Working during high school can be a character-building experience for students because it teaches them about responsibility, commitment, initiative, independence and accountability. These character traits are valuable in many areas of life and can even help students who are applying to college, according to the College Board website. The College Board even claims that working a summer job can build as much character as more notable academic undertakings, so it's important that students let admissions officers know how the job helped them grow as a person.