The document provides information for teens on getting their first job, including why work, the importance of work experience, how to start the job search process, common interview questions, appropriate interview attire, and resume templates. It encourages flexibility, enthusiasm, and diligence in seeking entry-level work. Teens are advised to gain experience that can help with future careers or college applications through their first jobs.

1. Bethany Baptist Church
Board of Christian Education
April, 2009
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

2. WHY WORK?
To purchase things you need

 To help with family finances
 For something to do
 For employee discounts
 For work experience
 To look good on college applications
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK EXPERIENCE
Some experience can best be obtained on the

job
Leadership

 Teamwork
 Responsibility
 Budgeting
Use this experience to

Step up to better jobs in the future

 Discuss on college applications
 Build self confidence
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

4. HOW DO I START?
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to
poverty. Proverbs 10:23
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

5. First Jobs
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

6. FIRST JOBS
Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham
First Job

Fried chicken in convenience store

Current/Recent Positions

Associate Director and Brand Advisor at

Cornell University
Marketing Executive at Hanes

Underwear, Valvoline, and Carrier
Key learning: Understand what the

customer wants, then surpass the
customer’s expectations
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

7. Where to Find Jobs
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

8. WHERE TO FIND JOBS
Word of mouth

 Guidance counselor
 Foot patrol
 Employment office
 Newspaper
 On-line
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

9. WHERE TO FIND JOBS
On-line Opportunities

Company websites

 Monster.com
 Syracusehelpwanted.com
 Facebook
On-line – Words of Caution

For now, don’t post resumes on-line

 But, you may apply for jobs on-line. In fact, on-line
applications may be preferred
 Not every job is legitimate
 If needed, clean up your Facebook page
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

10. WHERE TO FIND JOBS
Great experience
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your
paths. Proverbs 3:5 © 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

11. WHEN TO START
Now is not too soon

 Many start summer recruiting in May
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

12. WHO’S HIRING TEENS?
Parents needing babysitters

Restaurants

Retailers

Hospitals

Corporations

Car Washes

Grocery Stores

Movie Theaters

YMCA

Summer Camps

Swimming Pools

Golf Courses

Country Clubs

© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

13. NY State Legal Considerations
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

14. NY STATE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
No minimum age for modeling or acting

 11+ can deliver papers
 12+ can harvest by hand
 14+ can work at newsstands
 16+ can work in factories
 Minimum wage: $7.15, waitress may get less
because of tips
 A state employment certificate or permit may be
required
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

15. NY STATE LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
Age Work Hours During School Work Hours During Employment
Summer Papers
•Can work up to 3 hours/day on •Can work up to 40 •Required
14-15
•Get from school
school day hours/week
•Can work up to 8 hours on Sat •Can work for up to 6 •Need written
or non-school day days/week permission from
•Can work up to 18 hours a •Cannot work between parents, birth
week 9pm and 7am from certificate, and
•Cannot work between 7pm doctor’s note
June 24 to Labor Day.
•Exceptions for paper
and 7am from Labor Day to
June 20. carriers and for
•Exceptions for paper carriers newsstand employees
and for newsstand employees
•Can work up to 4 hours/day on •Can work up to 48 •Required
16-17
•Get from school
school day hours/week
•Can work up to 8 hours on Fri, •Can work for up to 6 •Need written
Sat, Sun, or holiday days/week permission from
•Can work up to 28 hours/week •Cannot work between parents, birth
•Can work between 10pm and midnight and 6am certificate, and
doctor’s note
12 am only with the written
consent of parents © 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

16. What Do Hiring Managers Look
For
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

17. WHAT DO HIRING MANAGERS LOOK FOR?
Scheduling flexibility

 Enthusiasm
 Friendliness
 Eye contact
 Confident posture
 Trainability
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

18. Application Process
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

19. APPLICATION PROCESS
If in Person – Paper Application

Enthusiastically greet person

Ask to speak to manager

Shake hands, introduce yourself, state that you are interested in working here, ask if you

can complete a job application
Try to fill out the application there

Review the whole application. Complete the application fully, neatly, and truthfully

If something doesn’t apply to you, write “does not apply” or “n/a”

Explain why you left your previous position.

