers is just not worth it, you may as well do exam practice or just have free time.