14 Jobs for Young People and Tips For High School Students

As a young person, it can be both scary and exciting to look for your first job, but also difficult to know what you will be allowed to do. What jobs are there for young people? What are the rules and where can you find the jobs?

In this article, you can read what types of work young people can do, what advantages there are for you when you work as a young person and what laws and regulations there are. Then you get a list of 14 common jobs for young people and good things to know before you start looking for an extra job.

What jobs are there for young people?

After finishing primary school and entering high school, you may have thought about starting a job to earn money. Employers look favorably on high school students working extra hard, and some types of jobs are more common than others.

What is most important is that the job does not interfere with your schooling and that it is not dangerous. The jobs that young people can do often do not require any prior knowledge and you are trained on the job. In some cases, a short course may be required for you to be able to do the job.

This means that there are many different types of jobs to choose from. Then it might be good to narrow down the selection and ask yourself:

• How much time can you work without it affecting your schooling?
• How far can you imagine going to work?
• How physically demanding can your job be? If the job is physically demanding, it can also be tiring, so you need to plan time for recovery.
• Do you have any special areas of interest that you would like to work in?
• Is there anything you absolutely do not want to work on?

If you are or are about to start a specific specialization at high school, it is very possible that there are easier jobs in that particular field. There are then advantages to working in the industry you have targeted.

How much can you work as a young person?

To understand how much you are allowed to work as a young person according to the Working Hours Act, you must first understand two concepts:

1. Minor: You are a minor if you have not reached the age of 18.
2. Youth: You are a youth if you have completed your compulsory education and turn 16 in the current calendar year.

The most important rule to remember is that your working hours must not interfere with your schooling or your ability to get to school for classes.

As a youth, you may work a maximum of 8 hours per day or a maximum of 40 hours per week, with certain exceptions. If the duties or working conditions require it, you may work up to 8 hours per day on average over a seven-day period

The weekly working hours may then be 40 hours per week on average over a four-week period. This means that one day you can work 9 hours and another day 7 hours. You must also have a break of 30 minutes, such as coffee or lunch after a maximum of 4.5 hours of work.

You must also have time off according to the law

As a youth, you must have at least 12 consecutive hours of leave in a 24-hour period. The time between 22.00 and 06.00 or 23.00 and 07.00 you must not work. There are exceptions if your shifts end between 10pm and midnight or start between 5am and 7am.

You must also have a rest period of at least two consecutive days every seven-day period, preferably at the end of the week.

What do you get to work with as a youth?

In addition to rules about your working hours, there are also rules about what you are allowed to work with according to the regulations on the working environment for minors . The Swedish Work Environment Authority has a whole list of prohibited jobs for young people , but it mostly includes jobs that are hazardous to health or dangerous jobs with a risk of injury. You are also not allowed to work alone and must have a supervisor.

This means that there are many different jobs for you as a young person, without you needing to have work experience. Some employers are also looking for high school students who have reached the age of 16 that they can train.

14 common jobs you can have as a young person

There are jobs you can get without any experience, but there are also jobs you can get after completing a short course.

Here are 14 jobs you can get as a young person:

1. Lifeguard: You can work as a lifeguard if you are 16 years old, have a swimming test certificate and have completed a course with the municipality.
2. Babysitting: If you like children or have looked after your younger siblings, you can work as a babysitter. Ask around the area you live in if there are parents who need help with childcare. There are also private companies that train you and find a family that needs help.
3. Jobs in trade: You can work as a shop assistant in department stores, in grocery stores and in various shops. In this job, you often learn to sell. Look for ads on Indeed or ask directly at the store you want to work at if they hire high school students.
4. Jobs in restaurants and cafés: You can also work in restaurants and cafés with simpler jobs and will then be trained on the job. You can also work in fast food restaurants and street kitchens.
5. Hotel jobs: There are also jobs in the hotel industry for young people. Your duties and salary are then often regulated by collective agreements.
6. Distributing newspapers or advertisements: Another simple job that does not require prior knowledge is distributing newspapers or advertisements. It can be a heavy physical job and sometimes you may have to hand out advertisements when it is raining or snowing.
7. Job as a receptionist: At some companies, you can also work as a receptionist with simpler tasks such as e.g. answer the phone and receive visitors.
8. Jobs at gyms: Some gyms need help at the reception and with simpler tasks such as answering the phone, answering emails and receiving members who come to the gym.
9. Job as a dog sitter: If you have experience with dogs, you can ask your neighbors in the area if they need help with dog sitting. Here you can read an in-depth article for those who want to work with dogs.
10. Job as a youth leader or sports coach: To work as a youth leader or sports coach, you may need to complete a leadership course. Municipalities often offer such courses. You also need to have an interest in the area you want to lead and train in. In your job, you will work with children who are younger than you.
11. Help in gardens: If you enjoy being outside, you can also work as a garden helper. Cutting grass, picking fruit, clearing weeds and planting flowers can be some of your tasks.
12. Telemarketer: As a telemarketer, you are trained on the job. The job involves selling goods or services over the phone. Here you can read about how much a telemarketer earns.
13. Internships: Internships are often unpaid, but give you a lot of experience and insight into an area you may want to work in. It also gives you good contacts and can then lead to a paid extra job.
14. Municipal summer jobs: Many municipalities organize various summer jobs for young people. If you only want to work during the summer, it could be an opportunity for you. At the same time, there can be a lot of competition for those jobs, so it’s good to have other options.

Good things to know when looking for a side job

It is exciting to start working and earn your own money. But before you start your new job, there are a few things to consider and which are good to know:

• Write your resume and cover letter: Even if you haven’t worked before, you may need a resume for youth . You then do not need any work experience. Your CV can be one page and contain other useful information for your employer.
• Find a job on Indeed : Search for your next job on Indeed with the search term “high school student”.
• Use your network: Once you know what type of job you want to try, you can use your and your parents’ networks to ask around for job openings that you can apply for.
• Consider taxes: When you earn money, you usually have to pay taxes. In Sweden, the Swedish Tax Agency sets a limit for how much you can earn without paying tax during a year. It is unlikely that you will earn more than that amount. You can then fill in a certificate from the Tax Agency that you give to your employer so that no tax is deducted from your salary. 
• Find out if there is a collective agreement at your workplace: In certain industries such as the hotel and restaurant industry, there are often collective agreements that regulate your working hours and your salary. Check if it is available at your workplace before you sign an agreement.
• Sign a contract: As you are a minor, your parents must sign your employment contract for you. It’s always good to have an adult double-check that your working conditions and your salary match what you’ve been promised and that it’s in line with the law.
• Do not work undeclared: You do not profit from working undeclared. In addition to being illegal, you get no safety net and the conditions you work under can also be worse. You also get no references, which are important for your future.

With these tips, you have great opportunities to find your extra talent as a young person and find the right job for you. Good luck.