Teen jobs

[Shawn On the Border]

Ds17 hasn't had any success getting a part-time job. Last year, when he was 16, he applied for many, many jobs and received zero job offers. He didn't even get phone calls. He applied to retail stores, grocery stores, and fast food. I assumed it was because he was only 16.

 

This year, he has started applying again-and again no responses except the occasional rejection email.

 

Anyone else have a similar experience? Is it the economy? His age? Are employers looking for full-time only?

 

 

[Night Elf]

Does he have any friends with jobs that could put in a good word to the manager? Sorry he's having such a hard time. It could be a combination of his age and job availability. I guess if he's up against an older person, the older person might get the job. I wonder if he can go directly to the manager of some of these places. Like the grocery store, for example. Ask for the manager and then ask them directly if they have any available positions. I hate the idea of online applications. You can't show personality when you're a sheet of paper mixed with a whole stack of others.

[AngieW in Texas]

My 19yo applied widely at 15yo, 16yo, and 17yo and never got a single offer. She did get a couple of interviews, but no offers. She is hoping to get work through a temp agency this summer.

 

My 17yo dd lucked into the job she has now, but it is extremely part-time. She works one 2.5 hour shift of childcare at Jazzercise each week. I saw the job posted on one of my hs email loops and my dd emailed the person back about it. She had her interview the next day and started work the next week. She was told she had the job at the end of the interview. She loves the job. She would like to have more hours, but most of the shifts are covered by people who do childcare in exchange for free classes. She has done a few cover shifts for people who knew they were going to miss their own shift.

[Shawn On the Border]

Does he have any friends with jobs that could put in a good word to the manager? Sorry he's having such a hard time. It could be a combination of his age and job availability. I guess if he's up against an older person, the older person might get the job. I wonder if he can go directly to the manager of some of these places. Like the grocery store, for example. Ask for the manager and then ask them directly if they have any available positions. I hate the idea of online applications. You can't show personality when you're a sheet of paper mixed with a whole stack of others.

 

 

No, he doesn't really have any friends with jobs. I did tell him that he should go to our favorite grocery store in person, and ask for the manager. I know they hire teens.

 

The frustrating thing with online applications is that there is no feedback. You have no idea why they don't reply.

 

I have noticed that there aren't that many young people working at fast food around here. Most of the employees look 19 or 20 and up.

[Chris in VA]

Has he tried concessions at your local movie theater? He should show up for any interviews very professionally dressed--no sneakers, t-shirts, etc--khakis with a belt, nice shoes, collared shirt. Best manners, interview protocal.

 

Good luck!

[dbmamaz]

my dd was looking for jobs from 16 to 19 before she finally found one just before turning 20. My current teen turns 17 in a few weeks and I was thinking maybe he should try - but it is so hard to find anything. its kinda depressing. he doesnt drive, either.

[Ottakee]

In our area it can be very tough for ANYONE to find a job. I have seen many married men making subs at Subway, etc.

 

I do agree though with going in person and looking nice----maybe cutting hair and/or removing any piercings if he has those.

[Barbara H]

It is not just your son for sure. Right now teen unemployment rates are at the highest since World War II. Adults have moved into many of these entry level fast food and retail jobs so they are tough to find. If he has not already done so he may want to try to really get out there and knock on doors and try to get work independently - landscaping and mowing lawns, pet care, babysitting, etc.

[swellmomma]

Ds17 hasn't had any success getting a part-time job. Last year, when he was 16, he applied for many, many jobs and received zero job offers. He didn't even get phone calls. He applied to retail stores, grocery stores, and fast food. I assumed it was because he was only 16.

 

This year, he has started applying again-and again no responses except the occasional rejection email.

 

Anyone else have a similar experience? Is it the economy? His age? Are employers looking for full-time only?

