Job Resources:
Finding Employment
As a HS Student
Job Search Resources: Keeping it 100
Greetings students! You've likely found this page because you're looking for an opportunity to make some money as a high school student.
Often times, younger students come to the CCC hoping that we can pair them with work opportunities. While the CCC usually has structured summer work opportunities (like Step Up, RightTrack, and GenesysWorks), more often than not, students looking for immediate employment need to find local businesses that are hiring in the community. This page is meant to be offer:
full transparency on what sort of jobs are often available to HS students;
some tips for younger students looking for work; and...
tools to build the likelihood you're hired for ANY student looking for work.
Finding a job can be challenging under the best of circumstances. Often times jobs that pay higher wages require more experience, and experience is typically gained from jobs. When looking for work as a high school student, you often might find that you don't have experience that will land you a job t
So, What Works?
What Should I Know Before I Start Looking
What Should I Know Before I Start Looking
Here are some tips, ideas, and questions that you should be aware of as you're looking for a job, both as a high school student and even after you've graduated:
Identify your interests and find work that connects to your future goals.
Finding a job that you like is important! While high school students often have a limited access to jobs that demand high levels of skill, you do have the opportunity to find jobs that connect to your current interests and future plans. It's good to be strategic when looking for jobs. Ask yourself:
"Does this job allow me to use skills that I enjoy using?"
"Does this job allow me to work with a group of people I care about?"
"Does it let me explore an interest I have, or allow me to learn how to solve problems I want to tackle?"
"Does this job give the space to build skills that I know I will need or want in the future?"
If you can answer yes to at least 2 of these questions, it's worth your time applying for the job!
Identify your skills! Employers want to know what you bring!
"Does this job allow me to use skills that I enjoy using?"
If you answered yes to this question provided in the previous tip, then its important you can name the skills that you'll have an opportunity to use on the job. Figuring out skills can be challenging, but everyone has SOMETHING that they can bring to a work environment. Take a look at some of the list of skills below to get a sense at what employers are looking for:
Soft Skill Examples:
Active Listener
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Attention to Detail
Your ability to identify and potentially memorize the relevant details of a space, situation, document, or person.
Coordination
The ability to adjust your actions with considerations to the actions of others and the factors in your environment
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Information Ordering / Pattern Recognition
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Instructing
Your ability to teach others or guide them through a process
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation / Customer Focused
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking
Your ability to speak clearly, in a way that others will understand.
Teamwork
Working with others while considering their knowledge and skills
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension & Expression
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Are there things you're NOT willing to do?
Knowing what you don't like is just as important as knowing what you do like! Knowing what you dislike doesn't just take undesirable jobs off your list. It can also help you find jobs that let you solve problems you see in the world that you're passionate about.
Use your network!
Sometimes, it's WHO you know and WHAT you know. Many high schoolers often find jobs through friends and family that might already work for a particular business. Asking the people you know (and who know you!) is a great way to start your job search.
Additionally, once you've been hired, getting to know your coworkers, supervisors, and sometimes even your customers can lead to future higher-paying and higher-skilled opportunities.
Get your foot in the door and lay your foundations!
Landing your dream job as a high schooler is a bit unrealistic. Many of the things students want to do can take years of learning, training, and formal on-the-job knowledge. It's important to be open to opportunities that become available to you! So, if a job you're lukewarm towards wants to hire you, give it a shot, so long as it won't cause you undue stress or harm.
Taking a job that might not be your "first choice" is still an opportunity to build skills and knowledge about your interests. No job is perfect all the time, but even a job that isn't your most preferred can be a stepping stone to a better opportunity in the future!
So, What Works?
What types of jobs are available for HS students?
What types of jobs are available for HS students?
Jobs in this section were highlighted in this Monster.com article and this Indeed.com article
Retail Sales Associate
What you’d do: Along with finding items and answering questions for customers, retail sales associates work the cash register, set up displays, and keep the store looking good.
