Finding Your First Job as a Teenager

(also advice for anyone who has never worked for pay but now needs to)

credits and disclaimer and Why should you trust the information on this web page?

There are many, many web pages and blogs that say they have advice for teenagers to find their first jobs. Most of those pages are generic rather than having specific information, many are missing critical steps in the job hunting process, and many are written by artificial intelligence and just saying exactly the same thing as other pages.

This page is written by a human and it is meant to provide highly practical, realistic information to help teens get their first job. It's also meant to emphasize to teens that they need to do as much as they can to find a job WITHOUT parents doing most of the steps for them.

If you are a parent that are reading this page and you hope to use it to find your teen a job, stop; this page is for your teen to read and for your teen to take action on. You can read it, of course - but the actions below are for the teen to do, not you.

This page is USA-centric, meaning the information may not work in other countries.

Memorize Your Social Security Number.

You are going to have to write your social security number over and over again on job applications. Memorize it. Do NOT write it on your résumé. Do NOT carry your social security card around with you - if you lose it, it's hard to get another and someone can use it to steal your identity.

Build Your Adult Network.

When looking for your first job as a teen, you are often relying on family, friends of family, parents of school friends and other adults to help you. This is your “network."

Tell your parents, the parents of your friends and your adult neighbors that you would like to find a paid job and that you would like for them to talk to their adult friends about any job prospects they might be able to offer. Tell any other adults in your life as well - teachers, youth group leaders, members of your community of faith, etc. Tell them you have a résumé or that you are working on such.

If someone offers to read your résumé, thank them and give them a copy (and if you don't have it yet, tell them you are working on it and will send it to them). There is guidance about writing a résumé later on this page.

Respect Your Adult Network.

You need to treat the adults that are helping you find a job - your network - as precious and valuable. When a member of this network recommends a job to you, or recommends you for a job, that person is counting on you to uphold their reputation with their own friends and work colleagues, their own network, by you behaving responsibly and with gratitude in your interactions with all adults.

When a member of this network suggests a job for you or helps you with your résumé, you need to show appreciation and respect. You need to write that person via email or text, even if the suggestion came verbally, and say something like:

Thank you for the job lead at such-and-such company. I appreciate your help in assisting me to find a job for the summer. I will let you know if I get an interview with this company.

or

Thank you for the job lead at such-and-such company. I talked with so-and-so at the company and, unfortunately, they need someone to work in the evenings, and I am not available at this time. But I so appreciate your letting me know about this opportunity and I hope you will continue to make suggestions for me.

or

Thank you for telling me about the job at such-and-such company. I have interviewed for the job and I start Monday! I appreciate your help.

Why is this important? Because you are showing that adult that you are writing that you are responsible and that you have excellent follow-through. You are impressing these adults with your communications skills and your followup. That adult is more likely to keep sending you job opportunities as a result of you showing appreciation in a timely manner. It also means that they are not going to worry about you embarrassing them with someone they know: remember, these adults in your network have a reputation that they care about, and they are risking that reputation when they ask their friends and colleagues about jobs for you. If you are late to job interviews, if you have a sloppy résumé, if you don't apply for jobs they recommend for you, etc., you are showing disrespect to your network, and they will stop recommending jobs for you. They may even start telling associates NOT to hire you.

Résumé.

If you lack a laptop or desktop computer at home to create or edit your résumé, your local public library has computers and a printer you can use, or can refer you to a place that does.

You should have a résumé even if you have never worked. Your one page document should note at the top:

Your name
Your mailing address (your residence)
Your phone number
Your email address

Do NOT write your social security number of your résumé. It is private information you should give only on job applicatons, on health care-related forms, on bank-related forms and on university applications.

Under skills, you can write things like the following (as long as they are true for you):

Ability to lift 50 pounds.
Ability to stand while working.
Understanding of Microsoft Word for basic layout.
Understanding of email and texting software.
Advanced skills navigating the Internet.
Experience participating in online communities.
Ability to learn quickly.
Ability to follow written directions.
Ability to operate a lawnmower.
Ability to speak clearly on the phone.
Ability to speak in a welcoming manner to visitors.

If you have taken care of younger family members, include that you have childcare experience. If you have taken care of adult family members with injuries, illness or disabilities, write that you have basic caregiving experience for adults.

If you speak a language other than English, note that as a skill on your résumé.

Note if you have a driver’s license.

Note if you are currently enrolled in school and what your expected graduation date is.

Note your grade point average if it’s 3.0 or higher.

If you do not have a USA passport, note your visa status and that you have a legal right to work in the USA.

You can note your hobbies: playing soccer, volunteering at your community of faith, playing a certain video game, etc. It can be a nice conversation-starter in an interview.

If you have a disability, do NOT say so on your résumé. Your résumé is about your abilities, about what you CAN do. If you found this document that you are reading now, online, on your own, then you have some of the computer-related skills that have been noted earlier and this should be listed in your résumé.

