By Lily Henderson
In many of my articles I have discussed how to market yourself by using your work history and educational background to secure just the right job. But what about people who have never had a job before? Looking for a job without any work history can seem like a challenge. For teens the idea of finding your first job may not seem that difficult, but many teens find themselves stuck babysitting or lawn mowing waiting to land their first minimum wage job. It may seem overwhelming when you have had no experience in a workplace, have never been through an interview, and don't know how to write a resume, or even if a resume is necessary. You may ask your parents for advice, but do they really know what its like to look for a first job in this economy? It isn't as simple as going down to the corner store and asking for a job, like when they were young. Even the laws are more strict about teens having a job than when your parents were young. Each state varies, but nationally kids between the ages of 14-16 are only allowed to work a few hours a day, and never more than 18 hours a week. Teens between the ages of 16 to 18 can work longer hours, but cannot sell alcohol, firearms, or tobacco. With all of these obstacles, teens find themselves asking, "how do I go about finding my first job?"
The problem that many teens face in this generation is that with a less than booming economy a lot of the minimum wage job are being filled with adults who are willing to earn less money for the sake of bringing in some kind of income. This means that jobs that were generally reserved for teens are now being filled with adults. The national unemployment rate is currently 9.2% which is the highest it has been in decades, but don't be discouraged teens, there are still employers that look to hire only teens.
Where To Find Work
Many employers who hire teens aren't looking for people with years of job experience, they are looking for a body to fill a position so that their business can operate. So who is it that hires teens? Fast Food Restaurants are probably the first thing that somes to mind. When I was a teenager I knew that I didn't want to work a job at a fast food restaurant. I didn't want to come home smelling of griddle grease and fryer oil. So I drove around, looking for signs reading "now hiring" and stopped in and filled out an application. I must have filled out a dozen applications with no luck. After only a few weeks of searching I found my first job, working in the front office of the local roller skating rink.
So, besides fast food, where else do they hire teens? Amusement parks, books stores, casual dining restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, retail stores, summer camps, and for those who live in or near a rural area, you can even find work as a farm-hand. Liepold Farms in Boring, Oregon hires teens year round to handle the more menial tasks of farming. If you have trouble finding a job just turn to the world wide web, the one HUGE benefit teens of this generation have that even the teens of the most previous generation did not. There are website that specialize in teen employment, and list all the local jobs for teens. Hireteen.com and snagajob.com have a section for teen employment, and soon absoluteknowitall.com will have an entire section dedicated to teens, with help on finding a job, good internship ideas for teens, and preparing yourself for the future. As for anyone who is looking for a job, the key to success is research.
"Do I Really Need a Resume?"
Sometimes when looking for work it doesn't take much research, but it is important to be prepared. Many first time job seekers don't believe that they need a resume, or think that because they have nothing to put on their resume that it is better not to have one at all. This is not true. It is important to have a resume. True, you may not need it to get that fast food job, because they are going to have you fill out their standard application, but being prepared with a resume tells the employer one thing: This job seeker put some effort into finding a job, meaning they will put in some effort into the position when hired for the job. Walking into an establishment with a resume will never hurt your chances of getting the job, so being prepared to present one to the prospective employer is always a good idea.
The question now is what do you put in your first resume? We know that having a printed resume will set you apart from the crowd, even if you have no work experience, because it allows you to showcase the things about you that you want to employer to remember about you. Even if your only experience is babysitting it is important for you, as a teen to list the work you have done. Emphasize the skills you learned, challenges you faces, and solutions you used to overcome these challenges. Think of your resume as an advertisement of you and your abilities, strengths, and work ethics.
The Interview
Now that you have done the research, know where you want to apply, and have some idea on how to display your qualifications, the interview is the next crucial step to obtaining your first job. Appearance is the most crucial element at this point in finding a job. Whether you have decided to get a job at a fast food restaurant or the local mall you must look professional, even for a non-professional job interview. You don't need a suit and tie, but it is important to be well groomed, well dressed, and look presentable. In many cases, teen jobs consist of positions that are the "face" of the business. Who do you see when ordering that extra large bucket of popcorn at the movie theater? Probably the kid from science class who always smells like cheese. But take a look at him now, groomed, in his uniform, being polite and prompt. Why do you think that he was able to secure a job? (And maybe you understand now why he always smells like cheese.)
Following Up
This is probably the most important part of getting a job. Employers are looking for candidates who have the ability to follow up with customers, because it shows a willingness to get involved and be responsible. Always make a follow up call or get in touch with the potential employer. Usually, it's best to wait about a week to make a call, and when you do, make sure to get on the phone with the person who will be hiring. Don't rely on someone else to leave the right message for you.
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