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

[eduk8r26]

It's tough everywhere. We have a 21-year-old who claims he's put in applications everywhere and has gotten no callbacks at all.

 

[TaraPA]

I work in retail mgmt & we cannot hire under age 18 because of liability - our company cannot insure an employee under age 18 that uses an automatic trash compactor - which we have. Some crazy regulation - but that may also be what's keeping places in your state from hiring under age 18.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

Maybe he should try checking out some construction sites, they are often willing to hire egar youngsters to perform general clean-up and labour. Usually pays better than the usual fast food/dishwashing jobs.

 

[MIGrandma]

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

Lots of kids just don't want to work. Many are used to getting whatever they want from their parents.

I think it's good for a teen to work, even if it's just a summer job between school years.

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 waitresing). 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.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

If there is a sport he likes go with that. My ds started bowling, then they became certified coaches, birthday party hosts, now one works in the food court etc. Also I sent 2 of them to lifeguard school. Best $ I ever spent. They also have indoor pools around here and swimming schools if they want to do that. My one ds was into paintballl and they were hiring refs. One also did some filing for his allergist because none of the staff wanted to go up in the attic where the old files were kept etc. in the building. Alot of the ds friends get jobs from their friends etc, so even the teens need to network. Talk it up at the salon when you go, my ds needs a job etc., at the dentist, never know whos sitting in the waiting room etc. Its tough out there for sure. Best of luck to your ds.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I got a job at a grocery store when I was 15.

 

[Christine]

My DD is 18 now, but I remember when she was 16/17 and had a very tough time finding a job. As you say, most of the mall stores wanted her to be 18. She tried the grocery stores and many other places and while some of them would hire under 18, they had so many older applicants applying that they would rather take them. Chalk it up to a tough economy and it could even be harder based on where you live.

I see a lot of people on this thread mentioned Chick-Fil-A. I'm sure they do hire 16 year olds but so many older people want/need jobs, they don't in my area. If you go into our Chick-Fil-A, most of the people behind the counter appear to be at least in their mid-20s. Same with the grocery stores. People are desperate for jobs and most managers are going to hire the more mature/experienced people given the choice.

My DD did end up getting a job in a mall store. It was a place that sold salon-level beauty products and she got about $7.25 per hour. I think she got it because NO ONE wanted to work there. They had nothing for her to do. She couldn't stock shelves or do any work. She was just told to stand on the sales floor for her 8 hour shifts.

 

[yoopermom]

Maybe he should try checking out some construction sites, they are often willing to hire egar youngsters to perform general clean-up and labour. Usually pays better than the usual fast food/dishwashing jobs.

My DH owns his own construction company and can't hire under 18 due to our insurance restrictions.

Can he swim? Our Y is always looking for lifeguards, and will train them.

Terri

 

[MrsGoofyMitchell]

I would definitely say Target. I started there when I was 16. 9 years later, I'm still there! :-O

Also grocery stores, restaurants....

I think malls tend to not hire the under 18 crowd I have heard.

 

[ma2jr]

Pretty sure H&M does too..

 

[kilee]

I don't think it's anything new for it to be difficult for a minor to find a job. It just usually takes a lot of applying. Most fast food chains hire minors. I know even when I was 16 it took me almost a year to get "my first job" after applying at least bi-weekly to places.

 

[maelstrom]

My first job was at 16 and at Kids R Us. My next job was at Delia's, followed by Staples, and then the YMCA. They will all hire at 16+, with the exception of the YMCA I'm not sure about. Grocery stores and fast food places are good places to look if you have limited availability due to school, sports, age restrictions, etc. At this time of year, ie Christmas, most stores at the mall won't hire you unless you can sell your soul to them, unfortunately.

 

[MrsPete]

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

I was thinking the same thing.

Most of my high school seniors have jobs; they're mostly 17-18 years old, so people are hiring them -- some of them've been at the same jobs for a while, so they must've been hired at 15-16 years old. They tend to work at fast food places, stores at the mall, the movie theater, etc. Some work at the YMCA in the after-school care center. I know a few who lifeguard in the summer.

Kids who are looking for first-time jobs need some guidance. They need to understand that they can't just walk around the mall, fill out some papers, and wait for someone to call them offering a job. Kids who do that don't stand out from the crowd of applicants. Instead, they need to call ahead, find out IF the store's hiring. Then they need to find out when the hiring manager's going to be in, and purposefully go in at that point. They need to be well-dressed and friend-free when they go in. In addition to the application, they need to have a resume and a personalized cover letter ready to hand over to the manager. They need to ask when a decision'll be made, or ask when it's okay to call back to ask about the decision. If they're interviewed, they need to send a professional thank you letter to the manager. They need to focus on being mature, focused, and assertive (not aggressive). This takes some people skills.

Also, MANY kids get jobs through their friends. If your 17-year old has friends who already work at the mall, a word from them to their managers can be much more beneficial than filling out random applications. My 15-year old is NOT looking for a job, but she's been asked TWICE THIS SCHOOL YEAR to come in and interview. Why? Because her friends have said, "Hey, we need someone. Let's try to get the manager to recruit ___!"

 

[bumbershoot]

Did he check anywhere other than Macys and the Disney store?

While I was never successful in getting a clothing store job as a teen, some other friends had them, but not at a place like Macys. They worked at the small stores away from the dept stores in the malls.


In HS I worked at Jack in the Box and a sandwich shop. The summer before college I worked at Dominos. Next summer, in the bakery at a huge grocery store. Lots and lots of food service (not even counting the 4 years at the work study campus-run pizza place job while at college)...

I kept telling my mom "no one's hiring" until she absolutely put her foot down and told me to GET A JOB THAT DAY OR ELSE...lo and behold, I went into J in the B and they hired me.


Oh and movie theaters are a good place. I really wouldn't recommend doing the online thing though...not for an entry-level job where walking in is a possibility.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Can't kids 14 and up still get jobs in Jersey bussing tables at restaurants? I know at one time it was age 14 for bussing.

 

[bgirldeb]

If he has a car that runs, sounds like he should not limit his search to just the mall.

 

[disneycruising]

My DD (16) is on her 2nd job. Her first job was in a children party place/day care...for 6 months. She just got hired at a sports club... she is working in there child care area. With her new job she also has a membership to the sport club.

My DS (12) was going to be a baseball umpire for our little league teams last spring. Unfornatley, it didn't fit into his schedule with school and playing baseball himself.

I think it helps to think outside the box.

 

[aprilgail2]

I actually had that same problem when I was 17 and I will be honest and say that I did LIE and make myself a year older on the application--they never checked and I got hired as an 18 year old.

 

[JoiseyMom]

When my DS turned 17 and got his DL, he got a job a the movie theater and worked there a few years.

 

[mel&me]

Jobs are there if he really tries, but it can be hard to find sometimes. Many places have county or state age limits. I can not hire anyone under 18 because of machinery. NYS law.