This blog was written by Next Stop Canada Staff Member Alexandra Stancato.
As a young person, finding your first part-time job can feel very difficult. When you haven’t had experience in a workplace, don’t know how to write your first resume, or what type of questions they may ask you in an interview, the task can seem very challenging. It’s important for all job seekers to take the process one step at a time, and remember that you will soon be employed. If you want to learn how to land your first job as a youth, check out the tips below:
Assess If You Are Ready to Work
Taking on a part-time job can be a big responsibility. It’s often hard to balance all of your commitments such as school, work and extracurricular activities. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that you have enough time each week to work at a part-time job. If you don’t have enough time during the school year, consider looking for a volunteer position or waiting until the summer to look for work.
Create a Resume
A resume is a useful tool when it comes to job search. Today, almost every job requires you to submit a resume with your application, whether you’re applying online or in-person. The purpose of a resume is to promote your background and experience as you network with potential employers.
Oftentimes, teenagers feel as though they don’t have enough work experience to write a resume. However, this isn’t the case. A key tip is to highlight any experiences that showcase commitment, teamwork and willingness to work. For example, activities you have pursued inside or outside of school, volunteer experiences, competitions or academic achievements. It’s also a good idea to highlight any odd-jobs you’ve worked, such as a paper route, babysitting or snow shoveling.
Reach Out to Your Network
Networking is a great way to get started in the workplace as you never know who may have an opportunity that is a perfect fit for you. You may want to begin by networking with friends who are already employed. You can do this by asking them about their experience on the job. You can also ask your family members if they have contacts of people who may be hiring. Finally, you may want to reach out to neighbours, teachers, coaches and other community members about potential employment opportunities.
Networking is an amazing job search tool, as employers are often more comfortable hiring people recommended by someone they know.
Be Prepared to Interview
It is always a good idea to take the time to prepare for a job interview in advance. You can do so by practicing mock-interviews with friends and family, researching common interview questions and learning about the company you will be interviewing with ahead of time. Employers look for candidates who have prepared ahead of time as it shows eagerness to work and willingness to be responsible.
Be Ready for Rejection
As a first-time job seeker, you need to be prepared for rejection. After all, not everybody gets accepted to every position that they apply to. Hearing ‘no’ can feel discouraging. Therefore, try to look at the rejection as an opportunity for growth and as practice for future job interviews.
Although finding your first part-time job may be difficult, it’s important to remember that all of your hard work and dedication will pay off!
