In the Summertime…
Monday, April 30th, 2007
Does your teenager want to work this summer? If he or she is under 18, it might be tricky to find a job. According to Renee Ward, founder of Teens4Hire, teen summer employment took a dive in 2002, and has been hovering at low levels ever since.
Teens4Hire is a website which offers teens a chance to create a profile and search for jobs, as well as offering them tips on writing resumes, landing a job, behavior on the job, and other valuable areas. The site also offers resources for parents and school counselors. The following is a list of the top ten qualities that employers look for in a teen job candidate:
Teens4Hire.org’s Guide on the…
Top 10 Qualities Employers Want Most in a Teen Candidate
1. Well groomed
Clean, neat and ironed clothing
(Tongue and nose rings are still frowned upon in many places.)
2. Good oral and written communication skills
Speak clearly with proper grammar
(Save the slang for social occasions.)
Write clearly with proper spelling and grammar
3. Neat, thorough and complete application
4. Basic math, reasoning and reading comprehension skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide
Ability to read and understand written instructions.
5. Ambition
6. Courtesy
7. Trustworthiness
8. Self-motivation
9. Willingness to learn
10. Reliable
The site also offers some good tips on where to look. My daughter found a job by going back to an organization where she has done volunteer work in the past. They knew her work habits and were comfortable with hiring her.
If your teen has done volunteer work, this might be a good idea. Also, check with friends, neighbors, family members, parents of other teens, your own workplace, etc. This is a good time to teach teens that networking is often the best way to find a job, and that it’s not as easy as just picking up the newspaper and checking the classifieds!
Teens4Hire, teen workers, jobs for teenagers, teenagers working, summer jobs, summer employment, teen employment, networking, parenting teens, parenting teenagers
