Buzz
Your first job brings new responsibilities, but it also opens up opportunities to earn money for things you enjoy, whether it's buying what you want or hanging out with friends. If you're ready to enter the workforce, we've compiled tips to help you find and secure a job—no prior experience needed. Not interested in working for someone else? You can also start your own business and make money doing something you love.
Steps to Take
Look online for job opportunities.
Check job boards and listings to see what's available near you. Sites like Indeed gather job listings from multiple companies and post them in one place, making it easy to search for jobs that match your interests. Many platforms also let you create a profile and upload your résumé, simplifying the application process.
- For example, if you're interested in working at a movie theater, you can search for available positions within a specific area, and the site will show you all the movie theaters that are hiring nearby.
- Some companies also post job openings on social media, with LinkedIn being especially useful. Create a free profile and search for jobs based on your skills and preferences. You can also connect with adults you know who are active on the platform.
- Your school might also have a list of job openings. If so, these are great opportunities since employers are often looking for students from your school.
- If you're wondering about other opportunities for teens, check out our "What’s the best paying job I can get as a teen?" forum!
Choose a job that matches your interests.
Identifying what you enjoy doing helps you narrow down your job search. While you might be willing to take any job, it’s better to avoid something you’ll dislike. Listing your skills and hobbies can guide your choices and help you decide where to apply. Here are some examples:
- Love being outside? Consider jobs in landscaping, lawn care, plant nurseries, animal shelters, or construction.
- Want to stay active? Look into positions at car washes, child care, moving companies, or cleaning services for homes or businesses.
- Enjoy helping others? Try roles at restaurants, cafes, retail stores, movie theaters, or amusement parks. Plus, many retail jobs offer employee discounts! For instance, if you're into video games, working at a game store could be a great fit.
Check if you need a work permit.
Certain locations require work permits for minors. If you're under 16, you're more likely to need one, though some areas require them for anyone under 18. Work permits are usually provided by your local labor department, but your school can guide you on the process. Sometimes, you need to secure a job before applying for a permit.
- In some cases, a letter from your school may be necessary before the labor department issues your permit. The letter simply confirms that you’re enrolled and not failing any classes.
- If your permit is job-specific, you’ll need a new one if you switch employers before turning 18.
Request references from adults you know.
Reach out to individuals who know your work ethic. Teachers, coaches, and group leaders make for great references. When asking if you can list them, be ready to discuss the type of work you're aiming for and the jobs you want to pursue.
- People you've worked for (even without pay!) often make the best references. For instance, if you babysat or mowed your neighbor's lawn, consider asking them for a reference.
Connect with adults to explore job opportunities.
Spread the word that you're job hunting and ask if anyone knows of openings. Many employers don’t even advertise their job openings. Instead of posting ads, they prefer to wait for someone they know to recommend a candidate. Even in places that do advertise, being referred by someone familiar with you can give you an edge over other applicants.
- If someone refers you, make sure to mention their name when applying. For example, you could introduce yourself to the employer and say, "John Schmidt from my church mentioned I might be a good fit for this job. He thought I should apply—could I fill out an application?"
Draft a simple résumé.
Include your educational background and any work experience. You can find basic résumé templates in word processing software to help format it. Then, just input your school information, GPA, and any work experience—whether paid or voluntary.
- Since you might not have much formal job experience as a teen, don't forget to include extracurricular activities. For instance, if you're on the school soccer team, list that as it demonstrates your ability to work in a team and your discipline.
- While many entry-level jobs may not ask for a résumé, they might have an application form for you to fill out instead. Having a résumé ready ensures that you have all the details in one place for when you need them.
Complete applications for the jobs you're interested in.
Apply to several jobs to increase your chances of getting hired. If you only apply to one job at a time, it might take a while before you land one. It's best to send in applications to multiple places, keeping in mind that some employers may not respond or invite you for an interview.
- Feel free to apply to multiple locations of the same company—each location has different staffing needs. For example, if you're interested in McDonald's, consider applying to two or more restaurants within a reasonable distance of your home.
- If you're applying online, follow up with a call to the location and ask to speak with the hiring manager. Introduce yourself, mention that you've submitted an application online, and inquire about the process for reviewing applications.
Follow up on your application status.
Call the business 5-7 days after you apply. If you haven't received a response after submitting your application, give it a few days—hiring managers are busy. Then, call to check in and ask about the status of your application.
- When you call, ask to speak to the hiring manager. Introduce yourself, then say something like: "I submitted my application last week, and I was wondering if you've had a chance to review it yet." If they haven't, let them know you'll follow up again in a few days.
- Maintain a spreadsheet with the name and phone number of each place you've applied to, along with the submission date. Add a follow-up date in a third column so you can set reminders to check in at the right time.
Research the company to prepare for your interview.