To take on more responsibility

Summer employment only, to return to school

Career change

Laid off

Don’t say “you quit” if not applicable

Proofread the application completely before turning it in

To speed the process, know or have access to the following

SS#

Names, address, phone number, and supervisors’ names for previous employers

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references. Can be teachers, coaches, church

leaders, leaders of extracurricular activities
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

20. JOB APPLICATION EXERCISE
Complete job application - 10 minutes
1.
Review with Tablemates – 10 minutes
2.
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

21. APPLICATION PROCESS
If in Person – Computer Kiosk

Complete the application at the kiosk.

 Ask to speak to a manager on duty, if
available. Introduce yourself, state your
interest in working for the company, mention
that you have just completed an application.
 You may get an interview on-the-spot!
 At least, the manager will know who you are and
will look out for your application.
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

22. APPLICATION PROCESS
If On-Line

Complete the application completely

Proofread

When you are able, stop by the company.

Ask to speak to a manager on duty, if available.

Introduce yourself. State your interest in working for the
company. Mention that you have just applied on-line.
You may get an interview on-the-spot!

At least, the manager will know who you are and will look out

for your application.
Call the company weekly to check on the status of

your application
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

23. DON’T LET THIS BE ON YOUR FACEBOOK!
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

24. RESUME – HIGH SCHOOL FORMAT
[Your Name]
[Street Address], [City, ST ZIP Code]
[phone]
[e-mail]
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Organizational/Management
 Handled stocking and assisted in managing flow of stock in grocery store
 Prepared weekly inventory reports and submitted to supervisor
 Recommended new stocking system, which reduced stocking time by four hours a week
 Served as treasurer of high school RC airplane club for two years
 Coordinated candy sale fundraiser for RC airplane club, which resulted in $350 in profit
 Helped plan monthly “flyings” and quarterly meetings
Customer Relations
From  Assisted grocery shoppers in finding products
 Provided carry-out service
Microsoft
 Created new customer comment program, which included a personal letter from the appropriate
Word department head and increased customer satisfaction by 75%
 Served 78 customers on neighborhood newspaper route and handled billing and collections
Templates  Initiated revised billing program for paper route, which increased on -time payments by 30%
Communication
 Wrote articles about RC airplane club for high school newspaper
WORK HISTORY
Stock clerk June 2001-present
Fourth Coffee, Maddington, FL
Summers and after school
Newspaper carrier June 1999-June 2001
Consolidated Messenger, Coatsville, FL
EDUCATION
Graduate June 2003
Oak High School, Coatsville, FL
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

25. [Street Address], [City, ST ZIP Code][phone][e-mail]
RESUME – GENERAL [Your Name]
Objective
[Describe your career goal or ideal job.]
Experience
[Dates of employment] [Company Name] [City, ST]
[Job Title]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
[Dates of employment] [Company Name] [City, ST]
From [Job Title]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
Microsoft  [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
Word
[Dates of employment] [Company Name] [City, ST]
Templates [Job Title]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
[Dates of employment] [Company Name] [City, ST]
[Job Title]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
 [Job responsibility/achievement]
Education
[Dates of attendance] [School Name] [City, ST]
[Degree Obtained]
 [Special award/accomplishment or degree minor]
References
References are available on request.
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

26. RESUME INFORMATION
 Key information
 School extracurricular activities
 GPA if over 3.0
 Church and community involvement
 Awards and recognitions
 No mistakes! Proofread, then have others
proofread it
 Need printed copies, and need to be able
to e-mail it
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

27. RESUME EXERCISE
Select Resume Template
1.
Fill in Blanks – 20 minutes
2.
Review with Tablemates – 20 minutes
3.
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