With all of the aformentioed information, you have enough for a basic résumé. It does not matter if your résumé is just half a page.

The Internet is filled with sample résumés and résumé design advice, so I won’t repeat such here. I will say that every font size used should be at least 12 points.

When you are done with your first résumé, ask your parent or older sibling, or one of the adults in your network, and say,

Hello. I have written my first résumé. Would you be wiling to proof read it for me and make sure I have done it properly?

The adult you contact will probably be thrilled to help you. And if they cannot help, please respect that they cannot, for whatever reason.

Do not ask your parent to call or to write a member of you network on your behalf to ask for help on your résumé. You need to communicate this need yourself, with an email, text, phone call or face-to-face visit.

Follow through.

If a parent or another adult tells you that a person they know at a certain company or program is hiring, get the email address and phone number of that person. Get that person's full name and correct spelling. And then YOU need to write that person or call that person - not your parents or the other adult on your behalf, but YOU, yourself.

In your message, you want to say or write something like:

Hello. My name is ____. (name of family member or friend) referred me to you and said that your company is hiring people for the summer. I am very interested in this position. I am 18 years-old and this would be my first job. While I lack experience, I do not lack commitment and energy to work. I would like to speak to you about this job possibility. I am available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week any time after 10 a.m. to come to your work site and speak. Thank you for your attention. I hope to hear from you soon.

Finding jobs on your own.

It shows a lot of initiative to potential employers when you look for jobs on your own. If you want to do this, then the best way to start is by walking through the nearest business districts to your neighborhood. It is likely you are going to be walking or riding your bicycle to your first job, so you want to concentrate on places that are nearby. If you need to take mass transit to such a location, be mindful of how often buses stop and how long the trip takes.

Make a written list of fast food places, restaurants, furniture stores, and any other shops or businesses that you think might hire teen agers and that you think you would like to work at. When you are ready and are dressed appropriately (clean clothes, no torn or ripped clothes, no clothes with any words or images on them), take a folder with copies of your résumé, walk into the business, look for an employee to talk to and say, “Is your company currently hiring?” If they are, they will either give you an application or tell you to apply online. If the application is online, it will be on the company web site, so you need to know the exact name of the company before you leave! The business may take a copy of your résumé. They may even interview you right then and there!

If they are not hiring, they will say no, and you say, "Thank you." And you walk out.

If they give you a paper application, you can take it home and fill it out there and then return it later. You want to use excellent penmanship and make sure what you write is easy for anyone to read. You want to keep the paper stain free. You can fold it, but do not crumple it or wrinkle it. Return it to the business by mail or in-person.

You can also look on Indeed to find local jobs. Remember, however, that you have to have reliable transportation to get to any job you apply for - so don't apply for any job you cannot get to by yourself.

Job fairs.

Job fairs are where employers go to one place, in one room, usually for just one day. It can be at a library, at a civic center or community center, at a university, in the lobby of a large company - just about anywhere. There will be employers from many different companies at the event. Visitors walk around the room and hand out their résumés to anyone at the job fair representing a company where they might want to work. Interviews might be done right then and there.

To find job fairs, you need to do regular web searches for such. If your local city or county government has a Facebook page, "like" it and check the page frequently.

Job fairs are one of the EASIEST ways to find a job quickly. Make it a priority to go to some. Be there when they start - do not go for just the last 30 minutes. And don't forget to take copies of your résumé!

When can you work?

Look at your schedule, at how you spend your days. When are you available to work? Are you available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays? Are you available for 40 hours of work a week? Can you work on Saturdays or Sundays? Can you work evenings? You need to think about exactly when you are available for work.

Be realistic: if you hate getting up before 8 a.m., if you struggle to get up at that time, you are probably not a good candidate to work at 9 a.m.

What are your work conflicts? Is there a religious service you go to on a certain day every week, and at what time? Or is there a day when you play soccer or baseball or some other sport? Are you involved in community theater and know that you won’t be available on certain weekends because of performances or rehearsals? Do you have a family vacation planned? You need to have all of this information ready to talk about in a job interview.

What if you have a criminal record.

If you have ever been convicted for any crime at all, including a misdemeanor, even without a trial, or if you have ever been put on trial, you need to be prepared to disclose this during an employment process. You will probably NOT be asked about this during the application phase - that's illegal in most states. But you may be asked this in a job interview. Be honest about the date(s) and the exact name(s) of the offense(s) under which you were convicted. If it was an arrest, but no conviction, be honest about the date and the exact name of the offense under which you were arrested. And be prepared for a statement as to why you feel this employer need not worry about any arrest in the future.

Don't let a criminal record stop you from applying for jobs. Yes, there are some places that won't give you a chance - but there are many that will.

Preparing for the interview.

