Teen Job Search
This section is dedicated to the teen job search. For teens, either in school or out, having little work experience will make it difficult finding teen work. For some it will be a summer job, but for graduates it may be their first "real job." Teens that have already graduated high school will have a certain advantage over teens still in school looking for part-time work. Apply the 4 C's; confidence, capability, compatibility, and communication and build your interviewing experience.
Teens hoping to interview for a job, first have to get the interview. Remember if you're a high school teen looking for seasonal work, you might end up competing with college students returning for the summer or holidays. Start communicating early looking for potential jobs for teens. You should be able to find work in retail, restaurants, and with park services. You county government offices may also know of work within the county for you.
Employers recognize that you are only looking for a short-term or part-time gig, your application shows your age and current employment situation (you're in school). So, how do you make a good impression? Here are some areas to focus your attention on when meeting your employer for an interview.
Teen Job Interview Tips
-Research the organization, so you know a little about them. It is very impressive when a teen knows a little about the organization. On the other hand it's a little frustrating when they know nothing of it.
-Anticipate some of the questions
they may ask, such as;
--"Have you ever worked as a(n) (fill in job title)?"
You may never have worked in the position, but before
the interview think of things you have done that is similar.
Don't be afraid to include things that you've done for your
parents and at school. Remember, the interviewer is likely to be
a parent and they understand how teens taking responsibility at
home, will translate to the working world.
--"What are your expectations of this job?"
Be honest about your expectations, however, include
references to responsibility and a chance to gain experiences.
Sure, you're here to make some money, but there are other
benefits to working there, such as a sense of accomplishing
something, instead of just sitting at home.
--"Do you have any scheduling restrictions?"
You may think this is a question that will be used to
weed you out...it may be. This is why it is important to
research the job first, find
out what the hours are and how long the shifts are. Also, this
question may be to appropriately assign you to a position, one
that will work for you as well as the organization.
--"Would you describe yourself as a self-starter? Why?"
Translate your school time experiences into similar work
experiences. If you were in a club, talk about your experiences
with teams and team building. Maybe you were the treasurer of
you club or group, so translate that into minor accounting and
increased levels of responsibility. Certainly, if you are still
in school, consider becoming involved with class offices (such
as president or treasurer) or clubs to you can translate that
time into leadership experiences. These types of activities show
motivation and demonstrate that you are a self-starter.
Your motivation to work hard may be the most important factor for the potential employer. Think about times that you've had to stick with something to get it done, maybe a class project or something. Think about times when you've been teamed up with other people to get a project done and mention how you helped to lead the team to success.
-Ask people to serve as references for you
and remember they may be called.
Go to the Interview home page for more interviewing help
Consider getting help from professional services, such as resume development, job marketing, and teen job search interviewing help.