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You're a teenage who wants a summer job, and so does practically every other teenager in your town. How can you stand out from the rest to an employer? By beating the others to the punch, and showing employers that, even though you are a teenager, you are professional and a hard worker. Here are some ways to do it.

1.CREATE A RESUME: You can find resume building tools on the Internet if you need help. And if this is your first job, you can cite other examples of other types of things you've worked at, even though you didn't get paid for them: community/volunteer services, academic honors and clubs, babysitting, etc. If you make good grades in school, definitely include it.

2.GET REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDATION LETTERS: Employers don't want relatives' recommendations, so try your teachers, friends, friends' parents, or neighbors. Contact telephone numbers and e-mails are great, and if you can get any of them to write letters recommending you for a job, that's even better.
3.BUILD A PORTFOLIO: Include all of the items mentioned in #1 and #2, plus any evidence of honors or activities: honor roll certificates, prize ribbons, programs from plays in which you were cast, Cub/Eagle Scout honors, etc.
4.MAKE BUSINESS CARDS: Having your contact information on a card can make a positive impression, and you can even print them yourself. Buy cardstock paper and use an online template. Or browse the Internet; some sites actually print business cards for free and only charge you for the shipping.
5.ASK YOUR SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR if he/she can recommend a summer job in whatever field you want to study in college.
6.BROWSE THE INTERNET about the place you want to apply to learn a little about the company. If you can repeat information like the company's motto, goals, or founder to the interviewer, it will make a great impression.
7.CHECK THE NEWSPAPERS for hiring opportunities. However, don't rely exclusively on it. Some places that are hiring advertise only with a sign in their window.
8.GO DOOR TO DOOR and pop in at grocery stores, restaurants, or wherever you want to work. And when you do
A. DRESS TO IMPRESS: Guys, wear khakis, dress shirts, and neckties, and remove any earrings or body rings until you're hired; girls, wear skirts to the knee, nylons, and blouses, no more than two pairs of earrings, and no body jewelry.
B. ARRIVE EARLY ON A MONDAY, between 8 and 9 a.m., or if the place opens later, as soon as it opens. This is important for two reasons. One, you want to catch

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