What's the best method for a 16 year old to find a job?

[Comp625]

Hey guys,

I'm 16 and I'm looking for a job but I have no idea where to start looking for one. I looked through my school's job archive (where people post Help Wanted messages for kids who attend the school, to maybe get a job). Unfortunately, alot of the jobs are either taken or out of date (eg: I found a cool job posting... "Help an adult with learning how to use computer". Unfortunately, the posting was made back in December ).

So does anyone know where I can start looking for jobs? The Classifieds don't work for me...they post jobs for 18+ year olds...(mostly college students who are out of college).

 

[Ameesh]

go to local shops and beg. it worked for me but i got paid under the table. (btw i started when i was 12)

 

[hoihtah]

if i were 16... rather than trying to earn money...
i'd try to add experience.

go volunteer.
try to network with your computer science teacher.
i'm sure he'll be able to find you some summer internship.

if the internship is somewhat related to the field that you want to go into...
then do it!

you and your experience is worth much more than any job out there... for a 16 year old.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Sell your body!

Volunteer work is a good idea, though. I don't know if anyone would take you for an internship unless you're a programming/networking/design wizard.

 

[joohang]

Too bad that you missed the dot-com craze.

I made $1000 for one week of work when I was 16. Wrote a couple of ASP pages that took me maybe 20 hours max.

 

[Nitemare]

a job as a choir boy?

I sold newspaper subscriptions when I was 16

 

[giguana]

If you're just looking for a source of income, go to your local grocerie store and get a job as a bagger. They make really good money for a 16 y/o.

If you're looking for something in the comp biz. Good luck.

 

[SerraYX]

Mass small-store applications for any time, day or night. The once you get in, change the hours.

 

[Sepen]

Originally posted by: giguana
If you're just looking for a source of income, go to your local grocerie store and get a job as a bagger. They make really good money for a 16 y/o.

If you're looking for something in the comp biz. Good luck.

My daughter started at the grocery store. She was working 20-25 hours after school a week. She decided to go retail. Between Hollister and AE she works maybe 5 hours a week. Retail is slow....food is where it is at.

 

[TheNemesis]

I'm 16 and I make $9.75 at a grocery store...

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: Comp625
Hey guys,

I'm 16 and I'm looking for a job but I have no idea where to start looking for one. I looked through my school's job archive (where people post Help Wanted messages for kids who attend the school, to maybe get a job). Unfortunately, alot of the jobs are either taken or out of date (eg: I found a cool job posting... "Help an adult with learning how to use computer". Unfortunately, the posting was made back in December ).

Assuming you want an "actual job" (i.e. office work), consider asking your guidance counsellor/teachers about how to approach this. They may know of other summer/temp programs that would be good for a high school student.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss retail/service positions, though. For one, those jobs tend to have high turnover, and as a result, many open positions. And if you can live through the social stigmata, demonstrating initiative and getting some references on a resume, even in a low-skill environment are still useful things for later on.

 

[exp]

Connections, connections, connections. It's never too early to start networking. if you know people you will find employment a lot faster than others, even though they may be more qualified. It's kind of sad really, but that's the way it works.

 

[QueHuong]

Maybe local bookstore? My top pick for my (first) summer job is Border's and then Micro Center.

 

[aimn]

Business to business.......apply everywhere..........80% of available jobs arent advertised. Let your friends/family know you are looking. Take about any job, its always easier to get another if you already have one.

 

[bmacd]

call mickey-dees and see if they're hiring.

-=bmacd=-

 

[no0b]

bump

I need to know also same perdictament. except I'm 17

 

[Spac3d]

I would go volunteer. I volunteered a summer for the Veteran's Hospital one summer and guess who they called next summer for a job? and AGAIN this summer with a raise and get to pick my own hours. They needed someone with "computer experience" ... they figured who is better to get than a student??? I happened to be the only student volunteer there. My friend volunteered there last summer and this summer they gave him a job

Now I make more than my friend, get great experience, and I'm not doing physical labor!

Good things come out of volunteering, it helped me out when I was in court.... and you get to help other people! Colleges love volunteering, give back to some society other than Anandtech

Spac3d