Still don't have a job

[Waspinators]

I've been looking for my first part-time job since summer started, and I've applied at pretty much every place that accepts 16 year olds, and if I have to take one more Unicru personality test, I'm gonna shoot myself. Point is, I haven't gotten one call back, nothing from Domino's, Vocelli's, CVS, FyE, Best Buy, Borders, Publix, or all the other places I've applied. I think what's really hurting me is the fact that I have no references that aren't relatives (they state on every application that they can't be relatives, except Domino's), and I have no prior experience.

So to those that got their first jobs by applying, and not just out of luck/nepotism, how did you do it?

Note: A lot of people tell me I should call the companies to show I'm interested in my application, but I always just get some guy telling me to check the status online and they never put me through to the manager.

[Volpe Sinatra]

How well do you do in school?

[Waspinators]

Average at best. B's, C's, and a few A's here and there.

[Volpe Sinatra]

At our age, teachers are about the best route to take as far as references, those who know you well and know your work ethic. You should've asked a few of your teachers if you could use them as references before school let out.

[lacrosse_man16]

I dont really know about you, but I am nowhere near a teacher atm nor would I be able to contact one if I wished. Lets get a realistic view of what we are likely to end up with. So first do you have a car of your own? If so that makes everything easier and makes employers like you more for almost no reason. Secondly and most important have you ever had a job where you paid taxes? If the answer is yes to both of these questions it just seems like your presentation is weak. If you answered no to having a job (the car is ok it just makes employers feel more secure) this makes it a little more complicated. What I have found that works best is lower your standards for your first job (Its kinda like finding a practice girl so you can really learn what its like except a job is a little less work and doesn't rob your bank account). Chances are you are going to hate it anyway so just start low. McDonalds for example is great, or even Subway. Both of these employers will literally hire anyone. When I looked at your lists of places to apply it looks like you are wanting retail, and retail stores are going to want someone with some work experience so working at McDonalds for a month should be enough.
Just like in the real business world you have to climb up the ladder and gradually get better at whatever it is you are doing. For example to become a waiter you must first be a bus boy for like a year. Then once you are a waiter at this average restaurant you work there for two years as a waiter and get another waiting job at the fanciest place in town where you bank like every night. So you will not always get what you want right away work towards it.
Lastly like I said before it could just be your delivery. What I mean by this is how you are dressed, walk and talk. Confidence is key. Employers love to see confidence in potential employees, so walk straight and look around and just walk naturally not all robot like relax. When you enter do not just go to the first person you see. Look for the guy/girl with a tie or something that resembles power after all they are the ones you need to impress. If one is unable to be found just ask the little pawns for an application and fill it out and request to hand it directly to the manager. (DO NOT APPLY WHEN THEY ARE BUSY!!!) All you have to do is simply ask for an application and that is all. Sit down right then and there and fill that sucker out. Remember that your first impression is the one that stands out. you have less than 4 minutes to make yourself look useful, and that is a skill that will get you far in life. Your attire doesn't have to be a suit I mean you are applying for low skill jobs, just wear a collared shirt and some dress pants or just something nicer than your everyday attire. So when you walk up to an employee your intro should look something like this:
"Hi, are you accepting applications?"
If they say no or something like that, don't bother just leave and go to the next place. If they say yes fill it out hand it to the hiring manager (request to speak to one) when you meet the manager introduce yourself shake hand firmly and state why you are there. You do this so they will know who you are and so that your name will stand out in front of the others whom the manager has never met. With any luck they will tell you to come back for an interview immediately or they might not say anything at all. Thats not a bad thing they just could have been busy. Wait three days if no calls are received and go back to the place you applied to and request a manager. Tell them you had applied here several days ago and you wanted to see if they where still hiring.

A great resource for jobs is volunteer work and creating networks through everybody and anybody, and that can always be found. I for example am always volunteering and hanging out with all of the rich guys at this cigar club next to my work and they are always offering me jobs sometimes for a week sometimes long term. To tell you the truth the lowest paying job I have had for the past year was $20 an hr and im only 18 so its not like your that far away.

[ZuneLover2.0]

I have too, i have applied to over 15 different jobs from retail, food services, etc.
I have not yet received a call back.
ugh

[SilentWalrus]

I has a job at Best Buy.
I like it.
Apply at McDonald's.

[lacrosse_man16]

Originally Posted by ZuneLover2.0

I have too, i have applied to over 15 different jobs from retail, food services, etc.
I have not yet received a call back.
ugh

Follow up man.

[KaJuN]

I tried looking for a job back around December with no luck whatsoever. I know exactly how you feel about those Unicru applications. Are 60 deep questions about my personality really all that important when I'm applying part time at Staples?