What you’d need: No formal education is needed, as on-the-job training is the norm. Good organizational and people skills are helpful in retail sales positions.
Cashier
What you’d do: Cashiers work in a variety of settings—grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.—but the job is relatively consistent: You ring people up and sometimes also help them bag their items.
What you’d need: On-the-job training will likely be provided. Since you’ll be working on your feet, good stamina is a plus, and so are solid people skills and a knowledge of the store’s prices.
Gas Station Attendant
What you’d do: Depending on the state you live in, gas station attendants help man fuel station dispensers and equipment, pump gas, as well as handle the register and stock shelves.
What you’d need: Job responsibilities can vary, but the ability to multitask and good customer service are staples.
Delivery Driver
What you’d do: From pizza to pad thai, local restaurants in your area need delivery drivers to make sure hungry people get their food on time.
What you’d need: A driver’s license and good driving record are usual necessities.
Fast Food Worker / Restaurant Prep Cook
What you’d do: Feed people who are on the go by taking their order, answering any menu questions, preparing food, ringing them up, and seeing them off with a smile. You may also be charged with stocking and storing food items, cleaning duties, and light office work.
What you’d need: On-the-job training is usually provided, but customer service skills are a must.
Busser
What you’d do: One of the joys of eating out is not having to clear the table, but busboys and busgirls get paid to do that. As a busser, you’ll clear tables in timely manner so the dishwasher can clean tableware and get it ready to be used again.
What you’d need: Bussers are constantly moving around a restaurant, so a keen eye for a finished meal and an ability to work on your feet are both important.
Restaurant Host / Hostess
What you’d do: Hosts and hostesses greet guests as they enter the restaurant, help them find tables, and convey important information (how long guests will have to wait to be seated, for example).
What you’d need: You are often the first person guests will interact with when they come into the restaurant, so a friendly and helpful attitude is crucial.
Waiter / Waitress
What you’d do: Waiters and waitresses answer questions about the menu, take orders, serve food and drinks, and clear tables.
What you’d need: On-the-job training is common, but you’ll need a friendly disposition and plenty of stamina.
Barista
What you’d do: Get ready to serve coffee (and a variety of other drinks) to a bunch of customers eager for their java fix.
What you’d need: As a barista, attention to detail and great people skills are key. On-the-job training will likely be provided to teach you how to prepare a bevy of beverages.
Valet Driver
What you’d do: Whether it’s at a restaurant, hotel, or elsewhere, valets park cars for guests as they arrive, and return the cars to guests when they’re ready to leave.
What you’d need: On top of customer service skills, you’ll need to have your driver’s license and a good driving record.
Mover / Packaging Specialist
What you’d do: When it’s time for a home or business to pack up and change locations, they call on movers to pack their items securely, transport everything, and then unload without damaging anything along the way.
What you’d need: Moving is highly physical work. You’ll need to be able to carry heavy objects for long periods of time.
Lawn Care / Landscaping & Snow Removal
What you’d do: Duties vary, but usually include mowing lawns, raking leaves, trimming hedges, and other tasks to keep a yard clean.
What you’d need: Sometimes you might need to provide equipment like lawn mowers and trimmers; other times your employer will supply them. Regardless, you’ll need to be in good shape for this physical work.
Personal Assistant
What you’d do: For high schoolers, personal assistant jobs usually take the shape of helping out a local business doing part-time administrative work for one of the organization’s leaders. Personal assistants can also act as helpers for the elderly, doing everything from running errands to yard work.
What you’d need: Flexibility, as the type of work can change from day to day, plus an unwavering sense of responsibility. Check out this sample resume for a personal assistant.
Front Dest Receptionist
What you'd do: Receptionists answer phones, greet clients and perform administrative tasks like setting up appointments. Receptionists can work at various types of businesses, from gyms to a doctor’s office. Working as a receptionist can help teens gain customer service skills and experience working in an office environment.
