Work hard in school
If you are a week away from graduation (or already out of school) it may be too late to change much now, but for everyone else there’s still time.  When hiring young, inexperienced workers employers look at your grades and the courses you took in school as part of your resume. The more academic risks you take (a tougher level class, an unusual course) the bigger the impression it will make. 

Participate in extra curricular activities
Every activity that you are active in outside of class will help employers see that you are well-rounded and have some drive. You can also use them to show that you have unique skills. For instance any sports team will show that you have experience working with others and are probably pretty used to performing under pressure. The debate team or writing for the school paper both show good communication skills. Volunteering or working on community projects shows not only that you have initiative but that you are willing to serve and help others- something that will make them confident in your potential customer service skills. 

Be creative in your job search.
It takes a lot of work to find a good job.  Look through internet listings, ask everyone you (and your parents, your parents’ friends, your teachers…) know, drive around and look for “Help Wanted” or “Now Hiring” signs, and look through the classifieds.  Finally, always remember that the more jobs you apply for (even if one seems a bit out of your reach) the better the chances are that you will land one. 

Look for jobs that train or teach you new skills.
There are many careers out there that start with “on the job” training or apprenticeships.  These are sometimes the best opportunities for young employees because they will be teaching you specific skills that you can then either use to advance yourself within that company or to find a better job somewhere else.  Some examples would be car maintenance, computer and typing skills, landscaping, retail, etc.  It’s important to always look towards the future and ask yourself “how is this job going to help me?” or “What skills will I be able to add to my resume after this job?”

Practice interviewing
For some jobs you will have to set up an interview in advance.  For others you may have to interview you right there and then.  Because of this, always be ready.  Dress well when you go to inquire about the job and know about the company you are visiting.  Practice talking about your strengths and experiences beforehand so that in the interview you will be confident.  Practice interviews with a parent, friend, teacher or someone else you trust to tell you honestly what impression you make.  (See the “Quick Facts” box for some interview tips)

Write a resume
Many jobs that you are looking at might have an application rather than ask for a resume, but that’s okay.  There are two reasons why it is good to write a real resume ahead of time.  1) If a potential employer does ask for one later in the job process you won’t have to scramble to prepare one and 2) Writing a resume will help you think about your experience and skills and really develop the answers that you will be filling out on those applications. 

Stay away from jobs where you are working alone or working late- night retail
You may feel all grown up, but others see you as vulnerable.  These jobs put you at particular risk. The second highest numbers of workplace fatalities among youth are in the restaurant and retail store industries. This is mostly because of late hours and low customer to worker ratio.  

Follow up on jobs you apply for
If you haven’t heard back in a week or so, contact the person that you had the interview with.  It is better to check and know for sure, even if you find out that you didn’t get the position. You don’t want to wait around and then find out you didn’t get the job because you simply slipped through the cracks. You might miss other opportunities because you aren’t sure about this one.    

Remember that each job is a potential reference
Even if you hate your first job and only take it because you can’t find anything else, make sure that you work hard and try your best to impress your managers.  Remember that having good references from this job will help you land a better job that maybe was out of your reach the first time around. 

Look for jobs with advancement opportunities
If you think you know what you want to do but you don’t know how to get there, it’s good to get any job that provides related experience.  It may be the most basic job available at that company. But by working there you will be more likely to hear first about other job opportunities that open up and will have the benefit of already being familiar to the rest of the staff and employers.  Many jobs that you may think are out of your reach are really not- you just need to have that one foot in the door. (An example of this would be taking a job selling the tickets at a museum in the hopes that one day you would get a job as tour guide or a curator).

Save money
Don’t forget what you’re working towards.  Set aside a certain amount out of each paycheck and put it in the bank.  This will help you save for the future but can also act as an emergency fund if anything unexpected happens.