job Applications

part I - Finding a Job

Part I - Finding a Job

(5 minutes)

Part II - Filling Out Applications

(2.5 minutes)

Part III - Asking for References

(3 minutes)

Part IV - Attending Job Fairs

(2.5 minutes)

Lesson Voiceover:

part 1 voiceover.mp3

How do i find a job?

There are a lot of different ways for people to find jobs that are available. All you need to know is where to look and what to look for. Once you know a few simple tricks, you will have no trouble at all sorting through all the open positions that you are qualified for. First, let's start with the where:

A group of students sit around a laptop computer, searching the internet.

1. Searching Online:

Tons of businesses will post their open positions (sometimes called vacancies) on websites to make it easier for people to find. Some of the most common websites include Indeed.com, CareerBuilder.com, and LinkedIn Job Search.

Not sure what you want to do? Most websites will let you sort available jobs by city or region so you can find local postings that are within your area.
Do you have an idea about what kind of position you want? These same websites will usually let you sort by title or responsibility so you can narrow down the results.
Do you want to work at a specific place? Check that specific website. Most websites will have a "careers" link at the bottom that takes you to their personal list of vacancies.

A notepad sitting on a desk is surrounded by office supplies. The notebook is open to a page that says "We are hiring"

2. Posters and Signs

While online searches will definitely pull up the largest selection of openings, you can also look around town to see if any of the local businesses have "Now Hiring" signs posted on windows or doors.

If you see a sign and want to apply, feel free to stop in and see if there's someone you can talk to about the opening. It would be nice if you were dressed professionally...even better if you already have a resume ready to go.
Some larger businesses will have signs that just tell you to go look at their website. Don't worry about it! Just like we mentioned above, you can usually find the job postings in the "careers" link at the bottom.
For students your age, you will probably have your best luck with retail and service industry jobs like wait and kitchen staff. Understand that you have limited experience right now, and as a minor you can only work limited hours.

A long distance shot depicts the skyline of a large city. Lines of light are connecting all of the buildings together, forming a web or "network" of connections.

3. Friends, Family, and your Network

Maybe you're having trouble finding an opening that you are qualified to work, or perhaps businesses aren't interested in hiring a student who has a complicated schedule and limited experience. You can always ask your (developing) network of peers, family members, and connections if they know of any open jobs that might be available.

Just because you can't find any jobs doesn't mean they aren't out there. Your connections might know about jobs you haven't found yet.
Adults will be a very helpful resource for you, as they have a larger and more developed network of connections to ask. It's no guarantee, but they may have a better chance at finding something substantial.
In the business world, who you know if sometimes more important than what you know. You have a much better chance of getting in interview for a job if you can be personally recommended by someone else.

Okay, so I found a job posting. what am i looking for?

Finding open jobs that you are qualified to work is only part of the battle. Now, you have to read through the job description to make sure that the job you've found is a good match. Job descriptions are all different, but they usually have similar formats and sections. Here are some big things to look for:

Responsibilities

Job postings will always list the responsibilities of the position. This is supposed to give you an idea of the kind of work that you'll be doing on a regular basis. Make sure that you can actually do all the things on this list! If somethings stands out as being really hard for you, or if some of the responsibilities look like things you would absolutely hate, maybe you should look elsewhere.

Hours and Compensation

Not all postings will list the salary or hourly wage, but this is becoming more common. If the pay is listed, make sure it is a pay grade that you are willing to work for. As high school students, most of you should expect to be working for minimum wage or slightly higher. Everyone has to start somewhere!

Also, check to see what the time commitment is going to be. If the job wants a minimum of 20 hours weekly, you might not have the time to fit in work between school, clubs and sports, and social events.

Qualifications

Business owners will list what they want the minimum education and background experience they are looking for. As a high school student, this is going to be one of your biggest limitations since you probably don't have a ton of work experience. For some jobs, that isn't a problem at all, but for others it might be.

If you truly feel that you are qualified and capable of working a job but you don't quite meet the requirements, feel free to apply anyway. Many employers list qualifications they'd like to have, but which aren't 100% required.

Example Job Description

Look at the example job description below and pay attention to the details we just discussed.

*Job description template provided by hiring.monster.com

Example Job Description.pdf

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