28. DOWNLOAD RESUME TEMPLATES
Microsoft Word Office 97

File/New/Template/Resume/Situation

Dependent/High School Resume
or
 Download off Microsoft Clip Art Website
http://office.microsoft.com/en-

us/clipart/default.aspx
 Template/Resume-CV/Situation
Dependent/High
School Resume
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

29. The Interview
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

30. WHAT TO WEAR
Neat dress

 Fashion-forward or conservative, not
trendy unless necessary for working at
company
 Clean, no body odor, fresh breath
 Business-casual dress, unless
interviewing in a conservative, office
environment
 Minimal jewelry
 Nice fit, not too tight or too baggy
 No extreme hair styles
 No shorts © 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

31. APPROPRIATE OR INAPPROPRIATE?
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

32. APPROPRIATE OR INAPPROPRIATE?
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

33. COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Interview Questions Considerations Possible Answers
•30-60 second elevator pitch
Tell me about yourself?
•Mention what grade you’re
in, age, school you attend,
grades/GPA (if A/B student),
extracurricular activities, and
career goals
•Much of this should be on
your resume and/or
application
Why are you interested in •Understand the job
working here/in this description and how your
position? strengths match what they
are looking for.
•Show your passion for the
company and its’
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

34. COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Interview Questions Considerations Possible Answers
•If you were the owner of the
Why should I hire you?
establishment, what would
you want in an employee?
•What do you bring that is
unique?
•Match your experience and
skill set with the job
requirements
When are you Flexibility is key!
available/What hours can
you work?
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

35. COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Interview Questions Considerations Possible Answers
•Prepare to mention two or
What accomplishments are
you most proud of? three
•Follow
Problem/Action/Result
format
•Mention two or three
What are your strengths?
•Discuss an example of
how you successfully used
your strengths
•Mention only one
What are your weaknesses
•Discuss how you
?
discovered the weakness
and how you improved
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

36. INTERVIEW EXERCISE
Write out your answers to the common
1.
interview questions – 20 minutes
Mock interview with tablemates – 60
2.
minutes
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

37. INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP
 Send thank you note within 24 hours
 E-mailor snail mail
 Typed or hand-written
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

38. INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP
[Your Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code ]
April 23, 2009
[Recipient Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]
Thank You Note Format [Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code ]
Dear [Recipient Name]:
Thank you for meeting with me yesterday to di scuss the sales associate position at
Macy’s. I am truly excited about the opportunity.
I believe that my leadership experience, my passion for fashion, and my desire to help
others would make me a great sales associate. As we discussed, I am a junior at
Nottingham High School. I have held several leadership positions, such as being the co -
captain of the football team. I love fashion. I am currently working on a team to
organize the school fashion show. I also love helping others. For example, I am known
as one of the best baby -sitters in my neighborhood because I always plan fun activities
for the kids and help them with their homework.
I look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Title]
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

39. INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP
 Do not text-message your thank you note
Thx 4 the IView!
I Wud ♥ 2 Work 4
U!! ;)
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

40. OTHER INTERVIEW TIPS
 Turn off cell phone!
 Bring resume and completed application
with you to interview
 Don’t be too nervous. Be poised and
confident.
 Follow-up with phone call – Shows
persistence and determination, qualities
that employers seek
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 © 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

41. Workplace Behavior
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

42. WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR DOS AND DON’TS
Do
 Arrive on time on scheduled days
 Do what is asked, but also go above and
beyond
 Anticipate your manager’s needs
 Be pleasant, friendly, and helpful
 Ask for time off way in advance
 Be safe, be aware of surroundings
 Get plenty of rest
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than
for people. Ephesians 6:6
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

43. WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR DOS AND DON’TS
Don’t
 Have inappropriate relationships with
coworkers
 Inappropriately touch coworkers
 Steal or lie
 Tell crude jokes or make crude comments,
especially about race, sex, and religion
Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not
give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as
yourself.”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham

44. Conclusion
TEEN JOB SEARCH 101

45. CONCLUSION
His master replied “Well done good and faithful
servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness.
Matthew 25:23
© 2009 by Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham