However, for every teenage millionaire that dropped out of high school, there are many thousands of teens faced with a mountain of regret for doing so. This situation can be equated with the talented high school athlete who dreams of being a professional star. It is fine to dream, but even the most talented athlete may not make a professional league. They have an attitude that one need not work hard in a favorable economy because employers will put up with just about anything to maintain an adequate staff. These same bright but misinformed youngsters think that since the national unemployment level may be low right now, employers will look the other way when expected practices are breached, such as punctuality and solid customer service.
Some teens think employers are caught in a dilemma.
It is true that certain sectors are experiencing serious labor shortages, especially the retail, entertainment and food service fields. However, that does not mean most employers will hire a teen for the sake of filling a staffing need. Some youngsters need to realize that if hired, they work for the employer and not the other way around. The type of job does not matter because as a young worker, a teen needs to learn about himself before a negative attitude toward work can change. No matter what the job is, there are ways to learn and acquire skills that may be useful later.