4 Tips for Teen Jobseekers

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Finding work as a teen is important, and the benefits go beyond a paycheck, says Paul Harrington, director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University. One study, for instance, finds that work experience results in higher earnings six to nine years after high school graduation, although working more than 20 hours during the school year can be detrimental.

Here, four insights into obstacles teens face, and how some find or create their own work.

1. Impress Online

Many businesses no longer hand out paper applications. Instead, applicants are asked to apply online. These applications often have a psychological assessment and “teens may not score well,” says Alicia Sasser-Modestino, an associate professor of public policy at Northeastern University, Boston.

If a teen has a friend or relative who knows someone at a business he’d like to work for, they should ask for an introduction. Dropping by small, local employers and asking about opportunities might also help.

2. The Early, Motivated Bird

“Employers love signs of motivation,” says Marie Schwartz, CEO of TeenLife Media.

Earning certifications, like those available from the American Red Cross for completing babysitting or lifeguard instruction, could impress – even when a teen is applying for a job that’s not related to those qualifications. “And if a teen has credentials in Photoshop or any other programming, it shows they’ve gone out of their way,” Schwartz says.

3. Make Your Own Job

Many kids today find a niche in the tech or social media realm. Take, for example, the millions of hours people spend watching You Tube videos with the word “haul” in the title. Teens may be paid in dollars or merchandise by clothing and cosmetic makers for filming their delight with their latest “haul,” or collection, of new products.

“Teens with special skills can be self-employed,” Schwartz says. But success requires “drive, know-how and confidence that most teens don’t have.”

Even traditional self-employment, like babysitting or performing odd jobs for neighbors, requires the determination to market oneself.

4. Find Help

Because teens from minority or lower income families have particularly low levels of employment, special summer jobs programs to place these teens “are in place in many major cities,” Harrington says. To find if these are available, ask the counseling office of your high school, advises Schwartz, and check your municipality, and local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club.

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