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SALT LAKE CITY — Even though school is still in session, now may be a good time for students to start looking for summer jobs. Some educators say many teens may not know how to go about getting one.
Thousands of teens will be looking to join the workforce once the school semester ends. So where should they look? Kristine Dobson, a consultant with the Utah Office of Education says the first place teens should turn to is social media.
"Every friend on Facebook should see something, every day, from you saying, ‘No, I still haven't found a job. I'm still looking. Do you know anybody?'" she said.
- Start looking now
- Get the word out about your job search
- Reapply for a job you held last year
- Be professional
- Do mock interviews in advance
- Show some energy
- Dress appropriately
- Know where to look
- Play up your strengths
Plus, Dobson says it's always a good idea to check the more conventional sources of finding employment. Teens can always look up a company's website to see its job postings, or they can use the databases of the Utah Department of Workforce Services. She says you can look up companies by industry, by size or by location.
So what happens if they get an interview? Sadly, interviewing skills are not something all teens have. Dobson says a lot of them don't have the confidence they need to brag about the skills they're bringing to the table.
"Get ready to describe those skills to an employer so that they understand you're not a regular teen walking through the door," she suggested.
There are some things that teens may not do during an interview that would seem like basic knowledge for adults looking for work. Dobson says it's important to sit up straight and speak clearly during the interview. Plus, there's one other major thing they need to do to make an impression.
"That employer wants to have somebody in that job who is interested, that is actually interested in the job. One way to let them know that you're more interested than the next guy is to follow up," she said.
But, if your teens applies for a job and doesn't get it, it's important they don't get too discouraged. Dobson says it takes an average of seven interviews before someone secures a position. So, keep trying.