 

I would assume it is a combination of his age and the economy where you are. Out here my son got the first job he applied to and is a special needs 14 yr old. Our economy is stronger than what I have seen online about the US, if it was like the one in the US I am sure he would not have been hired, as they would be hiring adults that couldn't get work elsewhere. In his case being 14 means the business had to jump through extra hoops and get special clearance from the gov't due to child labor laws, and his hours of employment are limited (2 hours per day max M-F, he can work full shifts on weekends and school holidays), so he averages 4-10 hours a week this semester, last semester was more. Once he is 15 there is more he can do and longer shifts etc so I was surprised when they hired him in the first place. You may find due to the economy that he will not find work until 18+, in the meantime he should find a volunteer position so that he will have it for his resume plus it may transfer into paid work. I started as a volunteer in daycare at 11, I did that daily until at 15 they hired me as paid staff, I built my career in that field in the end.

[Firefly]

I would explore friend and family connections, if you haven't already. Last summer ds15 worked at our neighbors' nursery-- lugging pots, watering plants and working the register. This year they want to move him up to actually planting and potting. Dd13 got a job through a friend of a friend as a mother's helper/babysitter. She'll be doing that again this summer. Around here work is much easier to come by in the summer (tourist town). Good luck to your son, I hope he finds something.

[bobbeym]

I think it's a combination of age + economy. Older DS applied for jobs everywhere within a 2.5 mile radius for over a year before he finally got hired on the grocery store. By then he was 18 and had graduated from high school. DD was luckier in that it only took her less than an year to get a job, but again she had applied several times at several places, and was 18 before she was hired. She's found that homeschooling is advantageous for her b/c she can accept day shifts when the other school-age teens can't.

[bettyandbob]

If your dc is a decent swimmer, it can be worth the expense to pay for the Lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid certifications needed to land a job. Every 15 yo I know who has done this has had a summer (and possibly year round) job for as long as he wanted it.

 

My ds refused to pursue that and applied for many jobs and never landed one. On his own he decided to take a PE class in college that provides both the lifeguarding and WSI certs. He's hoping to land a job this summer. He's 18.

 

My dd is 15. She took her Lifeguarding a few months ago and has put an application in at the local outdoor pool. If that doesn't turn out. She will apply to the indoor pool where she is already a volunteer with their adapted aquatics program.

 

dd has running her own pet care business for years now. She actually started at age 8. Last summer she advertised and got jobs in our neighborhood for both pets and plants. If I was a teen who couldn't land a job and I didn't have allergies (my ds has allergies), I'd start dog walking and in the summer try to pick up summer vacation plant care stuff like dd did. No, it's not going to net high pay, but it sure beats no money. Some of the people you work for can become contacts for job applications.

[swellmomma]

I think it's a combination of age + economy. Older DS applied for jobs everywhere within a 2.5 mile radius for over a year before he finally got hired on the grocery store. By then he was 18 and had graduated from high school. DD was luckier in that it only took her less than an year to get a job, but again she had applied several times at several places, and was 18 before she was hired. She's found that homeschooling is advantageous for her b/c she can accept day shifts when the other school-age teens can't.

 

 

Ds14's boss told me the same thing. Him homeschooling and being able to work the lunch hour is what cinched the deal for him to get that job. She told me if he was in ps, and had applied given his age and learning issues she would never have called for the interview let alone hiring him.

[hsbeth]

If your dc is a decent swimmer, it can be worth the expense to pay for the Lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid certifications needed to land a job. Every 15 yo I know who has done this has had a summer (and possibly year round) job for as long as he wanted it.

 

 

 

This was going to be my suggestion. Local pools and Y's are always needing lifeguards. Both of my teens (15 and 16) have jobs lined up for the summer already as do several of their friends. For seasonal positions here you are able to apply and then take the class if they offer you a job. We did need to pay for the class ourselves both times. This will be the second summer of lifeguarding for my older child and she had a great summer last year.

 

Mine are good, but not great swimmers. Although there younger sibs are on a swim team these two never swam competitively or anything.

[mims]

Some of the problem around here is increased regulations. They can't use ovens until 16 and deep fryers or meat cutting until 18. So the sub places, pizza places etc don't like to hire anybody under 18 because they always have to have someone on shift over 18 to use these things. It just messes up there scheduling and there are plenty of older people looking for jobs. I started working at 13 so it has been a big adjustment to me that I can't expect that of my kids. They have worked hard at finding jobs and my older 2 (now 16 and 18) have each had some part time ones. My son got one crazy one - he does tobacco compliance which means he goes into all the places in our county that sell cigarettes and tries to buy them and see if they ask for ID. It came about word of mouth. It feels a little unfair how those contacts work!

