Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Getting your first part time job

By Samantha Asher

As a teenager, you've probably searched high and low for some extra money and ways to make money. The problem is the lemonade stand you had last weekend just wasn't enough to hold you more than a few days.

A part-time job is perfect. Since you're still in school, you don't have that much time to devote to a job because you still need to keep up high grades in school. With a part-time job you can make extra money to pay for the movies, bowling, or going to parties, or you can save up for a car. Whatever you do with the money, the best way to get it is with a part-time job.

What type of work are you looking for? Don't expect work paying much more than minimum wage because this is your first job. Do you like people and want to work with customer? Do you want to get experience for an industry you are interested in? Look for work at fast food restaurants, sit in restaurants, department stores, supermarkets, small businesses, etc.

Fast food restaurants, and most other restaurants, can be very stressful. Know what you are getting into before you start. This goes for any possible job. Restaurants deal a lot with customers, so make sure you are prepared for that.

If to work in a department store, you will find there are many different jobs you can work. If you want to work with customers, you can be a cashier. If you want to work on commission, you can work in sales. If you don't like working with customers but like busy work, you can work in the stock room.

Malls also have small stores in addition to department stores. These stores usually offer the same kinds of jobs, depending on the store. For example, if you work in a small clothes store, you'll probably work as a cashier, but if you work in a cell phone store, you'll probably work as a sales person and work on commission. Supermarkets also offer a variety of jobs from cashier to stocking to the bakery.

When working in a small business, you usually will be dealing with customers and cleaning. They are usually shops that require training to work such as a beautician or seamstress, that's why you would clean and do small things. They can sometimes be boring if its slow, but its usually easy. It also doesn't pay as much.

When you think of working in a restaurant, you probably picture yourself waiting tables. If you're under 18 and you have no experience, you're going to have trouble finding work waiting tables. You definitely won't get work in an expensive restaurant, but you might be able to get a job in a diner or working as a prep cook.

There are other jobs out there besides the ones I mentioned, but these are probably the most common among teenagers. If you really want a job, you have to start looking and getting interviews. Be a hard worker and a good worker, and getting a job shouldn't be hard. The better you are at your first job, the better you'll be at other jobs later on. - 15254

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