How is a 17 year old expected to find a job?

[starwood]

DS won't be 18 until July. He has a car he needs to put gas in, pay insurance (the highest in the nation) and maintenance. We went to the mall yesterday so he could put in some applications for Christmas work. You need to be 18 to work at the Disney Store, Macy's... He put an application in on line for the movie theater. How do they expect these kids to get a job?

 

[MinnieTink]

I'm sorry I dont have an answer, just some sympathy from a fellow NJ resident. Insurance and taxes are killing us too.

 

[stacy347]

Target hires teens 16 and up. Good luck!

 

[Nennie]

Any local pizza places, diners, etc? The mom and pop places might be more apt to hire teens. Also try gas stations, wawa, fast food, etc.

Good luck!

 

[cepmom]

DD got a job at a supermarket when she was 17. They hire kids as young as 15 I think.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You have to pound the pavement and find places that hire younger people.

That is generally your food service, grocery & discount stores, etc...Even 6 Flags hires 15yos.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Try the Grocery stores, Mcdonalds etc.

My 17yo is not getting his licence/car until he gets a job. He must not want it to bad since he wont go out and look for one.

 

[daisyduck123]

My DD15 has been a paid swim coach for a year-round competitive team since she was 14. She did swim on that team for 5 years prior to becoming a coach's asst.

 

[Cinderella94]

A lot of my 17 & 18 y.o. friends (I'm 15) work at Chick-fil-a or other fast food places.

 

[RitaE]

How does who expect them to be able to find a job?

 

[bjgrazi]

Many places won't hire under 18 anymore due to liability and working papers. Under 18 has so many rules as to when they can and can't work and how many hours they can work. It's not worth it to many employers. We found even if they do hire under 18 they're not because with so many people out of work it's less of a hassle to hire over 18.

 

[Anne34]

My DD16 worked for the park district concession stand from April - October when they are open. My DS14 refs youth soccer games and has for the past year. There are jobs if you look around. Mostly fast food or mall stores.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

If he has working papers, he is able to work at age 16 and if I am not mistaken that can be done through guidance.

There are jobs out there for young people, pay is about $8 or 9 bucks an hour so that would be good for them. Not good for a 31 year old that has grown up bills etc. THat part is not so great.

Good Luck to you!

 

[MIGrandma]

My DD was 15 when a local diner hired her as a dishwasher. She did that for a year, then could work as a waitress when she turned 16 so she did that and worked there until she graduated from high school.

The fast food places around here hire a lot of teens too.

 

[christineann]

I'm not sure what's available in your area, but here's what my kids did.

My son worked at his high school running the scoreboard at the basketball games and worked at an auto parts store (a/k/a high school boy heaven). During the warmer months, he mowed lawns and washed cars.

My daughter worked as a tour guide for a museum house in Charleston.

Their employers were very good about letting them work around school, sports, etc. That was about 5 years ago, though, and I would think it's tougher to get a job now.

The kids I know who work at Chick Fil A love it.

 

[allison443]

I am in NJ like you OP and my kids also found that almost all the mall stores require you to be 18. I think it's because they can schedule an 18 year old past 11:00 and during the holidays especially, with the extended mall hours, the employees can end up staying quite late...that's why they prefer 18. That is according to my dd who worked at a mall clothing store through college.

I know Claire's and Target hire under 18. Also, local pizza places, ice cream places, supermarkets, and delis/bagel stores. Do you have any place you go to regularly where you might know some of the workers or the owner? That seems to be how a lot of jobs are gotten.

My dd didn't turn 18 till August after hs graduation (she was actually at college already) so she had the same problem as your son...plus she did sports all year round so had limited time...she was able to get certified and work as a referee for youth soccer games. It paid well and was only on Sundays.

I have another suggestion..a couple of boys in my neighborhood sent around a flyer for yard work/mowing/leaf cleanup etc. They had a decent response.

 

[kafitty]

i worked at Subway!

 

[ajk912]

Think of the places you generally see teenagers working. So that would be fast food, maybe doing a side lawncutting business or snow removal business, dishwashing at a hotel or bus boy, maybe an afterschool counselor at a daycare, movie theatre doing concession stand or cleanup, etc. Definitely not glamorous but your first job is always a doozy!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I hope everyone's kids find work if their looking.

One of my niece's work in The Gap, she is now 22 & going for her Masters but she has worked for them since high school.
My friend's son was just hired p/t at Outback close to the college he attends.

I offered 3 local teenage boys $250 to blow out & paint the garage, not one taker

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Grocery store?