As the school year winds to a close, it’s time for teenagers to start thinking about what they’re going to do this summer. If those summer plans include getting a part-time job, there are some steps that you can take before the season officially kicks off. Here are some tips to helps teens search for and prepare for their future employment.
START EARLY
The sooner you are able to start your job search, the better off you will be. When more people are looking for summer jobs, fewer opportunities will be available. Make sure to take advantage of all of the resources available to you as you begin your job hunt.
CRAFT A RESUME
If you’ve never had a job before, use examples from school and extracurricular activities as to why you would be a great asset to an organization. Use the job listing to format your resume. Use examples from your life to show how you fit the qualifications needed for the job. You need to show your potential employer why you would be a great asset to the organization. Remember, on average, recruiters will take about six seconds to look at your resume, so make sure it's neat and concise. Also, make sure you avoid these common resume mistakes.
USE REFERENCES
Any resume should aim to have at least three professional references. Ideally, a reference should be an employer that you have previously worked for. If this is your first job, choose references that you are not related to and can attest to your work ethic, such as a teacher or a coach. Make sure you let whoever you select that they may be receiving a call so they can come up with a basic idea of what they would like to say. Avoid using friends and family as references since their opinion of you may be biased.
WORK ON INTERVIEW SKILLS
Run some practice interviews with a friend or family member, preferably one with more work experience than you, to help you prepare for your interviews. They will be able to point out things you say or do that may prevent you from being offered the job. Here are some interview tips that can help throughout the preparation process.
