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When did you get your first job ?

I am 15 years old and a freshman in high school I’m asking all people who already have job’s how did you get your first one and what did you do.

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Jerome’s Answer

My first job was being a mentor to elementary school kids. The job was offered through the high school I went to and was once a week for a $50 stipend.

I’d start by checking in with your advisor at school to see if there might be anything available. I currently bring on summer interns that are paid for by local organizations. Check in with your local chamber of commerce to see if they know of anything. Then you could potentially get paid for an internship.
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john’s Answer

My first job was working in a stone quarry with my dad. I was maybe 9 years old. My first legit job was as a short order cook in a steak restaurant at 15. My first engineering job was due to an interview at college. I started out designing printing equipment. Inside work, no heavy lifting, no shift work, weekends free. So better than a stone quarry or a restaurant. Though at the restaurant there was always free steak.
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T.J.’s Answer

Hello Gabrielle!

I got my first job over the summer during my junior year. Someone from school told me about it. (I believe my guidance counselor...?)

The job involved shadowing professionals in their fields and helping them with their projects. At the end, I earned a stipend and learned more about what jobs felt right to me. Also, I developed skills in problem-solving and teamwork.

You can get a part-time job or a temporary summer job! It depends on your schedule and commitments in other areas of life (family, pets, clubs, etc). It wouldn't hurt to try and see if you like it.

Reach out to classmates and ask to see if they're working. Also, ask your counselor, parents, or teachers for possible suggestions. You might find something cool.

Sending you encouragement as you find your first job :)
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Kelsey’s Answer

It varies based on what you consider a job. I personally had a very successful babysitting job working for multiple neighbors that started in Jr. High, as well as some summer gigs with my friends that included lawn mowing and dog walking. Let me tell you, getting paid right away in cash was great! To get jobs like these you need to network - ask your parents to tell their friends, tell your neighbors you're open to work, use local social media, and even hang signs or posters in local stores or meeting places. The key is to get a few people to "hire" you, and the rest comes down to doing a good job so they will recommend you to more people. These gigs may not be official jobs since you're not being hired by a company, but they can help you earn money and gain experience being a professional worker, which you can put on an application when applying for a more formal job.

15 is probably old enough to work for most fast food or retail stores (I don't know all the local laws), so my best advice there is to start applying. There is no secret hack to getting hired beyond following common sense (be on time for the interview, be well-groomed and polite, etc). A lot of times it just comes down to a numbers game and you may need to apply to a number of different places to find one where you are the right fit for the hiring manager. Since you're in school be upfront about your availability, but know that you will probably be expected to work weekends. I had friends who couldn't find a part-time job because they refused to work Friday night, Saturday, or Sunday.

A lot of stores will have a sign up if they are hiring, and bigger chains like Target will often accept applications online all the time so they are ready to hire whenever a position opens. If you are having trouble finding a job another option is to look for temporary or seasonal work, since if you do a good job and impress your boss there is a chance they will want to hire you permanently. My biggest advice is don't be picky about your first job, use it as a temporary stepping stone to earn money or to earn experience.
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ANDI’s Answer

I babysat in my neighborhood for several years, then became a file clerk at my mother's office when I turned 16. At 18 I began working at retail locations (Dollar General, BooksAMillion, Bets Buy) and daycares. I'd later go on to work as a medical receptionist at a family practice for many years and then at 33 I enlisted in the Navy and now handle aircraft logbooks.
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Karen’s Answer

Hello Gabrielle, my first job was at Safeway working as a curtesy clerk. I was 15. That job set me up for, literally, all things in life! I learned how to communicate with people from all walks of life, how to deal with difficult customers(people in general) and how to provide good customer service. I recommend always looking for the positives in whatever job you decide to do and highlighting those things when looking for your next job or applying for college. Good luck!
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Michael’s Answer

Hi Gabrielle:

At 16 years old, my very first job was having a paper route and delivering newspapers. I got the job by answering a Help Wanted Ad in the Business section of the newspaper. The Newspaper Delivery Manager interviewed me for 30 minutes and decided to hire me. He went over the responsibilities of being a newspaper delivery boy, expectations, responsibilities, getting paid, etc.

Around 6:00AM, I had to ride my bicycle about 1 mile away from my house to where the newspaper bundles were delivered. Then, the newspapers were individually folded and placed in plastic bag sleeves. Upon completion, all of the individual bagged newspapers would be placed in the basket holder on my bicycle.

My newspaper route had about 125 homes. All of the newspapers had to be delivered by 9:00AM. They were thrown onto driveways.

Every two weeks, I had to go door by door and collect the monies from homeowners for their newspaper subscriptions. They would either pay by exact cash or by check. A money/envelope pouch was carried with me. The total amount would be written down on a ledger and it would indicate which homeowner paid or not paid. The Newspaper Delivery Manager would receive the money/envelope pouch and the ledger in order to follow up with those homeowners who have not paid for their newspaper subscriptions.

I got paid every two weeks from the newspaper company. In addition, homeowners would provide monetary tips to me when I collected their payments for their newspaper subscriptions. The money and tips that I made from being a newspaper delivery boy went towards my college savings fund.

The newspaper delivery job taught me about time management, customer service, accountability and financial responsibility. It allowed me to interact with the public, that is, the homeowners. The newspaper delivery job was done for 1.5 years until I graduated high school and went onto college.

Hope my personal experience helps you and good luck on finding your first job!
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Daniel’s Answer

Hi Gabrielle,

My first job I was 16 and went to work for Six Flags. I was in ride operations and operated a number of flat rides/roller coasters throughout the park. Later, I moved into a supervisory role and managed different sections of the park. Finally, I went to work on the Six Flags Steam Train as an engineer. Overall, Six Flags was a great first job and I worked there for 5 years. I worked full time in the summer and once school started I would go back to part time on weekends only. If your looking for a fun first job Six Flags was great!
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Kim’s Answer

My first real job, not counting babysitting, was the summer after my junior year in HS. I found out about it through school. It was a summer youth program, working for the Youth Conservation Corps. We got paid for 30 hours and school credit for 10 hours. Pretty much everyone who applied got hired, there was no interview, just a program orientation.

I worked at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens before it ever opened! We did weeding, pruning, planting, watering, etc. The part I remember most was building little structures for fish to swim in and out of and lay their eggs on, on the bottom of what was to become a pond. Comparing EVERY job I ever had afterwards for the next 35 years against this one, I have concluded that being physically exhausted is better than being mentally exhausted. Except, after a while, the body isn't too crazy about physical work!
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