'REAL' job for an almost 16 yo girl

[stitchlovestink]

My DD15 (will be 16 in Sept) wants a real job. Anyone know of companies that will hire a 15 y.o.? Many we have already inquired w/ want you to be at least 18. It's very frustrating trying to find a company that will hire under 18. We're not taking a vacation this summer, so she'll pretty much be available whenever they would need/schedule her to work. She wants to earn her own spending $ for our big cruise in Nov. Any suggestions (other than McD's, BK, or similar fast food places) would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Honestly, she can make a ton more money babysitting (or mowing lawns if she is into that kind of thing...I am not ha ha) than at most places that would hire a 15 yo. as long as she is responsible.

 

[blessedby3]

Our Kroger grocery store hires tons of kids, many of whom are only 15. Maybe try that if you have one near you. The manager of ours is very good to work with them and lets them put in what hours they can work for the upcoming week and schedules them from there. I know quite a few kids that work at ours.
My DD18 got her first real job this summer working at an autism center. She actually made/makes just as much (sometimes more-especially since there arent taxes taken out) babysitting for families as tlhe pp suggested.

 

[disney1990]

My daughter worked for Panera Bread when she was 16.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Honestly, she can make a ton more money babysitting (or mowing lawns if she is into that kind of thing...I am not ha ha) than at most places that would hire a 15 yo. as long as she is responsible.

She's REALLY not INTO the babysitting thing. Most of the people we know don't leave their kids w/ teens anyways. They either use family or switch off w/ friends b/c they can't afford to pay a sitter and go out. She likes kids fine, but wants more hours and regularlity than babysitting would give her.

Our Kroger grocery store hires tons of kids, many of whom are only 15. Maybe try that if you have one near you. The manager of ours is very good to work with them and lets them put in what hours they can work for the upcoming week and schedules them from there. I know quite a few kids that work at ours.
My DD18 got her first real job this summer working at an autism center. She actually made/makes just as much (sometimes more-especially since there arent taxes taken out) babysitting for families as tlhe pp suggested.

I'm assuming Kroger is a grocery store? We don't have one of those in our area. Many of our grocery stores require you to be 18. I've already checked at some of them. thanks for the idea though.

 

[dismom24]

Both of our sons work at Chik Fil A and have since they were 15. Several of our area fast food places hire 15 year olds. They can only work very limited hours - like 4-7, but enough to give them a little $$$.

 

[disneychrista]

Fast Food is pretty much the only place I know of that will hire at 15. Grocery stores & other places generally (here) want you to be 16+.

 

[westjones]

Does Walmart hire 15 year olds? My kids are 14, but next year will be 15 and they could walk to Walmart from our house. I never thought of them as a place to work as a teenager (hadn't really thought about them working yet), but does anyone know if they hire kids at that age in the summer?

DJ

 

[Cindy B]

Some groceries stores will hire young ones to do non lottery, non-deli, non-cashier roles-- such as bagging, cart detail, or stocking.

 

[kadesha]

The only job I could find when I was 15 was at a local grocery store or waitressing at certain restaurants. They required that I had a workers permit though.

 

[ajh88]

Both of our sons work at Chik Fil A and have since they were 15. Several of our area fast food places hire 15 year olds. They can only work very limited hours - like 4-7, but enough to give them a little $$$.

I was gonna suggest Chick-Fil-A too - I'm trying to convince DSS he should apply there. I have no first-hand experience - they just seem *different* (better) than other fast food places (but maybe it's just because I like the food so much!).

 

[Ashley Kees]

When I was 15 (1995), they hired 14+ at fast food (front counter only), grocery stores (bagging only), IHOP (waitressing), other restaurants (hostessing), amusement parks (we have a small local one here, and Six Flags over Texas), and a few small stores that are locally owned, like florists. My brother is 15 now, and he told me recently that only the amusement parks, small mom and pop restaurants, and the old standby babysitting/mowing lawns are still available. He has not checked with restaurants.

I can't understand why there aren't jobs for younger people anymore? On my 14th birthday, my mom sent me out to get a job, and I was better off for it!

 

[sunshine1178]

I was gonna suggest Chick-Fil-A too - I'm trying to convince DSS he should apply there. I have no first-hand experience - they just seem *different* (better) than other fast food places (but maybe it's just because I like the food so much!).

The "closed on Sundays" thing makes them seem more family-oriented. I don't know if they are, though.

If you have any amusement parks near you, they might have a lower age limit. (I know I went to college with a girl who had worked several years at Six Flags, so she had to start before she was 18, but I don't know exactly when.)

Also, try the golf courses/country clubs. They need a lot of seasonal help, and the ones that I have worked at had a lot of younger employees. I definitely remember a 15 year old who did the shoe shines at one club that was a PGA Tour stop.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

My DS at the age of 12-13 was a "Golf Caddy" and earned almost $1,000 that summer. Any Country Clubs near you ? It's a great little job ,if you're willing to work hard in the sun !

 

[JBird85]

Walmart will hire 16 year olds, but I do not think that they would hire a 15 year old (at least where I live). At 16 they mainly have job like cart pushing.
JBird85

 

[stitchlovestink]

Both of our sons work at Chik Fil A and have since they were 15. Several of our area fast food places hire 15 year olds. They can only work very limited hours - like 4-7, but enough to give them a little $$$.

that's a great idea. However, our closest one is ten miles away. so by the time I take her drop her off and come back home and go back to get her and come back home, I've driven 40 miles. She's making $$, but I'm spending more $$ in gas.

Does Walmart hire 15 year olds? My kids are 14, but next year will be 15 and they could walk to Walmart from our house. I never thought of them as a place to work as a teenager (hadn't really thought about them working yet), but does anyone know if they hire kids at that age in the summer? DJ

Same situation, WM is almost 10 miles away. Now, Target is only between 4 and 5 miles away. I was trying to keep it at a location that was 5 miles or less, because I'm going to be driving her back/forth and I don't want to spend tons of $$ putting gas in the tank for her to earn minimum wage KWIM?!

 

[canwegosoon]

Check with you local youth services department with your town-you will be suprised what is available. There are many times summer only jobs and they will say if it can be done by someone under 16yo...I just happened to be on ours tonight and was shocked at the number of jobs and the salary 7-9.50hr...I was making less than that as a subsitute teacher!!!

 

[disneychrista]

The age requirements have a lot to do with the restrictions set by state and federal goverment on the types of jobs and hours worked for those under 18.

 

[addicted2dizney]

I would suggest you look into something in the Dental field. I started at 16 as an after school helper in a dental office. doing some typing, filing, sterilizing instruments etc.. I picked the job off the job board at my school because it paid the most at the time. I got into the dental assisting part after a month or so. ( you do not need to be certified to be an assistant). I have been there for 22 years now! I went to school and became a Dental Hygienist and even met my husband, (a dentist) while in school. That little high school job changed my life! The hours are good and if you have a girl that is responsible they may learn a lot about the professional world and maybe even decide to take a career in it. Well, that's just my story and I have seen it happen a few times over with girls that have come into my husbands practice as well. good luck with whatever job she finds!

 

[ncmtnmom]

I didn't notice where you are from but, my kids started working at our local Zaxby's when my son was just 15.