High school is a moment of independence and freedom for many. However, finding that independence can be difficult without a source of income. Many high schoolers struggle to get a foot in the professional world due to lack of experience. It seems like there is a particular struggle, now more than ever, with finding a job. An abundance of teens want a way to make money, and plenty of places need help, so why aren’t the two aligning? Here are some tips to find your first job, with help from Garfield counselor Jessica Allen.
The first step in finding a job is working your network. It’s not a secret that most teenagers get jobs from connections their parents have, so use that to your advantage. Ask your parents if they have any friends who own a business and are hiring. If they don’t, go around commercial areas in your neighborhood and pop into stores and simply ask. Allen said most students she has talked to have “gone into their local community and noticed who was hiring, or they have a connection through their family and got a job that way.” Persistence and dedication are key to finding a job. Allen said that the majority of students find service jobs at restaurants or cafes. “There are some people who work at restaurants serving or waiting tables. Those jobs can be a little tougher to get as high schoolers, a lot of people end up working in cafes or at fast food restaurants,” Allen said. She also pointed out that it is ok to not be super experienced when looking to be hired. “People who are hiring high school students expect that they don’t have a ton of experience interviewing and don’t have a ton of experience working too. So I think that’s okay and I wouldn’t feel discouraged if students don’t have a lot of experience on their resume.”
Once you have found somewhere that’ll take you for an interview, you need to be prepared. The business is seeing if you are a good fit for them, but you should also see if they are a good fit for you. Have some questions prepared to ask the interviewer so they can see your interest in the job. “The most important tips when interviewing are just to be as respectful as possible. Be polite and be friendly and just be yourself, that can get you really far,” Allen said. “Do research on any company that you plan to work for and look into what they value and what their mission is or what kind of experience they’re creating for customers,” Allen said. This can show your dedication to the position and demonstrate what you will bring to the company as an individual.
Allen helps students find jobs that fit them and are in their area. “I typically ask them where they live and we look at Google Maps together and we just start looking at what local businesses are in their immediate area.” If you are looking for your first job, the counseling center is a great place to start.
