First Job

[itsthefiveofus]

Anyone have tips for getting a job? I want to get one since its summer and I finally 16. Tips? thanks oh and if anyone has any stories or experiences.

[Morgan]

That would be nice, haha.
I don't have a job or ever had one if you discount babysitting.

[B]

It really depends on what you want (or are willing to do). Different stores/companies tend to have different hiring policies for minors too, depending on their hours, etc. It can't hurt to just kind of search around for entry level stuff, think about places you might want to work or things you'd be interested in doing and start pursuing stuff from there.

[LimeTwister]

friends with connections.

[iluvvanessa]

I'm searching for a job too [having no luck though] look for jobs on craigslist.org and walk around town and go to the small family owned businesses and drop off a resume, thats what I did, but it's a little late to start looking now. AMC movie theaters hires at ages 15+.

[zurielshimon]

I'm looking for a job right now as well, but its industrial stuff, so I really couldn't recommend anything to a 16-year-old. One thing I think would probably help is to try not to act as immature as a lot of the teens out there looking for jobs. It may get someone a job behind a McDonald's counter, but it's a big turnoff if you're wanting something worthwhile.

[Manda]

I worked at DQ when I was in High School, it was pretty fast paced and busy and the typical high school job.

Then I worked at Best Buy, I absolutely loved it until people were getting fired or quitting on a weekly basis. I didn't like how they called us a "family" and when we were rewarded with blue crew bucks we never saw any of it. Managers were switched all the time, the way they treated employees was disgusting. I was hired at Circuit City too, but decided not to go through that again.

Now I work for Peet's Coffee & Tea. We had our one year anniversary tonight, we truly are a family. We are making better tips, the customers are wonderful! I have to take coffee and tea classes, and its very fast paced. Its not a laid back job, and there is a lot of growth with the company. I'm an example of that...I only took the job while my bank application went through, and when things were all said an done and they were ready for me to actually start I could not leave Peet's.

Do what makes you happy. Seriously. Don't take a job just for the money, you will be miserable. I may not make a lot, but I make enough and then some, and tips every week. At least $50 cash for gas or what I put in my savings for books and stuff for school. The flexibility is great with my classes sometimes being all over the place. Its a great college student job and I'm happy.

[iluvvanessa]

I went around the "downtown" area of my area where lots of family owned buisnesses are, and handed out resumes and stuff, yesterday i got a call for an interview, so my tip is just get your name out there, walk around ask a bunch of places if they're hiring dont be picky, the place that i am going ot today for an interview is a candy shop.

[SadAsBlue]

I worked at DQ when I was in High School, it was pretty fast paced and busy and the typical high school job

The people at the DQ by us are evil. No lie. You would think for owning an ice cream shop they could be a little perky but they're angry and grouchy non-stop. It's gotten to the point where the other people in the neighborhood call them Mr. and Mrs. Happy. Fortunately we do not actually live near then so there are no meetings in the grocery store or anything.

[amberbeads]

there are always going to be restaurants. it may be cliche but places like mcdonald's and arby's are always going to be hiring.

[itsthefiveofus]

I got my first job interview! Its for Target. I hope it goes well and I get the job. anyone have pros and cons on what to do and not to do during an interview and any tips?

[iluvvanessa]

I had my 1st interview on thursday, i would say smile, be yourself, be positive, present yourself nicely.

[B]

1) Be on time.
2) Dress appropriately (e.g.: no blue jeans, inappropriate tops, etc.)
3) If you have a resume/references page, bring it with you.
4) Be prepared to talk about what skills and abilities you can bring to the job you're applying for (e.g.: good people skills, being a self-starter, being able to follow instructions, etc)
5) Don't fiddle, make eye contact with the interviewer(s)
6) Make sure your answers stay on topic. If they ask you some weird question like "what color would you say you are?" think conceptually, what are the aspects of the color you'd choose to be and describe those.
7) Be yourself and be honest with the employer.

I realize a lot of these things may be common knowledge or over the top for a first job, but the fact you go to the effort to do these things will definitely impress your interviewer.

[Agent]

I'm a lifeguard, all non-veterans get paid minimum, it's not a bad job, since you only really sit up there half your shift.  I wasn't interviewed for it though, which I found odd.

You should be to work on time, never be idle (always ask if something needs to be done), do everything to your best effort, if you're boss tells you to do something, do it.

[zurielshimon]

A lot of larger corporations give their prospective employees an intensive litmus test before the interview.  It's full of questions about a person's morals, ethics, and what they would do in hypothetical situations.  I honestly don't believe that honest answers on that test are going to get someone a job.  A large corporation has only one directive, and that's to make money.  In order to feel secure in their directive, they want to believe they have employees who will all but execute someone for stealing or showing up to work under the influence of drugs, and who will not miss work unless they absolutely have to.  

Never mind.  I'm through.