What you'd do: Receptionists need strong customer service skills. They will likely also need strong speak skills, as well as reading comprehension.
Tutor
What you'd do: Tutors give individual attention to students to help them better understand a subject and improve their grades. High schoolers who excel in an academic subject can use their knowledge to help fellow students and earn money in the process.
What you'd do: Tutors are great instructors. They have awesome attention to detail, and know how to demonstrate patience to help their students through challenges.
Child Care Associate
What you'd do: Take care of children temporarily while their parents or guardians are away. Childcare Specialists may be required to change diapers, clean up play areas, prepare snacks, instruct and guide little ones, and/or help children prepare for daytime transitions.
What you'd need: Childcare specialists are patient, empathetic, and have strong social perceptiveness abilities.
Finding a Job:
Where to look
In this section, we'll cover three ways that high school students can begin their job search. Each method described below comes with pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages. The first two methods are the primary way students looking for IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT will need to use. They may require that you have a polished resumé, strong interpersonal skills, and the time and space to do research on the front end of your search.
The final method for finding employment is a bit more secure than the first two methods, but requires students to follow the timeline of particular programs. This means that your employment might not occur immediately, and your job might only be worked for a set length of time. However, these are also some of the best ways to build your work experience, get career mentorship, and may not require that you have a full grasp of particular skills before your job search begins.
1) Taking it to the streets: Finding work in your area:
For high school students looking for immediate work, we strongly recommend looking for businesses and organizations in your local area that are hiring. If you're hoping to find work ASAP so you can make some extra money, your best bet is to start walking, driving, or taking public transit around our city and look for businesses that are currently hiring. Businesses might have signs in their windows letting passersby know they're currently accepting applications, OR you can enter the business, introduce yourself, and ask if the location is currently accepting applications. Despite coming with some challenges, this is one of THE FASTEST ways for young people just starting in their work experience journeys to find a job.
Your RHS CCC Corner also hosts a student-friendly Job Board where we post paid, immediate opportunities we've been made aware of. Check it out with the link below.
2) From the Comfort of Home: Using Job Search Boards
If you're not comfortable taking your search to the streets, or looking for opportunities different than the ones your CCC is aware of, check out the job search boards highlighted in the section below.
Job search boards are online search engines where folks looking for work can enter their location, a keyword related to the type of work they're looking for, and find listings of positions currently accepting applications online.
A THING TO BE AWARE OF: The types of jobs often posted on online job search boards often require levels of experience that may be beyond what you've achieved as a high schooler. However, these are still fantastic tools to check out, and give students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with online applications, look at job descriptions for the types of work you're interested in, and get a senses of which businesses around you might be hiring.
3) Playing the Long Game: HS Internship Programs
Finally, if you're not in a rush and looking for jobs that offer professional skills, structured mentorship, and can be glowing additions to your resumé, consider checking out internship programs like Step Up, RightTrack, or GenesysWorks.
If you like more info on these programs, click one of the buttons below to be brought to the relevant section of our High School Internships page.
Building Your Resume
If you do not have one already, your senior year is a great time to put together a resumé. A resumé is a document that employers, and sometimes colleges, request from applicants that shows your volunteer, work, and extracurricular experience.
This template is available to all students. To keep it accessible to all students, you can only "View" the original document. Follow the instructions below for editing access to the resumé template:
Click on the resumé template in this section to be brought to a form you can view.
Once you've been brought to the page, click "File" in the top left corner.
Then, click "Make a Copy" for your own version of the template you can begin editing in Google Docs
OR click "Download" and download the file as a Word Document you can save directly to device and begin editing.
Also, writing a resume is different than other writing you might be used to. Check out some of the links below for tips on how to write a polished resumé
Spotlight on You | Writing Your Resumé
Writing a resume is different than writing an essay, and descriptions of your experience are more than just, "I did 'a thing'. " Descriptions of your accomplishments on your resumé should be written in the active voice. Take a look at the articled linked below on tips about how to write your accomplishments in the active voice.