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Should I work a different job for a while before I take over one the business? And if so, how long and what job would be the best?

I am 16 years old and in 10th grade. I currently help my parents there when I can. I also work in construction when my parents don't need me to work at the store. I like working construction, but I also really like working for my parents.

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Rebecca’s Answer

Hello there! It’s great to know of your interest in both construction and helping your parents at the store. At your stage, there is no need to rush into choosing one path or taking over the business yet. Either path can still support the other by giving you additional experience and practical skills.

If you are considering taking over the business in the future, gaining some experience outside in areas like retail, sales, or operations for about one to two years after finishing school can be beneficial. This will help you develop new skills, gain independence, and bring fresh ideas back into the business.

For now, continue learning, stay curious, and use this period to build a strong foundation before making a long-term decision.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. Kimya
Thank you comment icon You’re welcome and I’m glad it did help you. Is there anything else you might need help with besides this? Rebecca Aidoo
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Cheryl’s Answer

Hello George. Thank you for your question! WoW ... you have a lot going on with school, work and helping your parents with their store. If you are interested in taking over your family business, then yes ... you should try and find other jobs that will give you some diverse experience to help you with the store. Please make sure that you have a good understanding of finance and how the business runs including supply chain, retail marketing and maybe even digital marketing and thinking about how you can gain loyal customers and have them purchase more while also understanding strategies to gain new customers. You may also want to take a few courses in Human Resources on recruiting and best practices for retention as retail tends to have a high turn-over of staff. In the future, if you can find some great employees to help you run the store then it may also give you some extra time to follow your passion in construction. There is nothing that would prevent you from starting to build a little side business in construction depending on what it is. Continue to take any side jobs in construction while you are in school so that you can gain contacts, learn the ropes and new skills. Good luck with your future endeavours George!
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Rafael’s Answer

Hi George! I'd recommend working outside the family business for a while before taking it over, and here's why. When you go work somewhere else, you pick up new ideas, systems, and ways of doing things that you'd never be exposed to if you stayed in one place. From my own experience, I've worked across a bunch of different industries and roles and every single stop taught me something I was able to carry into the next one. That variety made me way more well-rounded and effective than I would've been if I'd stayed on one path. For you specifically, since you already enjoy construction and the family store, I'd say try to get experience in areas that would directly help you run the business better, like retail management, accounting or bookkeeping, marketing, or even supply chain and operations at another company. Even 2 to 4 years working somewhere else after high school or college would give you a ton of perspective. You'll come back to your parents' business with fresh eyes, new skills, and the confidence to grow it in ways you might not have thought of otherwise. And the construction experience is great too because it builds work ethic and problem-solving skills that transfer to anything. Keep doing both for now, and when the time comes, you'll be more than ready!
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Ghada’s Answer

Yeah, I think it’s a good idea to try working a different job for a while before taking over your parents’ business, but you don’t need to leave it completely—just gain some experience on the side for about 6 months to 2 years. This helps you see how other places work, build independence, and learn skills like dealing with customers or managing operations, which will make you much better prepared later. Since you already like both construction and working at your parents’ place, you can keep doing both while trying something new, like a retail or customer-facing job, so you build a strong mix of skills before stepping into the business full-time.
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Ursa’s Answer

Absolutely! This is a fantastic idea. Taking on a different role, exploring another industry, or moving to a new city or state can really expand your view. You'll definitely pick up best practices and new ideas that will be very useful when you eventually take over the family business.
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