This has also had me thinking of what's to come of my career. Job outlook is less than spectacular and I've got loads of loans bearing down on me. So I'm fairly certain I'm going to join the Air Force to help with loans, get a little more 'on-the-job' experience, and just try something different with my life for a few years.

[ESPKH2]

Now is a little late for employers to start hiring kids who can only be available for a month and a half. I assume if you tried like to find a job during May most retailers would have hired you almost immediately.

As for now, my only advice is to find a place that has little or no training and something you can pick up right away. Cashiering comes to mind.

[Waspinators]

Well I'm now applying to every McDonald's in my city. What really sucks is that I found an amazing job (for me at least) on Craigslist, answering phones for $192 a week... except they didn't say that you had to be 18 until after I got my hopes up.

[lacrosse_man16]

Originally Posted by Waspinators

Well I'm now applying to every McDonald's in my city. What really sucks is that I found an amazing job (for me at least) on Craigslist, answering phones for $192 a week... except they didn't say that you had to be 18 until after I got my hopes up.

BEWARE OF CRAIGSLIST. A lot of the jobs on there are scams. So do not pay anything and do not give out any personal info without interview and proper research on the company beforehand.

[Darth Camel]

Unless you're willing to work during the school year, then you're probably not going to find a job. This is why it's good to get good grades. It helps build relationships with teachers who can later on vouch for you. I do lab work, volunteer at a cancer clinic at a local hospital, help run a national debate tournament, help run a few charity fundraisers, and I'm at the top of my class at a top prep school. And I'm only a year older than you. I'm not trying to show off or anything and I apologize if I come off as arrogant. My point is that you need to build a good foundation in and out of school which will in turn help you in real life. I'm not working this summer but I already have had a couple of offers (no applications, just people I know), including a manager at a local Ebgames. In addition, the current state of the economy makes things harder for you. Damn you, elasticity of teenage labor!

[TNTRower]

First off understand one principal:

"Life is not fair."

After this everything gets easier. I have noticed that the kids that get hired for whatever job there is have a few things in common.

1. They do not have shaggy hair. You do not need to look like a Marine, but your hair does need to look neat. If you have questions look at a GQ and the models who are in the ads.

2. They speak with "Yes" and "No" not "yeah", "Uh-huh", or "dunno".

3. When they come in for an interview they wear khakis (Or anything but jeans) and a button down. Your a teenager, nobody expects you to wear a suit, but nice pants, and make sure they are around your waste, not your butt.

4. Look people in the eye when you talk to them and do not stand like you haven't a spine.

If you have a church you attend regularly you have a network of people who want to hire you. Use your parents, your Aunts and Uncles, your teachers.

My first job was weeding the church garden.

I have no idea who you are and how you present yourself. If you follow those 4 simple things then you would be surprised at how many call backs you may get.

On a side note, the simple fact that you are looking for a job puts you a few notches up.

16 is young and you will have to find your job through networking just like 98% of the rest of the world.

[Moth]

follow up and show character.
show character...be persistent, try back a few times until you start to get on their, nerves, which may make them higher you to get you to leave them alone, if so be a good employee once hired...otherwise, make sure you practice good people skills and such at all meetings..hold doors for people, help people who have tons to carry, just the little extra stuff...trust me if they see you doing this, and you don't bring it up in conversation or make it apparent you're trying to impress them, you'll impress them. you impress them you got the job. I fifteen with job and little refferences, just good grades. I got this by going back IN PERSON not on the phone, and finding managers hours and such. Try starting off with lesser jobs your first year to, maybe suggest to someone that you could go by their store and clean windows or something, if it looks like they need it, don't be rude about "you have dirty windows, but just suggest it in list of other jobs you'd be willing to do, and if they think it could be useful, it could be a good plaace to start. do a good job and you get a reference, and maybe they higher you for bigger job themselves. ---> also, babysitting jobs, snow shoveling, lawn mowing and such can all be used as references, and are very useful...if the employer actually checks back and people you worked for think highly of you, you should have major brownie points over the other applicants...also next year, start looking a little b4 summer, not that I know you didn't this year, but I would think employers get sick of applicants slightly into Summer, but maybe two weeks left in school applying should get you into serious work time right as school's ending, and you've already got a leg up on the competition.

[Toast]

The best way to get an employers attention is keep calling consistently. or if you have a teacher you repect and vise verca ask them to give you help or somthing along those lines. my old Video Productions teacher got me my Internship at the studio I work at.

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by ZuneNerd

The best way to get an employers attention is keep calling consistently. or if you have a teacher you repect and vise verca ask them to give you help or somthing along those lines. my old Video Productions teacher got me my Internship at the studio I work at.

Not only teachers, use anybody that could give you a proper recommendation.

Or maybe people that have contacts in the job you want. Meaning they have worked at the company before and have a reputation or something along those lines.