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Thank you, Safety First CPR & Safety Training for providing teens with these useful tips for obtaining a job. 

Summer for teens isn’t just about going to beach or hanging out with friends or going on vacation. All these things often require one thing  – money! During this time of year, most high school students are ecstatic about being out of school. FREEDOM! 10 weeks of it, to be exact. Most students find jobs for various reasons, like saving up to buy a new car, saving for college, to gain responsibility or to work doing something they are passionate about. There are a million reasons to get a job. Students, do you have what it takes to get one? The journey to getting a job has several important steps. 

Let me tell you how you can impress a hiring manager. You’ll need the 4 Ps – Preparation, Practice, Presentation and Passion.

Preparation

First, you’ll need to figure out what you want to do. It takes research. Applying to several places and just getting a job for the sake of getting a job is short term. Once you have that job, your employer will expect you to follow through with your commitment. So, do what you like to do. The best way to find out what a job is like is by talking with current employees. They are the organization’s best advocates. Find out as much as possible. Look at the company website or Facebook page. Then, start putting together a resume if you haven’t done so already.   A resume is an official way of presenting yourself on paper before an interview.  And filling out an application correctly will show that you can write down information.

Practice

Once you know where you’d like to work, it’s time to practice before the interview. I was once told it’s best to practice in front of a mirror. A mirror? Yes, it’s pretty revealing to see yourself ask a question and then hear and see how you answer back. It may feel a little weird at first, but you’ll see how you look when you answer a question. If looking at yourself is uncomfortable, then simply have a parent or friend ask you questions. The more practice you have answering interview questions, the more confidence you’ll bring to an interview. Practice makes progress.

Presentation

When the day comes for the interview, you need to dress professionally. Enter the room confidently, make good eye contact and reach your hand out….give a firm handshake. Remember that you are in control as much as the hiring manager. Once you are seated, assume a posture of sitting up straight (no slouching!) while staying as relaxed as possible. Face the hiring manager. If you brought any materials with you, have them on your lap. Think of it as a conversation. The manager is trying to get to know you. When I was a manager doing interviews, if I saw that the candidate could show up on time, tell me about him/herself, answer questions well, ask me questions, and lastly, SMILE…..then I considered the person a great candidate. And yes, smiling is important. It tells the manager that you are friendly and approachable. Confidence is key!

Passion

I saved the best for last. Passion is crucial. But, you think, this is a summer job, not a career! Really? Yes. I was 19 years old when a friend introduced me to lifeguarding. Now I own my own safety company. You never know what you might become passionate about.  If you’re not yet sure what you’re passionate about put passion into your job. Show the hiring manager why you want the job. I will hire a passionate, hard working person before I hire a person who just wants a job. As a hiring manager, I had to know that I was hiring someone dependable, reliable, self-sufficient, trustworthy, and personable and who had manners.

Can you do these things that I mentioned above? Congrats! You’re on your way to getting that job!

Tukz Taaca is the co-owner of Safety First CPR & Safety Training. He’s had 30 years in the workforce. As a former hiring manager for a local company in Jacksonville, he’s seen the lack of preparation teens often bring to the interview room. That’s why he created a course called Job 101: Job Opportunity Basics for Youth.  To register for the Job 101 course that Safety First is offering this summer, go to www.SafetyFirstJax.com – Classes. Or if you have a group of students and are interested in holding this course, contact him at info@safetyfirstjax.com.