How Do I Find a Part-Time Job?
- Search online using websites like Indeed.com, and SimplyHired.com. When using these websites you will have to “search” for jobs like you would search for a topic on google. The search words you use are important. Try searches like “Part-time jobs near me” or “after school jobs” or “jobs for teens”.
- Know where you want to work, and search for jobs directly on their websites. Companies such as AMC, Publix, and Target all have their own online or in-person application portals. By going directly to the company website, you can find job openings under the “careers” section.
- Ask in person when you visit. If you are interested in working at a specific store or restaurant, ask in person if they are hiring. To do this you will want to ask for the store manager and say something polite and professional, such as, “Hi, my name is…… and I was wondering if your company is accepting applications for part-time positions?”
- Work for someone you know. Do you have an uncle who runs a mechanic shop? Or an older sister who works at a store you love? Sometimes the easiest way to get a job is to talk to the people who you know who already have one! Talk to someone you know who works for a company you are interested in, and ask if they can help guide you through the process and put you in contact with the person who is in charge of hiring new employees.
Companies that hire teenagers:
Publix*
AMC
Target
Home Depot
Retail stores (check out your local mall for various retail options!)
Restaurants (Big chain restaurants often hire younger teenagers to help with kitchen chores such as cleaning and washing dishes.)
Fast Food Options*
YMCA and other Community Centers
* These companies will accept an application and hire teenagers starting at 14 years old
If you have a passion or interest in a specific field, reach out to a local organization within that field to find out what potential job options there are. For instance, if you love animals, reach out to your local animal shelter or veterinary office and ask about a part-time job walking dogs, or cleaning kennels.
Most employers will happily answer questions about job or volunteer opportunities as long as you are polite and respect their time!
How to Write a Resume
The first step in applying for a job is creating your resume. Use the Resume 101 handout to learn about the purpose, structure, and content of a resume in order to complete your own resume!
How to Complete a Job Application
Use the Sample Job application to practice filling out an application for this job as you go through the presentation!
The Job Interview
Almost all jobs will require an interview before the company offers you the job. Job interviews can be stressful and intimidating, however, they don’t have to be! Knowing what to expect, and practicing answering typical interview questions can help you prepare.
What They Want to Know: While making money may be your primary reason behind getting a job, employers want to know that you are interested in the actual job you are applying for. Give an example of why you want to work for that specific company, such as, “I love going to see movies with my friends and family, and I like the idea that I would get to help other people have a good experience and love going to the movies like I do.”
What They Want to Know: It is very likely that many other teenagers just like you will also be applying for the same job. Employers want to know what sets you apart from your peers. Are you a great public speaker? Do you love to organize things? Do you work well under pressure? Provide reasons and examples to back up your claims, such as, “I’m very good at greeting people. I’ve been a volunteer morning greeter at my school for the past year. As a morning greeter, I say hi to all of the middle schoolers as they come into school, and I help make sure they make it to the right classroom on time.”
What They Want to Know: There are many roles people take when working as a team. Do you tend to step up and be the group leader? Or do you prefer to be told what to do? Give an example of a time you worked on a team or in a group, such as, “When working in groups on projects at school, I tend to be the person who helps organize everyone. I like to know that everyone has a job and that they know what that job is.”
What They Want to Know: By having you talk about an accomplishment you are proud of, the employer is hoping to learn about your strengths and values. For some people, a big accomplishment might be winning a championship game. For others it may be getting an A on a really hard test. Whatever accomplishment you choose, make sure you are highlighting skills and personal qualities that you think are important for the job you are applying for. For example, “An accomplishment I am very proud of is running for class representative my sophomore year of high school. It wasn’t something I was thinking about doing, but a lot of my friends and teachers kept telling me I would be good at it. At the time I was a lot quieter and not as confident in talking to new people, but through acting as the class representative I had to practice my communication skills and learn to be more confident.”
What They Want to Know: This question is looking to give the employer insight into your problem solving and conflict resolution skills. The key to providing a good answer is to make sure you use an example that has a good resolution. Don’t choose to talk about a fight you got in with your brother that ended with you two in trouble. Instead, offer an experience that you were able to learn from and correct, so that you are showing off your skills. An example might be something like, “I was doing really bad in Algebra II at the start of the semester, and the teacher and I really did not get along. I didn’t feel like I could ask her for help, and as my grades got worse she thought I just wasn’t trying. It was a bad situation I didn’t know how to get out of. The more upset she got at me, the more upset I got at her. I ended up going to a different teacher who I am close with and asking for help. He encouraged me to go talk to my math teacher, instead of just being afraid and upset. At his advice I wrote down some of my questions and feelings about the class, and went to meet with my math teacher. After talking, we agreed to set up weekly tutoring sessions so she could help me understand the material better. The more I met with her and talked to her, the better my grades got. Now my math teacher is one of my favorite teachers, even though Algebra is still a really hard class for me.”
Other examples of commonly asked questions are:
- Can you tell me a little about yourself?
- Why do you want this position?
- What do you know about our company?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are you learning in your classes that will help you succeed in this position?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What’s the accomplishment you feel proudest about?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Can you work on holidays and weekends? What about evenings?
- This job pays X. Is that acceptable to you?
- Do you have any questions about the job or this company?
- When can you start?
Practice answering the different questions in order to get comfortable answering them. If you don’t know how you would answer a question, ask it to your GAL and listen to their response! To get more ideas, click here!
Professional Communication Skills
Good professional communication skills aren’t only important for the interview, but they are important to have in order to be successful at your new job! Click on the link and watch the videos to learn what professional communication skills are, and how to use them!
Professional Behavior
Professional behavior, or Professionalism, is a set of skills required to be successful in the workplace. Professionalism goes beyond writing good emails and showing up on time.
Professionalism Skills:
- Dress for the job you want. You already know that how you dress impacts people’s perception of you. While dressing nice during the interview is important, it is just as important to dress well for work each day.
- Show up to work on time. A good rule of thumb to follow is- Five minutes early is on time, and on time is five minutes late! By showing up early you will show that you are responsible, committed and professional.
- Communicate with your boss if you are running late or need to call in sick. Showing up late to work is never okay, however, sometimes it cannot be avoided. Life happens, and traffick, sickness and accidents are normal parts of life. When you find you are going to be late, or that you are too sick to work, communication is key. Be sure to call, text or email your boss as soon as you can. The earlier you can provide a heads up, the more time you give your boss to make accommodations.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Jobs come with a lot of responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities will be outlined in your job description, others may not be! Be proactive and ask questions during your first few weeks to ensure you are doing the best job possible!
Understanding Your Paycheck
Companies have various forms of payment. During your paperwork and orientation process, someone will talk with you about how you would like to receive your paycheck. Direct deposit is often the easiest method for both you and businesses. With direct deposit, the money will automatically be transferred into your selected bank account on payday.
Some companies may prefer to pay employees with a traditional, physical paycheck. In this case, on payday you will receive a check that you will be responsible for depositing into your bank account. We will cover how to deposit checks in the Money Management Module towards the end of the program.
Keys 2 Independence
Keys 2 Independence is a state program that allows for teenagers in foster care to get their drivers license. The program reimburses teens and caregivers for drivers education classes, as well as for fee’s associated with obtaining a license. To learn more about the program and see if it is right for you, watch the video below and click here to visit their website!
Please take a moment to review the site and content materials, so that we can better tailor them to you!