by Madeline Ramirez
A part of growing up is learning how to tackle adult responsibilities. One of said responsibilities is working a job and making income.
Finding a job in high school isn’t always easy, but offers a lot of practice in time management, financial decision making, and hands on experience within the work force. It’s important to consider the following steps when scouring your local job market as a teenager:
Resume Building
- Build a resume listing all of your experience in service and in the community.
- Include activities like scouts, volunteer work, internships, and anything else you want to share with employers about what you do.
- Format all this information into a clean, easy to read document that is saved in PDF format for easy file uploading and printing.
- Make sure your resume stays current as possible.
Applying
- Websites like Indeed and Snagajob are some of the most common online hosts for job ads. Use your web browser to locate “local jobs for teens” or “entry level jobs near me” in order to begin your search.
- A lot of companies also offer job applications through their own websites. If you have any particular company in mind, make sure to check their website for any “help wanted” or “join our team” messages.
- The job board in the Fountain Valley office often has local job listings open to teenage applicants. Be sure to check back frequently for any job information you might be interested in.
- Many employers require manual entry of your information along with your resume file attached. This can include your available hours for working and your willingness to work as part of a team.
- Make sure you read each job description before applying to verify it’s something you can do. Don’t apply to a company that demands too much of your time or seems sketchy in any way.
Interviewing
- If you receive a text, email or call requesting an interview, establish a time that works for you with the employer.
- Be prepared to elaborate on the information you gave them as well as anything else you feel improves your image as a candidate.
- Your interview outfit should be business attire, including blouses, dress pants, slacks and button down shirts.
- Make sure your appearance is composed; don’t wear any casual clothes or inappropriate pieces.
- During the interview, adopt a calm and collected attitude. Answer questions with certainty and keep appropriate eye contact with your interviewer.
- If an interview seems scary to you, practice with yourself or a friend beforehand. Treat it like a presentation for class.
Acquiring a Work Permit
- Interviewers will hire you either on the spot or a while following the interview. Expect them to reach out to you within 3 weeks with your acceptance or rejection.
- If you get the job, you need to present a proper work permit from your high school in order to start your shifts. Permits are found at the front office with the office attendants, so feel free to ask them any questions about the information on the forms!
