finding a job as a teen

[kiwibella]

we live in a relatively small town and dd(16yo) is having difficulty finding a regular part-time job. She does occassional babysitting for a couple of families who are our friends. What advice can I give her. Is it still possible to turn up at a supermarket and ask for a job? I've just looked on our local website and nothing appears. If we do this, should she go prepared with a CV in hand? What information would be most important to include on this?

She needs really to make a CV. Has she not done this at school? If not, she should do it as a normal CV but obviously play up what she has experience in even if it wasn't gained through work. Things like Duke of Edinburgh, school clubs etc are excellent things to include, and make sure she lists the life skills she has gained from them eg teamwork, meeting deadlines etc.

Most teenagers I know get part time jobs through going around shops and just handing in their CV. Always be polite and dress smartly, as you never know when it'll be a manager that she speaks to! Ask if a CV is acceptable or if she needs to fill out an application form.

Oh, and make sure she does it herself, she must not send you in on her behalf - it shows a level of maturity if she does it :)

thanks so much Rockchick. Maybe she has prepared a CV at school already? She had to compile lots of information for her sixth form applications. It is certainly something that she can do during the summer hols.

I have absolutely held off the desire to door-knock myself for exactly the reasons you mention. However, I may end up resorting to dragging her along by the ear and leaving her at the door .

Some retailers will take on 16 year olds, as will some supermarkets like Asda, Tesco.

Your best bet might be to befriend the local landlord, b&b or tea rooms manager. Small businesses looking for 'cheap' help on weekends. Like glass collector, pot washer, waitress, house maid etc.

I landed a waitress job at 14 at a small hotel which was the place to have wedding receptions. Owners took me under their wing, taught me silver service, bar work, catering etc, set me up for catering jobs all the way through uni.

The problem is that the competition is huge-in our area an advert went in a shop window and within hours they had run out of application forms. When DS applied to Pizza Hut they had 100 applications (it was only for a Saturday). He had 2 interviews just for a seasonal Saturday job for a few weeks before Christmas. Supermarket stacking jobs are like gold dust these days! Good luck-get her to be as pushy as possible-approach directly. She needs a CV to hand out and then she will probably needs to fill in forms and have referees.

thanks to both replies. Dd needs to start door-knocking with that CV ready. I am thankful that she has begun to show an interest in getting paid work so I hope she will be successful. She is not pushy so hopefully her gentle nature will shine through.

Good luck - it isn't easy. - the jobs are just not there.