For many teenagers, a summer holiday job is their first real contact with the working world. You earn your own money, get to know a company, and quickly realize how exhausting a working day can be. To ensure the summer job doesn't turn into an unpleasant surprise, teenagers and parents should go through a few points together before the first day of work.
It is important to make a distinction: A holiday job is a temporary employment relationship. A mandatory internship or a trial period may be regulated differently. Therefore, it is not just the headline in the advertisement that counts, but what is actually agreed upon: activity, working hours, payment, insurance, and duration.
From what age is a holiday job possible
According to information from oesterreich.gv.at, teenagers are allowed to take on a holiday job once they are 15 years old and have completed their compulsory schooling. Compulsory schooling ends in the final, ninth school year at the beginning of the summer holidays. Anyone younger or who has not yet completed compulsory schooling is subject to stricter rules.
Especially for students transitioning from compulsory school to further education, it should therefore be briefly checked: age, school grade, and actual start of the holidays. When in doubt, it is better to ask the Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer), the Public Employment Service (AMS), or an advisory center before accepting a job.
What should be clarified before the first day of work
- Who is the employer? Note down the name, address, contact person, and telephone number.
- What is the activity? Not just "helping," but specifically: warehouse, sales, office, service, kitchen, garden, or childcare.
- When will work be done? Record the start, end, breaks, and days off in writing.
- How will payment be made? Clarify the hourly wage or monthly amount, payment date, and bank account.
- What clothing or equipment is necessary? Who provides it, who pays for it?
- How do I get there? Plan public transport, cycling, being picked up, or carpooling realistically.
A short written confirmation is better than mere verbal agreements. It doesn't have to look complicated, but it should contain the most important data. At the latest after starting work, a service slip or a clear written agreement should be available.
Keep track of working hours
The Chamber of Labour recommends that teenagers record their own working hours for holiday jobs. This is especially important if the times change or overtime is involved. A simple sheet is enough: date, start, end, break, actual hours, and a short note on the activity.
These records help if the final settlement doesn't add up. Teenagers should not only keep them on their mobile phones but also back them up or take photos of them regularly. Parents can help out in the first week until the routine is established.
Payment, insurance, and mandatory internship
A holiday job generally constitutes an employment relationship. This comes with rights and obligations, such as remuneration and insurance. For holiday internships, the training purpose may be more in the foreground. This is precisely why it should be clarified in advance whether it is a holiday job, a mandatory internship, or purely professional orientation.
If a company says there is "only experience" but fixed working hours, specific tasks, and a duty to work are expected, you should ask carefully. Experience is valuable, but it does not automatically replace payment if work is actually being performed.
What parents can sensibly check
Parents do not have to manage the job, but they should know the framework for underage teenagers. This includes the commute, working hours, contact person, and emergency contact. Especially in catering, retail, events, or outdoor work, breaks, drinking, sun protection, and the way home are important.
It helps to prepare for the first day of work practically: suitable clothing, snacks, a water bottle, bank details, ID, the contact person's phone number, and enough time for the commute. Those who start relaxed can concentrate better on their work.
After the job: Check the settlement
At the end, the payslip, hours, payment, and any deductions should be checked. Do your own records match the settlement? Were all days taken into account? Has the money arrived? If something is unclear, ask calmly in writing first and have documents ready.
The holiday job is also a good opportunity to talk about money. How much will be saved, how much can be used freely, and what other expenses are coming up in the summer? The article "Handling money correctly" fits well with this.Quick check for the holiday job.
Age and compulsory schooling checked?
- Employer and contact person known?
- Activity and place of work clear?
- Working hours and breaks agreed?
- Payment and payment date clarified?
- Timesheet prepared?
- Commute and way home realistic?
- Settlement checked at the end?
- A holiday job should give teenagers independence. The best preparation is therefore not control down to the last detail, but a clear framework: knowing what was agreed, keeping track of hours, asking questions, and taking one's own work seriously.
Chamber of Labour: Holiday job
Read also
- The right way to handle money: The best parenting tips
- Living well with teenagers – surviving puberty
- Planning summer holidays 2026: relaxed weeks without constant stress
- The best jobs for single mothers
Sources and further information
- oesterreich.gv.at: Holiday job
- oesterreich.gv.at: Holiday internship
- AMS: Holiday job
- Labour Inspectorate: Employment of children and teenagers
- ORF ON: Holiday job or internship – what teenagers should know
- WienXtra: Holiday and side job
- For many teenagers, a summer holiday job is their first real contact with the working world. You earn your own money, get to know a company, and quickly realize how exhausting a working day can be. To ensure the summer job doesn't turn into an unpleasant surprise, teenagers and parents should go through a few points together before the first day of work. It is important to make a distinction: A
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