Have your answers rehearsed for these questions during the interview:

Why do you want to work?
Why do you want to work for us?
How are you going to balance work and family or school obligations or summer activities?
What transportation will you use to get to us?
Tell me about a time you helped someone - tell me who you helped, how you helped, and how you know that your help was what was needed and was, indeed, helpful?
What characteristics do you think are important for an employee to have?
What is your ultimate career goal? What profession do you hope to have as an adult?
What studies or experience do you need to get to your career goal?
What do you do for fun?
How do you relax or engage in self-care when you have been through a stressful or negative experience?
How many hours a week are you available to work?
What days of the week are you available to work? (if you say “anytime” - you better mean it. Saying “anytime” means you when this company asks you to work at 7 a.m. on Saturday, or 9 p.m. on Sunday night, you will say “yes.” Unless you really do mean “anytime”, do NOT say it!)
What times of day are you available to work?
Do you need any special accommodations at work? (this is where you note any limitations you might have, such as NOT being able to stand for long periods, or NOT being able to walk long distances, or NOT being able to pick up things that are more than 50 pounds, etc. This is also where you would note days you cannot work that may not be holidays in the area. )
How long do you think you will work for us? (if you are looking just for a summer job and you feel you will probably quit when school starts, say so, but be prepared to not get the job - most places hope you will stick around for at least a year).
Are you applying for other jobs? (say YES! And say where! Let them know you are serious about getting a job!)

For the Interview.

Be at the site 15 minutes before the time your interview is supposed to start.

Wear clean clothes. Do not wear a t-shirt that has a symbol on it. Do not wear anything that is torn or ripped, even if it is fashionable. You do not have to wear a suit unless it is for an office job. Yes, you can wear a t-shirt and jeans to the interview, unless it is an office job, but the t-shirt should be clean and plain.

if you have rehearsed answers to the aforementioned questions, you will be fine.

If you are asked a question you weren't prepared for, it's okay to say, "I need a moment to think about that." And if you really don't have an answer, you can say, "I don't think I have an answer for that right now."

These interviewers aren't trying to trick you. They are seeing how you interact with people. And they want to see how serious you are about working. Someone who says "uh" a lot, or someone who just shrugs and mumbles, is not someone they will feel great about hiring.

When the interview ends, say "Thank you for speaking with me. I look forward to hearing from you."

After the Interview.

Write the person you interviewed with and thank them for taking the time to speak with you.

Write the person in your network who recommended the job and tell them that you had an interview. Thank that person again for the job lead and tell them you will let them know if you get the job.

And then... keep looking for a job until you get an offer!

What if you get a job - & then get a better offer?

You have every right to apply for other jobs and interview for those jobs even when you have a job. And if you find a better job, you have every right to quit the job you have. But remember:

If you have a job less than three months, don't list that job on your résumé.
If you have a job less than three months, don't ask that employer to be your reference for future jobs unless you have an excellent relationship together.
If you leave a job for another job, tell your current employer why you are leaving and apologize for any inconvenience you might be causing. Be willing to work two more weeks - and be gracious if they say they don't need you for two more weeks. Thank them for the experience and, once you have started your new job, write your former supervisor and thank them for the experience.
If you leave a job of MORE than three months, it's fine to put that job on your résumé and, if asked why you left, to say, "I left for such-and-such job."
If you have held a job for at least three months, if you have always been on time and have an excellent job record, then when you leave that job, it's fine to ask your supervisor if he or she would be a job reference for you in the future.
Accept a "no" from anyone who you asked to be a reference with graciousness.

What if none of this works?

If you are not getting job interviews, or you are getting interviews but not getting hired:

Are you applying for at least two jobs a week? Are you refusing to apply for jobs you think are demeaning, like dishwashing, bussing tables or lawn work? Let me be blunt: get over yourself. You have never worked before. These kinds of jobs are where MOST people start out. And many people have to do them for the rest of their lives because they don't have a high school diploma or never went to university or because they are struggling to learn English. You aren't better than those people, but if you are reading this web site, you very likely have a lot more opportunity. These jobs are honest work. Swallow your pride and apply for these jobs and, if you get one, do it with competence and grace. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “We must set out to do a good job, irrespective of race, and do it so well that nobody could do it better. Whatever your life's work is, do it well."
Talk to a trusted adult who is not one of your parents and ask them if they have advice for you. Ask them ot review your résumé. Ask them if they will do a mock interview with you and give you advice.
Be honest with yourself: are you ontime for job interviews? Is your résumé free from spelling and grammar errors? Is the phone number and email address correct on all of your applications? Are you well-spoken in interviews? Are you following up with those you interview with and those who refer you for jobs?
Volunteer at a nonprofit. By volunteering in a regular role for many weeks at a nonprofit, and by showing up on time and doing excellent work, you will end up both with more skills and a job reference. Here is detailed advice on finding a volunteering role at a nonprofit.
Join Toastmasters. There are chapters all over the USA. This will help build your confidence in speaking and will help you build a network of adults who might help you find a job.
Have a look at your public social media. If a potential employer saw the photos, memes and other messages you post, would they decide NOT to hire you? Consider cleaning up your public online profile.

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