Teens and Jobs

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Teens and Jobs
23
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 12:12pm

1. What is the etiquette for teens applying for jobs? The reason I ask is dd finally has the opportunity to go job searching after lacrosse practice today.

2. She will still be in her practice clothing, now one place she is going is at a dog boarding kennel, so I wouldn't think her "looks" will matter too much there, but I am assuming any other place she should look "professional"? And on that note - how professional? I assume I don't need to go buy her a suit lol, but should she wear dress pants or are nice jeans and shirt good enough?

3. OH and on the W4's do they put 0 exemptions?

4. Is it tacky for me to go bet the applications for her and her return them when she can? (she has 4 lax games this week, going to camp this weekend, lax game on Tues. then she's done - she has to get a work permit and that takes a week)

5. She's really nervous about filling out applications - can I help her?

Any advice whatsoever would be greatly appreciated!




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Avatar for jbgattuso
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Registered: 04-29-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 12:17pm

Hey there,

When DS got his job, I went to the places he wanted to apply and picked up the applications. Then when he had them all done, He went around one day to drop them all off. He was dressed in jeans and a golf shirt. (although the places he was applying were all casual and kid related) When he dropped off the applications, they just said thank you and he got calls for interviews on different days for three of the places. On those days he wore nice pants and a button down shirt.

HTH's

Julie

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 12:23pm

Thanks - that helps alot. She is looking at the kennels, a local video and tanning place, dunkin donuts, a local store like dunkin donuts, and maybe our local grocery store. I'm trying to avoid our mall area - but we were thinking Old Country Buffet too... There are all sorts of help wanted signs out there, we just need to sort through the ones that will even consider 15 year olds. Oh and our local amusement park hires 15 year olds and I know she would like to do that one, but it's further away and with me driving an SUV + gas prices = OUCH

Where did your ds end up working?




Edited 5/22/2007 12:24 pm ET by kel7col4



Avatar for heartsandroses2002
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 1:04pm

Although both my dds were 16 when they went job hunting, I drove them around (actually I think dd17 was 15 at that time...). At some places they grabbed an invite and filled it out in the car and at other places, the shop owner would have them answer a few simple questions, take their numbers and schedule an interview.

They always wore either tan pants with a nice top or dark jeans and a nice top. When teens are job hunting, I think prospective employers realize they won't be coming in suits, but they should be dressed nice, be clean and wear hair off their face. They should look polished, be polite and attentive to what is being asked.

I had my dds' carry a cheat sheet with them which included the days and hours they were available, the pay rate they wanted, and their social security number (and at least 3 pens). No one ever asked for their working papers until last year for dd17 and that was a snap to get from her school....it only took one day.

On occasion I would grab an application for them, but I never went inside with them while they were applying for a job.

Avatar for mjaye2002
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 1:20pm

I think it is perfectly fine for you to simply pick up applications for your dd. When you do, tho', take a mental note of the "uniforms" the current employees are wearing. When she turns in her completed applications, I would have her dress maybe 1 step above the dress of the employees (in case they ask to interview her on the spot). Does that make sense? IOW, if the employees are wearing shorts and t-shirts at work (say, at the boarding kennel) then nice jeans and a polo-type shirt I think would be fine. If the employees are wearing jeans and polo-type shirts, then maybe extra-nice jeans or slacks and a button-down shirt would do nicely. (One of my pet peeves on teens--heck, anybody-- applying for a job is coming in to interview wa-ay too casual)

Been a long time since I had to think about it, but I'm pretty sure they can claim 0 on their exemptions. Actually, I think they can claim 1 (themselves) and that will give them more per paycheck, but less on their tax-refund. I think. :)

And by all means, if she is filling out those applications at home, help her out. Don't do them for her, of course, but be right there to help her read and understand the questions. Sometimes those things are hard to figure out if you have never done them before. Plus, it reflects well on them if the applications are filled out correctly. :) I sat right beside my ds20 whenever he filled out his first ones. They are a little intimidating. Once they get the hang of them, then they can go out on their own and fill them out there at the store.

Good luck to your dd on finding a job!

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 1:28pm

Thanks for the help...

In our state, the teens (14 and 15 year olds) have to have an offer for employment before they can get their work permit. Once they get the offer, they go to the school and fill the form out with them and the school sends it to the state Labor Dept. The Labor Dept. then sends it to the employer and once the employer receives it, work may begin. My understanding is the process takes about a week.

I've been calling around and so far there are only 2 possibilities for dd - the kennel which I know she would love - she loves animals. But I'm thinking it's minimum "human" contact and dd is very social. Probably a plus! It's really close by. BUT I worry about her camps she has scheduled - 2 cheering camps and I think she wanted to do Lacrosse camp too and I'm thinking that may not work? The other is Dunkin Donuts - also really close, but that social thing - I KNOW her friends would be coming in ESPECIALLY the boyfriend. Plus I worry about her dealing with money lol - she's kinda clueless! I guess learning now would be a good thing!

I also have looked into her volunteering at the hospital - I think that would be GREAT for her - she, as most teens do, tends to take things for granted. Okay more than that - she's downright spoiled lol... thankfully she knows this and wants to change...

I'm trying to keep her busy but don't want to over schedule her either. She's looking at working, volunteering, going to the gym, cheering (once a week), tumbling (once or twice a week) - plus 2 cheering camps (1 is for 4 days *no nights* and another is 4 days/nights) and I'm not sure about the lacrosse camp (if there is one). Oh and she will have driver's ed.... She's going to be so busy I don't even think I will bother to open up our pool this summer!!




Avatar for mjaye2002
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 1:56pm
A work permit??? To work a summer job? Granted, here work for 14-15 yos is practically non-existant, but if they can find something, they can work. So, just out of idle curiosity, what is the purpose of the work permit? Does it limit their hours even further than the standard child labor laws? Is it for the protection of the child or the business somehow? Curious...
Avatar for weberdns0
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Registered: 08-25-2000
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 2:05pm

We just went over this issue when my son got a job.

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 2:07pm

Thanks for the advice - I'm taking everything in and hope to pass as much on to dd w/out intimidating her to the process lol...

I've taken my dogs to the kennel where she will be applying and they were quite casual - shorts and tank tops.

I will go into Dunkin Donuts tonight and pick up an application. She has a drs appt tomorrow and we will pass the store. I'll tell her to dress decent for school and on the way to the doctor's appt we will drop it off.

And haha thanks for the tax exemption help - W4's ALWAYS confused me and I haven't worked in wow almost 12 years. I KNOW that would intimidate her lol....

Thanks for the good luck wishes - she may need them. We live in a small community out in the middle of nowhere - luckily Dunkin Donuts is taking over!!




Avatar for weberdns0
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Registered: 08-25-2000
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 2:10pm
Work permits identify the age of the child and where they will be working.
Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 2:11pm

From my understanding it's to protect the child. During school days their are limits that students may work (I believe it's 3 hours a day, not school hours and not after 9). Any other time, they can work 8 hours a day. It also limits the type of work they can do for their safety - they can't cook, be a chambermaid, serve or sell liquor, use dangerous equipment, etc)...

Here's a brochure outlining the laws...
http://wocsd.org/pdfs/work_permit.pdf




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