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Willa
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
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Posts: 3881
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| Posted: May 14 2008 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
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How do you generally go about looking for work, whether for yourself (the mom) or if you are a young adult looking for local work?
I just realized I know so little about this that I don't even know what I don't know  . I haven't really worked outside the home since we had our first child, except for a couple of bartering-type things.
Do you simply ask around?
Look for "help wanted" signs?
Ask at the local storefronts?
Read the paper?
Basically, just looking for experience and tips from people who have either looked for non-career type work outside the home, or have guided their kids through the process.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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guitarnan
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: May 14 2008 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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It's always a good idea to develop a resume. A good resource for this is Resumes That Knock'Em Dead (Marvin Yate, I think, is the author). I think all of your ideas are valid, and a dedicated job-seeker would do all four things.
I would recommend compiling a list of application-related info, such as address, references, previous work history (volunteer would be OK for a teen), availability, etc.
This would be a good time to look at your teen's schedule and decide which activities are expendable (in favor of the work schedule) and which are not. Most managers of teen work crews want this type of information up front. Obviously, a teen with a clear schedule is more desirable. Also, if the intent is to secure summer-only employment, your family will need to set a vacation schedule (or allow your teen to stay behind) so your teen can tell the new manager which weeks he/she will not be able to work.
If you have local contacts, it's a good idea to share your teen's job search efforts with them. Reading want ads is good (and good experience - who can live on $20K these days...), and wandering around to mall shops, fast food establishments, swimming pools, etc. to fill out job applications is also a good strategy.
Please tell your teen that this whole process can be extremely discouraging at first. He/she will go through at least a month of effort without seeing many results. Giving up is not part of the plan.
I think if I knew your teen's interests/experience, I could give more specific advice - but that depends on how much info you're willing to share. I know that my dd's "Godbubba" is an experienced lifeguard, for ex. (he's 19) and I could find him a summer job here in a heartbeat, because I look for openings that match his abilities.
If your teen has never filled out a job application, it would be good to download some from the internet or pick up a couple of forms somewhere and fill them out as a "trial run." Sometimes the forms request info you don't have on hand, and practicing will help you compile necessary information.
Two things that go on any resume at any time: Eagle Scout (or Gold Award, with a note that it's comparable to Eagle Scout) and exchange student experience. I landed one job only because I had put my exchange experience on my resume, and my boss told me afterward that he always, always gives any Eagle Scouts or exchange students an interview, regardless of qualifications, because their life experience indicates that they have achieved something above and beyond what's expected of them. I'm a good interviewee (see above referenced author, Martin Yate, and his books). (Food for thought.)
Another great resource is What Color is Your Parachute? I don't agree with the basic premise of the book - that you can always find fulfilling work - but this book has a GREAT list of tricky interview questions that any job-seeker should review and prepare for. If you know that someone might ask you, "What is your worst fault, and how have you overcome it in your professional life?" won't you prepare an answer for that question? Get a list of difficult questions and prepare answers. ("Should I hire you if you're going to go back to school in the fall?" can be easily countered by citing a homeschooler's flexible schedule, for ex.)
PM me for more...one of my old jobs was converting the resumes of retired sailors into civilian-speak, and I've also held 10 different jobs in 23 years...
I really believe that practicing ahead of time for an interview builds confidence, but there are also ways to highlight your skills vs. the job requirements.
HTH!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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