Blog Post: Teens: Take These Steps to Find Your First Job In Atlanta

Where do you think a teen’s first job should be at or could be at?

To answer this question, I would keep two things in mind. One is that your options for a job are only as limited as you allow them to be. In other words, if you think that the only job for a 16 year old is flipping burgers at the BK, then that’s what you’ll be limited to. But if you expand your options by talking with counselors, parents, friends, teachers, or researching on the internet and at the career center, then your options increase considerably.

The second thing to keep in mind is to know that looking for work is a process. With that said, here’s what my advice would be to perfect the process so you end up with a cool job.

Identify What You Like To Do

There’s nothing more important than knowing what you like to do before you go looking for a job. This allows you to narrow your job search and identify companies that you could potentially work for.

So take out a piece of paper and write down the things you like (sports, writing, whatever).

Identify Where You Can Work With That Interest

If your interest is music, where can you work with music? A record store, a radio station, a company that books concerts- the opportunities are endless. Think about all the companies out there who are involved with a certain interest.

You can find these companies by searching around on Google, asking your career counselor, teachers, parents, friends, whoever. Ask them if they know of any companies that work with music, or sports, or whatever your interest may be.

Identify What’s More Important: An Hourly Wage or Work Experience

You can work in some of the coolest jobs ever and not get paid for it. Or you can work some really crappy jobs and get paid accordingly. My advice is to offer yourself and your skills for free, if you’re able to. Volunteer, job shadow, ask for an internship, or even do a Pursue the Passion interview if you really want to get your foot in the door and get experience.

Identify the Right Person to Talk To

The right person to talk to is the person who has the power to hire you. Whether that’s the manager, the Human Resources specialist, or the owner, the best person you can talk to is someone you already know. Or someone who knows someone you know. They’ll be able to pass along your resume or your request to be hired. The chances increase considerably if you know someone on the inside.

Then, ask.

Ask for the job. Ask for the experience. Be enthusiastic and humble at the same time. Be sure to thank them for the opportunity. Dress nice. Smile. Do your research. And be sure to tell them why you want to work for them when you ask.  

Good luck! I hope that answers your question about teen employment. You can always go on Jobing.com to search as well!

Brett Farmiloe is the founder of www.pursuethepassion.com.  He and Zach Hubbell took a cross country road trip and interviewed over 300 people about how they found a passion in work.  They now speak to high schools, colleges, organizations, and at HR conferences about what they learned.  Contact Brett at brett.farmiloe@jobingfoundation.org for more information.