[kiwik]

It is completely unfair. Teen jobs often work on contacts so it is usually the people from the better off families that get the better jobs. Since you are homes hooking though could you not build an internship in a useful area into their programmes to give them actual skills.

[Jen in NY]

I was going to suggest the library.... Margaret beat me to it. :)

My dd#1 has worked there for 2 years, and it's great.... never past 9pm, no holidays, Sundays closed in the summer. Best student job, ever!

[swellmomma]

It is completely unfair. Teen jobs often work on contacts so it is usually the people from the better off families that get the better jobs. Since you are homes hooking though could you not build an internship in a useful area into their programmes to give them actual skills.

 

homes hooking? is that like an escort service :smilielol5: What sort of an internship are you consider for homes hooking? :laugh:

[Halftime Hope]

Students looking for jobs should go back repeatedly to the places they want to work. It's part of the drill these days. The manager may have a need the second or third time that they didn't have the first time. If they don't, assuming all things are equal, they will remember the person who has stopped by three or four times, and when they have a need, they will call, because diligence and persistence are qualities that will serve them well.

[dbmamaz]

very few places have paper applications any more. My daughter went to everywhere nearby, and 95% told her to go fill out an online application. so you cant stand there and talk to the manager right away.

[Vida Winter]

My teen started her own business. Is that a possiblity?

[Beth in OH]

My first thought would be to ask if you have worked through the online applications with him. Just like with paper applications, incorrect or incomplete applications will not receive appropriate attention. Sometimes the instructions are unclear, and people new to the "game" don't fully appreciate the importance of a particular question.

 

Additionally, almost all retail chains (including grocery stores) require some sort of personality or integrity testing as part of the application. These multiple choice tests take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to complete and are filled with situational questions designed to predict whether the applicant would be a good fit for the company. These tests are tricky and require the applicant to think like an employer. They also require a fair amount of mental focus and persistence. Google "sample Unicru questions" for an idea of what I'm talking about.

 

Perhaps it would be helpful for you to talk directly with your son about employer expectations just in case the personality test is a problem. Generally an employer will not tell an applicant if he has failed this test.

[caroljenn]

My ds hunted for a job when he was 17, going to several places. They all told him to come back when he turned 18. He ended up working at dh's work the summer he was 17 and worked so hard he decided never to work there again- but he has a newfound respect for dh, so I guess it's all okay!

[Tap]

Ds18 has had a job tutoring since he was 16 at a local learning center. She doesn't post positions but solely hires by word of mouth.

 

I know a lot of teen are having a hard time finding work.

[Laurie4b]

I think one major factor is online applications. Managers don't get to see people in person, so person who is good socially and makes a good impression doesn't stand out.

 

Another factor for teens is that so many entry level jobs are now part-time and being filled by adults. So while it was easy for me to get a job as a teen, it no longer is.

 

Do work your contacts. My oldest son got a job because a friend worked some place and recommended him for an opening. I was letting ds 2 try to get a job on his own, and realized I really needed to use my network. It's that kind of economy.

 

Do have your ds do volunteer work in the meantime and I am guessing it's better to have some that is not church-related. It's a catch-22, but until you have a job, you have no references. Volunteer work for an organization that many people are familiar with, like the local homeless shelter or Habitat for Humanity, etc. helps.

 

The more hours available your ds has, the higher the chances of being hired. Places hiring part-time usually have a lot of part-time workers, so the more flexibility they have, the easier it is for them to schedule.

[Tita Gidge]

Our teens have had to branch out from traditional jobs (retail, fast-food) to more self-starter type jobs, like the aforementioned pet sitting/walking or lawn care.

 

Is he familiar with any sports? Mine have all been able to referee with local city leagues from 13+ (and have done so). It's seasonal, but flexible. In our case it has required a one-time fee (was $60 first kid, now is up to $75) and full day of unpaid training, but that was deductable from future paychecks. Mine have done soccer and baseball, which equals roughly six months of pay for regular season. There are different tiers of licensing, that come with different pay.

