I have a late birthday, so I’ve been automatically excluded from a lot of jobs that want 18 year olds. However, I’ve graduated and I want to earn and save money so that I can buy my own textbooks and supplies for the fall. Do you know of any stores or brands that would hire a 17 year old with no retail or restaurant experience? I looked at stores in my neighborhood and they aren’t accepting any applications. Any experience with where your 17 year olds have worked?
I would prefer I not work in a fast food restaurant, but wouldn’t mind being a waitress or greeter at a sit down restaurant.
But I really want an entry level position in retail. I love helping people. I’m also kinda thick, so pants from Hollister and American Eagle don’t fit me, so I can’t work there
When my kids were 17 or 18, they made a lot of money by tutoring and babysitting.
Very few restaurants would hire young, inexperienced waitress or greeter.
It is kind of late looking for a summer job now, most people started looking in spring.
I agree it’s late, but just go around to any of the stores in your area. See if grocery stores need baggers. My daughter’s first job was scooping ice cream. I’m sure there are jobs, but you have to look hard.
@oldfort I’ve been applying since winter and I keep getting ignored or rejected because of my age and lack of a degree and now I’m desperate. @Suzy100 I checked the local stores by my home and they aren’t hiring. That’s why I reached out to CC.
I loved my supermarket produce stocking job. There is some physical exertion required (think petite, 5’3 woman hauling a 50 pound sack of potatoes onto a cart), but not a terrible amount
Many national chains use online applications. Look up all the stores you can think of in your area and look online for age requirements. (think of a main strip in your town, what’s there? Arby’s? Target? Movie Theater? And don’t be picky. And this point, you can’t.
Also think seasonal. Local garden stores, ice cream shops, pools.
Where are you friends or people from your high school working?
Exactly, you can’t be picky. It really does not matter if you prefer not to get a fast-food job. The important thing is to get a first job, wherever you are able to find one, and do a good job. It’s not like you have to do that job for the rest of your life. Once you have worked a few months, look for another job while you are still employed (ie do not quit then look for a job). Once you have a job history, opportunities for other jobs will open up because employers will see that you are employable.
Retail in summer is tough. So many kids home to work.
I’d go with camp counseling or tutoring. At winter break try to work seasonal at Gap or something to get in for next summer. Or maybe try part time while at school to get some experience.
It wasn’t this tough getting jobs when I was a kid!
@hoosiermom I have work experience. I have worked at a summer camp and I hated it. I have a pretty decent resume, the problem is the age requirement.
@suzy100 You know, it’s too bad that website isn’t accurate. I’ve received email rejections before I even finished some online apps for some of the places on that list because I selected that I am below 18. That’s why I’m asking.
@HRSMom It hard because so many places want experience and I’m just like, "how am I supposed to get experience if everyone wants experienced workers lol?
@abasket Starbucks- Rejected; Modells- Rejected; Aeropostale- No response
I did however take your advice and apply to a froyo shop in a nearby town. Not local, but I can take a cab
Any landscaping crews in your area hiring? Put up signs in your local library and stores, flyers to neighbors offering babysitting, lawn service, pet care, etc.
Any mom and pop local seasonal places like ice cream stands? Garden shops? Local shops can be less rigid than big companies.
So as asked earlier, where are your friends/people in your graduating class working this summer?
Found these on some online searches - but again, works only if they are hiring:
Macy’s, Target, and JCPenney all can hire 16 year olds for cashier or stocker positions; this will depend on the specific store branch, state labor laws, and the level of maturity of the teenager.
Here are just a few of the restaurants hiring 16 year olds, depending on the specific location and state laws:
Ruby Tuesdays
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
Cracker Barrel
IHOP
Libraries
Food Delivery
Dog Walker
Car wash attendant (seriously, those ones people drive through and get hand washes? They hire teens)
Zoos
Amusement parks
Golf caddy
Movie Theaters (mentioned earlier, but they hire LOTS of younger teens)
You may have better luck with local places than chains. My older D got her start in the restaurant business working at a local deli, then a hot dog stand, then another deli, etc. Sometimes she had three PT restaurant jobs at once. There are laws in most states regarding what under 18 or under 21 can do in the food industry, so that may be why you’re getting rejected at chains. It’s not that they WON’T hire younger, there are just limits that wouldn’t apply to an older kid.
It’s too bad you were unhappy working at a summer camp. There are so many-from Boys and Girls Club to community centers to the Y, to local organizations and they are usually BEGGING for help. And yes, movie theaters. It helps that you’re older than 16-the times one can work are later the older one is. And summer is peak movie season.
I don’t know much about chain retail, but my niece has worked retail since she was 16. If you’re “thicker” as you say, look at Torrid. They hire staff that can actually wear their clothes, and they’re trendy, designed for younger people. Niece manages a store and can’t say enough about how well she is treated. Good luck!
I would still suggest you to look into woking for Abercrombie & Fitch and their sister stores. You don’t have to wear their pants to work there. It wouldn’t hurt to look into them if you can fit into their other clothes. I’ve worked for a variety of their stores since I turned 17 and I always have a job I can go back to.
As far as experience goes, have you been involved in clubs and organizations? Leadership positions? Use that as your experience.
Very good suggesttions so far in this thread. :-bd
How about babysitting, mowing lawns, pet sitting? For a restaurant, you could be a bus person, or dishwasher. One of my kids started doing that…and worked his way up to waiting tables.
You might want to take a lifeguard certification course. In our area, there is always a market for lifeguards. And at college there is as well…and those jobs pay very well.
There is nothing wrong with working at a fast food restaurant. It’s a job.
Do your parents know anyone who needs a gofer at their work? Ask them.
It’s June 15. Take whatever job you can get. Don’t be picky.
Try catering businesses (great tips working weddings), golf courses, libraries, amusement parks, pet sitting, yard work, babysitting, places that run day camps, pools (lifeguarding or teaching swim lessons if qualified, otherwise food service). Make looking for a job your full-time job. Don’t hesitate to apply, in person, even when a business isn’t advertising for help-you could be the person they haven’t yet realized they need. If you drive and have access to a car, you could run errands for people. Even when our local unemployment rate was 18%, my 4 kids had summer jobs, and no, they had no connections whatsoever-just parents who said keep looking until you find work.
I apologize if I’ve repeated any suggestions. The main point to get the idea out of your head that some jobs are beneath you. Believe me, a summer of doing nothing constructive is far worse than working a job you dislike for a few months.
I just thought of one more-are you artsy/craftsy? Another niece (sister to the Torrid one) worked for years at a Michael’s craft store. Even after she started teaching, she worked there PT until she no longer needed to supplement her teaching job. Her cousin STILL works at a farm stand, where she started in HS even 8 years post COLLEGE. She banks all the extra.