Skip the stores and fat food places. Regular restaurants where he can work brunches and holidays.

Most fast food or chain places request that you apply online. My DD works at McDonald’s Sundays 8-2. It’s a good fit with her junior year schedule.

Start applying to summer camps, pools, country clubs in the next month or two. He might have better luck with summer jobs that are traditionally for teens.

My 16 year old daughter went door-to-door. I drove her around and she ran into places.

That's the only thing that worked. She tried submitting things to online job portals (on the websites for restaurants, coffee shops, etc) but never heard back.

It's a weird catch 22. Most jobs will tell kids to apply online but then they apply online and never hear back. I'm talking 10+ applications that go ignored.

Most kids I know who have jobs got them because of someone they knew. So not really sure how to guide teens on finding a job in today's climate.

My DC found the job from school. I think they advertised openings at the school.

Depends on the job. My DC drove from place to place asking (like the 90's). For the independent stores that worked and he got a job at a restaurant and a second place that didn't have an opening the day he stopped by called him later to see if he was still available.

A lot of the bigger stores, told him to apply online.

He got some offers later from places that friends worked at and recommended him.

He's also gotten work through neighborhood listservs and Facebook pages.

Most applications are online now, but my son had no luck getting any response from them when he did that two summers ago. He eventually got a job at Harris Teeter because his friend recommended him and told the manager that he had submitted an application.

My son was able to work only Sundays during the school year, but I think it depends where you work. Bigger places will probably be more flexible.

My newly 16-year-old wants to get a job but is asking for my advice for how to go about it. Since it's been many years since I applied for a high school job, I'm curious if it's the same process as back in the early '90s: Go to the mall (outdoor mall in my DC's case), go from store to store asking if they have openings/ get applications, go home to fill out paper applications, and go back to return them.
Or are things more online now? Or drop off a resume?

Also, have your kids been able to find jobs around ~10 hours a week? I would think most employers want more?

Thanks!