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

[princess.chell]

Me and most of my friends have jobs at local fast food or the type places, like most people have mentioned here. Try there. If you live in town that has a "downtown" (aka an area that has a lot of shops in one area), try there. A lot of kids from my school work "in town/downtown" at a few little restaurants, speciality local stores, the like. I've worked at the local Jamba Juice since I was 16 and half (just turned 18). Most of my friends work but it took them forever to find a job. Keep trying.
I know at Jamba my boss takes first impressions into factor a lot. What did I think of the person who applied? Did they buy a smoothie? Did they step up and hand it in or stand back? How did they act towards you (being 18 and accepting an app I've had some really rude kids and told my boss so). All questions my boss asks me when I hand him an app that I got. Be assertive. That's how I got my job, that and I got lucky.
Good Luck!

 

[christineann]

Great advice, princess.chell

 

[BelleWDW]

Word of mouth

Both my kids got jobs from kids who worked at same place & told them about a job opening-a yogurt shop and a restaurant. Talk to other kids-also stocking the shelves at stores-i ALWAYS see young guys doing the frozen foods at Target

 

[mariolatry]

I worked at a public library and a church nursery throughout high school. Between those two places, I worked about 20 hours per week all year 'round.

My brother worked at the same public library, Subway restaurant, Toys R Us, and did yardwork (lawns, leaves).

 

[ogreenlee]

i worked at an ice cream parlor for my first job.
then the grocery store.
then kmart.
macy's, too.
then i went to work for a steak & ale (remember those restaurants?) as a hostess.


these were all jobs i could get as a teenager.

when i got older i worked in music stores and waited tables.

this pattern of many jobs never ended until i picked up a camera.

 

[S. C.]

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?

My grandson (17) found a job 2 weeks ago. He is a dishwasher in a mom and pop local restaurant.

 

[Jsme]

A lot of mall stores are very picky on the age of their employees. I am unsure how each state works but I know in NC the hours in which a teenager can work is based on their age. I have wondered if this might be part of their reasonings. I know a 15 year old can only do specific jobs and work very few hours and it is very limited on the time frames.

My DD was extremely luck in finding her job. We live about 20 minutes from the mall and stores such as Target. We did not want her finding a job 20 minutes away from our home. First we did not want to drive her that far before she turned 16 and then once she was 16 we did not want her to drive that far. lol A restaruant opened up near our house and we made her apply. She was content not doing anything. She was hired as a host just a month before turning 16. Now she has worked there 9 months and she is in take out. She likes Take out because she still gets min. wage and also tips. Believe me this makes me think more about tipping kids working take out now.

It is hard to find a job in this economy. Most employers are hiring older people who are in dire need of a job over a teenager. Tell him to continue looking.

 

[starrzone]

My DS started working at age 14 (Saturday night concessions at the local dirt track, then milking cows for farmers) and my DD started at 15 (dishwashing at the local diner, then waitressing). I think it helps them realize the value of a dollar. And both my kids (DS is now 33 and DD is 31) have wonderful work ethics now that they are adults.

We started working relatively young in my family too; one brother and I were 14 and the youngest was 13 when he started a summer job at an amusement park. He was promoted to supervisor at 16 and finished his second summer in that position this year. It's been wonderful for him; the owner of the park is a tax lawyer and that's what my brother has set his sights on being.

As for the OP, I think you've gotten some really good answers. I agree with you that it's a shame that kids who WANT to work have a hard time finding employment. Did your son check with the guidance counselor at his school, or is there a career centre at his school or in your community? I've found in the past that these places are quite helpful.

 

[ICF]

worked at a movie theater when I was 16....tons of fun, not to mention free movies too!

 

[starwood]

Lots of great ideas - thank you.

He put in an online app with Target when a new store opened by us but never heard back from them.

I remember when I was young you could get a paper route - now adults do them. My brother mowed lawns - now you have a landscaper do it. I had a job at 17 working in the middle school library that I got through the guidance department - they tell DS they have nothing available.

Our downtown area has been on the decline for many years now. Lots of empty stores and the ones that are being filled are being filled with dentists, lawyers, dance studios, banks - nothing a 17 years old could work at.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Lots of great ideas - thank you.

He put in an online app with Target when a new store opened by us but never heard back from them.

I remember when I was young you could get a paper route - now adults do them. My brother mowed lawns - now you have a landscaper do it. I had a job at 17 working in the middle school library that I got through the guidance department - they tell DS they have nothing available.

Our downtown area has been on the decline for many years now. Lots of empty stores and the ones that are being filled are being filled with dentists, lawyers, dance studios, banks - nothing a 17 years old could work at.

