In today’s economy, it’s hard for high school graduates to get good jobs.

Yet some teens graduate from high school with the skills they need to prepare them for a good career. While your teen is in school, she can gain the experience that will help her prepare for a good job later in life. Here are ways teens can get the skills they need while they are still in school:

• Cooperative education offers teens a chance to earn school credit while they are working at a job. Many schools offer cooperative education classes.

• Youth-run enterprises offer teens a chance to develop skills as managers or entrepreneurs. Junior Achievement, for example, encourages teens to run their own businesses. Junior Achievement is an extracurricular activity in many schools.

• Employment training programs include special summer jobs programs. Many programs serve

low-income young people.

• Community service gives young people experience that is like work, even if it is unpaid. Through community service, students can learn teamwork, planning, responsibility and other work-related skills. School counselors may be able to help teens find community service that will help them develop skills.

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