sqdwfe13

Doesn't it suck having a late birthday, chocobok? I'm in the same position as you, a sophomore who's going to be 15 the entire summer. There are sooo many opportunities I want that I'm missing out on. All of my friends have a chance at those opportunities but I don't JUST because I'm turning 16 a few months later. I have absolutely nothing to do, all the things I could have done this summer are all for 16 year olds. Hmph, I'm bitter.

TheDad

Bingo. Without exceptional established skills for a 15-year-old, and I mean *exceptional*, it's unlikely that anyone is going to offer you anything worthwhile.

Look at it from an employer's point of view: you may be only an intern but you'll be taking up desk/lab/whatever space and someone on the regular paid staff will have to supervise you. In exchange for that, the company/organization has to see some potential reward that makes sense.

There are also biases, not without justification: there are enough 18-20-year-old college students that have holes in their work ethic, to put it politely, that gambling on the maturity of a 15-year-old begs the question, do you [as an employer] *really* want to do this?

With that as context, then look at it from your point of view: an internship consisting of getting coffee & donuts and making photocopies isn't much of a learning experience except for what you pick by osmosis from the work environment. Getting something of substance? Go back and look from the employer's point of view.

You'd be better off spending your summer taking a community college course or, better yet, setting up your own independent study course for something your interested in, getting a teacher or CC professor to mentor and guide you and maybe assign a culminating project like a presentation or major research paper by the end of the summer.

sqdwfe13

Thanks, TheDad, that was really helpful. I definitely see your point that employers don't want to gamble on 15 year olds (although I have found a couple of places willing to take me for unpaid internships).

chocobok

it does suck having a late b-day.
I hate agism. First I wasn't old enough because I wasn't 14, so I couldn't volunteer where I wanted. Now I'm not old enough to get a job/internship because I'm not 16. I really don't get it. So what if I'm a few months younger. I'm 15 1/2, yet they would rather hire someone who is 16? What's half a year? I refuse to believe that they gained more maturity than me in a matter of months. And it sucks too because all my friends are 16, and they're getting they're driver's liscense/ jobs, and I won't be able to for months.
sorry, just ranting
However, I'll only be 21 when I graduate from college, so that's cool.

sqdwfe13

I totally know what you mean. The same thing happened to me when I was looking for volunteer opportunities when I was 12/13. I agree, I refuse to think half a year makes any difference. I feel like I'm at the same maturity level or even above the maturity level of other people in my grade who happened to be born a few months earlier. I could have improved an entire 6 months of my life through an awesome opportunity if I were born just 2 months earlier. I also need a driver's permit and license really badly, because there are so many places I need to drive for volunteering and extracurricular activities when everyone else my age is just driving around to get to parties. I'll be only 17 when I graduate from high school! And I guess only 21 when I graduate from college, like you. But I don't see anything else good about being born a few months later than everyone else..wah. ):

mochamaven

lol I'm sorry, but not hiring someone young really isn't ageism. It's not a question of a maturity gap between a 15 1/2-year-old and a 16-year-old, it's an issue of the law.

In most states, you're protected by child labor laws until you're 16. That means that employers have to jump through lots of hoops if they hire a 15 1/2-year-old vs. a 16-year-old. You can't do overtime, your hours are limited, you can't handle money, you can't serve drinks, etc. In an economy like this employers have 22-year-olds knocking on their door who would also work unpaid, have way more experience, and aren't subject to child labor laws.

When I was a frosh/soph in high school, my friends got jobs as assistant counselors at day camps, and hosts/hostesses at restaurants. Certain positions aren't as affected by age restrictions, so look for those (not sure what the laws are in your state, look them up).

This is a really, really terrible summer to be looking for a job, even as a college student. I'm a 20-year-old at an Ivy league school, and a lot of my friends are taking unpaid research positions, out of desperation, that otherwise would have gone to high school students like you. It's not your fault, it's the economy. Luckily for you, you're young enough that it doesn't matter whether or not you have a job this summer, because you don't have to pay expenses, so count your blessings :-)

What I'd suggest is volunteering locally. Nursing homes, disability centers, and soup kitchens are ALWAYS in need of energetic volunteers, and would love to take on a smart 15-year-old. You can work several hours a day helping out, and supplement that with babysitting/mowing lawns/petsitting to earn some spending money.