You have to go in person and put in an application. I applied for Target and they interview you on the spot.
So be prepared for that.

 

[mariolatry]

Lots of great ideas - thank you.



I remember when I was young you could get a paper route - now adults do them. My brother mowed lawns - now you have a landscaper do it. I had a job at 17 working in the middle school library that I got through the guidance department - they tell DS they have nothing available.

Our downtown area has been on the decline for many years now. Lots of empty stores and the ones that are being filled are being filled with dentists, lawyers, dance studios, banks - nothing a 17 years old could work at.

Actually, a lot of people can afford a proper lawn service in this economy. They'd probably be happy to have a teenager who shovel snow on a less expensive as-needed basis without signing a yearly contract. He's have to make up flyers, post them places, and canvass the area.

 

[luvsJack]

You have to go in person and put in an application. I applied for Target and they interview you on the spot.
So be prepared for that.

Can't say about Target, but a lot of the places around here that have apps online will not take one in person. When ds and his gf were job hunting they would find a babysitter and head off for a day of pounding the pavement and end up back shortly thereafter because so many places would not take an application online. The spent days on the computer filling every online application they could.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Can't say about Target, but a lot of the places around here that have apps online will not take one in person. When ds and his gf were job hunting they would find a babysitter and head off for a day of pounding the pavement and end up back shortly thereafter because so many places would not take an application online. The spent days on the computer filling every online application they could.

Target stores have that little kiosk application thing. Maybe you have noticed it at the entrance?
You fill it out and then you wait and they call you back for a set of interviews.

I applied when I was in TX 2 yrs ago.

 

[luvsJack]

Target stores have that little kiosk application thing. Maybe you have noticed it at the entrance?
You fill it out and then you wait and they call you back for a set of interviews.

I applied when I was in TX 2 yrs ago.

Oh, yeah they little computer thing at the front. Here its by computers for the registries.

I was shocked at the number of places that will ONLY take apps online. At first I thought ds was being lazy but I went with them one time and they really won't take them any other way!

And its good that Target will interview right then, most places don't.

 

[MM27]

There are stores that will hire 16 and 17 year olds. I worked at Old Navy through high school and college. The only thing is, especially now until Christmas they will be looking for people that are willing to work nights and weekends. The more open the availability the more likely they are to hire you.

 

[starwood]

You have to go in person and put in an application. I applied for Target and they interview you on the spot.
So be prepared for that.

When he went to the store they directed him to the kiosk to fill out the online application. He also asked at Whole Foods and they said
1. You need to be 18
2. They only accept applications online to cut down on their carbon footprint.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

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?

Shop-Rite is one place that hires kids under 18, Whole Foods, pizza restaurants, Chuck-E-Cheese, and if you are in the Morristown area, he could always stand on the corner across from the train station with the illegal day laborers. Most of them make over $100+ per day under the table while the rest of us stupid people pay taxes on what we earn.

Unfortunately, there are so many professionals out of work in NJ that they are applying for the same jobs.

 

[PatsGirl]

You know, I hear alot of parents (and their kids) complaining that they can't find jobs. From my experience, it is either because their schedules are such that working is the last priority after sports/art clubs/social life, they don't want to work early mornings or they are looking for too much $$ in a cushy job Not saying that is the case here though.

There are dozens of long term care facilities on the Cape and nearly every one of them is desperate for help in the kitchen, laundry, and housekeeping departments. We often also have activity positions available too.

I, and alot of other people I know, would love to have a neighbor kid mow, rake leaves, do odd jobs,etc. but all the kids around here think they should get $20/hour or more for these "hard labor" jobs I have had some luck but only because I know the college kids that come home on the weekends that can't have "real jobs" here but love to earn $50 on a Saturday morning here and there.

So, at least in my area, lawn mowing, raking, snow shoveling, fast food joints, breakfast bussing, babysitting, gas stations, health care facilities...there are a ton of places to find jobs if your expectations aren't too high or your schedule not too tight. Trying to get a job in retail where older workers might gravitate is probably not the best course of action.

 

[aprilgail2]

I remember when I was young you could get a paper route - now adults do them. My brother mowed lawns - now you have a landscaper do it. at.

I had a paper route when I was younger and about 20 year sago they changed to all adults doing it around here--I also mowed 3 neighbors lawns and now those same neighbors and I all use the same landscaper- we have 6 houses in a row that use the same guy and he gives us a deal- 18.00 a week to cut, edge and clean it up. My neighbor got rid of her kid because he was chargning her 20 a week just to cut it- so now she has more done for cheaper!