All right, summer is here and you need money for the movies, the mall, the beach and countless other things. Well, if you are sick of hitting your parents up for money, you could get a job.
Yes, you can still get a job even if you are a teen-ager and have never worked one day of your life.
Many employers only hire adults, but many hire teens. The youngest age that you can work at is 14, so you are an eligible candidate to join the workforce.
There are plenty of well-paying, solid jobs at respectable companies that are available to teens.
Sandra Phelps, 52, a career specialist, works to find jobs for teen-agers. She said that the job market for teens right now is “fairly good” and that there are more opportunities this year than there have been in previous years. In fact, between April and May of this year, nearly 5,000 jobs opened up in Kern County alone.
Don’t worry if you never want to flip a burger and could live forever without delivering pizzas There are plenty of other types of jobs available for teens.
Now, Phelps said, more teens are being hired at places like Starbucks and Kinko’s as well as the typical fast-food locations.
Most teens, she said, work at toy stores, florists and supermarkets in addition to the fast food industry.
How easy it is to find one of those jobs this summer depends upon whom you ask. Rudy Gutierrez, 44, is a job development specialist for Bakersfield College’s Student Services Department.
He said that more teens, especially those in college, try and get jobs during the school year because that’s when they must pay for tuition and books.
Phelps, however, thinks that more teens seek jobs during the summer.
Unfortunately, recent world events have negatively affected the job market, especially for teens. Phelps said that employers are “more careful” and are reluctant to hire part-time employees.
She also said that the economy has also been affected and it has “trickled down” to the job market.
Some good reasons to get a job are obviously to make money, gain job experience, meet new contacts, keep busy and develop a “sense of responsibility,” said Phelps, who works in the Bakersfield College Graphics Center.
Some downfalls of working are less free time, stress, less time for schoolwork and responsibility.
OK, so you have decided to apply for a job. First of all, said Sarah Brothers, 51, director of community relations at Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization that provides low income women with job clothing, you need to look the part.
When you go to pick up an application, dress nicely because you must make an excellent first impression. After you turn in your application, she said, don’t sit at home and wait for someone to call you.
Go to the office about once a week, always dressed appropriately, to ask if they have any new information for you regarding the application that you turned in. This shows that you are serious about the job.
When you get an interview, there are some things that you should do to ensure that it goes well. According to the Dress for Success’s Interview Tips pamphlet, you should start preparing the day before by securing transportation to and from the interview, and if you have children, you should make sure that you have child care available.
On the night before the interview, women should plan their outfit, hair, nails, makeup and what they will take with them.
All of these things should be conservative and “appropriate for daytime, not Saturday night,” advises the pamphlet. You should have a light dinner, should not consume any alcohol and should get to bed early.
On the big day, you should avoid foods that will make you jittery or irritable like coffee and sugar. Women should shave their legs and men should shave their faces and everyone should brush their teeth and use plenty of deodorant.
When you get there, be yourself. Relax and show plenty of confidence, because self-esteem projects well to employers.
However, never bring anyone with you, use fake flattery, flirt, wear facial piercings or chew gum. If you follow these simple rules, you will maximize your chances of getting a job.
Lastly, if you cannot afford to buy appropriate clothing for your interview or job, women can go to Dress for Success, at 1400 Brundage Lane. If you have any further questions, contact them at 32-DRESS or 323-7377.