How To Get Your First Job

Getting your first job can be exciting and worrisome at the same time. On one hand, you want to earn money but on the other hand, how are you going to get a job when you’ve never had one before?

Age and Laws on the Job

How old you must be to work and how late you may work on school nights as well as how many hours you may work per week is determined according to your age and varies from state to state. So does minimum wage, which is most likely what your first job will pay you. These laws could affect what is available to you.

For example, you may want to wait tables, but all the restaurants who are hiring serve alcohol. Only wait staff who is 21 are allowed to serve alcohol in any state. Also, the restaurant may only have night shifts available to you and those may end after the cut off time for employees your age. Be sure to choose a job that best fits your school and sports schedules, interests and local laws.

Before You Interview

A large part of getting your first job starts before you even leave the house. Prepare properly and you’ll have your first job in no time.

• The right frame of mind. If you don’t really want to work, it will be apparent to any prospective employers. Who wants to hire someone who doesn’t want to be there?
• Prepare a resume. You may think that, this being your first job, you don’t have anything to put on a resume. Not true. Just the fact that you took the time to put one together is impressive. Put your contact information, emergency contacts, the school you attend, your schedule availability, any volunteer work or groups you’ve participated in, as well as any special skills. Second language? Good with kids? Write it down. Even if you fill out an application, include the resume.
• Dress well. You don’t have to wear a fancy dress, but nice pants and shoes, a button up shirt, and natural makeup will work just fine. No jeans or sweatshirts and no super short skirts or low cut outfits. Look professional and you will be treated professionally, whether you’re applying for a job scooping ice cream or for an internship at a law office.

When You Go

Your best bet is to go directly to the places where you would like to work and ask to speak with a manager. Bring copies of your resume with you as well as a pad and pen. Make notes to yourself about where you stopped and what time, who you talked to and the name of the manager. If the manager isn’t in, find out when he or she will be and write that down as well. Leave a resume behind and when you check back, bring extras. Things tend to get lost easily.

Check Back

Most likely, you won’t be hired on the spot. If the manager says that they’re not hiring, make sure you check back in a couple of weeks if you haven’t found something else by then. Try to get an interview with the manager. If you get one and aren’t hired by the end of it, call the next day to thank them for their time. If you haven’t heard anything within a week, check back again.

Take Notes

Be sure to note everything as you go along, especially names and dates. You’ll sound much more together if you come in saying, ‘Hi, is Mr. Gray in today? I stopped by on Tuesday and Raul told me that he usually works this shift’ as opposed to, ‘Hey, is the manager here? I came by before and I think he’s supposed to be working now.’

Be Persistent

Keep a good attitude, update your resume regularly, and keep checking back. There’s a first time for everything and getting your first job will happen, even if it seems like it isn’t happening fast enough.

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