by Louise Christensen

Created on: May 29, 2011

The majority of jobs that teens hold are the type that rarely, if ever, pay above minimum wage.  The teenager who can accept this and is eager to build a work history will learn what it takes to start growing a resume. There are several things a teenager will have to give up at the door when they apply for a job and have any hope of getting hired. They need to drop any attitude that might display the notion that the teenager is probably smarter than the would-be boss.  They need to turn off their mobile device, better yet leave it at home or in the vehicle.  They need to demonstrate they can learn and are willing to do so. The best way to achieve this is to ask about the job and the duties. While these duties are being described it is best to smile, nod your head like you understand what is being said and when the description is finished say something simple like "sounds good" and then smile some more.  

Depending on the teen and their home life will determine how much practical life experience a teen might have and how much about the job they are applying for will be recognized and understood.  Any new hire on any job will be expected to learn on the run; the inability to do this will result in a very short probation period followed by a severance check.  Some of the biggest issues an employer will have with teens (actually any age employee) include showing up to work on time (every day), presenting themselves in a clean and tidy uniform or work clothes, and their hygiene needs to be Sunday best every day (clean combed hair, body freshly showered, deodorized arm pits, brushed teeth, and for the gals minimal make-up; its work not party time). Employers like workers who can go with the flow, learn all the jobs at the site as quickly as possible and be flexible and willing to step up where needed.

For some teens, this might be a tough list to grasp, much less follow. It might require getting more sleep than usual, giving up time with friends, staying off facebook, twitter, and giving up texting for at least eight hours a day. Some teens might find it beyond their ability to actually show respect to people who claim a position higher on the food chain.  Some teens might have a difficult time having a conversation with people who do not understand the jargon or linguistic preferences spoken among friends while at school, on line, or through simple eye contact.

Of course, almost any teen is able to give up what they have to, and sacrifice what is necessary to meet the standard set by a boss who had to give up their adolescent freedoms and prejudices as little as a few years earlier; it is simply a matter of priorities. What a lot of employers need from a teenager is that baseline understanding that they are growing older and are willing to assume the mantle necessary to step into the adult world of holding down a job, earning a paycheck fairly, and help keep the reputation of the company they work for in good standing.

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