Recently in Teen Jobs Category

Spencer writes:

I’m 16 years old and have held other jobs for companies but am unsatisfied with the amount of money they bring back. I need enough money to get a car and possibly help support my family. I am considerably smart and can learn things very fast.
I just don’t know where to start. I always thought of starting a grocery business for the elderly, but don’t have a car. I also don’t know how to start with the business. I just hate the thought of a 9-5 job.

The Career Doctor responds:

I am all for teens having part-time jobs while in school — but only if they can handle it. Typically, having an after-school job helps teens in a number of positive ways.

In your case, however, I hear no mention of school. How can you be in — or want — a full-time position if you are so young? Okay, getting on the soapbox here folks… you need to stay in school. To succeed in our economic system, you need at least a high school education, but really a college education. You want a money incentive? One study found that the lifetime income of families headed by individuals with a bachelor’s degree will be about $1.6 million more than the incomes of families headed by those with a high-school diploma. Read many other fascinating facts and figures in this article published on Quintessential Careers: What Good is a College Education Anyway? The Value of a College Education.

If you agree to stay in school, let me offer some suggestions for being self-employed entrepreneur rather than a teenage slave to Corporate America. I think the grocery business for the elderly shows some great creativity. Here are some of my ideas: a cleaning service; a yard maintenance service; a pet sitting service; a PC tutor/Web site development service; a catering service; a painting service; an errand or messenger service; or an educational tutoring service.

Just remember that if you start your own business, you have many more responsibilities and obligations than if you work for someone else. Get an adult’s help finalizing your plans — and stay in school!

Get more information about starting your own teen business by reading my article: Job Ideas for Teens 15 and Younger: Beyond Babysitting.

Anonymous writes: I am only 18 years old. I finished high school. I need a job badly that doesn’t pay poorly. I have experience working with children, but I would love to have experience in other things, but no one is willing to hire you unless you already have the experience.

The Career Doctor responds: May I start off with a lecture first? Can I encourage you to find a way to attend college — even if it is part-time while you are working full-time? There is such a wage gap between high-school grads and college grads that one study found that high-school grads rarely get to even a middle-class income … partly because we are in a knowledge-based econ

Okay, lecture over. Now let’s see about giving you some ideas for finding a decent-paying job. Here’s what I suggest you do:

First, talk to your network of family, friends, former teachers, etc. — people who know you. Ask if they know of companies that have job openings — or know other people who might know people who have job openings. Networking is the best source for finding job leads.

Second, look around at the companies and stores around your town or city. There are lots of jobs, from cashiers, stockers, waiters, receptionists, and more that a high-school grad can fill. Some will pay minimum wage, but others will pay more. Some may even have an employee training program and/or college tuition program. Don’t settle for the first job offer you get — unless it is exactly what you want.

Third, check out the want ads of your local newspaper(s). Even with the recent slowdown in the economy, employers are still often in need of hard-working employees. Don’t depend on this method, but it can be a good source of job leads.

Fourth, explore the Web, such as the sites on Job and Career Resources for Teenagers.

Leah writes:

I am a single mom of a 16-year-old daughter who desparately wants to work in an office. We have gone the designated route for summer employment through her public high school, but they don’t seem to have office jobs in abundance. I also need to let you know that the jobs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and my Candise (somewhat slow at times) just so happens not to be on the first 100 teens list. My question to you is: How can I find the employers that may be hiring teens for P/T and/or summer employment. I’ve tried surfing the web, but my specific requests (if correct) always bring me zilch. Please help with any suggestions you may have on the subject. I will definitely pass on anything that may be helpful to other parents in my situation.

The Career Doctor responds:

Leah, I know where you are coming from. My daughter also tends to drag her heels on certain issues, but I have a couple of ideas that might help you.

First, how is your network? We all know people who work in an office setting. Any of them managers or in a position to call in a favor or two? Make a list of your friends, neighbors, and other family members who can help you. Using your network to get Candise some interviews is the most likely route to finding summer employment.

Second, use the good old cold-contact method of securing employment. Develop a list of the larger employers in your area. Contact them and get the name of the office manager or human resources director. Have Candise write a letter to each person — and make sure it is a person and not a title — outlining the type of summer employment she seeks. Make sure she includes a resume as well. For some tips on cover letters, visit this section of Quintessential Careers: Cover Letter Resources.
For resume help, visit this section of Quintessential Careers: Resume Resources.

Third, depending on where you live, try a few Internet sites. I happen to love Summer Jobs; it’s a great resource for teens to find employment. You can search by keyword and location. For example, I searched office work (without a geographic location) and found 410 job listings. A couple of other sites have listings or can give you advice; find them at Summer and Seasonal Job Resources for Teen Job-Seekers.

