# How do teenagers find their first job these days? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697 "2014-09-06T21:47:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Timetrvlr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Timetrvlr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timetrvlr)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/21 "2014-09-07T03:26:16Z")
The alternative for teens looking for work is to offer their services mowing lawns and other similar work. I live in a senior community and know that an ambitious youngster could do very well here in doing the jobs we find difficult. Make no mistake, it’s physically demanding real work but not too much for young healthy kids. They can also set their own rates of pay before doing the work as long as it’s within reason, say $10-$15 an hour or quote so much for a particular job. Great experience for budding entrepreneurs. I was hustling for work in my rural community before I was ten, one of the very few kids willing to work. I’m sure it’s the same today. I did very well when other kids were getting by on meager allowances. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/22 "2014-09-07T03:55:02Z")
I would start with her friends. Communities tend to have a set of businesses that regularly recruit from specific high school, and teens tend to know where those are as a lot of them cycle through them. If you know her friends parents or people with teenagers, bring it up with them. For walk-in-retail, you dress nice and should ask to speak with a manager (you may even call ahead and ask when the store manager is in) and then ask them directly if they are hiring. Just handing a resume to a random employee is going to get that resume thrown in a huge pile nobody looks at. But if they do happen to have a spot open, the manager may hand the job to you so they can avoiding having to look at the pile of resumes that nobody looks at. Definitely make sure the kid is alone when she does this. Being seen with friends or parents around is a red flag to managers. I got on office job for my first job, through a connection I made interning. I think this is a huge advantage, as having basic office experience is a pre-req for many jobs, and it can be hard to get that if you’ve always done McJobs. Getting these is harder, but if money isn’t really the main goal, volunteering or interning can go a long way toward getting basic experience in a more career- oriented field and starting to build professional contacts. ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/23 "2014-09-07T04:51:37Z")
My first job out of high school was a seasonal gig in retail that I got just by being proactive about it, really. The current, more long-term job that I’ve had for the past several years? Yeah, nepotism all the way. There truly is something to be said about the old adage that “it isn’t _what_ you know, but _who_ you know that counts.” Unless a high school teen has an “in” with some company somewhere, I can’t imagine that he or she will find much luck with finding a part-time job. Hell, it’s hard enough for college kids like me to find a long-term (read: non-seasonal) gig that’ll work around a constantly evolving school schedule. At least in our case, most of us are bound to be grown adults who can work late hours & operate adults-only machinery. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/24 "2014-09-07T05:06:31Z")
I’ve hired tons of 15-16 year old kids for dog kennel work. Most of the kids I hired succeeded because they managed to fill out a coherent (not necessarily perfect) application, answered the phone when I called them or returned my call promptly,indicated they were flexible schedule wise and managed to wear something nice (casual/jeans ok, just leave the flip flops at home please) and reasonably modest at the interview. They didn’t do anything dumb like ask me if we supplied nose plugs for a job that entails a bunch of poop or wear a Playboy Bunny necklace to their interview (both happened). A kid that appears “nice”- respectful of my time and demonstrating why they wanted the job/eager to work was enough to give them a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/25 "2014-09-07T10:28:06Z")
What I wish is that more high schools would have job boards where if say someone needs help cleaning up their garage or helping with moving they can hire a kid for a few hours. Have you tried Craigslist? Often people post short term jobs. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/26 "2014-09-07T11:38:39Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > What I wish is that more high schools would have job boards where if say someone needs help cleaning up their garage or helping with moving they can hire a kid for a few hours. > > Have you tried Craigslist? Often people post short term jobs. I imagine there are some logistical problems to the “help strangers lure kids into their homes” business plan. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/27 "2014-09-07T11:53:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Well, we’ve got our collective fingers crossed that someone will say “Hey, let’s take a chance on this girl with no experience!” > > That is why I’m worried for her. > > It’s hard enough for adults with experience to get a job these days, let alone a kid with no experience. Your over thinking it. She’s 16 and looking for a part time job to make some money. It’s a completely different situation from trying to start/recover a career after the Nortel blowout. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/28 "2014-09-07T14:34:37Z")