 

Other self-starter ideas: tutoring/editing for other-schoolers, newspaper delivery (or it's ugly cousin, hang-tags on doorknobs), "babysitter" / chauffeur - if you're in a dual-income area he can do the afterschool pickup and dropoff to extracurriculars for busy parents, create a camp/class to offer through the city - summer is ideal time for this, it's not a huge money maker but it's a great way to network.

 

I have one that runs a video game camp over winter break. He goes M-F, 10-3pm. It started with about 6 kids, and now he caps it at 10 and always has a wait list. The kids are all pretty local, so ride or bike over in the morning. A few get dropped off earlier because their parents work, but these are kids we know so it's no biggie. They play two hours in the AM, break for an hour lunch and recess at the park, then finish with another two hours in the afternoon. They do mini-competitions and help each other get better. The final day is a tournament. He charges $50/kid, which includes daily drinks and a tee-shirt. Kids bring a sack lunch M-Th, and he provides a pizza lunch on tourney day. It's basically a babysitting gig for the working parents in our neighborhood LOL. It's not a huge moneymaker, but it's fun and easy for what he does earn. I have another one that wants to do something similar with soccer over summer break - basically set up a babysitting gig for area parents that the kids don't realize is babysitting (and is somewhat productive and fun).

 

Has he looked at the City Parks & Rec dep't or YMCA? They're often great about hiring younger people.

[bobbeym]

The more hours available your ds has, the higher the chances of being hired. Places hiring part-time usually have a lot of part-time workers, so the more flexibility they have, the easier it is for them to schedule.

 

This is very true. Both of mine have entered their hours as being available anytime between 7a-11:30p every day. Rarely do they block specific times off from work and when they do, it's usually b/c of family or church volunteer obligations. It's proven to be beneficial though b/c they are both highly thought of by all the store managers and were recommended for cross-training in multiple departments. It's become common for them to work 34-38 hrs a week, which (I'm told) is amazing for a teenager at a grocery store.

[Unicorn.]

I know this has already been mentioned, but lifegaurd, movie theaters, busing tables at restaurants, and most importantly, teach him to follow through. If he doesn't hear back from a job in a week, he should call and ask to speak to the manager, or human resources person. Following through can let them know he's serious, and responsible. Also, tell him to let you check his application before he submits it, in case he's leaving something off, misspelling something, etc. that can turn an employer off.

[hsbeth]

In addition to the lifeguarding I suggested above one of my teens has taught a latin class to younger kids (based off of Song School Latin). I didn't think of it at first b/c she used the money towards a mission trip, but she did bring in a bit that year. She taught a 1 hr 15min class every other week and charged $150 per child each semester. She capped it at 10 kids and raised a good bit of income.

 

If you have a good sized home school community math tutoring, writing help, science lab, or foreign language classes might be something to consider. What are your child's interests/strengths? Capitalize on those!

 

This same child worked as a mother's helper in the summer before being old enough to work officially.

[Jenny in Florida]

My daughter started applying for jobs -- part time, full time, everything from retail on up to professional stuff related to her field -- from just after her 16th birthday. Keep in mind that, by that point, she already had a college degree. She had a professional-looking, attractive resume, relevant experience from on-campus activities and good recommendations/references from professors, directors and the faculty member in charge of the early entrance program from which she graduated. She papered the town with resumes and applications for almost two years before finding her current part-time job.

 

One thing that seemed to make a difference for her was finding her way into an internship at a local dance studio. She identified dance training as a weak area in her skill set and was frustrated that we/she couldn't afford to sign her up for several dance classes a week. She decided to contact all of the dance studios within a reasonable driving distance and ask if any of them would be willing to exchange dance lessons for a certain number of hours of work in the studio. She got a few responses and ended up in her current situation. For this academic year, she's been working the front desk at the dance school, four short shifts each week. She edits and distributes their monthly newsletter, handles registration and some retail tasks (fitting and selling dance wear and shoes for students), answers phones, does general housekeeping tasks around the studio, decorates their bulletin board, etc. In exchange, she takes four classes a week and gets an occasional private lesson with the owner.

 

With that local, recent experience added to her resume and good local references from the studio owner and one of the dance teachers with whom she works there, she finally got hired to a paying job in her field just after her 18th birthday. This one is giving her training and experience directly related to her long-term career goals, as well as a paycheck (although, admittedly, a small one).

