You may not like to admit it, but it's never too early to start working. Granted, you may not be able to land the job of your dreams at the age of 15, but anything from walking dogs or delivering pharmacy orders, to baby sitting or mowing lawns can help you develop the skills you need for a career. These types of jobs can teach you responsibility; budgeting skills and show you that hard work can translate to monetary rewards.
Too many parents think that giving you everything you want is helpful. Not only does this lead to an attitude of entitlement, it is a prescription for disaster in later life. Many employers deride college graduates who come to the interview with the attitude "what are you going to do for me." The candidates sought out by employers convey confidence and enthusiasm.
From a teenager's perspective, the main motivators for getting a job should be doing something you would enjoy as well as gaining valuable skills. For example, camp counseling usually does not pay well. However, if you like the outdoors, teaching younger children and sports, this is an excellent experience for potential teachers, business leaders, medical and mental health professionals. Some teenagers prefer an air-conditioned environment.
Working in a fast food restaurant usually pays more and gives experience in team work, management and customer services. It may seem like a dead-end job, but like all opportunities, it is up to you to make the most of your summer job and learn as much as you can.
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST JOB By the time you are a junior or senior in high school, you should have a resume. If you don't have work experience, you can include activities with clubs, volunteer work and/or athletic teams. Believe it or not, activities demonstrate leadership and teamwork as well as interpersonal and administrative skills. Employers want specific examples of what you have done that demonstrates these skills.
Administrative skills can be demonstrated by how you help organize a fund-raising event for your club. An appointment as an officer of a club can demonstrate leadership. Most employers seek these skills in potential employees.
WHAT'S THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU? Clearly, it is important that you don't take a job strictly for the money if you are going to hate it. For example, if you do not like dogs it would be ridiculous to take a job dog walking. However, you might take a job in retail sales even though you don't expect to pursue a career in that area. It will help you develop interpersonal, administrative and analytical skills and it will demonstrate to future employers your work skills and motivation.
If you don't know about whether you would like a particular job, ask people who are doing it what they like and dislike about the job, then you can make an evaluation whether it is right for you. Talk to your parents and their friends about their experiences.
If you don't have the luxury of choosing an area of interest due to family financial obligations, almost all work experience would be of value. If you have free time, do volunteer work in your area of interest.
Summer jobs afford you the opportunity to try out different types of jobs and industries so that you can choose a career path. For this reason, it is not necessarily important to go back to the same place for a couple of summers. Summers should be used to develop skills and hone your interests.
THE INTERVIEW Dressing for an interview is as nerve-racking as choosing what to wear on your first day of school. Can you wear a T-shirt or the latest platforms? Probably not. It sounds cliché, but you only have one chance to make a first impression.
Try to use common sense when choosing your outfit. If you interview for an office job, you should dress conservatively. Having the right look is only part of the challenge for an interview. You can set yourself apart from other potential employees by learning about the company before the interview.
You should also be prepared to talk about how your skills from your previous work and school experiences will help you be an effective employee. It's important to ask the employer about the job duties, responsibilities and what is expected. Assure the employer that you have the skills to match the requirements of the job by giving specific examples.
Don't talk about pay until an offer is made. You have the best advantage with an employer once you establish that they want you. You have no bargaining power until they make you an offer. They have to believe that they are getting extra value in return for paying you more.
CLOSING THOUGHT While it is important that you get work experience during the summer, make sure you balance it with fun. Employers like well-rounded employees. For most of you, your future careers will involve interacting with co-workers and customers. Well-rounded people are able to develop a better rapport with others. In addition, they are more pleasant to be around and they inspire trust.
