<p>I desperately need a job; I need to pay for those college apps :( and buy things with my own money. But...I don't have any job hunting experience. Right now I've only applied to Kmart, Best Buy, and Staples, and i'm not sure if it's going so well...
So to anyone who has a job right now or have had a job, what jobs did you apply for? How many jobs did you apply for before you got it? How long did you wait? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>Hate to say it, but fast food. It’s not so bad. You get paid the same. Don’t be above any job.</p>
<p>Garbage truck driving is always a possibility.</p>
<p>Possibly hourly construction labor? I know Florida has that…</p>
<p>I don’t really mind what job it is, as long it’s a typical teen job. ^ So yeah Mathcountser, I don’t think garbage truck and construction labor is a good idea. Plus I’m a tiny 17 year old girl w/o a license. </p>
<p>I just wanna survey people to see how long it took them to get their job.</p>
<p>I have something to add to this…</p>
<p>Where do most people get their references/recommendations from? That’s always the part that tricks me up! Do you ask teachers? Neighbors? Friends? Who?</p>
<p>Fast food is fun</p>
<p>I applied to 6 places, and it was a month before I got called for an interview (Wendy’s interviewed me two weeks after I got my first job)</p>
<p>I got teachers to recommend me since I had no job experience</p>
<p>I listed one teacher, my track coach, and two personal references whenever I applied for jobs.</p>
<p>I think one of the most important factors in getting a job as a teen is to be able to work flexible hours. If your potential employer asks if you’ll be able to work overtime on late nights or weekends, it would definitely help your cause if you’ve got those time slots available. On the other hand, you’ve got more important things to worry about than a job, so you don’t want to end up working ridiculous hours on a weekly basis. It’s all up to you.</p>
<p>You’ve got plenty of options for work. Places like Wal-Mart, Office Depot, and other super stores; clothing retail stores like Hollister or Pac Sun; and restaurants. You could also try other jobs that require learning new skills if you don’t mind the extra work. You could try some local coffee shops to see if they’re looking for a barista, or other things like that. Idk what the legal age to bartend in South Carolina is, but in Jersey you can get your license at 18 and it brings in boatloads of money if you’re any good.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input/advice everyone! I really appreciate it. 
@Aero Haha I’m from Jersey too and I didn’t know you can bartend at 18! Unfortunately, i don’t turn 18 until April. But that’s still a pretty cool job for a teen. </p>
<p>I also have another question: Did you guys apply online? I think it might lessen my chances because maybe not every employer check their emails/etc everyday?</p>
<p>What you do is put in an application online and then call the store, ask if they’re hiring, and tell them your name and that you put in an app. </p>
<p>References: If you know somebody who works for the place you’re applying for, (an older friend, friend’s parent, etc), it’s best to put their name down as a reference. If not, coaches and volunteer work supervisors probably work second best.</p>
<p>I got my first job three years ago, at 15. I think it was the second place I applied to, but I only got it so quickly because it was a theme park that hires teens in bulk. More realistically, my second job took me a month to get and was probably like the 17th place I applied to or something, and I was 16. The third job I just got, I’m 17, was probably like the 10th place I applied to. I ended up getting three interviews all at the end of about a month of searching.</p>
<p>So, basically, don’t become discouraged. Being 17, with no experience, and no license is probably going to make it take a little while for you to find a place. I’d honestly say it may take you 20-25 different applies and two months. But that’s worst case, you may get your second applied for job. Most of its just luck, right time, right place stuff.</p>
<p>Best thing to do is to call places and ask if they’re hiring, then put in the app. Don’t just hit the chains, go for the smaller, privately owned restaurants and stores too. </p>
<p>Also, just so you know, I’d target more stores than restaurants. Being a cashier is fairly easy, whereas being a waitress is really tiring. I’m a waitress right now, and I had to drop my first block class because I go right from school to work, get off at like 11:30, and then have to do homework in complete exhaustion. So, just don’t be a waitress.</p>
<p>Good luckkkk</p>
<p>I cant wait to get a job then i can buy a car for when i can drive.</p>
<p>My first job was at Burger King. I hated it and barely lasted a month. 2 months later, I got another job at a daycare. LOVE it and I have been there for a year now. </p>
<p>In the 2 months between BK and the daycare, I applied for 3 more places. Target, a hospital cafeteria, and a movie theater. I was interviewed for the first 2, but didn’t get the job (I can’t imagine working in those places now). I didn’t bother applying for anything else after that until I saw a little ad in the paper for the daycare. I applied and 3 weeks later… I was hired. =]</p>
<p>I advise you to be open minded. I used to HATE kids, but now… I would love to have a career working with kids. You never know what you might actually like! </p>
<p>However, I was also open minded when it came to working at BK. I should have known that would be disastrous.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and advice, nattilee. They really help:) </p>
<p>@jadorekelsey I would love to work at a daycare! It’ll be really interesting and fun to work with kids 
Are you 18? Because I saw online daycare positions offers, but they were for 18+. :(</p>
<p>Sorry, but I have another question (Lol I have like a billion). When they ask for resumes, do I HAVE TO send one? Because most of what’s on my resume will be shown on the application already. Will it hurt my chances if I don’t send?</p>
<p>Most of the jobs you’re qualified for won’t ask you for a r</p>
<p>Beware that this year is gonna get crazy if it hasn;t already</p>