While the nation is struggling to make ends meet when it comes to the economy, it has become harder for high school students to find a job. Since adults with actual work experience are vexed with denied applications left and right, the pressure has doubled for teenagers.
A person does not have to be a high school student to have trouble finding a job. Even college graduates are having difficulty as well.
“I have been looking for a job since Aug. of 2012,” Mesa Community College student, Makailah Barrs said.
Whether it’s to help pay for college or a new car, teenagers are in need of obtaining money somehow. An Allowance for chores does not seem to enough these days.
After filling out numerous applications and constantly not being contacted or being denied a job, it becomes overwhelming for a student, especially when they need the money for something they want or need.
“The most frustrating [about finding a job] would be the fact that most businesses want people with experience and when you have so little experience like myself, it can be difficult and discouraging,” Barrs explains.
Employers also often look for people who are more flexible when it comes to what hours they work. Being in high school, students are limited to when they can work, making it that much harder to find a job.
“The frustrating part for me is that I’m only looking for a weekend job. It’s hard enough finding a place that will hire , and even harder to find a place that only needs weekend employees,” Senior Kailey Boyer said.
Along with the basic rules of making eye contact and not stuttering during an interview, there are other things a student should do in order to better their chances in finding a place to work.
“Make sure your handwriting is legible…if you must, have your mom write it,” Barrs jokes, but advises.
Students also conflict with themselves as to where they want to work, which at this time, is not an option.
“Don’t be picky about where you work, and apply to many different places. f you send in multiple applications to different store, then if you aren’t hired at one place you still have a backup job possibly waiting for you,” Boyer mentions.
So, whether someone is now looking for a job or has been looking for one, looking past the obstacles and keeping on track will lead into the working force soon enough.