So, really, don't worry about finding out what kind of career you want to pursue. I'm 5 years older than you and still don't know what I want to do with my life, and that's actually ok. You have MANY summers ahead of you to do career preparation and terrible soul-sucking internships (photocopying/making coffee is NOT fun), so enjoy relatively pressure-free summers while you still have them, and don't worry about your future before you need to.

bearcats

This is my recent story. I want to let you know that there are always opportunities there. Just keep trying


So the past month I have been freaking out, as I have been getting dinged at big/mid/small banks and started going bezerk and thinking about transferring, started looking for reasons for my lack of success in the recruiting process except for a quant gig at a very respected place that I dont want to go to. Sending resumes out like a mad crazy man. you probably saw some of my desperate threads here.

I want to let everyone know that the market is bad, but there are opportunities out there. Dont give up. Persistance pay off. I was going to close my recruiting chapter for this year and just give up and go work at a tiny PE (since I dont want to work as a quant).

I had an interview with a BB recently and I was gonna give up and just not do it because I have been very sleep deprived lately as it is exam time. I made myself stick through that interview. To add to that, it's my last interview of the year so mentally I have given up already.

Guess what happened. I got an offer at a freaking BB, as a sophomore too!! I know I am very lucky, and obviously i accepted it right away.

To those of you still looking. Dont give up. Sometimes you think you do so much and nothing happens...maybe the next time you do it, it happens for you. Had i given up and not gone through that interview, I would have just lost myself my dream internship. so my point is, dont give up. Hard work will be rewarded.

Forever LSU

Can't go to work, study vector calculus, lol.

worrywart

My kids also have late summer birthdays and faced the same challenges as you when they were in high school. Each spent his 14th summer working for the one employer in town who hires 14 year-olds. The next summer they were day camp counselors. By age 16, the one who had an interest in science was able to get a research assistantship through a program that is coordinated by a nearby science museum. The museum has connections with universities and corporations in the area and makes the introduction for high school students to get an interview to do summer research. Once my kids started college, age was no longer an issue. So do not give up; just be realistic about the options that are available to you. Wish you the best.

chocobok

Basically not making any progress for the internship, or job. The only thing I have schelduled for this summer as of now is community college classes.

I'm not really sure what to do from here on out. The summer is drawing closer. Should I axe my attempts at getting a job/internship and settle for taking CC classes and volunteering(which is what I did last year)? Try to find research oppurtunities with a professor, or start some sort of project on my own? I want to do something meaningful over the summer, other then lay on the couch and watch TV. What would be my best bet for the summer?

fuzzyfirebunny

i think taking classes is a really good idea, esp if they're in an area that interests you. really tho- why not enjoy the last summer before you're 16 and do some volunteer work somewhere? animal shelter, library, hospital, etc etc- those can go on college apps too
if you're taking CC classes, get to know your profs and see if any of them need a research assistant- somebody to do grunt work, or fill out paperwork, or even bring coffee/donuts, lol...my friend got one of those, and while the work wasn't "scienc-y", persay, she still got exposed to work environment
GL!

tiger_max22

Wow, I totally relate. I'm 15 1/2 and I don't want to volunteer again this summer like I have done the years before. I've been going from site to site-- from craigslist to snagajob to survey-something to sittercity -- and now I have like tons of subscriptions. I've emailed professors, but like I expected, none of them bothered to even reply back. I can't even work at HEB. Come on now!

Packers1

Guys,
You need to get out and start knocking on doors.

For summer work most places won't be using the internet to fill openings. If you want a summer job, not an 'experience' go to fast food joints, lawn services, summer camps, grocery stores and start filling out applications. You need to hit the pavement.
Also, have your parents talk to their friends about possible openings, talk to adults that you know from ECs and ask them about possible summer jobs.
If you have special skill you can start your own business. My S made decent money each year in HS fixing computers for people. He made up business cards and word of mouth kept him busy (plus his prices and service destroyed Geek Squad). Baby sit, mow yards, paint houses; all those are jobs that are totally in your control; you make your own business.

pkp20

yeah, in this economy employers definitely don't want to babysit when they have older people prepared to fight over job/internship opportunities

chocobok

Well, the summer has started and I don't have a job or internship. Oh well.
It's ok, I get to relax more. I'll try again next year.