Genevieve writes: What effects will having a job have on my teenage children?

The youngest is 14 and gets up very early before school to do a paper round and the other two children (aged 16 and 18) work in pubs at the weekend and some weeknights.

I’m worried about their education, health, etc.

Please tell me what I should and shouldn’t expect to happen.

The Career Doctor responds: Just about all the research I have ever seen supports the idea that part-time employment for teens can be very beneficial in building important time management and life skills. These part-time jobs help teens experience and prepare for the workplace, build a sense of self worth and pride, build and strengthen money management skills, and develop key time and project management skills.

As long as their grades or social lives do not suffer, these part-time jobs all seem like great experiences for your children. I would stress that you make sure your children know that you expect school to come first and that any sign of weakening grades may result in the loss of their jobs.

One final note. While I certainly do not consider myself a prude, I would not really want my teens to be working at a pub. Besides the sometimes long and late hours, I think that kind of environment — and even sometimes the clientele - is not the best for teens who are transitioning into adulthood and trying to establish their personal and moral compass.

Erin writes:

I know I am still young, only 14, but I am looking for a job. I am not very picky; I just want a job so I can see if I want to develop a further interest in it, I also don’t mind too much if the pay is not that high.

The Career Doctor responds:

Well, Erin, you have a good attitude about finding a job. And I think it is a great idea to start thinking about a job — as long as your family thinks it is okay and it doesn’t interfere with your school work. Most states even have laws limiting the amount of hours teens can work in a given week.

While you didn’t specifically ask about a summer job, I have written an article for teens looking for summer jobs. The same strategies I suggest in that article can apply to you now. So, I encourage you to go read A Guide for Teens: How to Find a Summer Job.

Best of luck.

Katie writes:

I am currently a high-school student who desperately wants a part-time job for after school and weekends. My mom says it’s okay, as long as I keep my grades up. I want to impress people when I apply for jobs, so even though I don’t think I need one, I want to develop a resume. Can you give me some pointers?

The Career Doctor responds:

I think it’s great that you are seeking a part-time job, and I’m glad your mom gave you permission to do so. There is a lot of evidence that shows teens gain a greater perspective on working, on careers, and on time-management skills by working part-time while attending school. But I also agree that school should be your main focus, so don’t let your work interfere with school or attaining the grades you need.

While you do not technically need a resume to find a part-time job, it is helpful to do so for two reasons. First, you will stand out from all the other teens who apply for the same jobs because the vast majority of them will NOT have resumes. Second, a resume is a document you will need the rest of your working life, so you might as well learn some good habits now on how to develop a resume.

The basic elements of a teen resume include: contact information, job objective, education, and experience. If your resume is not a full page with these elements, you can also include these optional elements: skills and community service.

Do not use a template to develop your resume unless you are just not comfortable starting with a blank page.

Remember to keep your resume focused on your objective (obtaining the part-time job), and always, always spell-check it and have at least one other person proofread it for errors. It might also be useful to have a parent or other adult critique your resume and make suggestions for improving it.

For more detailed help, we now have a teen resume writing worksheet published on Quintessential Careers.

David writes:

I’m trying to get a job for the summer but I don’t know where to look or how to fill out an application for a job. I’m not dumb or anything like that but it’s my first summer looking for a job. Could you please help me out without giving me a full essay on how to get a job?

The Career Doctor responds:

I am a big believer in teens getting summer jobs, so I am more than happy to give you some short, but practical advice on summer job-hunting and job applications. Summer jobs are a great way for teens to get a taste of the work world, gain some valuable experience, and earn a decent amount of money.

The keys to obtaining a summer job are these: preparing a resume (and learning how to complete a job application), developing an action plan on where you plan to apply for jobs, learning how to dress properly for interviews, and practicing for typical job interview questions.

Teens do not really need a resume to apply for a summer job, but by creating one, you will stand out from other teens without resumes. The key to job applications is having all the information you need to complete them, and I would recommend getting a sample of one before you actually complete one for real. Remember to read and follow the instructions carefully, and if you are completing it by hand, do it as neatly as possible. Answer everything as honestly as possible, but never provide negative information.

There are LOTS of places to look for summer jobs, including local retailers (downtown and at the mall), seasonal employers (like camps, tourist attractions), local government, and even local businesses. You’ll need to pound the pavement, applying at as many places as possible while also using your family and family friends to keep an eye out for job openings for you.

