Where should i look for a job when i turn 18?

[LW07]

I turn 18 in March, 2009. I've had no previous work experience whatsoever, except for a job as a telemarketer that i quit in 3 days.

Where(besides McDonalds) should i look for jobs at?

Gonna be going to college in Fall 2009, living at home as I live real close to the college campus that i'm gonna attend. I've got my tuition paid for with a scholarship.

 

[KLin]

What's wrong with working at McDonald's?

 

[mugs]

Are you going to college? If so, try to find something that relates to your field. If not, something that makes you work hard (like construction) will pay better than retail.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Circuit City loves inexperienced people like you.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: KLin
What's wrong with working at McDonald's?

I hear fast food restraunts like McDonalds are very stressful work environments.

I may work at college. The reason I quit telemarketing is because I got sick of people hanging up on me, plus i hated how when someone made a sale the managers would go into "gameshow host" mode and yell in the announcer to the boss "So-and So made a bronze-level sale! Way to go! Way to go!"

 

[Farang]

I just did jobs that I enjoyed. Worked at a pizza place, then later at a cheese and ice cream factory. The cheese factory paid less but it was neat to see how cheese was made, plus it was aged gourmet cheese that I got to eat all the time.

Pizza delivery is pretty sweet if you can find a place that doesn't force you to tell your insurance. I never had to but I've heard of others who did.

 

[Crono]

Hit retail stores in malls and stores for applications, and look for positions online at sites like Craigslist. If you don't mind taking part-time internship now (paying or non-paying), you could probably improve your chances of getting a job or getting a better paying job when you turn 18.

 

[LW07]

yeah i might look into working for a pizza place as a cook or telephone guy(NOT as a waiter or driver).

Edit: In the application, should i say that i quit the telemarketing job "to focus on my high-school education"?

 

[Leros]

There will be plenty of on campus jobs available once you become a student. They'll work around your schedule and be close. They'll also have decent pay.

I know people who get paid $13/hr to sit in a computer lab for a few hours. They just do their homework the whole time.

 

[LW07]

Does one have to live on-campus to do a college job, or can one just go to morning class, go to college job, go to evening class, then go home or whatever?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: LW07
yeah i might look into working for a pizza place as a cook or telephone guy(NOT as a waiter or driver).

Edit: In the application, should i say that i quit the telemarketing job "to focus on my high-school education"?

If you quit after 3 days, you don't list it at all on an application.

 

[Homerboy]

I find it saddening that a (nearly) 18yr old needs help figuring out where to even start looking for jobs.... and by the OP it seems this may be his real first job (minus 3 days)

 

[ElFenix]

why don't you get a job now? you don't need to be 18 to work.

Originally posted by: LW07

Edit: In the application, should i say that i quit the telemarketing job "to focus on my high-school education"?

if you were only there 3 days i wouldn't even mention it

Originally posted by: LW07
Does one have to live on-campus to do a college job,?

no, you usually just have to be enrolled

 

[imported_Imp]

Best paying will be with your government. They are probably heavily subsidized too and saturated with kiddies. I worked with my municpality for 2 summers, made a livable wage. Learned a lot too.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: LW07
yeah i might look into working for a pizza place as a cook or telephone guy(NOT as a waiter or driver).

Edit: In the application, should i say that i quit the telemarketing job "to focus on my high-school education"?

No, that would make you look stupid. Don't ever mention the telemarketing job to anyone, it will never help you and always hurt you.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Leros
There will be plenty of on campus jobs available once you become a student. They'll work around your schedule and be close. They'll also have decent pay.

I know people who get paid $13/hr to sit in a computer lab for a few hours. They just do their homework the whole time.

Damn, $13/hr? Work study students at my university got bumped up to $8.50/hr for this year, from $7.50/hr last year.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

seriously, do whatever you want. it wont matter once you have a degree. just find something that isnt too stressful, and def dont stress about finding it

 

[JS80]

If you have the money I would hit up europe. That is the one thing I regret is not backpacking europe after graduating high school.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Hit something up in your field and possibly try a place you could end up working for the rest of your life. I worked summers at the phone company while I was in college. I graduated, same summer I got a permanent job there.

Avoid retail/fastfood. Too stressful and low pay. Office jobs FTW.

 

[LW07]

What jobs are less prone to layoffs than others? What kind of office jobs would i be able to take at 18 years old?

 

[nonameo]

Just apply everywhere. Make a resume and take it to different places. You never know who will bite and what they will have.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: Leros
There will be plenty of on campus jobs available once you become a student. They'll work around your schedule and be close. They'll also have decent pay.

I know people who get paid $13/hr to sit in a computer lab for a few hours. They just do their homework the whole time.

I was paid $14/hr to do this. I did this job for 5 years, 20hrs/week.
1st year: No job.
2nd year: $9/hr
3rd year:$14/hr
4th year: $14/hr
5th year: $14/hr
6th year: $14/hr

In fact, 98% of the time, I didn't even sit in the computer lab.
a) I just open the dorm computer lab when it's time to open it, and prop the door with a piece of wood to keep it open.
b) I go back to my room to do whatever(sleep, TV, homework, anything else), or even go to the library to study or grocery shopping.
c) I come back 20mins before close to give anyone still working a warning.
d) I lock the lab exactly 20mins after the above warning.

Pay scale was $8/hr for fresh meat, $9/hr for Sophmores, $10/hr for juniors, $11/hr for Seniors, and $14/hr for grad students.

The job was also beneficial for me in that I can access the lab to study anytime I want.
I've studied there from 2am-7am several times in my 3rd year due to stupid neighbors blasting music or smoking crap.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Hit something up in your field and possibly try a place you could end up working for the rest of your life. I worked summers at the phone company while I was in college. I graduated, same summer I got a permanent job there.

Avoid retail/fastfood. Too stressful and low pay. Office jobs FTW.

Be careful which type of office jobs though. The one I'm doing now for money has me contemplating suicide daily. If they had a half-competent programmer set up a batch entry system, I'd have no job.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Apply in all industries, then look for a better job once you gain some working experience. Any experience is better than no experience.

My 14 year old niece got a job as a cashier at a grocery store this sumer, and she still working once a week (@ $10 hour).

My 15 year old nephew is currently working 3 evenings a week at Wendy's, and he will be looking for something more challenging in the summer (@ $8.50 hour).

Any job you get would easier than This Job and earn much more.

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: mugs
Are you going to college? If so, try to find something that relates to your field. If not, something that makes you work hard (like construction) will pay better than retail.

That's what I did. I liked this route. Learned tons more useful stuff than if I did retail. Helped my body out, built character, that sorta thing.