2014 is here and while the media would like you to think the economy is improving, it really isn't. Especially tough times are ahead for teenagers. Sometimes, lost in all the talk about the unemployment rate and how hard jobs are to get is any mention of teens and people without college degrees.
Jobs for 17 year olds and all other teen groups are extremely difficult to find and in fact the unemployment rate for them is more than double the rate for adults. Most teens don't "need" jobs like adults do. They may think they need them so they can buy the things they want and do the things they would like to do but the word "need" doesn't really apply like it would to someone that is trying to pay the rent.
This is one of the reasons the high unemployment rate of teenagers is hardly ever mentioned in the news. Kids that have turned 16 anytime in the last 2+ years and started looking for jobs know how hard it is just to find an employer that has anything open all. It doesn't matter whether you are looking for jobs and are 16, 17, or any other age group, the number of jobs that are open is small. This means there are a whole group of kids in our society that may have never had a job (and wanted one) and all they know about is the rejection they faced.
While it might be a good wake up call for them, it ultimately is not good for kids that young to face so much negativity. It most certainly hasn't helped their confidence and gaining confidence at an early age is important. 2014 might be better than the last two years as there is some indication the economy and consumer confidence is picking up but it probably won't be back to normal. That means there is some hope for the next round of teens looking for jobs but they still need to know that they are going to have to put in a lot of effort in order to be one of the ones that is lucky and gets hired.
WHERE TO FIND JOBS FOR 17 YEAR OLDS
Updated 8/11/2014 - The great thing about jobs for 17 year olds is that you are now old enough to do most types of jobs. Only work that is deemed hazardous is off limits. Unlike the limitations on hours and other things for younger teenage workers, there are few jobs that seventeen year olds are now allowed to do. Listed below are some of the steps you can take to give yourself the best chance of getting hired:
Step #1
The first thing you can do is to go online and see what is available. The two websites listed below are all free to join and they can be used to find employers who are hiring in your area. If you have a resume (see step #2), you can submit it and then employers can see it and may contact you. Many employers now find all or most of their new employees online so you need to be actively searching at these three job search sites:
Snagajob – 100% free to sign up and they specialize in part time and hourly jobs. These are often exactly what a 17 year old is looking for.
Monster.com – 100% free to sign up and they have one of the biggest online job databases.
Step #2
At age seventeen, you should start to put together a resume even if you don't have too much job experience. If you have a resume to give prospective employers and submit online to the job sites, you will be a step ahead of many of your peers who are also looking for work. You can put down all the jobs you have had as well as any awards you might have won and any volunteer work you do. Even though you might not have much on your resume, just having one tells an employer that you are thinking towards the future and that is a good thing.
Step #3
If you have friends who have jobs, you should try to find out from them whether they like their jobs and whether there are any job openings. You should get all the information they can give you and perhaps even have them put in a good word for you. Use any friends and contacts you have to the best of your ability to give yourself the best chance of landing a job.
Step #4
Lastly, you should take your job search out on foot and scour your area for openings. You might stop in at all the places you might like to work and inquire about the possibility of getting hired. If you personally go in an introduce yourself, you will have the chance to make a good impression and let someone actually see who you are. If you don't have too high expectations and understand that you will face rejection, you will at least be able to find out first hand what jobs are available and what their requirements are. Managers and employers also like teens who take the initiative to come in and introduce themselves. If you have a resume you should drop it off at this time. You never know, if you make a good impression, when a job opening does come up the employer might just remember you and give you a call.
Step #1
The first thing you can do is to go online and see what is available. The two websites listed below are all free to join and they can be used to find employers who are hiring in your area. If you have a resume (see step #2), you can submit it and then employers can see it and may contact you. Many employers now find all or most of their new employees online so you need to be actively searching at these three job search sites:
Snagajob – 100% free to sign up and they specialize in part time and hourly jobs. These are often exactly what a 17 year old is looking for.
Monster.com – 100% free to sign up and they have one of the biggest online job databases.
Step #2
At age seventeen, you should start to put together a resume even if you don't have too much job experience. If you have a resume to give prospective employers and submit online to the job sites, you will be a step ahead of many of your peers who are also looking for work. You can put down all the jobs you have had as well as any awards you might have won and any volunteer work you do. Even though you might not have much on your resume, just having one tells an employer that you are thinking towards the future and that is a good thing.
Step #3
If you have friends who have jobs, you should try to find out from them whether they like their jobs and whether there are any job openings. You should get all the information they can give you and perhaps even have them put in a good word for you. Use any friends and contacts you have to the best of your ability to give yourself the best chance of landing a job.
Step #4
Lastly, you should take your job search out on foot and scour your area for openings. You might stop in at all the places you might like to work and inquire about the possibility of getting hired. If you personally go in an introduce yourself, you will have the chance to make a good impression and let someone actually see who you are. If you don't have too high expectations and understand that you will face rejection, you will at least be able to find out first hand what jobs are available and what their requirements are. Managers and employers also like teens who take the initiative to come in and introduce themselves. If you have a resume you should drop it off at this time. You never know, if you make a good impression, when a job opening does come up the employer might just remember you and give you a call.
Monday, January 20, 2014
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