Do some research on the company and prepare a few questions. It's always a good idea to learn about the company before your interview. The interviewer will probably ask why you want to work there, and your research will help you come up with a strong answer. It's also helpful to have a few questions of your own. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- What qualities are you looking for in an employee?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
- What would my daily tasks look like?
- Who would I be working alongside?
- Are there a lot of teenagers working here?
Arrive at the interview 15 minutes ahead of time.
Dress appropriately and bring a copy of your résumé. Make sure your clothes are clean, neat, and well-fitting. While you don't need to wear a full business suit, aim for attire that you’d wear to a formal event or school ceremony.
- If you know how the employees dress, you might want to mirror their style to show you’re ready for the job. For example, if they wear khakis and polo shirts, consider wearing similar attire to your interview. You’ll look like you’re already part of the team!
- If you're applying at a clothing store, consider wearing an outfit from their store. If you don't own anything from there, go for classic, timeless styles, but avoid wearing clothes from competitors.
Listen carefully and answer the interviewer's questions thoughtfully.
Make eye contact and take a moment to think before you respond. The pause helps you gather your thoughts. Answer each question as clearly and honestly as possible. Many interview questions don't have 'wrong' answers—the goal is to learn more about you as a person and potential employee.
Send a "thank you" note after your interview.
Send a quick email to the interviewer on the same day as the interview. You could also handwrite a note and mail it, but only if your handwriting is clear and legible. In your message, you might write something like: "Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. I truly appreciated the chance to learn more about your business. I'm excited to hear from you and look forward to the next steps!"
- Your thank-you note not only shows gratitude but also keeps your name fresh in the interviewer's mind, making them more likely to remember you when they're making their hiring decision.
Make a follow-up call if you don't hear back after the interview.
Give the hiring manager about a week unless they provided another timeline. Stick to the timeline they gave you during the interview. For example, if they say they'll contact you by Friday after your Monday interview, follow up on Friday afternoon. When you call, mention your name and the date of your interview, and politely ask if they've made a decision.
- Ask to speak with the person who interviewed you. When you speak to them, introduce yourself and say something like, "We spoke on Monday about the cashier position. I just wanted to follow up and see if a decision has been made yet."
- If no specific timeline was provided, wait about three days before following up.
Offer your services directly to people in your community.
Leverage your skills to earn money independently. In some areas, job opportunities for teens might be limited, but you might prefer the idea of being your own boss. While many teens traditionally make money by babysitting or mowing lawns, the options are far broader. Anything you're good at can potentially turn into a paid service for others.
- Are you a social media whiz? You could start a business helping individuals and small businesses manage their online presence. Good at organizing? Consider offering a service to clean out garages and closets. The possibilities are truly endless.
- Just remember, there's a lot involved in running your own business. You'll need to decide on pricing and come up with a strategy to market your services (social media is a great tool for this).
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Hey there! I'm a 16-year-old female, and I'm looking for a well-paying job, but I'm not sure which businesses are open to hiring minors. Any advice?
Kolby Goodman
Career & Job Search Coach
Career & Job Search Coach
If you're aiming for a job while in high school that not only offers a decent paycheck but also lays the foundation for your future career, I'd highly recommend connecting with small local businesses.
See if they need help with administrative or marketing tasks and offer your assistance. This will give you valuable business experience that goes beyond the typical teen jobs in food service. Plus, it allows you to tackle more challenging and rewarding work while delivering greater value.
See if they need help with administrative or marketing tasks and offer your assistance. This will give you valuable business experience that goes beyond the typical teen jobs in food service. Plus, it allows you to tackle more challenging and rewarding work while delivering greater value.
Plenty of coffee shops and restaurants are willing to hire teens. Other places you might want to consider include car washes, movie theaters, golf courses, hardware stores, or even your local library.
Alternatively, if you're unable to find a job at a big company, you could look into side gigs. Depending on your interests and skills, consider babysitting, house sitting, dog walking, mowing lawns, or raking leaves. You can promote your services with flyers in your neighborhood, post on platforms like Nextdoor and local Facebook groups (or ask your parents to help), and spread the word to get leads.
Alternatively, if you're unable to find a job at a big company, you could look into side gigs. Depending on your interests and skills, consider babysitting, house sitting, dog walking, mowing lawns, or raking leaves. You can promote your services with flyers in your neighborhood, post on platforms like Nextdoor and local Facebook groups (or ask your parents to help), and spread the word to get leads.
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Many regions have laws that limit how many hours minors can work each day and week, and they may also require regular breaks. Be sure to review these laws before you start any job to make sure you're in compliance—you can’t always rely on your employer to be aware of these regulations.
The tips provided in this section are based on the real-life experiences of Mytour users like you. If you have any advice or suggestions you'd like to contribute, feel free to submit it in the form below.
- If you're skilled at playing an instrument, consider charging for lessons. Just make sure you're proficient enough to teach, and be sure to provide beginner materials for your students to practice with.
- Another option is creating your own products like keychains or artwork to sell either locally or online. Custom, handmade goods often fetch a good price.