 

My son is hoping to be in a slightly better position by the time he's old enough to apply for paying jobs. Just a couple of months ago, he started assisting with a couple of classes each week at his dance studio. The plan is for him to be trained to teach a class or two on his own eventually. Again, it will be unpaid (although it will position him for a possible larger scholarship to cover more of his own classes). But it will be meaningful, real-world work experience he can cite on job applications when the time comes.

 

Edit: He also has well over 100 hours of community service volunteering for local theatres and the science museum. I would strongly encourage any teen who is having trouble finding paid work to consider signing up for some kind of volunteer program or unpaid internship, since it serves the multiple purposes of getting the kid out into the world meeting people and making connections, allowing him/her to earn meaningful experience and providing something real to write in the blanks on an application.

[Jenny in Florida]

(Double post. Sorry!)

[J-rap]

If your son can think of any "in's" at all -- connections to people who work at certain places, I'd definitely try that. My kids have all gotten good part-time jobs because they (or we, the parents) know the owners, at least by name.

 

Other than that, I wouldn't rely on on-line applications. We did spend half a year in the Chicago area a couple years ago, and one of my daughters applied at many online stores/restaurants with not response at all. She finally walked into two places in person -- dressed nicely, smiling, introducing herself -- and was offered jobs at both places.

 

If your son is homeschooled, perhaps he can use that to his advantage. Our kids have often worked over the lunch hour at a coffee shop in town. It's hard to find adults who just want to work two hours over the lunch hour, but it fit my kids' schedule perfectly.

[Luanne]

I know a lot of places won't hire under 18 year olds because of all the laws that accompany being underaged.

[LibraryLover]

My kids have had luck finding jobs as summer camp counselors (Y and town), babysitters (my 13 yr old makes $10/hr, older young people who drive earn much more), painting and dry walling for a local firm who' flips' houses and maintains rentals. One of my children ran an art 'camp' for some young hsers a few hours a week at one point. One boy we know washes dishes at a nursing home. I think walking into places makes sense. You can assure them you have applied on- line, but you're there to let them know you are flexible with hours (or whatever) etc.

 

I know you have a son, but don't discount babysitting if that is something he might be good at. I know a lot of people with busy little boys who prefer male babysitters. Do you live in or near a tourist-y area? We have a large summer population, and folks are constantly looking for teens to keep kids busy (crafts are big, so is helping 'tutor'' preschoolers going off to K), drive them to tennis lessons and back etc. It's not a year 'round gig, but it can help a kid sock away money in a short period of time.

 

I also agree with jjhat about hsers with flexible hours. A couple of years ago we knew a girl who helped open a cafe from 5 -7am with the owner. She would start mixing up the chicken salad, wash greens, get the display case ready etc.

[mandymom]

My dh owns a business that traditionally hires teens, but he is getting more and more adult applicants lately. Honestly, in this economy, he generally gets better work habits from adults and tends to hire them. He still has quite a few teens that work for him (including my three oldest), but he is (and always has been) very picky about who he hires. He weeds MANY teens out by their application. If there are spelling and grammatical errors (throughout the application, not just one small thing), he won't even call them for an interview. He has so many applications, he simply doesn't have to hire everyone. He looks for school involvement (or homeschooling activities), leadership activities (volunteering, club involvement, ect) and previous experience. He's also not fond of job hoppers. The next step is the interview. You would not believe the way kids (an adults too) show up to an interview! If you are chewing gum, the interview won't last long at all. Dress must be neat, and if you are wearing businessy-type clothing it's a plus (he has some poorer kids that work for him that don't own such clothing, so it's not a requirement). Clothes must be clean, not wrinkled, and shirts tucked in. If you are female, make sure you are dressing for an interview, and not a date (ie, no low-cut, tight fitting clothes). Speak clearly and make eye contact, and SMILE! That's a HUGE one......just SMILE!

 

It's tough for teens to get a job these days, but tell your son to keep at it. This is the best time to start looking, before the school summer break starts Most companies have already finished summer hiring by the end of May. I do agree with what the others have said about using contacts. Many of my dh's employees are referred by other employees or adults that we know who recommend a teen.

 

Good luck to your son. Tell him not to give up!