How does a teen find a 1st job without experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But now poor immigrants come into America, flip burgers for more money than they ever made in their homeland but now want/expect $15 an hour to do it as their "career"

LOL, it's the immigrants, huh? News to me.

[Anonymous]

I have a mom friend who couldn't get one of those jobs and I would have thought any business would beg her to be their cashier, etc. They told her the same thing your dd heard, to apply online. She would apply and then hear nothing.

I would have your dd keep at it and eventually something will come along. I think I'd apply online if that's what the store wanted, then follow up in person.

Also, skip the uniform and have her dress in a way that is "average" but nice. She might be turned away because the manager thinks she doesn't need a job and will quit as soon as it conflicts with her social life.

[Anonymous]

Definitely have her take Lifeguard Training if she wants to get a job without experience. I'd say the majority of the kids in my HS who had summer jobs ended up lifeguarding. I know paying for the cost of the course and the time commitment (30hrs) is an initial turnoff - it is a job that teaches a great deal of responsibility. Once certified, it's easier to find jobs and many pool management companies/rec departments have indoor pools that offer shifts on the weekends during the school year.

[Anonymous]

What about babysitting? If she goes on your neighborhood listserve & talks to neighbors , as well as to any local friends you or her dad might have whose kids are younger,she may find parents looking to hire an older teen a few afternoons a week &/or on the weekends. Even if she can't find a regular gig & just babysits here & there for a few different families, at least she will be making some money & can use her repeat customers as references when applying for jobs.

[Anonymous]

19:15 again.

If she goes the babysitting route, taking a first aid/CPR class will make her a more attractive candidate ( it will also be a plus for camps looking to hire counselors this summer). Many community centers offer these classes for a minimal fee.

Also, she could check out care.com. I think they also have petsitting & dogwalking jobs, in addition to child care one's. You may need to be 18 to set up a profile, however -- does anyone familiar with that site know?

Even if care.com isn't an option, if your DD likes animals, she could put the word out there (through neighbors, friends, the neighborhood list serv, etc) that she is available for dogwalking before & after school & on weekends.

[Anonymous]

She might be turned away because the manager thinks she doesn't need a job and will quit

Many places seem to want someone without many options. The best candidate is someone who's not likely to move-on. Again if college-bound, you aren't of much value to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:19:15 again.

If she goes the babysitting route, taking a first aid/CPR class will make her a more attractive candidate ( it will also be a plus for camps looking to hire counselors this summer). Many community centers offer these classes for a minimal fee.

Also, she could check out care.com. I think they also have petsitting & dogwalking jobs, in addition to child care one's. You may need to be 18 to set up a profile, however -- does anyone familiar with that site know?

Even if care.com isn't an option, if your DD likes animals, she could put the word out there (through neighbors, friends, the neighborhood list serv, etc) that she is available for dogwalking before & after school & on weekends.

OP clearly stated that her daughter doesn't like kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:15 again.

If she goes the babysitting route, taking a first aid/CPR class will make her a more attractive candidate ( it will also be a plus for camps looking to hire counselors this summer). Many community centers offer these classes for a minimal fee.

Also, she could check out care.com. I think they also have petsitting & dogwalking jobs, in addition to child care one's. You may need to be 18 to set up a profile, however -- does anyone familiar with that site know?

Even if care.com isn't an option, if your DD likes animals, she could put the word out there (through neighbors, friends, the neighborhood list serv, etc) that she is available for dogwalking before & after school & on weekends.

OP clearly stated that her daughter doesn't like kids.

Oops, missed that.

What about dogs, OP?

[Anonymous]

Several girls in our neighborhood have worked as a receptionist at a local nail salon. (After school and weekends). Agree with previous posters that it will be easier to find a job with a local shop/restaurant vs. a chain.

[Anonymous]

In addition to the advice previously given, I think it's easier for a teen to get a seasonal job. So if she was looking before Thanksgiving and still hasn't found anything, maybe she needs to change her strategy. If she's only been looking for a month, maybe she hasn't found anything because this is a time of year with relatively little hiring.

[Anonymous]

I think it's the schedules that high school kids are looking for that often restricts them from getting hired.

Back in the late 80s/early 90's, for part time retail or food service, the norm was you needed to be available for at least 2 evening shifts and work till close during the week and be willing to work any shift on the weekends. If not, they weren't even willing to consider you.