by Kaitlyn Dyer

Created on: June 19, 2010   Last Updated: June 20, 2010

Teens are constantly looking for ways to learn a little extra cash on the side.  Believe it or not, parents want their teens to find cash as well, somewhere beyond the parent's wallet.  But finding a job as a teenager proves over and over again to be an absolute nightmare.  Filling out a resume takes a lot of time and effort, and many teens aren't sure what should go into that little piece of paper anyway.  Beyond that waits the individual application for each place of employment.  And what happens if the teen actually makes it through to the interview?  Both parents and teens stress about this experience and too many families decide that the work involved in finding work is not worth it.  But it is worth it, and teens should take a look at the following suggestions for finding a summer job.

The first step is to quit moaning and groaning and start a resume.  Don't complain; it's actually relatively easy to the rest of the job hunting experience if the applicant knows how to handle it.  What teens fail to realize is that the resume is just like their blog or MySpace page, simply more professional.  Take a look at the "likes" section on a favorite social networking site.  Is there a sports teams that you played on?  What about the local animal shelter you worked at last summer as a volunteer?  Chances are, there are actually a lot of hobbies, community volunteer groups, or organizations listed all over the page.  These are all things that might interest employers, especially if they are commitments that were made and stuck with.  These interests make employers interested in applicants.  One might also look for a format for the resume and get ideas from there.  Don't be afraid to have your parents make suggestions for the resume, and be respectful of their ideas, they were there once, too.

Once the resume is finished, it shouldn't have to be rewritten again.  Just keep a copy of it on hand, and now you are ready to apply for several jobs.  And where does a teen look for such jobs?  Anywhere, quite simply.  Start with a local market.  If you have a mall around the corner, usually they take applicants under the age of 18.  But remember, teenagers have some restrictions.  In most places, teenage cashiers cannot sell alcohol, so your less likely to get a job at the gas station where everyone goes to grab a beer. 

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