Earning is the first step in your journey to managing money wisely so that you can build a successful future.
We all have different talents and abilities. It’s important to take the time to recognize your strengths and develop your skills so that you can excel at what you do. By investing in your education and interests, you will set yourself up for a path to success.
Get started by asking yourself these questions to help you think about what career path you might want to pursue.
You can earn money doing what you love by becoming an entrepreneur.
Being an entrepreneur means using your skills, interests and unique ideas to build your own business. Anyone can become an entrepreneur with enough hard work. Many teens have built amazing businesses right out of their homes. Some have started tutoring younger kids, selling handmade items online or even organized their own catering services.
DO YOU LOVE ANIMALS?
Start a pet-sitting business.
Teach others how to use them.
Collect recyclables in your home and neighbourhood.
Not sure where to start? Your school’s library and career club are great places to research your interests and potential careers. You don’t have to decide on a career anytime soon, so don’t limit yourself to one area of interest. You can grow your skills and learn more about your potential careers by taking a class at your local community center.
You might not be thinking about a career yet, but planning ahead will help you in the process of getting there. Based on your brainstorming, come up with a few potential careers that you might want to pursue in the future. Do some research and determine the average salary for each career. Which path will you choose?
| Examples of potential careers |
Average salary* |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $109,000 annually |
| Construction Laborer | $38,000 annually |
| Graphic Designer | $52,000 annually |
| High School Teacher | $58,000 annually |
| Nurse | $72,000 annually |
| Public Relations Specialist | $58,000 annually |
| Software Developer | $102,000 annually |
| Veterinarian | $88,000 annually |
| * United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016 | |
Now that you’ve thought about potential careers based on your interests and skills, what part-time jobs could you start after school or during the summer to help you reach your goals? For example, if you decide you want to be a veterinarian, here are three ways that you could start gaining experience now.