Both of my kids took their life guard certs as soon as they turned 15. The local community center is always looking for qualified lifeguards, as do the health clubs in the area. So there seems to be a pretty big demand for that sort of skill and teen labour. Garden centers are another popular source of jobs for teens without specific skills. The larger ones have 15-30 teens working on a busy day. Great job for a kid, if you ask me. Finally, grocery stores in the area hire teens for bagging and cashier and stocking duties. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/29 "2014-09-07T15:02:57Z")
MilliCal did it the classic way – going from store to store filling out applications. She finally got a position working at the Salvation Army store. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/30 "2014-09-07T15:26:39Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Your over thinking it. She’s 16 and looking for a part time job to make some money. It’s a completely different situation from trying to start/recover a career after the Nortel blowout. Fucking Nortel. Everyone here is still affected by the bankruptcy of fucking Nortel. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/31 "2014-09-07T15:37:09Z")
Teenage help is standard for ,any retailers. I got my first on the book job by filling out a lot of applications and finally someplace called. It seems to be about the same now. As someone mentioned above, looking respectable and speaking properly seem to be about the only qualifications. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/32 "2014-09-07T16:20:23Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > What I wish is that more high schools would have job boards where if say someone needs help cleaning up their garage or helping with moving they can hire a kid for a few hours. The town in which I grew up has a “job board” run by the youth services department. My first summer jobs I got through connections. (Friends already employed at the restaurant or office or my business-professor father, some of whose students were restaurant managers.) My nephew, who is now twenty, put in resumes at all of the local stores and restaurants. He eventually got the job at Bob’s Stores (a Connecticut chain of clothing stores) through persistence. I thnk he checked in with the store manager every day until he got hired. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/33 "2014-09-08T02:59:44Z")
The way that my 18 year old boy just found his last two jobs was by applying on line. He was working at a survey call center (a transitional job while he looked for something better) within days of graduating. He found out about the job through friends who also applied there and were hired. He starts his new job as a barista tomorrow. No experience necessary. He applied on line, got a call the next day, an interview a few days after that and a call saying he had the job that same afternoon. He’ll be part of a team that will open up a new Starbucks in about a month. **Leaffan** , one of the things that my son did while he was working at the first job is just think of any place where he would have an interest in working. He applied (mostly on line) at various places - grocery stores as a customer service clerk (entry level/no experience necessary). He also submitted applications/resume at other retail type stores. His resume is pretty thin also, but I believe that he presented himself quite well during the interview. On his apps. he included all of his volunteer work and had a letter of reference from the volunteer coordinator, as well as good personal references. Good luck to your daughter. It’s crazy isn’t it? One day you’re at the park watching them going down the slide and learning how to swing…next you’re helping them compose a resume. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/34 "2014-09-08T03:07:27Z")
By the way, during the interview and after he had answered all of the questions and asked some himself, he was asked if he had anything else to add. And I quote, \*\*“Yes, I am passionate about coffee.” \*\*Which he absolutely is!! His future boss told him that he had never heard anyone say that during an interview and that that was the clincher. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/35 "2014-09-08T03:32:58Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > Getting volunteer experience/school clubs helps. This is a bad time of year for her to be looking for part time work. In October it should be easier since everyone will be looking for seasonal/holiday help. Absolutely. Any clubs that build skills such as ‘working as a team’ are good things to get into during your school years. My son volunteered at our public library (where I work) and was part of a club called “Mock Trial” for a couple of his high school years. He actually drew from and gave examples of his experience in this club on his applications. They were in no way related to past work experience, but most definitely relevant towards working with people. He built good listening and public speaking skills that will always be useful. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/36 "2014-09-08T03:59:35Z")
