Getting a Part-Time Job
Your Three-Step Guide to Getting Organised
Step One: Get Ready to ApplyYou can do this by:
Preparing your resume Even if you don't have work experience, you still have skills and abilities that employers will want to know about. Use one of the templates available here. Figuring out what you can commit to Think about your school and sporting commitments, and where you live. Are you really available all weekend? Can you get home if there's a 9 pm finish? Think about what you can and can't realistically promise an employer before you go in to apply, because very often you'll need a fill in a form as soon as you get there, and if you need an hour to fill it in you won't look like an ideal candidate. Applying for a Tax File Number Go here to start the process. It could take a while to organise, so get your application started now! |
Step Two: ApplyYou're much more likely to keep the job if you've found one you will turn up on time to and work hard at - often, that's one where you want to work! Maximise your effectiveness by:
Thinking longer-term Can you do the job (and the hours they're looking for) for a year or more? If not, you may end up having a first job that you only keep for a few months - not a good look on your resume. The next employer you apply to might see you as someone who can't commit and they might not want to take you on. Looking online first These days many of the larger employers of young people will have online job applications, e.g Macca's, Kmart, and other retail stores. Search online before you make a trip to the employer's venue. Cold-calling the right way When you go in to a shop/restaurant to see if they have any jobs available, you will need to make an impression. You can do this by:
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Step Three: The InterviewBasically, employers are looking for staff who are punctual, reliable, and keen to learn. Don't worry about what you don't know - if they are looking for a teenage employee they are interviewing you to find out about your potential, not your experience (unless you have some). A few basics of the interview:
1. Don't go in chewing gum Sounds just like school? Yep - you're on the right track. How schools want you to behave and how employers want you to behave can be uncannily similar.... 2. Talk about what you can do for the employer, not what you want from them No employer wants to hire someone who's just interested in doing the minimum to get paid. They normally want you to care about their company, and those who go over and above in the workplace are very often rewarded with promotions, extra shifts and other benefits. 3. It's not just about the money There's often a question about why you want to work there. Talk about the opportunities you'll have to build up skills and learn about how businesses work. |