What do employers want from teens? Employers want motivated teens who are going to arrive to work on time, have a positive attitude, work hard, work well with others, show leadership qualities, work their full shift, and do the best job they can.

For more detailed advice, please read these two articles published on Quintessential Careers: A Guide for Teens: How to Find a Summer or Part-Time Job and A Job-Seeker’s Guide to Successfully Completing Job Applications.

Julie writes:

My friend and I are 15 and interested in starting a pet-sitting business. We would like to know how old we have to be to do this job, and how we should get started.

The Career Doctor responds:

Many teens — your age and older — are starting their own businesses rather than work for minimum wage in some part-time job. And the skills you develop in starting and running your own business will have long-lasting impacts.

You and your friend need to contemplate a number of considerations, but the most important one is whether one or more adults are willing to support and assist you in your plans. I am not saying the adult should run your business — just that you have an adult’s approval and support when needed (like when dealing with an angry customer).

So, what are the keys to starting your own business?

Here are a few rules you need to follow to ensure some level of success:

1. You must be able to promote the business to potential customers and clients — thus, you need to be able to talk with people and be able to try to sell them something.
2. You must be able to make a profit with your business. Sounds kind of obvious, right? But it is sometimes harder than you might imagine.
3. You must know one of the most important rules of marketing (and one I force my students to chant) — you have to satisfy the customer! You must do a good job in your business or you are going to lose customers.
4. You must avoid serious errors — in actions of judgment — in running your business. If you do something wrong, regardless of whose fault, it can cause anger, disappointment, bad publicity, and at the ultimate — a lawsuit.
5. You must be prepared to work long hours at establishing the business — and then even more hours running the business. They call it work for a reason — you need to be truly dedicated and determined to establish your own business.

Get more ideas for other teen business, as well as more details about how to do so in my article, Job Ideas for Teens 15 and Younger: Beyond Babysitting and Lemonade Stands.

Sarah writes:

Recently I had to quit my job at a local food store and I really need a new job. I was at that job for six months. Before that I worked at a sandwich shop for about a year. It’s really hard to find a job, especially since I’m 17. I’ve applied to about 20 places. Any ideas?

The Career Doctor responds:

I know you are looking for work more out of financial necessity than for the experience, but let me first state how important it is for teens to gain work experience while still in high school — as long as you can maintain your grades. Working part-time gives you valuable insights into how business works, the role of employees and supervisors, and possible careers to follow — or avoid.

That said, it’s going to take a lot of work for you to find a new job. I think your previous experience will be one of your biggest assets, especially if you are looking for another job dealing with customers.

The problem is that many part-time jobs are being filled with adults… people taking a survival job while waiting for a new job in their profession, others taking a second job to help make ends meet, and also older (mature) folks who need or want to work after retirement. And many businesses feel more comfortable adults — they have more experience, the perception of more dependability, and often more flexibility in scheduling.

So, you are going to have a plan. You’ll need to have a resume, develop a list of prospective employers (use your family and friends to see if you have any inside connections at those employers), submit applications to all the employers, and then follow-up those applications.

Probably the biggest mistake I see with younger job-seekers is the belief that once you have submitted your application you can sit back and wait for the phone to start ringing. It is just not going to happen. You must be proactive in contacting each employer and showing your continued interest in working for them. Fight for those job interviews.

For more job-hunting resources for teens, go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Job and Career Resources for Teenagers.

Chrissy writes:

I am 13 and my best friend is 14, and we love cleaning people’s houses and babysitting, but the problem is no one needs us. We just need your advice on how to help us.

The Career Doctor responds:

I think it’s great that you and your friend like working. Gaining work experience is not only invaluable for teens, but, of course, it’s also a way to make money. Younger teens such as you two have it a bit harder, because most states have laws about minimum ages for working, so you have to become independent contractors offering your services to neighbors and family friends in your community.

No one needs a dependable babysitter? While I find that hard to believe, I find it even more unlikely that folks have spotless houses that couldn’t use a little help from two industrious teens.

So, how can you get the word out? How can you get more jobs? It’s going to take a little creativity, a little marketing genius, and a little help from your families. I suggest you develop a flyer touting your availability. If possible, include some testimonials from previous customers.

Give copies of the flyers to your family, friends, and neighbors. See if your folks and adult relatives will take some fliers to their work to hang or handout.

Remember to always have your parents’ approval to do these jobs, and I would also suggest you have them screen potential new customers to protect you.

Find more key rules - as well as some other great ideas for jobs — for younger teens in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Job Ideas for Teens 15 and Younger: Beyond Babysitting and Lemonade Stands.