Job Hunting Skills for Teenagers

It's that time of year again. School's out for summer and teenagers flock to potential employers with the hope of making some fast cash. Teens work for a variety of reasons which include the usual suspects, saving for a car, car insurance and paying for college. Some just work or pocket money and some really just like the experience of working. Work can become an important aspect of the social life for teenagers, just as it is for adults.

Depending on where you live, the job can be easy to come by or a bit more competitive to secure. Industries that hire minimum wagers in droves for summer employment are a great place for an inexperienced worker. Any of the amusement parks or water parks, are likely still recruiting heavily as they need large numbers of employees and experience a lot of turnover. For the amusement parks and water parks, they need to have employees from early in the season, before high school students are free and then until late in the summer, when college students have returned to school. For this reason, they recruit students, retirees and often, international students to come and work for the summer. The interview process is generally quick and easy. The dress code and personal grooming are the most important issues for these parks.

Other summer employment possibilities include summer pools, recreation programs, camps and food establishments. Anything that is likely to be busier during the summer is a safe bet for high school and college students.

Of course a friendly, polite, capable and well-groomed presentation is important. There are also important pieces of information that teens must remember to bring along when completing applications and interviewing with prospective summer employers. First, make sure you have your social security card (or at least that you know the number), as well as some form of identification. You will also need to have the names and phone numbers of a couple of references. Consider using teachers, adult friends of the family, or of course past employers. You never know if the potential employer will call or not, so make sure you let your reference know in advance that you are listing them as a job reference. People are generally flattered and happy to be used as a reference when asked, so don't worry about this request.

Usually, your first trip to a potential employer will involve completing the application. Make sure to bring along a working pen and have all of you information ready. When completing the application, write really neat and large enough for easy reading. This is the first thing the employer sees so it has to make a good impression. Be prepared to interview that day if asked, so dress neatly and be very well groomed. Well-groomed means; minimal make-up, neat hair out of the face, scrubbed finger nails and fresh breath, in addition to nice, neat and clean clothing.

There are things to consider when looking for a job. Do you want to work inside the air conditioning or are you happier out in the sun for the summer? Do you like to interact with people are you happier in a quieter environment. Are you good at math and making change or would you prefer to be stocking inventory? Do you want a job that's fun or one that is meaningful and gives you experience toward a career goal? Remember that pay can be higher or lower depending on the job you accept. For example, anything that requires special training, such as lifeguarding, generally pays a bit higher.

With gas prices as high as they are, the other big consideration is distance. Can you get to a job that's thirty minutes away? Is it possible to carpool and share the gas costs with someone else? Do you have reliable transportation? Maybe you're better getting a job that's much closer to home. Working is a great experience for teenagers and summer jobs can give confidence and experience as well as the much-needed cash. A summer job also provides structure and a healthy social outlet. No matter what the actual job is, the benefits of work are endless and the experiencing of securing a job is an important lesson in life.