My oldest applied for a job that she knew had a high turnover so they were always looking for people. She was a therapy aid for learning disabled children. She loved it so much she just kept doing it even after high school and is doing the same job for a different company at college. She’s good at it and loves the kids. It’s a bonus that it’s an easy job to get. My second kid got a summer job with a landscape company because I knew the person who hires for the job and mentioned that he was looking for that kind of work. If he doesn’t find a more year round position this school year (after marching band season is over) then he will probably be hired on again at the same place next summer. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/37 "2014-09-08T04:37:27Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > … > Good luck to your daughter. It’s crazy isn’t it? One day you’re at the park watching them going down the slide and learning how to swing…next you’re helping them compose a resume. Oh man, so true. Thanks for the responses tout le monde. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/38 "2014-09-08T14:51:15Z")
I think the question about whose idea it was to get the job was to determine how enthusiastic she would be with the employers. Really putting resume’s out there and filling out applications is the primary method my kids used and some key tips that will separate her from the other kids are: Bring your own pen Fill out all the blanks on the application that you can. Make sure contact information is clear. Dress neatly and respectfully when filling out the applications Now since teen job turnover is crazy high she will get calls. Talk to her before the interview about maximum hours of work per week and what obligations need to take priority over work. Definitely school but school clubs? Sports? Family obligations? How much notice does she need to give you to get a ride home from work? How late is she allowed to work? At the interviews: Again, bring a pen and dress neatly. Be prepared with information on your availability. Know how long it will take you to get to the location after school, and have information on any non school commitments you have. Be clear on availability. This is one of her last chances to blame everything on you. My parents will only let me work 16 hrs/wk during the school year is a great line. Lots of minimum wage jobs for kids give those stupid multiple choice personality tests for some reason. Walk her through a couple examples so she’s ready for the same question asked different ways traps. After she gets the job: Canadian labour law is pretty strong so it’s rare that you’ll get super blatant abuse but make sure she knows that she shouldn’t be clocking out at store closing and then spending 30 mins doing closing duties. Have her take a picture of her schedule each week so she not only knows when she’s working but she has backup if it’s changed retroactively. Probably a million more things once we know where she ends up I’m sure we can come up with more specific advice (ie, bookstore, coffee shop, grocery store, not actual place she’s working at) ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/39 "2014-09-08T15:09:29Z")
Stop thinking about “nepotism” and start thinking about “networking.” What do your friends do? Do their businesses hire young people for entry-level work? What kinds of entry-level jobs do her friends have? Are those companies looking to hire more people? Also, are there businesses in your area that preferentially hire teenagers? My first job was detasseling; the second was at an amusement park. Both places hire large numbers of teenagers (although the work is seasonal). The best job I had as a teenager was through a friend of my father. They needed a low-paid intern and Dad’s friend knew I was responsible and hard-working. Another thing you can do is troll likely locations (grocery stores, shopping malls) and look for “help wanted” signs. Or check the websites of local establishments for listings. It is amazing how many organizations have stopped posting job opportunities in widely-read sources. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697/40 "2014-09-08T15:21:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Today I took my 16 year old daughter on a whirlwind travel of dropping off resumes and filling in applications at grocery stores. She has already dropped off a few at some other grocery stores and will be hitting a few fast food joints after school on Monday. You’re pretty much doing it. As the hirer of teenage workers at my place, this is what I look for. Kids coming in, filling out the application, and actually speaking to the person who does the hiring. Sooner or later, something will hit. But nepotism isn’t a bad idea either. If her friends have jobs, ask if they can get her in. Recommendations from current workers carry a lot of weight with me. > [@etv78](#): > > Was it her idea or yours? Makes a huge difference! This is not a crazy question. I’ve got stacks of application from parents who come in and say their kid needs a job. Or rather, I had them. Any application not turned in by the kid themselves is instantly tossed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-teenagers-find-their-first-job-these-days/697697.md?page=3)