Who knew job hunting for a teenager would be so hard?

[xanis]

I'm 18 years old and I'm a senior in high school. I've been unemployed for a while now because of various things happening in my life, but now I'm in desperate need of a job. I live in a small-ish town (~2,000) people. There aren't a a lot of businesses around that hire teenagers seeing as the town caters to the older crowd.

However, there are a few places such as local supermarkets and pharmacies that do hire young kids. I put in applications about 4 weeks ago to the following places: Acme, CVS, Staples, and Radio Shack. I've been back to Acme TWICE to follow up on my applications and both times I was told that "I passed the test/application process, but I was in the hiring pool". Staples told me that they weren't hiring, but would let me know. Radio Shack... what a nightmare. My first application didn't go through and was "incomplete". My second application wasdn't even on their computers, after the store nmuber and all data was correct. I walked out of the store and basically said screw it.... plus the fact that they work on comission kind of turns me off.

CVS was the best out of all ofthe places. I talked to an actual managerwho seemed genuinely nice and even introduced himself and shook my hand. He said he would call me before the weekend was over for an interview. Who would have thought?

 

[Cattlegod]

How do you expect to get a job without experience?

 

[jpeyton]

McDonalds, I'm lovin' it!

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
How do you expect to get a job without experience?

I should have mentioned that I have experience. I worked in an amusement park for two years.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
How do you expect to get a job without experience?

I should have mentioned that I have experience. I worked in an amusement park for two years.

Why did you stop?

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
How do you expect to get a job without experience?

how do you get expirence if you cant get a job?

 

[Brainonska511]

RadioShack is a PITA. I applied and then had to go out to this random place 30 minutes from my home. I got offered a job, but it was only a little bit above minimum wage ($5.25/hr) while my grocery store job was paying me at least $7.50/hr with 1.5pay on Sundays/Holidays.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
How do you expect to get a job without experience?

how do you get expirence if you cant get a job?

 

[spidey07]

1) Look good - hair trimmed, shaven, decent clothes, nice shoes
2) Pleasant, look eye, confidence, stand tall, willing

You'll get hired.

Good job on following up. Keep at it.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
How do you expect to get a job without experience?

I should have mentioned that I have experience. I worked in an amusement park for two years.

Why did you stop?

It was only seasonal, and the pay was terrible (minimum wage) for the ****** that I and my fellow employees dealt with. Quite a few people left after this past season.

 

[EvilYoda]

Who knew? Everybody on AT who's been a teenager before? Have you tried local bars/restaurants and see if they need a prep chef, busboy, bar back, etc?

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Who knew? Everybody on AT who's been a teenager before? Have you tried local bars/restaurants and see if they need a prep chef, busboy, bar back, etc?

I'm working on it. I'm not done applying yet, I've only touched the tip of the iceberg.

 

[angminas]

You sound a bit self-entitled. Remember that nobody owes you a job. That might help you get one.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: angminas
You sound a bit self-entitled. Remember that nobody owes you a job. That might help you get one.

:roll:

 

[grohl]

Work all of your connections - friends and family are the best ways into these jobs.

Don't get discouraged, keep trying!

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
How do you expect to get a job without experience?

He's not looking for a job as a rocket scientist, he's looking in retail. Retail is the quintessential teenagers job.

On another note, do you swim well? You could be a life guard/pool operator and make ~$10-12/hour.

 

[imported_sicko]

Have you tried gas stations?

 

[Savarak]

try volunteering... or try the libraries

 

[doze]

try a pizza joint, I worked at pizza hut for a year when I was 19, making pizzas. It wasn't that bad.

 

[Sentinel]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Who knew? Everybody on AT who's been a teenager before? Have you tried local bars/restaurants and see if they need a prep chef, busboy, bar back, etc?

The vast amount of people skip that part in their life.

 

[Gibson486]

Looking for a job sucks no matter what age you are......

 

[Injury]

If you can't find a job at 18, it's not because nobody wants to hire you, it's because YOU only want certain people to hire you.

Whatever pays the bills should be your concern. Not working somewhere that is geeky or gives a great discount or something. That should be a perk, not a reason for going only there.

Drive down the street and put in an app everywhere you pass. All the places you listed to work at probably don't pay for crap because plenty of people want to work there.

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: Xanis
I'm 18 years old and I'm a senior in high school. I've been unemployed for a while now because of various things happening in my life, but now I'm in desperate need of a job. I live in a small-ish town (~2,000) people. There aren't a a lot of businesses around that hire teenagers seeing as the town caters to the older crowd.

However, there are a few places such as local supermarkets and pharmacies that do hire young kids. I put in applications about 4 weeks ago to the following places: Acme, CVS, Staples, and Radio Shack. I've been back to Acme TWICE to follow up on my applications and both times I was told that "I passed the test/application process, but I was in the hiring pool". Staples told me that they weren't hiring, but would let me know. Radio Shack... what a nightmare. My first application didn't go through and was "incomplete". My second application wasdn't even on their computers, after the store nmuber and all data was correct. I walked out of the store and basically said screw it.... plus the fact that they work on comission kind of turns me off.

CVS was the best out of all ofthe places. I talked to an actual managerwho seemed genuinely nice and even introduced himself and shook my hand. He said he would call me before the weekend was over for an interview. Who would have thought?

I worked at an Eckerds (before it was bought by CVS) for 2 years. While their prices might be high, I thought they treated us employees very well. Sure, its nothing like an office job, but it wasn't a horrible experience either. I still use my manager there for one of my 3 references for real jobs (yes, I have my manager from my internship experience as well).

 

[BoomerD]

Let me throw a couple of "generalities" at ya...

1) FINDING a job is more work than actually having one.

You have to sell yourself (and any potential skill set to a potential employer. Make sure you meet whatever grooming standards are appropriate for the job, and when you apply &/or interview, dress APPROPRIATELY.


It's easier to find another job when you're already employed, than when you're not.

An employed person has some kind of track record, and generally shows the potential employer that they
have what it takes to hold & keep a job, in whatever field it is...even flipping burgers requires you to show up
for work and do your job right. A person without a job doesn't show that. If you HAD a job, but quit, the employer
is gonna wonder WHY you felt the job was so bad you'd quit without something else lined up...doesn't show responsibility.


All that being said, teenagers are tough to employ. Far too many of them have "issues"...g/f-b/f problems, school troubles, self-esteem issues
drug/alcohol problems, "entitlement problems", motivation problems, etc. NOT saying all teenagers are bad, MOST are not...so, it's on YOU to convince
an employer that YOU are NOT encumbered by "baggage" that will keep you from doing the job they have, right and make them money.
After all, the job is NOT about YOU making money, it's about YOU making THEM money...

Good luck.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Following up with them is a great idea. If what BoomerD listed in the last paragraph is of concern to them, your follow ups will make them more confident about that.