How does a teen find a 1st job without experience?
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Anonymous
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Does she have friends that work anywhere? I got my first job through a referral. I taught at a Kumon center.
Also, if she's a good student it's actually easier to get something like a tutoring job vs. something minimum wage. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Unfortunately, I do not know anyone in those type of jobs where she could get a "hook". Actually, one of her friends has an Uncle that manages a popular restaurant chain, but he said he only wants older workers (over 18)..sigh. Also, she "dislikes"kids, so babysitting is out of the question. We(She) will keep plugging away, and applying to the businesses again. It's funny because she completed an online application for one of her friends for Chipolte, and her friend got the job. Not sure why she didn't complete one for herself. Thanks again. Still taking ideas. |
Anonymous
Perhaps now is the time to teach her a career lesson that took me many years to learn - applying online is often a black hole. It's likely more productive to teach her how to network and get her own referral / hook. |
Anonymous
| My kids had a lot of trouble finding jobs before age 18 in retail. They had the most luck with froyo places, summer camps and weekend soccer refereeing. My DD's best friend got a seasonal job bagging at a grocery store at age 16, but that was because her father works there. |
Anonymous
| Does she have a friend with a job who can recommend her when there's an opening. I got my high school waitressing job because my cousin already worked at the restaurant. The whole place was full of friends, relatives, classmates. I think they rarely hired complete unknowns from the pile of applications they kept behind the register, |
Anonymous
| OP, does she have any interested in being a lifeguard? That's how I worked through my last couple of years of high school. Summer job only, of course, but it requires certification and that in itself is a help in getting employment. It shows some degree of responsibility. And most of the guards at my local private pool are high school seniors and college kids. |
Anonymous
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Definitely having connections helps. I grew up poor and got my first job in retail through a wealthy classmates whose dad was reluctant to hire the girls he thought were spoiled. I was a good compromise in his opinion, I guess.
As a high school teacher, I considered it part of my job description when low-income students asked me to help them find jobs. Most had parents with complicated work histories and little hope of doing more than competing with a parent for a fast food restaurant position. I was able to call upon relatives and friends who were small business owners to give a kid a chance. |
Anonymous
As,a business owner I also suggest she try local businesses. She also needs an "in" she should ask friends where they work. I hire almost exclusively friends of my current employees for first jobs. |
Anonymous
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Candie stores or big churches that may need weekend admin. or cafe types of service jobs.
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Anonymous
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Try CVS - they are almost always hiring.
Don't forget the less glamorous jobs - ie, McDonalds instead of the fancy corner cafe. If she gets to the summer, then definitely camp counselor. Does her school help kids find jobs at all? I know that many will do that. |
Anonymous
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OP - Posters are correct to say that many places especially in a metro area will only employ those over 18. By age 17, your DD will be competing with those high school students who do have volunteering on a resume so if she is having no luck, I would suggest that she find a way to volunteer at something of interest - or not - to start to develop this aspect of her resume and reference list with a goal towards summer employment. Certainly on the weekends she can find some organization that she could help out with. Volunteering is key with no other experience such as baby sitting, house sitting or lawn care for example as those would at least provide some non-family references. Also on her resume she should list any skills which she might have as in foreign languages, computer skills, sports skills, musical skills and any certifications such CPR, First Aid, Lifeguard etc. Under Education one would note the high school she attends, course of study or area of special focus as possibly STEM, languages, health care, business , and GPA. Without volunteer work, she might list another section called Activities to highlight sny school sport team, club, honor or other group and any leadership position as well as any community activity. A community activity might be church group, Girl Scouting, youth sports team etc. At age 17 besides just a part-time job, she should also be considering how her summers are being used to help her explore career areas that she might pursue in college first-hand. So along with finding a way to volunteer as soon as possible, she might also consider doing some unpaid internship experiences during spring break or the summer which might increase her skills set or at least knowledge base of real work settings. These can also be on a resume and may offer a reference, too. While she may not like kids, would she perhaps have the personality to be a short-term partner/mentor to a child or teen with a disability because I could almost guarantee that your area Special Olympics needs volunteers for its sports training. A sport usually runs for 8 - 10 sessions of no more than 2 hours so it is limited time, active and she could choose sports that she is probably doing in school - basketball, swimming, track and field, tennis and of course bowling. Special Olympics is widely recognized so it would be recognized on a resume and also help her gain an appreciation of individuals she might not know, but will meet in the world around her. For what it is worth our youngest has a disability and while only attaining a special high school diploma, she had a wonderful resume of volunteer work (always with a peer mentor) which did help her get a job after school ended. |
Anonymous
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OP, being so restrictive on her schedule probably isn't helping. She may have to offer to work weekend nights, and maybe one or two weeknights to help her stand out from every other teenager who is just looking to work a few hours during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
This is also a slow season for retail/hospitality because people are looking to save money after the holidays, so these industries generally do not on-board employees in the first quarter. I echo PPs about starting to look for a summer job such as life guarding, or working at a seasonal job. If there are any local business about to open, it would also be a good time to apply, just because there are more openings available. |
Anonymous
If you're a SAHM working during the day, how can you be a SAHM? |
Anonymous
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We are hiring hostesses without experience all the time. Right now we have a 17- year old young lady working with us.
Our busboys/busgirls are also quite young. We are always short of workers. Try to find a restaurant that asks her to come and fill out the application (check craigslist). The managers want to see her. If she is polite, considerate (push the chair back under the table once you get up from interview) and presentable, there is no reason why we shouldn't hire her unless she starts right away talking about the nights she can't work. She doesn't need to know anybody, have her bring her smile. The restaurant is in Georgetown. |
Anonymous
I remember once we all were in school, my mom worked 9:30-2pm a few days a week at Macy's. I think that is what the PP means. |