A Guide for Teens Looking for Summer Employment

School is almost over. No more classes until next fall! Summer break means hanging out with your friends, going to the beach or pool, shopping at the mall. Fun, fun, fun! Sounds great! Summer here we come! Unfortunately, having fun usually means that you need some cash. In the event that you may be low on funds, one option to consider is to get a summer job. Yes, a job. It may seem like getting a job will interrupt a summer with your friends; but sometimes a great job can be fun, provide great perks, and you may learn something original. Plus, it will get you the needed cash to really enjoy the time off you have. Here are a few suggestions to abet you find something out of the ordinary.

I don’t want to work at a fast food place.

A good place to start is to put in some research time. Not every summer job has to do with fast food services. Buy a local newspaper and take a look at the help wanted allotment. You may not find exactly what you are looking for, but it will give you an idea of which businesses are looking for assist. It is easier than ever to find jobs on-line as well. Try looking up jobs in your area on some of the more accepted job search sites. If you have a business in mind, see if they list job openings on their business Web residence that you might qualify for. There are also sites that specifically cater to businesses looking for summer or seasonal befriend. Try doing a search for “summer jobs” on any search engine and see what turns up.

If all that information seems a bit overwhelming, get more specific. Think about where you live and what you like to do. Where do your talents lie? What areas are you interested in studying? Consider the type of job you would like to have and where it is located. Will you have transportation to regain there? Think about the hours you are available, and rate of pay. Are you involved with any summer activities that may conflict with a work schedule? Are you willing to sacrifice getting paid for a great working and learning experience? You may not be able to find a job that fits all your needs, but try to find one that fits as many as possible.

When considering businesses you would like to work for, keep in mind what you would like to do. If you enjoyed photography class, think about working for a photo lab or local photographer. Do you like working with younger kids? Check out area summer camps, day care centers or consider starting your own babysitting service. If you would lift to be outside for the summer, see if the local pool needs some life guards. Or regain out what landscaping services are in your area. You will work hard, but not only will you get a ample work out; you are almost guaranteed to get at astronomical tan. (Don’t forget to wear your sun shroud.) Like music? See if your favorite local radio situation is looking for an assistant. Do you play an instrument? Offer summer lessons for younger kids. You can make your believe schedule that way. If you and your parents are not opposed to you being away for the summer, consider applying at camps or ranches away from home that have seasonal work. The idea is that there are many different job opportunities in your area if you unbiased think about it. Accumulate out what you are interested in and go from there. Don’t be shocked to explore new areas as well.

There are a lot of fun summer jobs that offer extra benefits. Do you like movies? Roller coasters? Video games? Try applying for a job at one of the local movie theaters, theme parks, or arcades. Most of these businesses allow their employees freebies or bonus passes. If you spend most of your time at the mall, find out if your favorite store is hiring summer help. A job at any retail store will usually guarantee you a discount on the merchandise sold there.

There is no guarantee that you will get the job you want, but the earlier you check into it the better chances you have. Try calling the businesses that you have an interest in to see if they are hiring for the summer. Better yet, visit businesses that you are involved in working for. Meeting someone from the business face to face can sometimes provide a first impression that can give you an advantage when applying for a job. Salvage out if the business is hiring or would be commence to hiring someone on a temporary summer basis. If so, collect out what you need to do to apply. Some businesses might require a resume, while others might fair need you to occupy out an application. Sometimes the first step to getting your dream job is to just show some interest.

If your favorite business isn’t hiring, don’t give up. If you are less worried about having money, but would like to have something to do, leer if someone working at the business would consider hiring you on as an intern. An internship position may not get you a paycheck, but will composed provide you with something to put on a resume. Plus, the experience you will gain as an intern may also help you to decide what work or study areas you might like to pursue further. Don’t limit yourself either. Put in applications and resumes at multiple businesses that you are interested in. The more places you apply to, the better chance you have at landing at least one job you are interested in.

What if I need a resume?

Don’t worry! A resume is very simple to create. By now most of you have worked with word processing on your computer. Don’t be worried to ask a teacher or counselor for assistance. Most any teacher will be willing to provide you with the abet you need to correctly format a resume. If you want to get a head start on your own, check to see if your word processing program has resume templates that you can use. If not there are many Web sites that offer free template downloads. Try searching for “resume templates” or “high school resume examples” on a search engine on-line.

Once you have your resume typed up, have someone look it over. A parent or teacher may think of something you have missed. It also helps to have someone else proofread your resume for general errors. Businesses will often automatically discard resumes and applications that have consistent spelling or grammatical errors. Your resume should look professional even if you have very little or no work experience.

I don’t have any work experience.

You don’t need a lot of work experience to put on a resume. Many companies that hire summer help realize that you may be inexperienced in the working world. Companies will usually provide you with training needed to do the work that you are hired to do. They don’t expect or require you to have a long list of previous jobs.

That doesn’t mean that you leave your resume empty. Be creative with your resume. If you don’t have any direct work experience, list items that might have value in the working world or would be specific to the job you are applying for. On your resume list specific classes that you have taken, such as typing or computer classes, music, photography, writing, auto shop, or any others that you have done well in. Be sure to list the class name and use two to three sentences to describe assignments or what you learned in the class.

Have you ever looked after your brother or sister? That qualifies as a temporary/part time location. List any side jobs that you may have done on a part time basis. Babysitting, shoveling snow for neighborhood driveways, or helping your parents with a home run business all qualify as work experience. Again, be sure to describe what was done and the responsibilities that you took on. If you have volunteer experience, be sure to include that on your resume as well. That includes anything from a church bake sale to a school blood drive, or any other volunteer experience. Volunteering always looks good on a resume.

Still looking for items to put on your resume? Think about what you do in your spare time. Make a allotment on your resume to list club memberships and after school activities in and outside of school. You can add things like sports, theater groups, language clubs, auto clubs, or even study groups that you are a part of. Also, be sure to add a section for any awards or achievements you may have. Any accomplishments are acceptable on your first resume. Use things such as being on the Honor Roll, a level of martial arts that you have achieved, or getting third place in the local spelling bee. Gain a list of awards and accomplishments in descending order starting with your most recent.

What do I do at an interview?

Okay, you submitted all your applications and now a business has called you for an interview. There are a few things to hold in mind.

§ Execute sure you know about the company. Get out their primary business or product. Find out the needs of the business and know the job you are interviewing for. The more knowledgeable you are about the business, the easier it is to answer interview questions.

§ Dress conservatively. Wear business or professional attire. Stay away from extravagant clothing or jewelry. Be well groomed. Odd or unusual colors in your attire, or hair usually don’t sit well with interviewers.

§ Make a good first impression. Exhibit up for the interview on time. Have a strong hand shake. (but don’t crush the interviewers hand) Make eye contact with your interviewer, this shows confidence

§ Prepare for the interview. Compose answers to frequently asked interview questions. If you need some serve, look up “interview questions” on an internet search engine or ask a parent or professional about interview questions they have been asked.

§ Be keen. Project confidence. Avoid using pause words such as “um” and “like” in your responses. Listen to the question and take time to think about your response before you answer.

Most of all, be yourself. The interviewer wants to know about you and how your skills will help the business or company. Don’t downplay your previous experience, let them know what you have done and relate skills you have to the job you are interviewing for.

After the interview is over, send a thank you note to your interviewer. Mention something specific in the note about the interview such as a particular question or additional information that will make you stand out, it will remind the interviewer about you and why they should hire you.

Have fun on your job search. Don’t feel bad if you don’t get the first job you interview for or if the interview doesn’t go well. Consider it as a learning experience. Retain your hopes up and gain ready for your next interview!