when I went in for ice cream one day,” Baker said. She snagged the restaurant job because
a friend who works there gave a recom- mendation. “Use your network. Tell your friends,
your parents, your parent’s friends,” said Mason Jackson, CEO of Broward Work- force One. Stop by businesses in your area. Have
a script in your head and look like you’re ready to work. Check with your city govern- ment – often there are camps, community pools or parks needing summer workers. The biggest mistake teens make in job
seeking is not using the tools that are out there, Jackson said. “Google ‘teen jobs;’ look up internships,” he said. If you’ve chosen a career field, see if a
business in that industry is looking for an intern. “An internship can be a great oppor- tunity to test the water in a career field and get real world experience,” Almagro said.
Be prepared Have a resume and information on refer- ences ready to upload if you apply for a job online. Ask permission before you use someone as a reference – then get their names, addresses and phone num- bers. “Sometimes teens don’t think that through,” Jackson said. Use a conservative email address.
“Some kids have email names for friends and games, things like hotbaby33,” Al- magro said. “You should get an email ad- dress specifically for job hunting.” Be careful what you post on Facebook
– a prospective employer may check your page. “It’s definitely not the place to com- plain about your boss,” Almagro said. Look up a company online before
you’re interview, so you know what they do.
Review past experience and see what
transfers to marketable skills, Jackson said. “Just because you haven’t held a job before doesn’t mean you haven’t worked,” he said. Look at your school, church and club expe- rience. Teaching Sunday school can show dependability. Volunteering at a camp can show responsibility. Running a school club shows leadership. “Try to relate what you’ve done in
the past to the job you’re applying for,” Jackson said.
Dress the part If you land an interview, dress for success. Guys should wear a collared shirt and pants, but no jeans (and no underwear showing.) Girls should wear a dress, skirt or pants. Cover tattoos and wear understated jewelry. “Be sincere. Be engaged. Show enthu-
siasm,” Jackson said. Once while he was at a movie theater,
Jackson saw a teen talking to a manager about a job. The teen was slouched over and uncommunicative. “Sometimes young people use that as
a defense mechanism, showing an attitude they don’t care,” Jackson said. “But you have to look interested if you want someone to give you a job.”
Make a good impression Turn off your cell phone before you speak with an employer. Make eye contact when introduced. Shake hands firmly. Be ready to talk about yourself – do some practice sessions before with a parent or friend. “If you look eager and ready to work, that speaks volumes,” Almagro said. “If you
look like your parents pushed you there to get a job, you’re not going to make it past the front door.”
Create your own job If you can’t find a job, create one. Start a lemonade stand, babysit or have a garage sale. Offer house painting, lawn mowing or taking care of pets. “There are so many creative ways for
people to make money. If you start your own business, you can hone your com- munication and business skills, which you can one day add to your resume,” Almagro said.
Ask your neighbors if they need help
with car washing or pulling weeds, Jackson said. Make up a flier with odd jobs and prices, and leave them with neighbors you know.
“Make it clear up front that you’re not
a volunteer and it’s not a favor,” he said. “Agree on a fee before you do the work.” Philippe and Cardona turned their
ideas into businesses, with help from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (
Nfte.com). Cardona said he has always had an
entrepreneurial spirit. In middle school he bought candy in bulk and sold them by the piece at a profit to classmates. In high school, he bought used graphing calculators from graduating seniors and resold them the next year to incoming students. In October, Cardona launched his
second business,
PublicizeUs.com, to help small business develop websites and eCommerce. “If you have an idea for a business you
should launch it,” he said. “Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is only going to make your next business that much stronger.”
NEAPOLITANfamily • May 2012
neafamily.com 59
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62