by Mary Byrd

Created on: May 18, 2008

Any job can be fun and great, if you, as a teen, have a good attitude, a sense of responsibility, and good work ethics. While most states will allow teens as young as 14 to be employed in retail, many companies have a policy of not hiring anyone under 16. In some instances the teenager can work with the parent's consent. In some states a teen can only work 8 hours a day, or 12 to 16 a week during school.

Top retail job for teens is department store sales. Department stores offer you a good work environment, air conditioned climate, and the latest in fashion and makeup. Department stores have flexible hours, and are willing to work around the teens schedule if it is given to your supervisor before the schedule is written. But best of all, you receive a discount on merchandise in the store.

Department store jobs are not limited to the sales floor and include a variety of responsibilities, as stocking shelves, cashiering, receiving and checking in new merchandise. So if you don't think you are a salesperson, you may be happier working behind the sales floor.

Great department stores to work for are Target, Dillard's, Macy's, Sears, JC Penney's, Mervyns, The Gap, and just about any other store in the MALL.

Second best retail job for teenagers is working in the technology department of department stores or in computer type stores, as Circuit City, CompUSA, Best Buy and Stables.

Top reasons retail reestablishments like to hire teens:
1. Good workers
2. Flexible hours
3. Still on mom and dad's insurance
4. Few if any benefits need to be paid (all employers must pay worker's compensation insurance.)
5. Cheep labor
6. Teens have a willingness to learn

Top reasons retailers don't like to hire teens:
1. Always wanting off for school activities
2. Only wants to work summers or holidays
3. Not always reliable
4. Forgets to wait on the customer
5. No or little experience

Types of teens most likely to be hired:
1. Teens that express a need to save up for college
2. Teens who need money to date or for school
3. Teens who have an abundance of energy
4. Teens who are enthusiastic
5. Teens who smile often during the interview
6. Teens whose application is neat and completely filled in
7. Teens who are clean and dressed appropriately for the job
8. Teens with transportation or know how they will travel to and from work
9. Teens who express an interest in pursuing a career in retail

Teens less likely to be hired:
1. Teens who image does not fit into the store policy, as visible tattoos, or piercing
2. Teens not well groomed, as dirty clothing and body odor
3. Teens using poor grammar or using cuss words during interview.

Other retailers who hire teenagers are grocery stores, home improvement centers, super discount stores, office supply stores, music stores, bookstores, and coffee shops.

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